Mounting rubber wheel on motors

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the mounting of rubber wheels on a motor for a paper airplane launcher. Participants explore methods for attachment, design considerations, and performance issues related to the launcher.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Experimental/applied

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests using epoxy to attach the rubber stoppers to the motor but expresses concern about the epoxy dripping and potentially locking up the motor.
  • Another participant recommends positioning the stoppers fat-side-up to accommodate a wider variety of paper airplanes, while also suggesting that turning the assembly upside down could help keep epoxy away from the motor.
  • There is a suggestion to ensure the rubber stoppers are centered to avoid issues with propulsion, as an off-center attachment could lead to ineffective launching.
  • A participant proposes using a dowel to help align the rubber stoppers during the attachment process, which could assist in achieving better centering.
  • The original poster mentions testing the launcher but reports that it does not achieve much speed, indicating a need to consider better motors for improved performance.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the use of epoxy for attachment and the importance of centering the stoppers. However, there are differing opinions on the optimal orientation of the stoppers and the design considerations for effective launching, indicating that multiple views remain on these aspects.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not fully resolved the optimal design for the rubber stoppers' orientation or the specific motor requirements for achieving desired speed, leaving these areas open for further exploration.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in DIY projects, particularly those involving mechanical design and experimentation with propulsion systems, may find this discussion relevant.

jehan60188
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I am trying to mount rubber wheels on a motor to make a paper airplane launcher
similar to this: http://www.instructables.com/id/Super-fast-paper-plane-launcher/

only, instead of wheels, I'm using rubber stoppers (for flasks)

I've got two questions, 1) how do I attach them to the motor; I'm thinking epoxy, but I'm concerned that it'll drip and lock up the motor
2) should i place the stoppers fat-side-up, and have a fixed space between the two, or should I place them fat-side-down and have a 'valley' for the plane to be propelled through?

any input would be appreciated!

detail pictures:

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/6825/imag0530i.jpg
http://img847.imageshack.us/img847/4063/imag0529b.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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Epoxy is a good choice, as for keeping it out if the motors, turn the thing upside down so the motors are above the stoppers, gravity should keep the majority of the epoxy out of the motors. It seems like you would want the widest part at the top, so you can use a wider variety of planes, that may not reach to the bottom of the "valley"
 
Get it centered. You won't be pushing many airplanes if you've got a cam rather than a wheel.
 
J-Ri said:
Epoxy is a good choice, as for keeping it out if the motors, turn the thing upside down so the motors are above the stoppers, gravity should keep the majority of the epoxy out of the motors. It seems like you would want the widest part at the top, so you can use a wider variety of planes, that may not reach to the bottom of the "valley"

thanks, that's what I ended up deciding to do, pretty much for the same reasons you listed! I've been too busy to get around to actually doing it, but I'll let you know how it goes!

Travis_King said:
Get it centered. You won't be pushing many airplanes if you've got a cam rather than a wheel.

thanks
how do you suggest I do that?
 
That depends on what you've got to work with. It doesn't have to be exact, but you should make an effort to get it as centered as possible.
 
jehan60188 said:
... how do you suggest I do that?

You might try using a dowel that's a close (but not tight) fit to the rubber stopper's hole. With a dowel a few inches longer than the rubber stopper, you can use that to align the parts and hold them in place until the glue cures.
 
updated picture
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/6403/imag0559c.jpg

unfortunately, when i test it, I can't get much speed, so I think I'm going to have to look into better motors.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

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