The catcher is part of the catcher mechanism used to capture ball and block minerals. It consists of three separate parts which were designed using TinkerCad software and printed on a Makerbot 3D printer.  Three parts were used instead of one because this would produce a cleaner print. 

   At the beginning of the season, the Sparks used to a tissue box prototype to get measurements. Then, a more complex prototype was made using Lexan material and Tetrix brackets. On the bottom of this prototype was a trap-door like mechanism. When the catcher was lowered over minerals, it would capture them through the trap door. 

   The first 3D printed prototype was printed in three parts to produce a cleaner raft and print, however it was also a heavier design because brackets were needed to attach the parts. The largest of the three parts had a sloped pyramid on the bottom to help the minerals leave the when being dumped in the linear slide bucket. 

   The Sparks also wanted to come up with a mechanism that could replace the trap-door on the Lexan prototype. One idea was a spring flap. It was temporarily connected with tape which was substituted for screws. This design proved to be flimsy and prone to breakage over time. To fix this, a piece was designed which combined the flap hinge in one piece. This piece was sturdy, lightweight, and easy to replace if necessary. 

   The final design was made of two rectangular 3D printed parts which are connected by T-shaped brackets.