Make: Technology on Your Time Volume 24

1+2+3 Ping Ponger

By Edwin Wise

The Ping Ponger uses almost half of a rubber racquetball as a disc spring that’s bistable (it can be at rest in 2 possible states) to propel a ping-pong ball from a compact PVC launcher.

YOU WILL NEED

Rubber racquetball Ping-pong balls Marker, knife, saw, and half-round file PVC glue, epoxy, and sandpaper

PVC pipe and fittings:

For the handle:

1″ pipe, 1½″ length

1″ repair coupling

1½″ pipe, 4½″ length

For the body:

2″ snap tee part #463- 020S from flexpvc.com

1½″ female adapter coupling

For the backstop:

2″ pipe, 1″ length

⅝"-wide ring from the insert coupling (below)

For the barrel:

2″ pipe, 1¾″ length

2″ insert ...