Post by thread:[EE:] Sled propulsion

Jinx wrote: > Does anyone have suggestions (and hopefully practical > experience) for methods of propelling a sled on a track ? A snowy hill usually works. ***************************************************************** Embed Inc, embedded system specialists in Littleton Massachusetts (978) 742-9014, http://www.embedinc.com -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

> > experience) for methods of propelling a sled on a track ? > > A snowy hill usually works. Ah-ha, the obvious. Specify that proper operation is not guaranteed away from the Cresta Run or Aspen -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

.> > experience) for methods of propelling a sled on a track ? >> >> A snowy hill usually works. > >Ah-ha, the obvious. Specify that proper operation is not >guaranteed away from the Cresta Run or Aspen In view of the discussion of tennis ball lobbers, have you considered the possibility of a clay pigeon launcher, or whatever they happen to be called. -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

Jinx wrote: > > A snowy hill usually works. > > Ah-ha, the obvious. Specify that proper operation is not > guaranteed away from the Cresta Run or Aspen Does anybody remember IBM-360 hard disk drives with the great linear drives? Cylinder magnet and a sled inside. Few of them lined up will look awfully (though not as awfully as new NASA's underground launcher project) Mike. -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

It has just come to me ! Change the angle of inclination ov the track such that it is perpendicular to a level plane ! This should then assure you of maximum acceleration with no added weight so the whole of the weight budget can be devoted to minimizing friction with the guide rail and the air. Better till do away with the air this would negate even more ov the friction. Hence the only thing to worry about is the friction between the sled and guide rail ! (pulse jet wont work in a vacuum) you may need solid fuel booster ! Steve..... {Original Message removed}

> > Does anyone have suggestions (and hopefully practical > > experience) for methods of propelling a sled on a track ? > A snowy hill usually works. Yes, that would do it! However, due to the largish value of acceleration required (something over 50 earth normal g), the snowy hill would probably need to be located somewhere deep in the gravity well of Jupiter. Water snow may have problems there so other surfacing materials may be needed (maybe eg iron snow). Russell McMahon -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList spam_OUTpiclist-unsubscribe-requestTakeThisOuTmitvma.mit.edu

Unfortunately this provides only 2% of the OP's desired acceleration! Nick ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve Smith" <.....xygaxKILLspam@spam@BLUEYONDER.CO.UK> To: <PICLISTKILLspamMITVMA.MIT.EDU> Sent: Friday, January 09, 2004 12:20 PM Subject: Re: [PICLIST] [EE:] Sled propulsion {Quote hidden}> It has just come to me ! > > Change the angle of inclination ov the track such that it is > perpendicular to a level plane ! This should then assure you of maximum > acceleration with no added weight so the whole of the weight budget can > be devoted to minimizing friction with the guide rail and the air. > Better till do away with the air this would negate even more ov the > friction. Hence the only thing to worry about is the friction between > the sled and guide rail ! > > (pulse jet wont work in a vacuum) you may need solid fuel booster ! > > Steve..... > > {Original Message removed}