Guinness world record attempt

[inonickname]

I was idly reading the 2010 guinness world records and found one about a toaster.

Apparently the world's highest toaster pop (height the toast is ejected after being cooked) is 2.6m. I didn't even have to think about it. 2.6m is easy.

He used a solenoid and CO2 ram setup. However I'm guessing they weren't particularly optimized for the purpose (I believe they were for robot usage). The solenoid probably wasn't ideal either (low flow etc). At least, I'm led to believe his setup was far from ideal as he didn't even manage 3m with hundreds of psi of CO2.

I'm thinking of building my own miniature cylinders for this (I don't know how large a regulation piece of toast is, if I figured that out I could omit the rams). Perhaps a bank of 4-5 small rams (I'd like it to fit the form of a toaster) with an electronically actuated valve (purpose built, high flow).

First task will be to source a toaster from a junk/thrift store, then i can figure out electronics and circuits. I believe some peripherals may be outside of the toaster, but I'll be keeping it as self contained as possible. The ejection button will be on an isolated circuit from mains (I'm not keen on altering the circuit) and it will run on lower voltage.

Any thoughts, ideas, comments?

[Technician1002]

Toast has a built in crumple zone that limits energy transfer. Good luck. Toast is not a solid projectile. Keep us posted.

[tghhs]

Sounds cool, though keep to one plug. Just run your ejection system parallel to toaster circuit.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

why not use a blast of CO₂ to blow the toast out directly? or would that go against the rules?

[POLAND_SPUD]

well it doesn't seem very complicated... you just need one or two air cylinders and a DCV valve

[DinerKid]

Toast has a built in crumple zone that limits energy transfer. Good luck. Toast is not a solid projectile. Keep us posted.

This is a really good point. To some extent an optimized system may not work as well as a less optimized system because of this crush factor. You are going to have to accelerate the toast slowly to avoid having your ram punch the toast and having it just bend and absorb lots of your energy. I would suggest using a large plate to push up on the toast so you can cover as much surface area as possible and keep the crush factor to a minimum.

Here is an idea. You could have two pieces of firm material push in on the two large faces of the toast, just as many toasters do already and then you would push up on those but when you reach as certain point they would expand to release the toast. This would eliminate the crush factor. Although it is quite a bit more complex.

~DK

[inonickname]

why not use a blast of CO₂ to blow the toast out directly? or would that go against the rules?

I'd assume it's permitted, however I don't know if you must use a certain piece of bread. If I had dimensions for a size that's used I could do that. I could make a sabot which is retained. The (potential) energy for a ~27 gram piece of toast is roughly 1.225 joules per meter, so a high launch velocity isn't really required.

I won't run the ejection circuit in parallel to the mains unless the circuit ends up being extremely simple. I don't do much homebrewing of mains current circuits, only really high and lower voltages. I don't want to screw with the circuits as I don't know how many toasters I can get. I plan to run the ejection circuit off lower voltages (eg. 24V). I'm not the greatest with electronics. I can make a nuclear reactor, but I doubt I can fix a toaster.

[deathbyDWV]

Why not make a rectangular barrel?

Sounds cool though... Good luck with that!

[inonickname]

Why not make a rectangular barrel?

Sounds cool though... Good luck with that!

I'll likely go that way if it's an option. Like that, I can definitely get a piece of toast (which is of course stiffer than bread) above three meters. If it falls out of the guidelines I'll have to go with the rams.

I'm going to e-mail Guinness and ask for a full rule/provision/guideline list.

[boyntonstu]

I'll make a toast for you when you win.

[Technician1002]

Does the toast have to be ejected mechanically? I'm thinking of a QDV plumbed into the crumb tray.. The toast with the proper flow control could become a projectile.

[inonickname]

Does the toast have to be ejected mechanically? I'm thinking of a QDV plumbed into the crumb tray.. The toast with the proper flow control could become a projectile.

I've asked guinness for a complete set of guidelines for the record, I'll post it here when I hear back.

[velocity3x]

He used a solenoid and CO2 ram setup.

He probably used a cylinder and not a "ram".....there is a difference.

[grock]

unless it breaks one of the rules, you should make the toast as toasted as possible, even if it is burnt, because that should eliminate most of the crumple factor

[ramses]

you have to be careful, it may become brittle.

dinerkid's idea with the compressive support is quite valid. it adds extra mass to accelerate, but you could crank the force WAY up.