CVT Cover Model
The CVT cover has been modeled to accommodate the travel of the rear suspension. Construction will begin soon and the details will be finalized.
Rear of the frame is near completion!
Rear members are now in place. Next the engine mount members will put in and then tabs for the rear suspension and gear box will be completed. Keep following for more updates
Prepared CVT
The CVT lower pulley on the left and the upper pulley on the right have been cleaned and prepared for bench testing. Expect updates on bench testing soon after the gearbox is completed.
Updated Rear Suspension Geometry and Model
Shown above is the most updated 2D Sketch of the Rear Suspension Geometry which satisfies our needs in terms of bench-marking and various design parameters
Shown above is the most updated rear suspension 3D model. The geometry and modeling has been finalized in an attempt to allow our driveshaft provider, Neapco, with adequate dimensions to fit us with a shaft that will meet our needs. Moving forward the carrier and the hub models will be finalized and will be machined in-house in the weeks to come.
Gearbox Machining: Day 3
Hello Everyone,
The progress on the gearbox today was less dramatic, but work on the one side of the gearbox was completed. The whole assembly has now been flipped and machining can now commence on the other half of the gearbox.
Cleaning up the edge of the gearbox base with a slab mill.
One side of the gearbox now complete with bearing bores and mounting holes. The mounting holes were tapped by hand after removing the gearbox from the CNC.
Here’s a little sneak preview of the sprockets that will sit in this half of the gearbox. Wonder what will go in the other side ….
The finished half of the gearbox bolted down to another plate and ready for machining on the other side. More exciting work to come.
-Michael S.
Gearbox Machining: Day 2
Hi All,
There’s still a lot of machining to be done on the gearbox, but our second day on the CNC brought a lot of progress. We cut out almost all of the features on the one side of the assembly.
Cutting out the inside of the gearbox. Very milky.
This video shows the radius cutting on the bearing boss. Look at smoothness of the final radius.
The final results of the work on Day 2. Once we cut some bearing bores and drill some holes, it will be time to flip to the other side of the aluminum block. Look for more progress tomorrow.
-Michael
Gearbox Machining: Day 1
Hello All,
I’m very excited to announce that the machining of our new gearbox began today. During the day today, we completed the first three steps in the machining of the gearbox.
The first step was to square of the face of the aluminum blank as shown in the first image.
The second step involved drilling the two center wholes through the gearbox using a huge drill bit.
Finally the outside edges were cut using an end mill to give us a blank resembling a gearbox by the end of the day.
If all goes well, we’ll be machining out the inside of the casing tomorrow.
-Michael
Manufacturing Progress and Sponsor Highlight: Rancocas Metals
Hi Everyone,
I wanted to highlight one of key sponsors, Rancocas Metals, and offer at sneak peak at some of the work we’ll be doing to turn their aluminum into a gearbox.
We greatly appreciated Rancocas continuing to support TCNJ Baja through discounted aluminum products. Look at that huge 6x15x15 inch block. On Wednesday, we started cutting the block to size on the bandsaw, and the CNC cutting should begin this coming week. Look for more updates on that progress.
-Michael
Project Update #1
The TCNJ Baja SAE 2016 team has been busy at for since the 2015 Baja SAE competition came to a conclusion in May!
2015 Competition Season Recap
The team finished 46/100 at Baja SAE Maryland. The team completed all static and dynamic events, except the endurance competition. A failure of a gearbox bearing, and subsequent shaft failure, resulted in catastrophic gearbox failure. That said, the 2015 team put forth an excellent effort!
2016 Design & Manufacturing Progress
Now TCNJ Baja SAE moves to the 2016 competition season, with a new team, and a new perspective and approach. It became apparent at Baja SAE Maryland that the current approach of TCNJ Baja SAE toward the competition is out-dated and needed to be re-worked. After extensive conversations with our colleagues and competition in Maryland, the team is moving forward with a new management and project system. In particular, the modus operendi of the 2016 Team will be the minimization of weight and systems integration.
The 2016 Team was busy during the Summer – successfully completing the Background Research and Brainstorming phases of the project. We have progressed through the Fall through our Design Analysis & Design Selection phases. The team current has an initial design in place, and have begun the Detailed Design phase, as well as the Production phase for the Frame. The image below gives a preview of the design for the 2016 Vehicle.
The design of this vehicle is based on extensive literature review and benchmarking against the top Baja SAE teams. Furthermore, the team has significantly increased its efforts to interact with underclassmen and prospective sponsors. We have already obtained sponsorship from McKnight Steel & Tube Co., INVISTA, MathWorks, ANSYS, and Comfort Revolution, and are working with a number of sponsors to complete the details of sponsorship. In addition, we have a number of students assisting in the project, with a total of 16 underclassmen interested in the project, as well as 3 visiting Brazilian exchange students who have provided their own Baja SAE experience and expertise.
The 2016 Vehicle has a number of novel innovations for TCNJ and the Baja SAE competition, which are categorized below. In addition, the 2016 Vehicle is the lightest vehicle in TCNJ through the design phase, weighing approximately 330 pounds!
- Frame
- Improved design for component integration and manufacturing precision
- Improved FEA simulation using realistic boundary conditions
- Improves mounting tab design for stronger attachment of suspension components
- Composite body-panels (either UHMW plastic or fiber-glass) for reduced weight
- Suspension & Steering
- Improved design of suspension-links for simpler manufacturing and improved strength
- Improved design of suspension geometry using novel design and optimization techniques for improve vehicle performance
- Improved FEA analysis using ANSYS Rigid Body Dynamics for more realistic stress analysis
- Vibration analysis to determine best shock-absorber settings
- Custom-steering rack for better driver control of steering
- 6061-T6 aluminum suspension-links for reduced weight
- Carbon-fiber/kevlar steering links for reduced weight
- Custom 6061-T6 aluminum wheel-carriers and wheel-hubs for reduced weight
- Drivetrain
- Custom gearbox with planetary primary-reduction and chain secondary-reduction for improved speed/torque output and reduced weight
- Custom driveshafts for reduced weight
- Improved CVT testing for better variable reduction
- Ergonomics
- Suspension seat made of donated CORDURA 1000-denier nylon fabric with donated structural- and memory-foam padding for reduced weight and improved driver comfort
- Improved pedal and steering wheel placement based on published information and testing methodology
- Braking & Wheels
- Use of lighter wheel hubs for reduced weight
- Brake biasing for improve vehicle performance and handling
Moving Forward
As Fall concludes, the team looks to Winter Break with eager and earnest excitement to complete the finishing touches on the design and begin manufacturing the vehicle! Work of the frame has already begun, and CNC-milling of the suspension and gearbox is slated to being after Christmas.
If you have any questions or would like to sponsor or be involved in the TCNJ Baja SAE 2016 team, please see our Contact page for more details.
– John Sperduto, Team Manager & Lead-designer for Front-suspension & Steering