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Open Houses and TREBUCHET WARS
Wed, 10/19/2011 - 15:06 — Ruthan
We'll have two competition divisions each day we have open houses:
Division 1 will be larger trebuchets built in advance. Competitors will be building for both strength and distance, constructing engines that can hurl objects over 50 yards to destroy their opponent's trebuchet.
Division A will be trebuchets built entirely at TechShop that day. Points will be awarded based on construction technique, object(s) launched, and distance.
Rules and Restrictions:
Maximum arm length: 7'
Projectile weight: Limit: 8 lbs
Counterweight will be calculated based on projectile weight and trebuchet geometry. Maximum limit: 300 lbs
November 5 and 12
Division 1: 1 PM
Division A: 5 PM
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Comments
Is this just for bragging
Is this just for bragging rights, or are there prizes involved?
Building even a smaller trebuchet is a fair amount of work, and that's not a whole lot of time. It seems it would make better sense to arrange the competitions the other way around to give more time for advance construction.
And "destroy their opponent's trebuchet" . . . . how exactly would that work? If we're talking about trading shots from some sort of standoff distance it could be a mess. You'd need a space large enough for safe firing in both directions, and it would be hard to watch since spectators would have to relocate every shot to be a safe distance and not downrange. Plus you'd have to be lobbing projectiles capable of actually destroying the opposing trebuchet . . . . which is serious business, since they're going to be made of pressure treated lumber at the least (and we all know somebody would break out the welder and go for indestructible). Seems like a straight competition for putting the biggest projectile the furthest distance using some sort of rubric would be a better plan.
trebuchet
Why not set limits for arm length and counter balance weight for each class? Setting up targets as the 'opponents' would keep firing in the same direction and could be adjusted in size to adjust for accuracy or lack thereof. Just a thought.
competition location
Do you guys have a location for the competition yet? I've got a large farm/field just a couple miles the other side of Brier Creek from you if you would like to use it. How big of a field would you need.
Lee
onager
Is this competition purely for trebuchets or are other type of siege craft welcome such as an onager
Also as we all know a trebuchet can hurl something fairly far..............so what are the limiting parameters and what sort of object will we be throwing?
The working plan is to use
The working plan is to use the parking lot next to building 3. We aren't actually aiming to be able to destroy city walls ( ... this time.)
So, okay, "destroy" might be poetic license/dramatic exaggeration. Hitting a trebuchet with a trebuchet is probably a sufficient challenge. (I do like the target idea from a logistics standpoint ... convenience or excitement? UGH AWFUL DECISION.)
I'm not sure about the onager (... do you have one?)
Current firing load is estimated in the 7-9 pound range. I don't personally have a lot of experience with siegecraft but our resident expert will probably have input on counterweights/arm lengths ...
Oh yeah, and prizes: we'll
Oh yeah, and prizes: we'll figure something out (though I can't imagine anything that would compare to the satisfaction of LAUNCHING STUFF.)
no I dont have one on
no I dont have one on hand
just a little simpler for me to build since I have built one in the past
Yes, Virginia, there is an Onager
We have one! Would love to come participate but will be at the World Championship Pumpkin Chunkin Association in Deleware that weekend. FYI, a treb can chunk an 8 to 10 pound pumpkin 1500 to 2000+ feet (and an onager 2000 to 3000 feet) and there's little control of where it lands. A wide open field and good crowd control is important. These machines are powerful. Okay, I'll stop being Mom.
We are actively looking for a larger place for us to practice. So (Lee or anyone else) if you have the space, we'd love to talk to you. We can be reached through our site:
Check out www.onager.net
I've seen the pumpkin chunkin
I've seen the pumpkin chunkin videos!
However, since we're going for accuracy rather than distance, and the opposing trebuchet or target isn't going to be 2000 feet away, it would behoove one to decrease the counterweight accordingly. :)
"Counterweight will be
"Counterweight will be calculated" -- Isn't the counterweight selection and construction part of the trebuchet design? In other words, aren't teams doing their own calculations?
So its just over a week until
So its just over a week until this supposed competition and we have no rules or details whatsoever. Is this actually going to happen or not?
Materials!
Recently I was in contact with the granite and marble place next door to TechShop and noticed that they have probably eight or nine tons of scrap wood in the back of their location. If anyone has a small metal detector, that might not be a bad source for lumber.
trebs, science, and inspiring the next generation of makers
Planning to bring my family with me on 11/5. If there are competitors who would like to bring their engines to an elementary school, I'm coordinating our school's Math and Science Night on 11/17 and we would LOVE to have you join us. Our school's grounds are shared with a community park, so there is even room for some demonstration hurling. Contact me through my school website or talk with me on Saturday at 1.
Ooh, cool! We'll see you
Ooh, cool! We'll see you this weekend!
How did the first competition go?
What was turn out like and will there be others?
Tomorrow will be better
Come see us on Saturday the 12th of November.
I hope it will be a day to remember.
The first one was mostly building and testing, but this weekend we will have one with a 7 foot beam! Should prove to be ...interesting...!