If you are going to build something you might as well over design and over build it right? If you don’t agree you can go and pick up whatever you need at your local Walmart. Here we have an excellent example of over engineering something, you can get spring loaded mouse traps for about a dollar, but there is no laser system, status LEDs, arming circuit and pneumatics in one of those. Jake Easton must of had lots of fun when he was building this Extreme Mousetrap! It’s surprising that the one your get for a dollar even has the smarts to latch onto its prey without any of this sophistication. If you want to catch a mouse the real way you need to do it with one of these.
“The Better Mousetrap Specifications:
- Pneumatic Cylinder: 1/2″ Bore with 3/4″ Stroke
- Air Pressure (Max): 60 PSI
- Strike Force at 40 PSI: 102 lbs
- Key Lock Switch and Manual Hammer Override
- Visual Monitoring: Power, PSI, and Armed – Detect – Fire
- Case Construction: 6061 0.25″ Polished Aluminum
- Inputs: 12VDC and Air Line
- Dimensions: 12″ x 6″ x 2.5″
- Weight: 5.5 Pounds”
Permalink
Hahaha this is great. It’s not over engineered either…it does exactly what it needs to do. Seems easier to set as well.
Permalink
Over-engineered, maybe. Poorly engineered I argue yes. Mice can hear up to 90kHz, this uses an ultrasonic rangefinder which usually operate at 40kHz. While I don’t really know what mice typically do when they hear strange noises coming from things, I would not be surprised if this never does exactly what it needs to.
This mousetrap could reduce your pest problem in a similar way as those ultrasonic pest repellents sold though.
Permalink
they do not stand any chance!!!
dude you spent how much time and money making that i know it was fun but there are much simple and much more effective ways to catch the mouse
Permalink
Mice run at anything unusual, The red light in their face and relays clicking would send it sprinting. But still very cool.
Mike,
Permalink
poor mouse, it would have been better if the trap captured it by it’s tail instead of braking it’s back.
Permalink
If it’s worth doing, it’s worth over-doing.
Permalink
a mousetrap can work, but an over-engineered mousetrap is better!
i would of thought the warning lights and relay click will scare mice away though.. covering it with duct tape will fix that) duct tape holds the world together
if it clears the mouse and resets itself it would be perfect!
Permalink
Permalink
Perhaps the mice would feel curious about the lights and the monotone noise coming from that shinny box.
Permalink
I think its Perfect! However I don’t think its over Engineered… I do think its under engineered. It needs the Autocleanup feature added to this. Then it might be over engineered.