{"id":155432,"date":"2024-05-02T21:12:10","date_gmt":"2024-05-03T01:12:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hajim.rochester.edu\/senior-design-day\/?p=155432"},"modified":"2025-05-02T15:16:23","modified_gmt":"2025-05-02T19:16:23","slug":"high-speed-baseball-launcher","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hajim.rochester.edu\/senior-design-day\/high-speed-baseball-launcher\/","title":{"rendered":"High-Speed Baseball Launcher"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Final testing set up as performed in Taylor Machine Shop.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Team Members<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • Alec Berceli<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Luke Lawson<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Allison Thompson<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Ethan Tokar<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Jonathan Wheeler<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Sponsor<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    J.J. Ruby – Senior Director of Research and Development for the Houston Astros<\/p>\n\n\n

    \n
    \"\"
    Picture from left to right: Allison Thompson, Ethan Tokar, JJ Ruby, Alec Berceli, Luke Lawson, Jonathan Wheeler.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    Abstract<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    For this project, the team was tasked with designing and manufacturing an apparatus that launches official Major League baseballs into bats at variable speeds. The launcher needed to meet a series of requirements and specifications laid out by the project sponsor. The final design agreed upon consisted of a spinning arm that housed the baseball with a release mechanism triggered by colliding with a steel cylinder extended into the spin path by a solenoid. The final design failed to meet the requirements of launching baseballs between 100 and 175 mph. This was primarily because the combined assembly hit resonant frequency at an arm speed of around 450 rpm, leading to violent vibrations that created too dangerous of an environment to test at greater speeds. Due to the limited field-of -view of the high-speed camera, the design also failed to allow for 5 feet of travel after contact with the bat. At arm speeds under 450 rpm, the baseballs contacted the bat in a radius of variance under 0.5 inches, and a cycle time under 60 seconds was consistently achieved when testing.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Problem Statement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    It is unknown how the moment of inertia of a bat affects a bat-ball collision. Measuring the energy transfer between bat and ball will yield useful data for batters. For the Houston Astros, this information can provide insight into which bats are the best for hitters to use in games to yield the best results. This speed range was determined by the combined average bat-ball collision speed in Major League Baseball (MLB) games. Our baseball launcher testing device will help determine the exit velocity of the baseball, therefore finding the transfer of energy between the bat and the ball during collision.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Deliverables, Requirements, and Specifications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    Deliverables<\/summary>\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • Ball Throwing Device (“Baseball Launcher”) <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Theory of Operation Manual <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Final Report including launcher calibration\/variance data <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n
      Requirements<\/summary>\n
        \n
      • The apparatus must launch official Major League baseballs into a baseball bat at variable speeds <\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Approved Major League baseball bats will be used and held stationary during collisions <\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • A high-speed camera will record the motion of the baseball after impact with the bat <\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • The apparatus will be non-destructive to the baseballs <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
          \n
        • <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n
            \n
          • <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
            Specifications
            <\/summary>\n

            <\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \n
            • Baseball Launcher minimum test ball exit velocity: 100 mph- To be measured by high-speed camera as ball exits launch system <\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Baseball Launcher maximum test ball exit velocity: 175 mph- To be measured by high-speed camera as ball exits launch system <\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Radius for baseball impact on bat: 0.5 in – To be measured by camera to determine the location of impact\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Maximum Time Between Baseball Launches: 1 minute- To be measured with a time measuring device <\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Distance of Ball Fight Pre-Contact: 5 ft- To be measured with a distance measuring device <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n
                \n
              • <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                Design Concept<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                Our design consisted of a rotating arm that threw a baseball at a specified speed proportional to the arm’s rotational speed. To trigger the release of the ball, a solenoid extends a piece of metal that collides with a release mechanism. Following the collision, the release mechanism opens, allowing for the ball to escape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Our design was created using Siemens NX computed aided design (CAD) for the initial design. Finite element analysis (FEA) was then done on the release mechanism of the system to help redesign and optimize the structure before machining even began. <\/p>\n\n\n

                \n
                \"\"
                Image 1: CAD model as created in NX for the initial design<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
                \n
                \"\"
                Initial design based on the CAD model was able to reach a maximum speed of 200 revolutions per minute (rpm).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

                Testing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                Testing was performed in Taylor Machine Shop on campus. The structure was enclosed using metal cages to provide a layer of\u00a0safety for those observing. High-speed video was produced for every test allowing for post processing in MATLAB to\u00a0determine the exit velocity and location of impact for the collision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Testing gave us great insight into the workings of the system. After the first round of testing, we changed the release mechanism’s design and counterweight. The second round of testing was an improvement on the system from 200 to 450 rpm. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

                \n
                \"\"
                These results were for a target of 300 rpm and with 1000 frames per second (fps) for the high-speed camera.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
                \n
                \"\"
                These results were for a target of 400 rpm and with 2000 fps for the high-speed camera.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n