1. Travis Frank Ned Feltham Corey Clarke Shawn Belliveau
Squash Ball Launcher
Team #9
Travis Frank Ned Feltham Corey Clarke Shawn Belliveau

2. Presentation Outline Design Problem Design Requirements The Design
Testing
Design Performance
Budget
Conclusions
Questions

3. 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

4. Design Requirements
The 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

5. The Design

6. Frame
Pivot Point
Caster

7. Drive Train ½” Pillow Block Driving Disc Coupler
DC motor controlled by PWM

8. Drive Train

9. Hopper
Cog
Casing
Hopper Motor
Custom Tube

10. Hopper

11. Design Testing Test Completed Test Goal Portability
Must fit through squash court door and weigh less than 200 lbs
Accuracy
Must 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
Shot
Perform the serve, drive, and three wall boast

12. Portability Test
Weight: 160 lbs

13. 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

14. Accuracy Test

15. 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

16. Speed Test

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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.

20. Ball Warming Test

21. 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

22. Shot Test: The Serve Launcher was set in the service box for the trial
Consistently launched accurate serves as seen in the picture

23. Shot Test: The Serve

24. 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

25. Shot Test: The Drive

26. 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

27. Shot Test: Three Wall Boast

28. Team 9 Practice

29. 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

30. Budget Total Project Cost $912.42 Component Total Cost Metal $226.16
Motors AME
$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

31. 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

32. Special Thanks to Shell and the Department of Mechanical Engineering
Acknowledgements
Special Thanks to Shell and the Department of Mechanical Engineering
Dr. Warkentin
Dr. Militzer
Dr. Hubbard
Mark MacDonald
Albert Murphy
Angus MacPherson
Mechanical Engineering Class

33. Questions?