HotWheels Launcher on Steroids

thingiverse

This launcher draws inspiration from https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2253033. It performs the same task as launching Hot Wheels cars but is designed from scratch, bringing some advantages and disadvantages compared to the original design. The new design is intended as an alternative rather than a successor, catering to different needs and preferences. Pros of the new design: - It is significantly more robust and sturdy. My kids had a lot of fun with the original design but eventually broke some parts. I redesigned it to withstand the forces that children can exert. - The new design allows for scaling the launching force/speed by adding more rubber bands, increasing capacity. However, this may lead to excessive speed, posing a risk if not handled properly. - When priming the shaft/piston, it automatically locks in position, eliminating the need to prime and lock simultaneously. This is an advantage from my perspective but acknowledges that the original design developed kids' dexterity, which the new design lacks. - Instead of extending the ramp to interface with the connected track, the new design features a hollow for using the original HotWheels track joint. This was one of the frequently broken parts in the original design due to children juggling the launcher during play, causing the joint to break off. The HotWheels original track joint is more resilient than printed parts, especially considering its size limitations. - A short barrel in the new design and a longer main body stabilize the car better, particularly in vertical axis. With the original design, cars showed a tendency to roll over or shoot sideways when increasing launching power. However, this behavior can be viewed as part of the fun (kids need to align the car well). It also serves as a safety feature by limiting launching speed. Cons of the design: - The massive build of the new design brings robustness and momentum but is large, taking a long time to print and requiring significantly more material than the original design. It also prints with supports, which may be challenging for some users. Additionally, it utilizes the full potential of my printer (25cm wide), making it unsuitable for smaller machines. - The barrel at the front stabilizes the cars but is limited in size, preventing some models from fitting inside. However, a vast majority should fit without issue. PRINTING: - I print the main body and shaft separately from each other, as well as the trigger and brake. Some rubber bands are also required on top. Fitting these parts together is straightforward, with perhaps the brake needing a bit of explanation. - The brake is held in place by two rubber bands, which slide into a slot at the beginning of the shaft while automatically locking it in place when fully primed. I recommend securing the rubber band to the bar and then sliding a thin wire through the slit from the bottom of the main body up, through the rubber band, and down again. - The trigger easily slides in and helps push the brake down to install the shaft (done once) and then releasing the shaft repeatedly as its primary function. Since the rubber bands used were too strong, I added a slot around the trigger and main body to wrap one rubber band around, keeping the trigger in place. - Adding the "shooting" rubber bands is easy: fix them around the bar on the main body and slide the band through the narrow slit at the bottom of the shaft. The slit is designed to be quite narrow, preventing the rubber bands from making their way out unintentionally unless forced. - The hollow for track joint is designed tight for purpose: once plugged in, it stays in place (and is meant to stay in). Disconnecting from the rest of the track on the opposite side leaves the joint in the main body. This thing is designed to last and deliver fun over an extended period. So have fun, make sure everybody around is safe, use at your own risk, and enjoy the massive velocity it can deliver to HotWheels cars! Comments and suggestions are welcome!