Results tagged “catapult”

On his Maker Faire profile, Peter Ruck, creator of mousetrap catapult guns, states: “With a broken back from a train-hopping incident over 7 years ago, I need ways to stay busy and avoid the pain. Teaching after school and creating is what I do for that.” So he splits his time up volunteering at the YMCA and Make-a-Wish Foundation and “building random things.” The guns he makes are “powered by mousetraps and bungee cords [and are] ready for action. They are generally made of found objects and store-bought goods.” The guns can shoot all sorts of “ammo”—pencils, for example. They’re customized, too—“Some even have a beer opener.” Others incorporate forks and spoons.

Mark Winkler will be at Maker Faire, with Mongo, his trebuchet—that’s catapult to those of you who aren’t familiar with medieval weaponry. When not building a catapult capable of hurling a fifteen pound watermelon 240 yards, Winkler is a layout design engineer (aka chip designer). He answered a few questions for us about Mongo.

If you do happen to have a trebuchet lying around the house (or if you are willing to build one), consider entering the King of Fling Catapult Contest taking place at this year's Maker Faire. Your hurling machine will be judged on accuracy, and must follow the guidelines laid out in the King of Fling Contest Manual (version 1.2). Eligible catapults can be gravity, spring, or human powered and should be built to hurl four ounce water balloons at targets approximately 80 feet away from the firing line.