Electric Motor Ping Pong Ball Launcher?

Question

I have a class project where we have to design a ping-pong ball launcher from an electric motor, and up to 50 dollars of supplies. Once started the launcher has to shoot 6 ping pong balls 15 feet into a bucket. Winning team makes the most amount of balls.

Anyone have any good design ideas, or websites that I could use for reference??

Answer 1

Install an arm with a small mallet head on to the motor shaft. Position the motor with the shaft pointing vertically. This way the mallet assembly is rotating in a horizontal plane.

Create a small stand for a ping pong ball to stand on while the mallet swings around to hit it. (Almost like a golfball sitting on a tee)

The path of the ping pong balls should be very repeatable. Since you're only doing 6 balls at 15 feet, we don't need to focus on speed or quantity.

Next, find a tube (PVC?) that the ping pong balls will slide through freely. Position the tube one ball diameter above the small stand.

You'll have to work out the details so the mallet cleanly hits one ping pong ball per revolution. You may need somethinig to delay the falling of the 2nd ball while the first ball is teed up waiting to be hit.

Adjust the speed of the motor to control the speed of the ball.


Good luck.

Please let us know how it turns out.

Answer 2

Ping Pong Ball Shooter

Answer 3

This sounds like the perfect school-sponsored excuse to build a dangerous PVC cannon! See if you can shoot a hole through the bottom of the bucket for extra credit

Answer 4

In private, with team reps.