Ping Pong Launcher Centered around Mechanical Design

As part of a mechanical design project, I designed and built a rubber band-powered ping pong ball launcher capable of consistently launching a ball into a basketball hoop from distances of 1 metre and 1.5 metres. The launcher features a wooden frame base providing structural rigidity, with 3D-printed components including an adjustable sliding carriage, a launch arm with a ball cradle, and a trigger release mechanism. The carriage slides along a track to allow for range adjustment between the two target distances, while the rubber band tension provides the stored elastic energy for launching. A servo-actuated trigger mechanism controls the release of the arm, enabling repeatable and consistent launches. The adjustable geometry of the system allowed for tuning of both launch angle and power to achieve the required trajectory at each distance. The project developed practical skills in mechanical design, 3D printing, energy transfer principles, and iterative prototyping to achieve repeatable ballistic performance.