Squash Ball Launcher

Team #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 Problem

The 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 Testing

Test 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 launcher

Design 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

Budget

Component 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?