Home Creators Posts Import Register Favorites Logout

Content

I love my tools, but the only reason I have them is so that I can make cool things. This is why I've been hesitant to do a shop tour video for the channel - showing just the tools feels like I'd be missing something important. 

A few weeks ago I had some inspiration. My idea was to use all the tools in my shop to build something simple but cool. This would let me focus on the tools and what they can do while also giving some fun results. Ultimately I decided to use each of my major tools to build a different catapult of some kind. This turned out to be a really fun design constraint that forced me to get creative. I'm really happy with how it shows a ton of ways of approaching the same problem.

Part way through making the projects I forgot that the launchers were supposed to be simple and I ended up making quite a few complicated things. Even though this video is my longest ever at almost 35 minutes, I barely scratched the surface of each of the launchers. This is a happy accident since it gives me a lot of smaller projects to dig into on the second channel.

Thanks for all the support! I'm planning to do a livestream commentary for all you lovely patrons in the coming week or two. Hope you enjoy the video!

- Shane

Files

Hundreds of tools. 9 catapults, 1 prank

Visit https://micro.center/15f024 to enter your email address for a free pair of wireless Bluetooth headphones. Join the MicroCenter Community: https://micro.center/516c8a Check out the MicroCenter Custom PC Builder: https://micro.center/051b1c More detailed videos coming soon on my second channel: http://tinyurl.com/smhtoo Help support these videos on patreon: http://patreon.com/stuffmadehere ------------------------------ Welcome to my shop. Today we'll be designing and building nine different ball bearing launching catapults. Why? Other than being a lot of fun, the catapults are the perfect vehicle to show you all of my major tools, how they work, and why I have them. I had fun making these, I hope you enjoy them too. The tools used in the video (some links are affiliate links): Autodesk inventor: https://www.autodesk.com/products/inventor Center punch: https://amzn.to/3jmc0w9 Bandsaw: https://www.harborfreight.com/10-amp-deep-cut-variable-speed-band-saw-64194.html Drill press: https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200659137_200659137 Fractional drills: https://amzn.to/2SyM7Oz Number drills: https://amzn.to/3x8zbxS Belt sander: https://www.harborfreight.com/1-in-x-30-in-belt-sander-61728.html Vise: https://amzn.to/3w7QuxM Corded drill: https://www.ebay.com/itm/384234059608 Rusty chisel: https://www.ebay.com/itm/174606926159 Form 3: http://bit.ly/form-3-printer Fuse 1: http://bit.ly/fuse-1-printer Form wash: https://formlabs.com/store/form-wash/ Work at Formlabs!: http://bit.ly/formlabs-jobs Tormach 24R: https://hubs.ly/H0rSZY60 Plastic nail gun: https://amzn.to/3hkpTYT Horizontal bandsaw: https://www.grizzly.com/products/g0613 Mini mill: https://www.micromark.com/Milling-Machine-R8-500W Knee mill: https://www.precisionmatthews.com/shop/pm-935ts-tv/ Kurt vise: https://amzn.to/3qGJqr2 Tormach 1100mx https://hubs.ly/H0rSZsq0 microARC 4th axis: https://tormach.com/microarc-4-4th-axis-38412.html Bondhus drivers: https://amzn.to/3qyPb9U SMW mod vise: https://saundersmachineworks.com/products/modular-vise SMW tooling plate: https://saundersmachineworks.com/products/tormach_1100_aluminum_fixture_plate Thermal camera: https://amzn.to/3dJkBFJ Hypertherm powermax 45xp: https://www.hypertherm.com/en-US/hypertherm/powermax/powermax45-xp/ Tormach 1300PL https://hubs.ly/H0HZ8-y0 Die grinder: https://amzn.to/3dsOGsV Angle grinder: https://amzn.to/3AcKtmI Vulcan protig 200: ACCESS DENIED Hobart welding helmet: https://amzn.to/3hxZ9Vh Rhinocart: https://amzn.to/3A8hVe9 Ring roller: https://www.harborfreight.com/gear-driven-ring-roller-36790.html Optitrack cameras: https://www.optitrack.com Sheet metal bender: https://www.grizzly.com/products/t10718 Metal dust collector: https://www.grizzly.com/products/t28798 Downdraft: https://amzn.to/2UGAk1m First aid station: https://amzn.to/3qFSso3 Eye wash station: https://amzn.to/3js26Jo Turniquet: https://amzn.to/3dppkw3 Chest seal: https://amzn.to/3626Eym Skin stapler: https://amzn.to/3vZi805 J&J dermabond: https://www.jnjmedicaldevices.com/en-US/product/dermabond-advanced-topical-skin-adhesive Safetec burn spray: https://amzn.to/3dqwVKA Spot welder: https://www.harborfreight.com/240v-spot-welder-61206.html Laser cutter (Save $500!) http://glowforge.com/stuffmadehere Laser cutter fume filter: https://shop.glowforge.com/products/glowforge-air-filter Mini lathe (G0768): https://www.grizzly.com/products/g0768 Lathe: https://www.precisionmatthews.com/shop/pm-1440gt/ Router table: https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-Universal-Router-Table-A25RT03/300234859 Mini plane: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Buck-Bros-3-in-Model-Maker-Plane-120LSO/100351891 Planer (dewalt 735): https://amzn.to/2UPCXhz Compound miter saw: https://amzn.to/3vZCndP Jointer: https://www.grizzly.com/products/g0813 Dust collector: https://www.grizzly.com/products/g0860

Comments

Wes

The trebuchet is the superior siege weapon!

TheSFReader

The sheet metal one is quite weak. Would soldering the ends of the leaves together increase the tension and strength ? (Thanks ! And WHAT A SHOP !!! )

Michael

Video is sincerely awesome. Great work, great ideas, great workshop, great everything. And yes, I'm 100% jealous of your workshop.

Brandon Bowles

Haas HQ is literally 10 miles away from me. I wish I could just dig through their scrap piles. Unfortunately, they have guards with precision milled wrist rockets preventing me. I actually do know an engineer that works there. I wonder if he might know of whom would be responsible for "giving free tools to Youtubers"...

Philipp Müller

Very cool video! I like the way how you describe the different tools and how to use them. Can we have the plans for the air pump catapult? Would love to build one on my one

Mark M

So awesome, can’t wait for the SMH2 vid!

Lester Su

Are you guys expecting another child? Massive congrats dude! Ps please don’t tell your wife I asked if not.

stuffmadehere

Thanks! I need to fix the pump issue on the air pump catapult. There's a problem with the check valve that keeps it from going to a very high pressure. I need to redesign that part.

stuffmadehere

That's cool. I don't know anyone there so I figured I might as well try a hail mary video shoutout :)

stuffmadehere

They have to slide relative to each other, otherwise I believe something has to yield since it behaves more like a solid bar. The reason I have 18 springs instead of one fat one is to avoid permanent deformation. As the springs get thicker the distance they can be bend before permanent deformation decreases very quickly. On paper it should have been around a 30 pound draw which should have been decent. Not sure why it was so weak

tostiheld

man your power bill must be insane haha

Mark Spitzig

More like CADapults, am I right?

AndrewP

The Lincoln/ harbor freight Tig thing is interesting. From what I got out of that situation was they copied almost the entire machine. I hope you don't have anything against Lincoln after that 😂

stuffmadehere

Yeah it's crazy. I came to the same conclusion - that's probably why it's so good 🤣. Lincoln electric makes great stuff and I have nothing against a company for protecting their IP (though I miss having a great "affordable" tig to recommend for people)

AndrewP

There are a few good options for under 1k. Though I do work for Lincoln in the additive group so I won't list out any names. Great content! I've shown everyone I work with the channel!

Jonathan French

Would spacing the leaf springs apart (like a washer between them) reduce friction and get a better response from them? Also, what do you do with all you metalic waste? Ever thought of saving it and melting it down to make something? I've done this to make some custom heatsinks (3d print, then sand cast) and now save all my scrap aluminum.

Luns Tee

I'm thinking more along the lines of oil or grease between the leaf springs.

Andrew Hammond

I have to build a robust fence for goats and it got me thinking. Could you build a giant old school pencil sharpener that would make the point on a large fence post? Would love to see you mill those scary sharp rotating blade thingies on your tools 😂

stuffmadehere

I tried grease / oil which didn't make a noticeable difference. Spacing them out may help. Another issue that someone pointed out is the overall inertia of all the steel which could be enough to cause problems (it's a fair amount of steel to accelerate on top of the ball). I save almost all of my metal scrap except for tiny useless pieces and swarf. My plan has been to melt it down or do something with it some day but that day has yet to happen...

stuffmadehere

That's hilarious. That certainly could be build. I'd guess that turning the pencil would be the hardest part....

Andrew Hammond

Lol yeah the single blade version would be difficult, i’m thinking of the one you hold the pencil and turn a crank and inside it is 2 or 3 rotating spiral blades.