why plastic for this piece?

[20GT]

why is the black piece plastic instead of just extending the metal? its bolted down. is it just for the axel support? Can you think of a reason they did this?







thanks for your opion

[Kelly_Bramble]

Looks like a ball thrower... Since the plastic/metal part is meant to rotate on completion of the throw is is likely meant to absorb some impact loading as well.

I suspect that the kinematics of the mechanism needs a softer material at that linkage..

[jboggs]

Or maybe the geometry of all the features was easier to obtain with a molded part rather than multiple separate machining and/or welding operations with metal.

[20GT]

thanks