Cotton Swab Crossbow

thingiverse

Of course you know, this means target practice! Load your miniature rubber-band powered crossbow with a cotton-swab projectile and challenge yourself to hit marks up to 10 feet away! Others have tried this before (e.g. check out http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:509659), but I couldn't resist designing my own version. This design simplifies the concept of miniature crossbows, using only printed parts except for the rubber band and cotton swabs. You can even print it in one piece without the "clip" part for a fully functional design. If you use the clip, though, it helps retain and align the projectile with the rubber band, improving its accuracy. Now let's move on to the instructions: First, glue the "Clip" part onto the crossbow if you want a more stable setup. Place a cotton swab inside to act as a spacer for the clip. Then, make sure to use a lightweight rubber band about 1.5mm thick for optimal performance. Cotton-swab projectiles are easy to make by simply cutting off one cotton ball from a two-ended swab. Just remember: handle with care, at your own risk. This crossbow is not suitable for children or adults, and please avoid pointing it at anyone or anything. A cotton swab is far from a "safe" projectile, so always wear eye protection when playing around.