Each Thruster in made in house since 2005

 

These original-design thrusters have been manufactured in-house since 2005 and are machined to precise standards. They are constructed entirely from metal, with the exception of the rubber bump stop. The outer frame is made from 6061 aluminum, while the catch and latch are made from A513 alloy steel.

 

The thrust shaft is round and rotates 360 degrees, allowing the catch barrel to float and wear evenly. The latch is mounted on a long fulcrum arm to improve both trigger sensitivity and latching reliability. When installed correctly, only approximately +/- 3/16 inch of pedal travel is required to trigger the box.

 

These thrusters are used by box builders worldwide, including many top-performing and record-setting teams. While the design has been widely copied, these are the original production thrusters, continuously made since 2005 with only minor refinements over time.

 

Compatibility and Spring Options

These thrusters are designed for use with my box design, though many customers have also successfully installed them in custom builds and retrofitted them into other box shells. Because those installations vary, support for boxes not built to this design may be limited.

They can be used in both traditional and flat-front box designs.
 

The main thrust spring can also be upgraded on request. Three (3) different spring rates are available:

 

Spring Rate            Description

 

Stock                        Suitable for most dogs (6lb)

 

Medium                    Increased spring rate (8lb)

 

Heavy                       Highest spring rate (10lb)

 

 

All thrusters feature adjustable spring tension, and the stock spring is appropriate for the majority of flyball dogs.

Why use ball thrusters?

 

Thrusters - also known as launchers, triggers, or shooters - are the preferred method for propelling a ball from a flyball box. While factors such as ball size, weight, dirt, moisture, seams, and loading position can all affect trajectory, a thruster-style mechanism delivers a more consistent ball release than traditional catapult or swing-arm systems.

 

Thrusters strike the ball directly with minimal deflection, helping produce a more accurate and repeatable shot. When paired with a properly matched pedal de-latch arm, they also allow for easy adjustment of speed and sensitivity.

 

Advantages

 

Compared with traditional catapult/swing-arm mechanisms and other propulsion systems, these thrusters offer:
 

•  Consistent ball release

• Faster response

• High sensitivity

• Durable construction

• Long service life

• Fully rebuildable design

• Quiet operation

• Minimal maintenance

• Easy access for cleaning and lubrication

• No pedal dead spot when installed correctly

• Low recoil and reduced impact on the box structure

• Simplified, lighter box design

• Reliable performance in varying weather/humidity conditions

Standard box De-latch Arm

 

Universal pedal delatch arms that can be incorperated into most box designs with ease.

• Made out of 6061 1/8" wall Aluminum Channel,
• Roller berring on the end that glides on the thruster latch for a smooth engagement,
• Typically 5-1/2" long but custom lengths can be ordered.

 

These are the same arms that come in the Standard Flyball Box. 

Flat Front Pedal De-Latch Arm

 

To help facilitate the installation of these thrusters into a one piece pedal (aka flat front) box design a different de-latch arm is required.

This allows for easy installation and micro adjustment into a one piece ball face/pedal design. Can be adapted to most Flat Front box designs.

 

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Spare / Replacement parts

Thrusters are 100% rebuildable. They can be shipped back for a complete refurbish or parts can be purchased for DIY.

All springs, thrust rod, latch barrel, cotter pins, bump stops etc. are available.

Though not necessary for most dogs, stiffer gauge springs are also available. The stock springs do have enough adjustability to accommodate most dogs.

 

There can be occasions that a dogs box turn is so quick that it can appear to out perform the action of the Thruster. This is not that comman but can happen especially if you have a driven dog that has an aggressive turn.  

 

I suggest making sure the box is set up with a quick reaction time and the dog has proper box turn foundations before changing to a stiffer thrust spring.

 

Before you decide to swap out the spring, it would be beneficial to slow-motion video the turn to see if the ball is leaving the box in time or not. Note the dog’s head and/or feet position. Changing to a higher rate spring may not cure what you suspect is happening at the box.

Pedal to Thruster De-latch arms are sold separately

 

There are two style avaliable, one for a traditional/standard two peice front box and another for a flat front box. 

The Production Process and Tolerances

 

Thrusters are CAD designed and manufactured by using manual machining processes. Standard tolerances are +/- 1/64 inch in width, length, and height. As with any hand-built product, dimensional variation may occur if sourced materials change, are substituted, or become unavailable.

 

This thruster design has remained fundamentally the same since 2008, with only minor improvements over the years. Production is done in batches, and each unit is quality-checked within its run. If you plan to purchase multiple units over time, slight differences between production runs should be expected.