SRU mechanical engineering students use concepts from medieval warfare for Thursday lesson
Jennifer Cichra shrugs in laughter after her first attempt failed as mechanical engineering students from Louis Christensen’s Machine Design class at Slippery Rock University conducted test launches from trebuchet machines they designed on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock University students used devices known for use in medieval warfare to practice mechanical engineering skills and principles on Thursday afternoon, May 1.
The machine design class, taught by Louis Christensen, associate professor of engineering, conducted a trebuchet launch using the hurling machines they designed, analyzed and built during the semester.
The class teaches students fundamental engineering principles of the design of various elements found in machines, including connections, shafts, keys, couplings, springs, gears, belts, chains, bearings, clutches, brakes, screws and more.
For the trebuchet launch, students competed against one another as they launched weights at their target, a watermelon.
Alexander Vollmer puts weights on machine as mechanical engineering students from Louis Christensen’s Machine Design class at Slippery Rock University conducted test launches from trebuchet machines they designed on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Cullen Birkes launches a weight into the air as mechanical engineering students from Louis Christensen’s Machine Design class at Slippery Rock University conducted test launches from trebuchet machines they designed on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Alexander Vollmer works on the finishing touches of his team’s trebuchet machine as mechanical engineering students from Louis Christensen’s Machine Design class at Slippery Rock University conducted test launches from trebuchet machines they designed on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Walker Just, left, and Cullen Birkes work together on a one of the machines as mechanical engineering students from Louis Christensen’s Machine Design class at Slippery Rock University conducted test launches from trebuchet machines they designed on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Jared Nini tests the pull device as mechanical engineering students from Louis Christensen’s Machine Design class at Slippery Rock University conducted test launches from trebuchet machines they designed on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Anthony Rivellino gets set to launch his catapult as mechanical engineering students from Louis Christensen’s Machine Design class at Slippery Rock University conducted test launches from trebuchet machines they designed on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Alexander Vollmer carries weights from one catapult to another as mechanical engineering students from Louis Christensen’s Machine Design class at Slippery Rock University conducted test launches from trebuchet machines they designed on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Anthony Rivellino carefully places weights on his team’s catapult as mechanical engineering students from Louis Christensen’s Machine Design class at Slippery Rock University conducted test launches from trebuchet machines they designed on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Charles Nieder carefully places weights on his team’s catapult as mechanical engineering students from Louis Christensen’s Machine Design class at Slippery Rock University conducted test launches from trebuchet machines they designed on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Justin Doughty carefully places weights on his team’s catapult as mechanical engineering students from Louis Christensen’s Machine Design class at Slippery Rock University conducted test launches from trebuchet machines they designed on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Walker Just works on his catapult as mechanical engineering students from Louis Christensen’s Machine Design class at Slippery Rock University conducted test launches from trebuchet machines they designed on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Bella Henry gets ready to launch her catapult as mechanical engineering students from Louis Christensen’s Machine Design class at Slippery Rock University conducted test launches from trebuchet machines they designed on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Zach Rodgers high fives a fellow classmate after they hit their watermelon target as mechanical engineering students from Louis Christensen’s Machine Design class atSlippery Rock University conducted test launches from trebuchet machines they designed on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Alexander Vollmer carries a watermelon target as mechanical engineering students from Louis Christensen’s Machine Design class at Slippery Rock University conducted test launches from trebuchet machines they designed on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Anthony Rivellino works on his team’s catapult as mechanical engineering students from Louis Christensen’s Machine Design class at Slippery Rock University conducted test launches from trebuchet machines they designed on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Walker Just works on his catapult as mechanical engineering students from Louis Christensen’s Machine Design class at Slippery Rock University conducted test launches from trebuchet machines they designed on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Cullen Birkes launches a weight into the air as mechanical engineering students from Louis Christensen’s Machine Design class at Slippery Rock University conducted test launches from trebuchet machines they designed on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Several tools used to work on the catapults as mechanical engineering students from Louis Christensen’s Machine Design class at Slippery Rock University conducted test launches from trebuchet machines they designed on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Writing with the catapults name are visible as mechanical engineering students from Louis Christensen’s Machine Design class at Slippery Rock University conducted test launches from trebuchet machines they designed on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Justin Doughty works on his team’s catapult as mechanical engineering students from Louis Christensen’s Machine Design class at Slippery Rock University conducted test launches from trebuchet machines they designed on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
(L-R) Walker Just, Cullen Birkes, and Darien Malawi work on stabilizing their team’s catapult as mechanical engineering students from Louis Christensen’s Machine Design class at Slippery Rock University conducted test launches from trebuchet machines they designed on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Zach Rodgers works on his team’s catapult as mechanical engineering students from Louis Christensen’s Machine Design class at Slippery Rock University conducted test launches from trebuchet machines they designed on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
(L-R) Maddie Warner, Matt Tomko, and Dustin Lasch work on stabilizing their team’s catapult as mechanical engineering students from Louis Christensen’s Machine Design class at Slippery Rock University conducted test launches from trebuchet machines they designed on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Justin Doughty, left, and Anthony Rivellino work on stabilizing their team’s catapult as mechanical engineering students from Louis Christensen’s Machine Design class at Slippery Rock University conducted test launches from trebuchet machines they designed on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Dustin Lasch tries to bend a bar as mechanical engineering students from Louis Christensen’s Machine Design class at Slippery Rock University conducted test launches from trebuchet machines they designed on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Walker Just, left, and Cullen Birkes work together on a one of the machines as mechanical engineering students from Louis Christensen’s Machine Design class at Slippery Rock University conducted test launches from trebuchet machines they designed on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
