Modified Floating Arm Trebuchet

Well if it had been a Tacoma owner doing the transport, he would have been smart enough to secure the load properly....just sayin

 

I saw that post, just teasing. Too bad that one of the other teams couldn't safely transport their machine but glad no one got hurt when it hit the road!

 

guess some people don't know they are supposed to SECURE their load!!

Happy no one was seriously injured.

I can understand postponing the event...

 

Finished product.

 

Here is the trigger.

 

UPDATE:

The competition has officially been rescheduled for December 6th, so we will finally be able to launch these things.

Last night we rebuilt our throwing arm as the still wet pressure treated arm warped into a pretzel. The new arm was built out of 2x6 material that I salvaged out of a 50 year old garage. You don't see wood like this anymore.

Stay tuned!

 

nice hard dry wood man

 

That's what she said..

 

THE COMPETITION IS ON!!!!!!!

Today at 4:00 we will finally throw these things. I have a few spy shots of some of my competition. These were in the parking lot this morning.


First we have a ballista!



Second we have what I believe to be a simple trebuchet.



Notice how they're both tied down?

So far I don't see any threat to my machine, but there are more machines coming in.

STAY TUNED!

 

Awesome...cant wait!

 

I'm an undergrad ME and I can only hope to work at a place like this when I graduate! Always wanted to build a trebuchet but never actually followed through with it. That ballista looks awesome!
Need an intern??

 

Me either! I'm chomping at the bit to get down there. We had to sign waivers to be able to shoot these things, and they're only good for today. That means I haven't been able to test "officially" since we built the new arm. We're pretty certain we have to shorten the sling.

It is a fun place to work. The company is privately owned so we can get away with doing stuff like this.

Stranger things have happened as far as the internship, but Houston might be a little far away. Good luck with your studies.

 

WE WON!!!!!!!!!!



I'll get the pictures and videos up as soon as I can. Our machine threw an official 283ft. The closest competition threw 128ft.

We dominated!

 

That is some great entertainment!!! Subbed for the vids!!!

 

congrats!!

 

Here's our competition.

 

Here is the first video of our machine. I'll have more later, but this should show you how it works a little better.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ-B-rrXlF0&feature=g-crec-u

 

Thats frickin cool! Nice job for sure! Congrats on the win!