Hook and Rope System for Katapult

Problem: Height stick doesn’t stand up perfectly straight and curves at the top. Any sway will throw off measurement data and causes inaccurate results. The inaccuracy can hurt business. In addition, the sticks are used on a regular basis and go through a lot of abuse.

Costs about $3,000 to replace a utility pole plus the services of Katapult. We want to increase accuracy to keep costs down.

Inspiration: Tommy was inspired by the use of Animal Control Poles as they use a similar hook and rope system that we plan on using. All pieces are inexpensive and will help keep implementation costs down.

What it does: The hook and rope system is simple and inexpensive. It attaches to the sides of the measuring stick and held together by zip ties. A rope goes around the top from one side to the other side and then the user can snug on the rope to reduce slack.. Once the measuring stick is fully extended users can tug on the rope to reduce slack. The reduced slack therefore increases the stability of the measuring stick and increases accuracy in measurements.

In addition, the pieces them selves are inexpensive and can take abuse when the stick falls down.

How we built it: The hook and rope system was drawn up and then designed using Autodesk Fusion 360. Afterwards we translated the data file into a printable 3D model and used Monoprice Mini Delta 3D Printer. The prototypes were constructed using PLA filament.

Challenges we ran into: The hook and rope system was simple in its design but comes with a set of challenges. The biggest challenge for this project comes from finding an affordable material that is sturdy enough to use. Once we found our material we focused on the measurements and ran through several prototypes. Overall, time was the biggest challenge. The time spent re-calculating, measuring, editing the design in the software, and of course the time spent waiting for the prototypes to be printed was the biggest challenge. It takes about 1 hr. for each piece on the 3d printer.

Accomplishments that we're proud of: The biggest accomplishment is the ability to turn an idea into a testable product in under 72hrs. The 2nd biggest accomplishment comes from solving a real life problem that has applicable use.

What we learned: We learned that ideas don’t need to be expensive and there are simple problems to be solved. We also learned how to better manage time. So instead of waiting 1hr for each prototype piece to be printed, we re-examined the areas of the piece itself and printed those areas out in a couple of minutes. This way we were able save hours of precious time and print small test areas instead of printing a full piece.

What's next: The next thing is to continue testing materials to find the right material that will prove to be sturdy enough for constant everyday use. Our quick fix uses a 3D Printer and PLA filament however on a large-scale production we could make the pieces out of a mold. The PLA filament could also be a different type of plastic or even rubber. The rubber is non conductive and can take a fair share of abuse. We could also look at a different attachment method. So instead of the quick zip ties we could either screw the pieces on to the measuring stick or build a collar that goes around the stick and is tightened by a rotating handle.

Built With • Autodesk Fusion 360 • Cura • Repetier Host • PLA Filament • Monoprice Mini Delta 3D Printer

Built With

• 3d