Spring Sprinter 3

Thread Starter

Hello

Joined Dec 18, 2008
82
How would I be able to estimate the energy and power of a torsional spring (similar to one used in a mouse trap)?

Any help is appreciated.
 

Bernard

Joined Aug 7, 2008
5,784
From your drawing: What is stationary and what rotates? Can you place a bearing in the center bore, front and back; attach a crank to an axle thru the bearing ,with a hole for the pin[#1] ?? Wind up the spring ,counting the turns.Measure crank arm from axle to handle,measure force needed to keep crank from turning from start to fully wound. use spring scale or a container of weights. Two X crank length X ∏ X turns willgive a good indication of work that spring can do. Need something greater than 10,000 cm-grams.
 

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Bernard

Joined Aug 7, 2008
5,784
Woops...I thought your drawing was a nice encased spring mech. The same approach can be used with linear tortional springs. Thanks to thingmaker3 you can put real numbers on your spring. For Deg, use 360 X turns.
Not only does trolley want to go 2 m, but in a hurry.
What are size limitations.
What do you have to work with, drill press, table saw,etc.??
 

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Bernard

Joined Aug 7, 2008
5,784
Have you considerd using a sling-shot? Place a two Kgram weight on the trolly, shoot it of with strong springs; weight goes 1/2 meter trolly goes other direction like a bat out of Carlsbad Caverns. Might earn brownie points or disqualification.
 
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