DIY PingPong Ball Launcher

In this Instructable I will be explaining how to make a ping pong launcher at home! This ping pong launcher is simple to make and easy to use. By using two flat DC motors the ping pong will be launched out of a cardboard tube. All items used to make this ping pong launcher are easily accessible, easy to CAD, and at home supplies.

Supplies

• 1- 8"x1" wooden piece
• 1- 4"x0.5" wooden piece
• 2 plastic bottle caps
• 1-7" cardboard pipe
• 1-6" cardboard pipe
• 1- battery holder
• 1- switch
• 2- flat DC motors
• double sided tape
• electrical tape
• solder wire
• batteries
• ping pong ball

Tools

• soldering iron
• hot glue gun
• box cutter
• scissors

The first step is to make sure you have all the materials and tools needed to make your ping pong launcher. Then you will cut your 7" and 6" cardboard pipe. On one side of the 7" pipe you will need to cut out a 2"x2" square on top of the tube. On the other side of the 7" pipe you will need to cut out a square on the top that is 2" wide and 1" length. On the same side of the 7" pipe you will cut out another 2"x1" square on the bottom. You will then hot glue the 6" pipe on the 7" pipe. Make sure you glue it to the side that has the 2"x2" square.

After you finish cutting out the pipes to the correct size, you will need to start soldering the wires together. Wrap double sided tape around the plastic bottle caps and make a hole in the center of the caps. You will then have to connect the top of the flat DC motors to the bottle caps, and hot glue them to the center of the bottle caps. Then you will hot glue the bottom of the motors to one side of the 8"x1" wooden piece. Make sure the bottle caps are a ping pong size apart from each other. After you glue down the motors you will glue on the battery holder and the switch to the other side of the wooden piece. Next you will have to start soldering the wires together. Connect one of each motor wire together and then connect it to one of the battery wires. Once all three wires are connected solder the wires together and wrap electrical tape around it. You will then connect the other two motor wires together and then connect the two wires to one of the switch wires. After you connect the wires solder them together and put electrical tape around it. Lastly solder the other battery wire and switch wire together and put electrical tape around it.

The final step is to attach the three pieces together. Make sure the 8" wood piece is horizontal when you hot glue one side of the 7" cardboard pipe on to it. Then you will make a diagonal cut on the 4" wooden piece before hot gluing it on the opposite end of the 8" wooden piece. Once you have hot glued all of the parts together it is time to test your ping ball launcher.