Cars and Automotive Design

what kind of help do you need?

Hi,

I hope this youtube movie help you ( Rhinoceros modeler )

https://youtu.be/myA502DscHk

By

Giuseppe

i kind of helped my understanding but i don't have any experience modeling complex things like car bodies.

I need help with just designing the car to be as light as it can be while being as fast as it can. I don't have much knowledge about the types of systems in a race car so that's why i came here.

Too broad a subject for a forum like this. Maybe start with Carroll Smith's, "Tune To Win" or Forbes Aird's "Race Car Chassis" books and come back with more pointed questions? They will at least give you a good overview of the systems at play. Walk before running.

i'm not really here for answers to specific questions. i'm here for the general knowledge of those who know a lot about designing cars. I am still going to read the book but i don't have much time until i have to start to build the car

Design in terms of CAD; class A surfaces, forms, aerodynamics or, mechanical systems? Hard to talk about such a broad subject without knowing where your knowledge is, or what you'd like to talk about specifically.

I worked with an SAE formula team at my university and have worked in automotive design professionally, though in my past. I could answer the question by saying, make a lot of horsepower in as light a chassis as possible but that's probably about as helpful as the question. :)

i mean in terms of mechanical systems. I don’t have much knowledge in the mechanical systems of race cars

Kelton,

I find one of the best thing to do when trying to make something that you aren't experienced with is reverse engineering, look at how the pros do it. The fastest electric consumer RC car that I know of is the Traxxas Xo-1, here is a link to it:

https://forums.traxxas.com/

Take a look, let me know if you've heard of Traxxas or similar brands before.

I was also into RC cars,

the biggest factor of speed in any RC car is almost definitely its CG (center of gravity), aerodynamics and it's motor/gearing system in my opinion. But if you plan on driving on a track, it's best to keep speed under control and instead focus on an RC car with good handling (combined with good speed). Anything too light weight will not get enough traction, either.

Are you planning on designing a 1/10 scale RC car for a dirt track e.t.c? The more specific your questions, the more able we'll be to give specific answers.

Yes I do know about the Xo-1 and the other racing cars. How would I be able to calculate the car’s center of gravity?

Take the sum of its moments divided by the overall weight. If you're RE'ing, which I agree is a great way to familiarize yourself, then CG is simply a matter of querying your assembly.

Might also look at cars like the 1/8 scale Serpent, etc.. Lots of things to learn there... lots of years in development.

thank you.

would anyone have any recommendations on a good aerodynamic car body that i can model mine after?

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