Hey everyone! I'm trying to put together a small launcher that can shoot a ball roughly the size of a ping pong ball but slightly heavier. My goal is to achieve a launch distance of about 30 feet without overcomplicating the design or using advanced equipment. Initially, I thought about using a spring within a compact barrel, but most springs available seem too short and don't have enough power. Since this launcher will be part of a small Rube Goldberg machine, it needs to be reliable and capable of firing multiple times. Any suggestions or ideas would be greatly appreciated!
5 Answers
Have you thought about using a paintball gun as a model? They use compressed gas to shoot projectiles, so you could either buy one and modify it or study how they work to build your own from scratch.
If you really want to stick with springs, just look for a more powerful or better-quality spring. There are plenty of heavy-duty options out there. Just make sure you’re shopping around.
If you’re flexible on ball size/weight, consider using a Nerf gun; they fire foam balls and could be perfect for your needs. A battery-powered model would make it super easy to use, and you can find 3D printable designs online to help create something compact.
A slingshot mounted on a crossbow frame could work well! You can calibrate it for accuracy, or you might even try a teeter-totter setup where you drop a weight from a specific distance.
Consider making a potato launcher! It’s a pretty simple design—you’ll need a tube that fits your ball, a lighter for a coping lantern, a can of starting fluid, and a sealed end with the lighter. Just caution when handling that!