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Lily Essence wrote:When the device itself doesn't weight enough to keep itself down, you get the same "jumping" problem that zyzzyva98 descibes. If a device jumps, it's basically a non-competing device in my eyes. At my local invitational, I watched about three hours worth of trajectory devices (about 8-13 devices give or take), and can honestly say that every device that I saw that "jumped" did not have wieghts and did poorly. The ones that did do well either weighted alot by itself or the partners stacked a good deal of weight on it.

And yet we took first place at state with the same design last year. We also took first at our first practice tournament with this machine (a score of 0) and third at our last one. We've practiced enough to adjust for the jump, but I asked the question so that our machine can get even better scores. This is my last chance to go to Nationals, we just missed last year.

I know just what you mean zyzzyva98. It's my last year in B division with trajectory as well. My team missed Nats last year by just a few points (I think it was like 3 points...) It's a really bummer isn't it? Just gotta toughen up and win it this year, eh?

You adjusted for the jump? Now that's really cool and interesting. Did you do mathamatical calculations and tilt your device before firing, so you'd end up firing straight once you pull the pin or something else? I honestly would not be able to compensate for a jump if my team's device didn't have weights. Oh, and do you use a lasers to align your device with the target?

Lily Essence wrote:I know just what you mean zyzzyva98. It's my last year in B division with trajectory as well. My team missed Nats last year by just a few points (I think it was like 3 points...) It's a really bummer isn't it? Just gotta toughen up and win it this year, eh?

You adjusted for the jump? Now that's really cool and interesting. Did you do mathamatical calculations and tilt your device before firing, so you'd end up firing straight once you pull the pin or something else? I honestly would not be able to compensate for a jump if my team's device didn't have weights. Oh, and do you use a lasers to align your device with the target?

Don't bother with lasers, you have to deal with regulations regarding which ones you can use. Scopes are better, just put together a plumbob of some sort so you can center the scope on the string.

Does anyone have a good idea on what to use for the launch mechanism for a catapult design? I was thinking door-hinges, but I am afraid they might have too much friction.

Fireheart347 wrote:Does anyone have a good idea on what to use for the launch mechanism for a catapult design? I was thinking door-hinges, but I am afraid they might have too much friction.

Gate latches are use alot, I don't know if that's what you are refering to.

Or you can use a screwdriver and some string. An added bonus to this method is that if the screws holding the catapult together ever come loose, you can just use the screwdriver to tighten them back up.

AlphaTauri wrote:Or you can use a screwdriver and some string. An added bonus to this method is that if the screws holding the catapult together ever come loose, you can just use the screwdriver to tighten them back up.

That method has a lot of friction involved, added to what is likely a long pull distance that method can be almost impossible to launch the device.

It worked for us all last year, and we got a fifth place at States, so :shrug:.

Lily Essence wrote:I know just what you mean zyzzyva98. It's my last year in B division with trajectory as well. My team missed Nats last year by just a few points (I think it was like 3 points...) It's a really bummer isn't it? Just gotta toughen up and win it this year, eh?

You adjusted for the jump? Now that's really cool and interesting. Did you do mathamatical calculations and tilt your device before firing, so you'd end up firing straight once you pull the pin or something else? I honestly would not be able to compensate for a jump if my team's device didn't have weights. Oh, and do you use a lasers to align your device with the target?

Actually, we just guessed. I'm very good at guessing.

AlphaTauri wrote:It worked for us all last year, and we got a fifth place at States, so :shrug:.

Well if you want top 3 at states you might want to switch methods. I don't know your design, it's possible that something in it makes it work better then in other devices