Hey everyone, I was really wondering - my first arduino is in the mail.. and I am planning my first project.
I have worked with altera boards in the past and am excited to dive into the world/community of arduino.
I am trying to make just a simple device to launch/project let's say a ping pong ball. (Not launching bowling balls or anything.. just a simple ball-launcher)
I am going to use two servos for two-axis of motion - and control the device with buttons.. (anyone have any suggestions that would be less work than interfacing a joystick? )
Anyway- I am stuck on thinking of what to use to launch the object. I was thinking a solenoid - If I could find one that strikes hard enough.. or a high-speed servo with a 1-2ft. arm to catapult an object. Possibly a high-speed linear actuator?
I am really lost, I do not know what to use! I was thinking of even possibly using a relay to hold a counter-weight... but that is too mechanical. I do not want to use counter-weights or elastic bands..
Any suggestions on how to launch something small like a ping-pong ball at least 10-15 feet? Cost is a consideration - so no $100 high-speed linear actuators!
how about pneumatics. they make small solenoid valves for controlling air flow. use a small pipe and air tank and im sure you could launch a pin pong ball a decent distance.
I considered a pneumatic actuator as a possibility.. the particular pneumatic setup you are talking about - do you have an ideal part or cost? I am trying to keep it under $30 at most..
since I could just buy a $15 "high speed" servo and use a 2 foot arm to catapult... that is hopefully 'plan b'
I was thinking some sort of solenoid to hammer the ball could work.. but I am the one asking for suggestions. I will look into an air pump however I do not want to 'over complicate' the project with pneumatics!
i just had a great idea. check out those motorized hotwheels car launchers. the ones with the two spinning foam wheels, use a transistor to controll the motors and perhaps a servo to controll the loading and i'm sure with a bit of hot glue you could launch ping pong balls.
Don't know what you mean by "good distance", as it seems to me a ping pong ball doesn't have enough mass to get much in the way of distance.
One of our robot teams found a little ping pong ball gun in the toy section of a discount store. Pulling the (rather long) trigger put tension on a spring, then let go at the end of the pull. I think they used a servo of some variety to pull the trigger.
I like that car idea, although it might be nice to avoid constantly running motors.
Anyone know the principals of the USB Turrets
I am guessing a burst of air powered by a spring?
Also: check this out!!! This seems to be the most reasonable idea:
Thanks lego mindstorms - see how clever that is?
I think I could try to copy that same concept with a servo, and have it fire / reset. You see the power comes with the band - then the ball is 'batted'.. excellent!
I helped some students with this exact project about 8 years ago. My suggestion was the solenoid mechanism from one of those electric putt practice returners. They used a PVC tube to aim the ball and another tube for gravity feed ammo. It worked perfectly.
I think they actually bought a putt returner and pulled out the mechanism.
You would probably want to find one that was battery powered, rather than one that plugs into a wall. Then you don't have to worry about powering a 110 volt solenoid from your robot.
)
