3D Printed Cap Launcher: Engineering Challenge

Challenge: To produce a bottle cap launcher.

Background: We wanted to look at extending a student who has shown an aptitude towards engineering, problem solving and working with the 3D Printer.    We were looking for a project and the student located via Thingiverse a 'bottle cap launcher'.   Once the concept and print was identified the student wanted to look at printing the design and then ensuring that it would work.   The design was available as a freely sourced print - however there were aspects the design that were intended to challenge the student.    In the original print the design is operated by using a coin which is US/American currency.     In New Zealand we don't have a coin that fits perfectly into the print so providing an alternative to counter balance the design was an issue.

Level of Difficulty: Medium.   The design plan, process and elements are an available print.  The challenge has come in the construction process to include a counter-weight to ensure that the device can launch.  The student was able to locate tutorial videos to explain this process online and was able to work these into the parts that he had printed and incorporate different strengths of rubber bands.

The student is experimenting with a range of objects that can be used by the launcher.   He has also been using different strength rubber bands to fit with the context of the print.   The student also spent time working on the design, identifying the screws that were required to put it together and working out the mechanism.

Size and Print Time: Both of these were dependent on a project that was created on Thingiverse and made available.    The challenge for the student was to print the individual pieces and engineer them working together as intended.   The time of the print was twelve hours in total.

What we would do differently next steps for the students: The idea is that this is a launching pad for the student to get excited about 3D Printing and create projects that would use the idea and concepts of the engineering - including having a launcher and mechanism trigger as part of a working print.