Table Top Trebuchet Cardboard or 3d Printed

I like trebuchets. Being able to make things for a low cost (around $0) is also something I enjoy. Combining the two of these has brought me the desktop cardboard trebuchet. I hope you enjoy this. Notice that the ($0) is because I already had some of the tools I needed. I understand that some people may not have these tools and that the cost may be more than $0. I created the 3d printable trebuchet design in the: free for students and easy-to-use, program Fusion 360.

Cardboard cutter (optional, this makes things faster)

Any size Amazon box. (I think. The one I made this out of was only 8 inches long and like 6 wide.)

Hot Glue Gun (or Glue stick, but it won't work as well.)

Scissors

Paper clip (Optional)

6 oz of sand or gravel. (This is to be used as a weight)

Long toothpicks (like 4 inches)

Pencil

A ruler

A one-handed hole puncher. (Will be used on cardboard, holes should be less than 0.5 in big.)

Duck tape

And if you don't want to do the cardboard one, this is a more complex 3d printable one. It should have more range. I haven't printed it to test it though. (Yet)

3d Printer

Computer to slice

It is about 345 grams of filament. (3 walls 15% infill, supports enabled.)

Glue can be substituted at any point for duck tape. You can be creative about it.

Also, each "Step" is actually just a heading. Each one contains more steps inside it.

Instructables has it mostly right. But, instead of being the first person to share this, you should be the most recent. :)

Cut out 6 9-inch long 1-inch wide strips of cardboard. (Throwing Arm)

Cut out 3 12-inch long 3-inch wide strips of cardboard. (Base)

Cut out 4 7.25-inch long 1.5-inch wide strips of cardboard. (Supports)

Cut out 2 5-inch long by 1-inch wide strip of cardboard. (L-Bracket)

Cut out 1 2-inch long by 1.5-inch wide strip of cardboard. (Bucket)

Cut out 4 7-inch long by 1-inch wide strips of cardboard. (Angled supports)

Cut out 2 3.5-inch long by 1.5-inch wide strips of cardboard. (Connectors)

Cut out 2 5-inch long by 1-inch wide strips of cardboard. (Bucket Holder.)

Cut out 2 2.5-inch long by 1-inch wide strips of cardboard. (More connectors)

Cut out 1 7.25-inch long by 3-inch wide strip of cardboard. (Weight holder)

Yeah, I know there aren't enough photos and that it needs 2 more pics.

Cover one side of a base piece with a glue stick, or do a zig-zag pattern with hot glue.

Next place one base piece on top, firmly pressing them together for 10 seconds.

Repeat so that all three base pieces are sandwiched together.

Glue both 3-inch by 1-inch pieces in the middle of the base piece. Refer to the image for clarity. Then bend them up creating 2 90-degree folds on the base (It is okay if they bend back down, you just need the crease). Refer to the image.

One inch from the top of each 7.25-inch long 1.5-inch wide strip of cardboard. (Supports) punch out a hole 1 inch from the top. If you are using a pencil as an axle make sure the pencil fits. If you are using long toothpicks make sure 3 can fit.

Glue together 2 7.25-inch long 1.5-inch wide strips of cardboard. (Supports)

Repeat so that you have 2 extra thick pieces of cardboard. One for each side.

Next glue each support to each flap on the base. The support should also come down and be glued to the side of the base as well. The bottom of the support should be even with the bottom of the base.

After that glue 3.5 x 1.5 inch connectors to each support. This helps stop them from moving apart.

Next glue each angled support facing out onto each corner of the base.

Then proceed to fold each one up onto the supports so that there are angled supports, and glue them there.

Punch holes 2.5 inches up each throwing arm piece. These should fit your axle.

Glue the 6 9-inch x 1-inch throwing arm pieces together the same way you glued the base pieces together. Make sure all holes line up!

Create a cylinder with roughly a 2.25 in diameter. Or just wind it around whatever weight you are using, and then tape it closed. I wound the cardboard around a can of that size.

Bend both 2.5 x 1-inch connectors 90 degrees, 1 inch down. Glue the longer side of each one to the side of the throwing arm. They should be sticking out in the same direction as the holes. Refer to picture.

Glue the flaps on the throwing arm onto the cylinder.

Proceed to then bend the 2x1.5-inch cardboard piece to make a curved section. Glue each bucket holder onto each side of the curved section to make the "Bucket".

Glue the "Bucket" onto the end of the throwing arm.

Tape or glue at least 3 toothpicks together to use as an axle OR use a 4-inch vex axle and put on collars. I guess you could even use a long Lego axle. Just anything that fits.

Next, push the axle partway through, then put on the throwing arm and finish pushing the axle all the way through. Depending on how tight of a fit it is for the axle, you may need to glue or tape the ends of it to the supports so that it does not slide out.

Your trebuchet is now ready to launch small projectiles (lego pieces) across the table! Have fun. The next several steps are on creating the 3d printed one.

You will need to download the .stl file. Then put it into your slicer that you use for your 3d printer. You will need to print:

-1 throwing arm

-1 Long axle

- 1short axle

-2 spacers

-1 base

-1 weight holder

I included some type of Fusion file. You might be able to edit it and make adjustments.

The print pieces should all fit together.

Insert the long axle partway through the holes at the top of the base. Put on one spacer.

Then put on the throwing arm.

Next, push the axle forward and put the second spacer on.

Connect the end of the throwing arm to the weight holder like a puzzle piece. Insert the short axle.

If desired, you can scale the print in your slicer.

On the ends of all axles put some duct tape on just to make it larger so the axle doesn't come out. If you can't imagine how to do this, don't worry. They probably won't come out.

Disclaimer : I think I wrote somewhere in the Instructable that it can go across the room. All I'm gonna claim is the table.