I would like to make a robot for the Canberra competition that uses some sort of spring powered weapon.
Was thinking about a large spring (garage door spring?) and a high torque motor to pull it back with a ratchet (boat winch?).
Anyone have experience with using springs? Any tips or suggestions? What parts can I use/find/repurpose?
Mon Jun 06, 2016 8:47 pm
Nick Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 16 Jun 2004
Posts: 11802
Location: Sydney, NSW
Miles built a spring-powered flipper, you can find it a few pages back on the Miles & Jules build log. It was very novel and interesting but had some issues. _________________ Australian 2015 Featherweight champion
UK 2016 Gladiator champion
Joined: 16 Jun 2004
Posts: 11802
Location: Sydney, NSW
If you didn't already find that guy's web site, its here:
http://www.wa4dsy.com/robot/
. _________________ Australian 2015 Featherweight champion
UK 2016 Gladiator champion
Mon Jun 06, 2016 9:43 pm
leithal_weapon
Joined: 06 Jun 2016
Posts: 35
Location: Canberra
Thanks, Nick. Hunted around on the site but I cant find the page on that video.
I was looking at photos of normal car or boat winches and it seems that finding a way to disconnect the motor from the quickly unwiding winch will be important.
I have also been thinking about other types of mechanisms that would allow quick release of a spring but also allow it to be energised again.
Mon Jun 06, 2016 11:08 pm
Nick Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 16 Jun 2004
Posts: 11802
Location: Sydney, NSW
That's a handy upgrade to a normal winch mechanism and could work. One issue might be that the mass of the cable and winch drum will reduce the speed that the spring uncoils at, reducing the flipping effect. You can reduce that by using thinner and very flexible wire rope on the winch drum. You could probably lighten the drum and ratchet wheel as well. _________________ Australian 2015 Featherweight champion
UK 2016 Gladiator champion
Mon Jun 06, 2016 11:29 pm
leithal_weapon
Joined: 06 Jun 2016
Posts: 35
Location: Canberra
Another idea for tensioning the spring (but might be harder to get/make parts for) would be some sort of rack and pinion setup, that allows the pinion to be pulled away from the rack, after the ratchet has locked.
Mon Jun 06, 2016 11:52 pm
miles&Jules Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 3973
Location: ipswich QLD
I used garage door springs for my sping flipper- i wanted to try a torsion springs but couldent get any - the reason is they are alot more compact- im thinking of ripping them out of those excersise hand equipment- i think a few of these could work in s feather _________________ Miles Blow - Julie Pitts
www.mulesfilm.com.au www.wombokforest.com.au
-Pickasso- Vivid Sportsman champion 2015
Tue Jun 14, 2016 8:11 pm
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