Popping the balloon

[cypressfalls Robert]

we just tape the balloon down and keep it covered using plastic food wrap

[Primate]

Yeah, we used the balloon-in-plastic-enclosure idea originally, too. But version 2.0 of our Mission now makes use of balloon-animal balloons and PVC piping with endcaps. Plus, now our pin doesn't miss the balloon .

[cypressfalls Robert]

what is everyone doing right after the balloon, I mean what does the balloon trigger?

[thepotato]

My weight hits a switch.

[Primate]

The easiest thing is probably to hook a balloon up to a microswitch so when it deflates, it releases the switch.

[cypressfalls Robert]

The easiest thing is probably to hook a balloon up to a microswitch so when it deflates, it releases the switch.

that sounds awsome, right now our balloon has BB's inside of it and when popped they go down a tube and pile on to a micro switch...but it only works 8 out of ten trys and I'm not comftrable with that.

[Primate]

The easiest thing is probably to hook a balloon up to a microswitch so when it deflates, it releases the switch.

that sounds awsome, right now our balloon has BB's inside of it and when popped they go down a tube and pile on to a micro switch...but it only works 8 out of ten trys and I'm not comftrable with that.

Anything that has failed once during trial runs will absolutely fail at competition, at least from my experience >.<. Using weights isn't such a bad idea, though it's probably better if they're not inside the balloon. We had the balloon wedged into a piece of piping, and then suspending a weight. When the balloon popped, the weight fell and hit our syringe. It was reliable, just a pain to build. The balloon-on-microswitch was what our regional winners used, so I'd definitely recommend it over any other contraption.

[rocketchicka]

to pop the balloon I'm using a razor blade on the end of a lever. Generally, i've noticed that if you pop the balloon towards the top where you tie it off, it dosen't explode and usually stays in one piece so u don't have to worry about being DQed for flying balloon shards. my balloon raises the golfball 30cm when it pops.