TREBUCHET

1
TREBUCHET

• A trebuchet owners manual by Jennifer Andrea

2
Trebuchet

• A trebuchet is an ancient weapon, sort of like
  its predecessor, the catapult.
• The difference is, a trebuchet uses a
  counterweight, and gravity, to throw an object.
  The object that is thrown is also in a sling not
  in some sort of bowl.

3
Four Main Designs

• First is the simplest, and the least affective
  which is fixed counterweight without wheels.
• The second is a fixed counterweight with wheels.

• Third is the swinging counterweight without
  wheels.
• The last is the most affective is the swinging
  counterweight with wheels.

4
Materials for building a trebuchetThese are the
materials to build a swinging trebuchet with no
wheels.

• For the base
• A lot of wood
• Nails and screws. Preferably 5 to 6 inch nails,
  that way they go through the 4 x 4s and 2 x 4s.

• For assembly
• Hammers
• A drill with many drill bits.
• A father or two for help using the powerful tools.

5
Materials needed to build a trebuchet...

• For the arm
• Wood and Nails. Screws work well also.
• An axle that the counterweight will be attached
  too. Rope attached to the projectile.

• For the counterweight
• A 5 gallon bucket
• A bag and a half of Cement
• An eye bolt connected to a piece of wood, placed
  halfway down the cement to give it strength.
• Chain to hold the counterweight

6
Team Members
7
Assembly

• Once you have all of your materials and a design
  on how you want your trebuchet to look, here
  comes the fun partthe assembly.
• First focus on the base. Make sure that it is
  small enough to transport it from a house to the
  launching site. But also big enough to hold all
  of the weight.
• Next work on your frame, for us it was an
  A-frame. Make SURE the frame doesnt wobble when
  it is attached to the base. Your frame should be
  able to hold the weight of the arm, axle, and
  counterweight. If your frame wobbles there is
  chance of destruction on first throw. While
  working on your frame, have a couple people
  working on your counterweight, so it has time to
  settle, and set.
• Now that you have that done, it is time to build
  the arm. In construction of the arm make sure
  you have people out getting a VERY strong
  (preferably solid metal) axle.
• Then assemble how exactly you want it and you
  have yourself a trebuchet.

8
Adjusting

• After you have a design and have put it together,
  here are some tips for adjusting the trebuchet.
• For distance adjust the length of the string or
  sling. Also the angle of the release hook. To
  make the angle higher make the hook a little
  straighter.
• For Accuracy first move the trebuchet in the
  direction of the target, making a straight line
  from the arm to the target. If you are throwing
  too high or too low, adjust the angle of release
  by moving the release hook like for distance.
  

9
Trouble Shooting

• If the trebuchet is not working, and wont
  release the projectile properly, youve done
  something wrong, either in construction or in the
  angle of the hook. To fix this problem, there are
  some things you need to do. First, if the
  projectile is going backwards, readjust the angle
  of release, going in the opposite direction.
  Test it again, and if it is still not working,
  youve screwed up. If the projectile is not going
  as far as you would like (meaning 2 feet in front
  of you), forget the whole idea of using a sling,
  and attach the projectile to a string instead.
  If you are already using a string, redo the knot
  and try again. Either that or add more weight to
  the projectile, depending on the weight of your
  counterweight.

10
Safety

• Always remember that when you are working with a
  trebuchet, it can fall on you and/or your
  partners. Never, I repeat, NEVER put your head
  under the counterweight, this could prove
  disastrous. Also, never stand in the path of the
  projectile, it might go backwards, you never
  know. Little siblings on the other hand, can be
  substituted for targets if there is not one
  readily available. Also remember that a
  trebuchet is a weapon and can cause damage to the
  surroundings.

11
DISCLAIMER

• The miss proper use of this equipment will result
  in injury. Please be sure to properly assemble
  this trebuchet in order to have the utmost
  safety. We as the trebuchet experts, are not
  held responsible for any mistreated materials or
  faulty construction and cannot be held
  responsible for any injury as a result there of.

12
Celebrity Endorsement

• We are the cast of the television series Star
  trek Voyager. We heard that our friend Jennifer
  was in need of a celebrity endorsement, so we
  gave her a call and asked what for. When she
  told us that it was for an ancient weapon we
  jumped on the chance to help her out. So all 9
  of us are here to support her and her partners
  efforts. Therefore we encourage everyone to go
  out and build their own trebuchet and remember,
  when we get home we expect everyone to have their
  own trebuchet.