4/10/14 Trebuchet- Gunawork, Nathan, Jackson

Here we have our towel (that'll be used to contain the soccer ball) and the PVC pipe for the weights. Once again we've shortened the pipe because it would've left a gap between the cap and the weights (which could prevent the swinging arm from a strong launch). Between now and the next building day we need to figure out the launch mechanism and something to use to tighten up the upper PVC pipe. 

3/28/14 Trebuchet- Gunawork, Nathan, Jackson

The picture shows what we've built in as the base track. We measured the two wood sticks and adjusted one of them to make sure it's a good fit. Then we inserted them at the base centered and marked their position before nailing in from both ends. 

3/26/14 Trebuchet- Gunawork, Nathan, Jackson

On this building day, we shortened the PVC pipe that'll be holding the weights.  We estimated and decided to cut a portion off, because we didn't want an open space between the weights and the end caps. Tomorrow we'll start building a track that's going to be at the base of the frame when the swinging arm slides the ball through the loop of the sling shot.   

3/20/14 Trebuchet- Gunawork, Nathan, Jackson

This will be the PVC pipe that we'll use to hold the weights, and the caps are a good fit in which the weights aren't going to roll out. We had to shorten the original length of the pipe to try it out in the frame. Next time, we'll have to decide on how many weights we're going to use, and see if we need to shorten the current length of the pipe. In addition to finding something that's firm enough to hold the top PVC pipe to the swinging arm, so that the swinging arm doesn't move side to side when it's launching the soccer ball.

                       

            

3/13/14 Trebuchet- Gunawork, Nathan, Jackson

This Thursday, we started out by inserting the swinging arm into the PVC pipe, and made sure that it was a good fit to the frame. Since it was, we moved on to figuring out where and how we were going to attach the weights. After picking a spot parallel to the other circle at the top, we made a circular hole that will be holding the weights. Now we need to get the right type of cap that'll support the weights when its attached to the swinging arm's circular hole at the bottom. 

Catapult

So today we added a support beam to the middle of the frame of the catapult. It goes across the diagonal of the square that is the frame, making two triangle shapes that will create stability for our structure overall. In the next couple of weeks we have to add clamps for stability where the frame connects to the base, add an arm, and attach bungee cords.

2/20/14 Trebuchet- Gunawork, Nathan, Jackson

This is a picture of the swinging arm that's going to hold the weights and the sling shot. We measured and shortened the 8ft wood to a reasonable height that matched the frame of the trebuchet. Also made a circular hole in order to connect it to the frame through the PVC pipe. Next time, we'll test the height and figure out a way to attach the weights and insert the swinging arm to the frame.