I Made an INSANE Ball Launcher For My Dog!

In an attempt to save my arm from playing fetch for hours on end with my dog, I designed a ball launcher that will do all the heavy lifting, or throwing, for me! Huge thanks to PCBWay for Sponsoring this video! www.pcbway.com/
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Parts (Affiliate Links):
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Website write up: www.modhobbyist.com/projects/22
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Timeline:
0:00 - Intro
1:04 - Brainstorm
2:40 - PCBWay (Video Sponsor)
3:30 - Version 1 Build
6:50 - Version 1 Test!
7:36 - Version 2 Updates
9:27 - Version 3 Updates
10:20 - Reveal
10:45 - Version 3 Test
11:09 - Final Thoughts
12:25 - Fun Doggo Moments
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[@josephisherwood1723]

I had the Hot Wheels car launcher as a kid too but I remember mine having foam wheels inside the tunnel that gripped the car. I would try wrapping your printed wheels with velcro but not the hook side but the fuzzy side. I buy packs of velcro that have very sticky back side to apply it easily where you need it. You can even put in a screw or two to hold the ends down so not to lift off. Or you might try the insulting foam stick around window ac units or doors. If all else fails wrap the wheels with duct tape one, two or three turns. It will have a little bit of flexibility and should grip the balls tighter.

[@maxboskeljon6440]

Epic

[@josephisherwood1723]

I eventually just made a potato gun with the barrel being ever so slightly smaller than the tennis ball. they shoot the ball about 450 feet and I have time to drink a beer. What I can't figure out is why my dog keeps coming back. I love this dog and he never stops making us laugh. He always has a tennis ball in his mouth and ready to run.

[@lorneshantz4892]

Glue some sand paper to the wheels. It needs a longer ramp so the ball is moving before it hits the wheels IMHO

[@ModernHobbyist]

I might have to try that. I put electrical tape on the wheels thinking it’d act more like rubber, but it immediately ripped off and cut the crap out of my hand 😬

[@adithyasakthivel4078]

I just realised that you forgot to mention the terminals that you soldered to the power distribution board in the description... Also can I use the same battery for an alternate motor (It's from the same manufacturer Globact 550 21T 80A motor)?

[@dennishines9996]

instead of launching with just two wheels launch it down a set of skid steer tracks miniature of course

[@ModernHobbyist]

Ooooooh that’s a good idea! I definitely didn’t have enough grip from just the two wheels.

[@JesseFlannery]

I was hoping for it to shoot the ball so much farther.

[@ModernHobbyist]

Me too 😩 I may have to revisit this project tbh. Thanks for watching!

[@Rumpelstilzchen2323]

Throw away the rubber inside and glue the tire on the axis

[@BriceStuart]

You should try to replace the wheels with some knurled metal flywheels, grip on the ball may still be an issue though 🤔but the potential energy would be there, not just from the motors torque. cool project! I need to build one for my dog!

[@ModernHobbyist]

Thanks for the comment! Hopefully I can figure something out in the future!

[@controlfreq9346]

just glue the tires to the rims like every RC car in the world. Different foam will allow the tires to grip better, again the RC car world has different foam you can try. Also a single ESC will work and lose the electronics, you can simplify this project by at least 75%. Mounting it in a box for the dog to self load would also be a huge plus.

[@ilovevsm.comkenmorevintage2150]

After all that, she’s afraid of it… bahahahaa… love it. Thanks

[@ModernHobbyist]

The list of things Piper isn’t afraid of is shorter 😂