Catapult Contest

[64coupe]

My company is holding a catapult / trebuchet contest for employees only. Basic rules - must fit in a 3'x3'x3' box, mechanical system. Current rules have us chunking a full 20 Coke bottle.

Starting research tonight. What type would you guys go with?

[Don_S]

How about a mortar?

Don

built a trebuchet for stepdaughters class last yr. I will try for pics tomorrow night. I found out later that having a pivoting counterweight is key.

[moe1942]

http://www.tbullock.com/trebuchet.html

[USMCPOP]

If it has to fit in a box and an arm cannot be extended, then some sort of torsion device may be more powerful. (mangonel or onager)

http://www.stormthecastle.com/catapu...n-catapult.htm

http://www.medieval-castle-siege-wea...catapults.html

[OLD MAN]

use a screw to load power into a truck spring.

[weldor2005]

trebuchet.com enough said... reccomend the floating arm style. you will need to scale it i'm sure.

[Cavalry]

Does it have to be a catapult/trebuchet, or does it just have to throw a bottle and fit in the box? What exactly do you mean by "mechanical system"

[kbs2244]

If there is no requirement for traditional materials,

I see a garage door torsion spring wound real tight,
with launch lever on one end.

[USMCPOP]

The all-knowing young one mentioned a torsion bar type ballista using flat truck springs.