Cardboard Trebuchet

Welcome to our Instructable! We will be creating a Cardboard Trebuchet!

Please visit our schools engineering website www.sphsengineering.com

This was done as a engineering class project, and we had a set of rules to go by.

1. The trebuchet had to be made entirely of cardboard. For the parts that allow movement, PVC piping, string, and aluminum foil were allowed.
2. The trebuchet had to be waterproof! For this, we were allowed to do this by any means necessary, without inhibiting the function of the trebuchet.
3. The trebuchet must fit within a box with the dimensions 18in x 18in x 18in
4. The minimum distance the trebuchet must throw to is 30ft.

***AN IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE***
While working with any tools, safety is of the utmost importance. That is why, while working on this project and any other, you must wear eye protection. You must also be sure that you keep long hair tied back and keep things off of around your neck.
Following these basic safety procedures will ensure a safe working environment while working on this project.

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Step 1: Gathering the Materials and Tools

Materials List:

-Cardboard (35 sq ft)
-PVC Piping. 15 inches (40 cm) long with a 7/8-inch outer diameter and 5/8-inch inner diameter.
-PVC Piping. 15 inches (40 cm) long with a 1-inch outer diameter and a 7/8-inch inner diameter.

-Wood Glue. Recommended at least 1 gallon (4 Liters)
-Two tubes of Caulk. Recommended latex acrylic with silicon.
-Stiff yet flexible single strand copper wire. 3 inches (8 cm) should be difficult to bend with fingers.
-String. 2 yards (2 meters)
-Aluminum Foil, Aluminum Tape, or equivalent.

-Weatherproof spray paint of your choosing.
-15 Hot glue sticks.
-2 to 2.5 lbs (1 kilogram) of miscellaneous nuts and bolts for weight (or equivalent).

Tools List

-Saw. We recommend a band saw for making precise cuts. Any saw will do.

-Hand saw.

-Sandpaper. 120 Grit.

-2 pairs of pliers. You have to bend some metal with these. Two are used for proper grip.

-Caulk Gun

-Hot glue gun

-Scissors

-Ruler

-Pen

-Wood file

-Box Cutter or Razor Knife

-Drill (We used a drill press)

-1-inch (or however large the outer diameter of the larger PVC pipe is.) drill bit or hole saw.

talkomi says: Apr 11, 2012. 3:35 PM

I assume the measurements are in centimeters.

talkomi says: Apr 11, 2012. 3:33 PM

You guys who made the instructions are really stupid because you have wrong conversions and didn't bother to write on the type of measurement you were using diagrams of how to make the sides, arm, base and bucket of.

amit223 says: Oct 18, 2011. 4:11 PM

The minimum distance was 30 ft. How far did it actually go when tested?

useraaaaa says: Jul 12, 2011. 10:27 AM

yaak