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Whiteheat073 wrote:I feel so basic with my release mechanism... A string that got pulled and triggered a lever that swung a PVC pipe with a pin on it to pop a balloon to release the falling mass and launch the projectile

Just to check, does the falling mass directly impact the projectile? If so that's not sufficient to meet the "air" requirements of the event. The energy from the falling mass needs to be converted into air pressure or movement before launching the projectile.

Whiteheat073 wrote:I feel so basic with my release mechanism... A string that got pulled and triggered a lever that swung a PVC pipe with a pin on it to pop a balloon to release the falling mass and launch the projectile

Wait what? Seems....efficient (also what chalker said)

chalker wrote:

Whiteheat073 wrote:I feel so basic with my release mechanism... A string that got pulled and triggered a lever that swung a PVC pipe with a pin on it to pop a balloon to release the falling mass and launch the projectile

Just to check, does the falling mass directly impact the projectile? If so that's not sufficient to meet the "air" requirements of the event. The energy from the falling mass needs to be converted into air pressure or movement before launching the projectile.

It does not impact the projectile directly. And it also is converted to movement before launch.

windu34 wrote:

Whiteheat073 wrote:I feel so basic with my release mechanism... A string that got pulled and triggered a lever that swung a PVC pipe with a pin on it to pop a balloon to release the falling mass and launch the projectile

Wait what? Seems....efficient (also what chalker said)

And it was quite efficient

I love the extrabox thinking with the balloon/trebuchet idea, even though it seems to clearly violate the "spirit" of the rules ... But, for a balloon to be popped, wouldn't it necessarily have to be at a higher-than-ambient pressure before being triggered? Thus violating the literal rules?

Just a quick update: After failing to reach the far distances with my original release mechanism, I changed it to Phy1cs's design which gave me the extra height I had lost. The mechanism seems consistent and has a low-ish coefficient of friction if pulled properly

VansBuilders wrote:Hi, I am new to AirTrajctort Division B. Can someone post the typical dimension for the PVC pipe in the Release Mechanism. I am thinking of 6" inch pipe. Is that reasonable?
Thanks.

Instead of asking people and doing things the same way, try something else and test it.

When using a 2 liter soda bottle as a launch mechanism, at the competition, are you allowed to blow into the bottle for it to return to ambient air pressure? Thanks.

VansBuilders wrote:When using a 2 liter soda bottle as a launch mechanism, at the competition, are you allowed to blow into the bottle for it to return to ambient air pressure? Thanks.

Yes - considered part of the recalibrating period

Question to chalker: Seeing as how this gets asked SO often, why is there no clause in the rules to prevent the ridiculous numbers of people from having trouble with this?

windu34 wrote:

VansBuilders wrote:When using a 2 liter soda bottle as a launch mechanism, at the competition, are you allowed to blow into the bottle for it to return to ambient air pressure? Thanks.

Yes - considered part of the recalibrating period

Question to chalker: Seeing as how this gets asked SO often, why is there no clause in the rules to prevent the ridiculous numbers of people from having trouble with this?

Not chalker, but I'll point out some things: It's being asked after the rules have been printed. Though the writers of rules try to make them as clear as possible, there can be situations/question they don't think of while writing. And I think they try to not write rules (or post official FAQs/clarifications) about specific approaches to devices (unless its prohibiting them).