Squash Ball LauncherTeam #9
Travis Frank Ned Feltham Corey Clarke Shawn Belliveau
Presentation Outline
1. Design Problem2. Design Requirements3. The Design4. Testing5. Design Performance6. Budget7. Conclusions8. Questions
Design ProblemThe goal of this project was to design and build a device to launch squash balls consistently for the purpose of training beginner to intermediate squash players
Design RequirementsThe design requirements for our squash ball launcher are:
• Variable speeds: 30 to 100 MPH
• Variable angles: 0 to 30 degrees
• SAFE!!!
• Portable: Less than 200 lbs and fits through the squash court door
• Shoots multiple balls: Minimum 10 in a row
• Fixed time between shots: Allows 3 seconds between shots
• Accuracy: shoot the balls in a 3’x3’ square 4 out of every 5 time
•Cost: Must cost under $2000
The Design
Frame
Caster
Pivot Point
Drive Train
DC motor controlled by PWM
Coupler
½” Pillow Block
Driving Disc
Drive Train
Hopper
Custom Tube
Casing
Cog
Hopper Motor
Hopper
Design TestingTest Completed Test Goal
PortabilityMust fit through squash court door and weigh less than 200 lbs
AccuracyMust hit a 3’X3’ square on the front wall and on landing
Speed Adjustable speed (30 to 100 mph)
Safety Pass a safety inspection from the Department of Mechanical Engineering
Ball Warming Overall affect of ball temperature
ShotPerform the serve, drive, and three wall boast
Portability Test
Weight: 160 lbs
Accuracy Test• Used to determine if squash ball launcher could
launch the balls into a 3’x3’ square
• Results: Squash balls land inside target with 100% accuracy
Accuracy Test
Speed Test- The test was performed in the sexton gym using
the launcher, a stop watch and a measuring tape-Over 20 tests, the ball launched at an average of 49 MPH-This is higher than the minimum speed required but doesn’t reach the maximum speed of 100 mph we set
Speed Test
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 200
10
20
30
40
50
60
70Average Speed
49 MPH
Launch Speed
Spee
d (M
PH)
Safety Test-The squash ball launcher successfully passed the safety inspection performed by the Department of Mechanical Engineering-Safety covers we added to the design to protect users
Ball Warming Test
• The test was performed to determine the affect that heating has on the squash ball performance
• Custom ball heater was used (seen on the next slide)
• Results: Heating the balls provided significant improvement for rebound distance after they impacted the front wall
• The average increase in rebound distance was 52 inches
Ball Warming Device
• A hairdryer is sealed into a plastic bucket which blows hot air into the open space of the bucket.
• The hot air is then forced up through a screen which holds the squash balls.
• The balls are then covered and heating begins.
Ball Warming Test
Shot Test
• Purpose was to effectively perform the serve, the drive, and the three wall boast
• The launcher should deliver ten shots in succession at an interval that would allow the player to have the opportunity to prepare for the next shot
• Results: All shots were performed successfully with 10 balls being fired in succession during each test
Shot Test: The Serve
• Launcher was set in the service box for the trial
• Consistently launched accurate serves as seen in the picture
Shot Test: The Serve
Shot Test: The Drive• Launcher was set just in front and to
the right of the service box and was aligned to shoot straight ahead and just below the service line
• Squash ball lands just behind the service box
Shot Test: The Drive
Shot Test: Three Wall Boast
• Launcher was placed just behind left service box
• The 3-wall boast went from the left wall to the centre of the front wall and then hit the right wall and landed
Shot Test: Three Wall Boast
Team 9 Practice
Testing Performance• All the design requirements were met for
the squash ball launcherDesign Requirements Testing Performance Meets Requirements?Fit through court door
Figure shows that the launcher meets the constraint
Weigh 200lbs or less Squash ball launcher weighs 160lbs
Hit a 3x3 target with 80% accuracy
Launcher has 100% accuracy for a 3x3 target
Must fire 10 consecutive shots
The launcher was able to deliver 10 shots without jamming
Variable Speeds (30 to 100 mph)
Maximum speed approximately 50mph
Variable angles The launchers' pivot point provided adjustable angles
Fixed time between shots
The controller for the hopper provided fixed and adjustable shot timing
Cost under $2000 Total cost for launcher was $900
Inherently Safe Launcher passed a safety inspection
BudgetComponent Total Cost
Metal $226.16
Motors AME 204 1021 $132.96
PWM DC Motor Speed Controller $138.04
Nuts, bolts, washers, screws $31.39
Electrical supplies (fuses, fuse holders, etc) and Hopper Motor
$42.61
Acrylic Sheet $62.15
Miscellaneous (Balls, Paint, Bearings, etc.) $279.11
Total Project Cost $912.42
Conclusion and Recommendations
• All design requirements were met with the exception of reaching a maximum ball velocity of 100 mph
• We could reach this goal by using more powerful motors
• Since heating the balls significantly increased the performance of the launcher the group would recommend attaching a ball heater directly to the squash ball launcher
• We would also suggest constructing the launcher from aluminum to further lower the weight
AcknowledgementsSpecial Thanks to Shell and the Department of
Mechanical Engineering
Dr. WarkentinDr. MilitzerDr. HubbardMark MacDonaldAlbert MurphyAngus MacPhersonMechanical Engineering Class
Questions?