13 replies to this topic

[Yognog]

So i had an idea of making a realistic cable launch for slim track. I have made a somewhat realistic cable launch before but... i was not very happy with the performance and consistency. with slim track being, well slim i though why cant i just use a flat board (with the correct thickness) as a nice sturdy base for creating a launch. Im feeling confident that i have the skill to build a cable launch 100% from scratch. Right now im in Canada so i cant build anything... thankfully i have my laptop with me so i was able to get onto SketchUp and come up with a simple and (in theory) effective design for a cable launch.

This is what i came up with

So i wanted to go with something as simple as possible because i would have to make all the parts by hand, sadly i dont have access to a CNC machine
This design i believe i can complete with the tools and materials available to me. So now, more pictures!
Top

Left (I think xD)

Right

Here you can see the cable car and the trigger thing that releases the cable car.

A better look at the trigger

The trigger will be activated by a servo at the base if the launch

Rubber bands or surgical tubing will be to the front of the cable car towards the front of the launch. I dont even know why im telling you guys this, all of you know how a cable launch works. xD

The mock hydraulic box thing

The blue spindle will be the thing that pulls the cable car into launch position so in theory you could make this fully automated

Now for a better look at the cable car


So there you have it my slim track launch idea.


This design is not set in stone, when i build this stuff might and probably will change. This could also be built to launch SS style coasters, and to be honest it would probably be much easier to build. xD anyway hope you guys like it, i will update when i buy the materials required to build this. please comment, it would make me a very happy yognog

[Witting]

look very good and not to complicated! but how will you connect the other track pieces?

[Micronex]

This looks brilliant!
You should definitely keep going with the idea - although I'm not really one for understanding the advanced stuff, it seems like it'll work and I think you can get it to

[Maxlaam]

I have an issue with your spindle that pulls the catchcar back into place. Once it's fully retracted, where do you leave that cable? Because if you would launch it, the spindle would be holding it back. Simply unwinding before launching it, isn't going to work.

Another tip, I think a solenoid may have better potential into holding the catchcar. It has a linear action and is very fast. Saves a couple of wires because it has an on or off state and basically a button press is all you need for it to work.

[The Stig]

I would love to see something like that.
Can I ask what dimensions you used for the track?

[Yognog]

~Update~

I was able to go to the hobby shop today and pick up almost if not all the parts needed to complete this. For the track i am using Styrene, and the spine i am using balsa wood.


Here is the Styrene i found for the rails, its even in half tubes so i dont have to do as much work cutting it. lol

More flat Styrene for the rails and to hold the cable car down.

The wood for the spine

The spindle that pulls the cable car back needs to spine really well at high speeds. I got some ball bearings to solve that problem

-Stig, i will get the dimensions for you next update

[Yognog]

Double post
~Update~
So i have gotten LOTS of work done on this and to be honest this is a really easy project, so easy i will make a tutorial so people can make on of their own! Oh yeah just for future reference if i edit a post will it show up on the Recent Form Posts? Any way, i have gotten the spine thing done as well as all of the track! the cars actually work better on this track then the regular K'nex track. xD well i will explain more with pictures

To start, here is a super sexy view down the track

For people who want measurements (Stig) here is the width of the spine (15mm)

Full width of the track (29mm)

Width of track with out rails (23mm)

width of the parts that hold the cable car into place (16mm)

The actual width of the slot for the cable car is 10mm but i dont have a picture of that.

Here you can see the cars sit very well onto the track.

As you could probably tell i used the rails from the K'nex track as the rails for this, that made it very easy for me to create connection points for other track.


The rails glued on very easily. I used some of the old style track so it was easy to make smooth connections.


Every thing just came together so well, that made me a very happy guy

This is the cable car, very simple. I had to layer the parts to make this as strong as possible.

The car sits very well in the slot made for it


And Maxlaam i was thinking about using the solenoid if my system did not work well, but mine did so that saves me the extra money for something else.


Thats it for this update. please comment so i dont have to triple post xD

[timtimlaz]

Thats pretty awesome! How fast does it go? This thing looks very cool! Now all we have to do is find a way to make the speed loss not as bad...

[IOAgeek]

Ya it's looks cool so far for a vv launch coaster, can we see a video, of the coaster in action then, too!

[Jumpge]

Honestly, when I first saw this thread I had no idea what you'd do with those pieces you had bought. Now I can see that you've made something that's super easy to use! Now the only question is, does it work well?

Also, I just thought of this when reading through what you had written in the update: What is the difference between the new and the old VV tracking and when did they change it?

[Turtle Man 24]

^The difference between the new and old track is that the old track had metal pins unlike the new track which has plastic tabs. I know this because I have both kinds of track. I'm not sure when they made the change, but they done it because there was a safety concern about little kids stabbing their selves with the metal pins on the track.

Btw, nice little launch you got there!

[The Stig]

https://forums.playf...06e201b3cd2e3f9

[Rushfriend]

Looks very nice,I can't wait to see it launch.

Hope you make a very nice coaster after the launch.

Greets Rushfiend

[Terry Hughes]

any updates??? almost a year since the pictures!