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Automated Practice Ball Feeding System
Automated Practice Ball Feeding System
Personal Project — Fall 2024
Designed and built a low-cost automated golf ball dispenser using a CAM-driven gate mechanism, sensor feedback, and single-motor actuation.
Impact
Impact
Fully automated ball dispensing system for practice use
Designed to operate within <$100 budget constraint
Achieves ~8-second refill cycle requirement
Single-motor actuation architecture
Engineering Challenges
Engineering Challenges
Single motor had to control full dispensing mechanism
Required reliable one-ball-at-a-time release
Gravity-fed system prone to jamming and misalignment
Ensuring repeatable timing with sensor-based triggering
Mechanical binding risk due to angled actuation
Technical Breakdown
Technical Breakdown
Designed CAM-driven sliding gate mechanism with linear bearing guidance
Implemented Arduino-based control using ultrasonic ball-presence sensing
Modeled and iterated full system in SolidWorks
Conducted stress analysis on support posts using ANSYS Mechanical
Applied topology optimization to CAM geometry to reduce required actuation torque
Fabricated system via PLA 3D printing and iterative prototyping
Debugging/Iteration
Debugging/Iteration
Identified binding in vertically actuated sliding doors during testing
Modified mechanism with counterweights to reduce friction-induced stiction
Iterated geometry to improve alignment and repeatability
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
Rapid prototyping and iteration were critical to system success. Early over-investment in design fidelity reduced iteration speed, limiting final refinement of fit and mechanism smoothness.
SolidWorks • Arduino • ANSYS Mechanical • CAM Design • 3D Printing
Watch my video of the process!
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