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This may be a silly question, but I am trying to figure out if using a Trebuchet design for trajectory is possible with the given construction guidelines. The rules state that the launching force must be supplied by a non-metallic elastic solid. Can you build a trebuchet that uses that type of lauching force? Thanks in advance for your guidance. Also, I am looking for any suggestions on where I can purchase a basic kit to use as a starting point. Any advice will help.

47 wrote:This may be a silly question, but I am trying to figure out if using a Trebuchet design for trajectory is possible with the given construction guidelines. The rules state that the launching force must be supplied by a non-metallic elastic solid. Can you build a trebuchet that uses that type of lauching force? Thanks in advance for your guidance. Also, I am looking for any suggestions on where I can purchase a basic kit to use as a starting point. Any advice will help.

They make basic catapult kits but I have no idea if they are big enough or will shoot far enough. I would recommend you look through the image gallery. It contains many photos of different machines and some of them are pretty basic. Look for something simple (maybe the one with pegboard) and build something. After you know how it works, make design adjustments and either fix or rebuild your machine. Make SURE you meet the rules for size and design or it is not worth doing.
Good Luck

ps. you may be able to modify a trebuchet by placing a rubber band where the counterweight sits. If it uses a sling (and by nature all of them do) it will have pretty poor accuracty

It is possible to use a trebuchet design, but it might not be advantageous as Trebuchets are more distance machines then accuracy from my experiance.

Here's one way to make a FAT legal for Trajectory

So, a regular style catapult is a better way to go than a trebuchet? Like the ones I see in the image gallery, with an arm that has a holder cup for the projectile instead of a sling? Or a tube-style launching device? How does the elastic material get attached to launch the projectile? Anymore information you can supply me with will help. I have been looking around a lot on the internet and in the image gallery to gain a starting point to build something, but I still have not come up with much to use as a starting point. Thanks!

Does anyone know if a class II laser attached to the front of the device at ground level would be allowed? ( shooting a laser beam out aimed at the near target?)

As long as you're not being careless with it, I don't see why not.

Lasers are not allowed, as far as I know.

Class II lasers are allowed "without question provided contestants avoid indiscriminate exposure to others", and I'm pretty sure I saw one team use a laser to align their catapult at States last year. (And if there's a problem with it, you can always take it off before impound.)

All right, I checked page one of the rules and the NY Coaches Clinic PowerPoint and saw nothing about lasers. I can't find page two, but I know there is one. I've been guided by the thought lasers were disallowed.

EDIT: Where was that quote from, AlphaTauri?