Lazy Dog, Slacker Dog, Barking Dog, Lost Dog Chip Launcher Lazy Dog, Slacker Dog, Barking Dog, Lost Dog

What’s the Point? To design a launcher that shoots a poker chip, 11.5g to 61.5g in weight, in to the desired target zone . This device must have a trigger and be ready to launch without any human contact. This device will be able to be setup in different positions for an optimum launch. The launcher must be less than or equal to 25x25x40 cm in size.

Idea Generation We compiled our best 3 initial ideas that are described in the next slides. When we first met up, we all collaborated and threw our ideas out and did not immediately pick one that we thought would be the best. Eventually we came to a group consensus that we were going to go with our first idea.

Idea Selection The first idea is a spring action. It could be launched by a rubber band or a spring. The poker chip would then be shot by a release. This is our most favored idea because it would be the easiest to align and calculate the landing. We all agreed that it would potentially be the easiest to manipulate and the most accurate. The only problem we encounter is the wear-and-tear on the band/spring.

Idea Selection A flywheel poker chip gun. It would work like a football shooter with two wheels and a push arm to shoot the poker chip. This idea would be good, however we feel as if it would be hard to create and align, considering the many variables we would face, but it is a possible idea.

Idea selection The third one would use a throw arm and a tension spring. This is like another kind of skeet shooter that acts like an arm and throws it side arm just like the mechanism used in most skeet shooters. We are skeptical with this one because it might be very inaccurate and has so many moving parts to it, allowing for many variables to alter the path of the poker chip.

Final Design Idea Currently our plan is to create a version of our first idea which uses a spring to launch the poker chip. The launcher itself can be set at different angles so that we could aim for different areas in the play field. We plan to manipulate the launch angle as well as the spring displacement accordingly for each target.

Timeline Construction of base in the wood shop Manufacturing barrel and other small parts with 3d printer Assembly of full poker chip launcher Launch testing and calibration