Publication Date

Fall 2021

Document Type

Final Report

Embargo Date

12-10-2021

Problem Statement

The volleyball setter has certain patents that utilize some sort of rotational component or is a stationary platform that the ball rests on before the player hits it. Our design is different because it utilizes the mechanical properties of springs to propel the ball forwards. We had certain specifications to meet to allow the volleyball to be natural in its trajectory and able to be shot efficiently and effectively. Some specifications required positioning adjustments and some defined how the ball should be propelled through the air. We also had parameters involving cost, weight, and the repeatability of the mechanism to hit a desired target. We started with a prototype that represented the general concepts that we wanted to instill in our project and critique ones that wouldn’t be possible. We evaluated what was desirable to have in the full scale volleyball setter and ranked our groups ideas based on certain criteria such as safety, consistency, and transportation. We then used AutoCAD to design a model of how we were going to bring this idea into fruition. Starting the construction of our project, we computed optimal positioning of the mechanism that the shooter will rest on to meet angle specifications. We also computed the distance it will travel based on the spring constants and found springs that would meet predetermined distances. Our safety factor was another important characteristic involved in constructing something that has a large amount of potential energy involved in operating it. We minimized the risk of injury and our safety factor was relatively high. Our final product meets all specifications that apply and comes with a pretty cool decal as well.

Author's School

McKelvey School of Engineering

Author's Department

Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

Class Name

Mechanical Engineering Design Project (MEMS 411)

Download

Share

COinS