Bistable Pencil Launcher
Fall 2025

3D Print
Iterating
Projectiles
Prototyping
• Engineered & 3D-printed a PLA bistable mechanism based launcher to shoot a pencil over a 1.5 m vertical barrier.
• Optimized energy storage and release by designing a snap-through buckling mechanism that maximized horizontal range while considering frictional losses.
• Ensured repeatability within a 200mm landing radius.
