Re: OT: Repeatably lobbing "projectiles"

On 11/23/2024 6:20 PM, Don Y wrote:

To reset the mechanism, the carriage moves to allow the electromagnet
to reengage with the "back/innermost/moving" end of the spring, awaiting
instruction as to how much the spring should be extended for the
next cycle?

Actually, the same sort of catch/release could also be used in the
"compression" scenario.  One would just have to "export" a surface
(off to the side/circumference) onto which the magnetic force could be
applied.
And, in either case, additional electromagnets could be brought to
bear by creating other surfaces (keeping in mind the separation of
the EM fields) to increase the "holding ability" (and projectile
size/mass/acceleration).