Gravity Vehicle Ramp Please Help
-
- Member
- Posts: 3
- Joined: February 19th, 2020, 5:13 pm
- Division: C
- State: TX
- Has thanked: 0
- Been thanked: 0
Gravity Vehicle Ramp Please Help
Hi i am a freshman and this is my first time doing gravity vehicle. So I finished my car but I was wondering if anyone could give me tips on how to make the ramp. I am planning to use wood and curve it, but I was wondering if it is easy to cut the wood into this shape, which will probably be a brachiostochrone curve, and also how should i make the best release mechanism. I only have 9 days till comp so I am looking for a more simple and efficient solution.
- MTV<=>Operator
- Member
- Posts: 142
- Joined: February 8th, 2019, 12:41 pm
- Division: Grad
- State: NY
- Has thanked: 9 times
- Been thanked: 4 times
Re: Gravity Vehicle Ramp Please Help
First, you do not need a brachistochrone curve because this simply reduces the time it takes for the car to go down the ramp. However, time is not taken until after the vehicle exits the ramp, so a brachistochrone curve is not necessary. As for the release mechanism, the easiest way to do this is to simply drill a hole in the ramp surface where the vehicle will be released from. You can stick the release pencil through this hole and through a loop of sorts at the back of the vehicle, and then pull out the pencil to release the vehicle.GravityVehicleHelp wrote: ↑February 19th, 2020, 5:16 pm Hi i am a freshman and this is my first time doing gravity vehicle. So I finished my car but I was wondering if anyone could give me tips on how to make the ramp. I am planning to use wood and curve it, but I was wondering if it is easy to cut the wood into this shape, which will probably be a brachiostochrone curve, and also how should i make the best release mechanism. I only have 9 days till comp so I am looking for a more simple and efficient solution.
I couldn't really tell you the easiest way to build the ramp because the way I did mine was quite difficult and time consuming, but I don't think cutting a curve into a sheet of wood is the easiest method. I would think the easiest way is the method pictured here https://istem.illinois.edu/images/ISO.G ... SC0662.jpg. This doesn't give you the smoothest path from the ramp to the floor, but it should be relatively easy to build.
THHS '21 Builder Cult Member
2017-2018
2018-2019
2019-2020: GV (9 YUSO, 5 NYC), Detector (8 YUSO, 7 NYC), WS (10 NYC), PPP
2020-2021 Events/ Yosemite/HUSO/River Hill/ NYC South Regional
Vehicle Design / 1/--/--/--
WICI / 3/--/--/--
Circuits /--/ 3/ 5/ 1
Machines /--/ 4/ 2/ 2
Detector /--/--/ 2/--
2017-2018
2018-2019
2019-2020: GV (9 YUSO, 5 NYC), Detector (8 YUSO, 7 NYC), WS (10 NYC), PPP
2020-2021 Events/ Yosemite/HUSO/River Hill/ NYC South Regional
Vehicle Design / 1/--/--/--
WICI / 3/--/--/--
Circuits /--/ 3/ 5/ 1
Machines /--/ 4/ 2/ 2
Detector /--/--/ 2/--
-
- Member
- Posts: 633
- Joined: April 26th, 2018, 6:40 pm
- Has thanked: 4 times
- Been thanked: 108 times
Re: Gravity Vehicle Ramp Please Help
What is easy here very much depends on what tools you have access to.MTV<=>Operator wrote: ↑February 20th, 2020, 7:04 am I couldn't really tell you the easiest way to build the ramp because the way I did mine was quite difficult and time consuming, but I don't think cutting a curve into a sheet of wood is the easiest method. I would think the easiest way is the method pictured here https://istem.illinois.edu/images/ISO.G ... SC0662.jpg. This doesn't give you the smoothest path from the ramp to the floor, but it should be relatively easy to build.
Cutting a curve in a sheet of whatever-you-make-your-sides-out-of is reasonably easy with a big bandsaw, or with a jigsaw, and a spindle sander to finish it. I know at least one team that cut their curve with a sawzall. It's very much slower with hand tools, and if all you have access to are tools (hand or power) that like to cut straight lines, it's a complete nightmare.
- CPScienceDude
- Exalted Member
- Posts: 374
- Joined: December 12th, 2018, 2:40 pm
- Division: Grad
- State: IN
- Pronouns: He/Him/His
- Has thanked: 144 times
- Been thanked: 91 times
Re: Gravity Vehicle Ramp Please Help
I agree with knight here. It's relatively simple to cut the curve of the ramp if you have the tools for it (ie a jigsaw). I built mine in 2 hours using this method.knightmoves wrote: ↑February 20th, 2020, 11:52 amWhat is easy here very much depends on what tools you have access to.MTV<=>Operator wrote: ↑February 20th, 2020, 7:04 am I couldn't really tell you the easiest way to build the ramp because the way I did mine was quite difficult and time consuming, but I don't think cutting a curve into a sheet of wood is the easiest method. I would think the easiest way is the method pictured here https://istem.illinois.edu/images/ISO.G ... SC0662.jpg. This doesn't give you the smoothest path from the ramp to the floor, but it should be relatively easy to build.
Cutting a curve in a sheet of whatever-you-make-your-sides-out-of is reasonably easy with a big bandsaw, or with a jigsaw, and a spindle sander to finish it. I know at least one team that cut their curve with a sawzall. It's very much slower with hand tools, and if all you have access to are tools (hand or power) that like to cut straight lines, it's a complete nightmare.
- MoMoney$$$;)0)
- Member
- Posts: 154
- Joined: January 14th, 2019, 6:38 pm
- Division: C
- State: OH
- Pronouns: He/Him/His
- Has thanked: 41 times
- Been thanked: 16 times
Re: Gravity Vehicle Ramp Please Help
You can make one with little hand involved cutting with a CNC Machine. If you don't have one at school go to a local public fabrication lab. After the CNC finishes, there's very little time that goes into actually assembling the ramp. Would go with what's suggested from individuals from before if you don't know what you're doing.
CPScienceDude wrote: ↑February 20th, 2020, 12:00 pmI agree with knight here. It's relatively simple to cut the curve of the ramp if you have the tools for it (ie a jigsaw). I built mine in 2 hours using this method.knightmoves wrote: ↑February 20th, 2020, 11:52 amWhat is easy here very much depends on what tools you have access to.MTV<=>Operator wrote: ↑February 20th, 2020, 7:04 am I couldn't really tell you the easiest way to build the ramp because the way I did mine was quite difficult and time consuming, but I don't think cutting a curve into a sheet of wood is the easiest method. I would think the easiest way is the method pictured here https://istem.illinois.edu/images/ISO.G ... SC0662.jpg. This doesn't give you the smoothest path from the ramp to the floor, but it should be relatively easy to build.
Cutting a curve in a sheet of whatever-you-make-your-sides-out-of is reasonably easy with a big bandsaw, or with a jigsaw, and a spindle sander to finish it. I know at least one team that cut their curve with a sawzall. It's very much slower with hand tools, and if all you have access to are tools (hand or power) that like to cut straight lines, it's a complete nightmare.
Division C - Northeast Ohio
Gravity Vehicle
Machines
Detector Building
Circuit Lab
Protein Modeling
2019-2020 Medal Count: 5
"Don't be upset by the results you didn't get from the work you didn't do'
Memberships: Builder Cult
Gravity Vehicle
Machines
Detector Building
Circuit Lab
Protein Modeling
2019-2020 Medal Count: 5
"Don't be upset by the results you didn't get from the work you didn't do'
Memberships: Builder Cult
- Tendan
- Member
- Posts: 63
- Joined: January 27th, 2019, 5:37 pm
- Division: C
- State: PA
- Has thanked: 5 times
- Been thanked: 0
Re: Gravity Vehicle Ramp Please Help
As for the shape of the ramp, just try to make the transition from ramp to floor as smooth as possible. To do this, I would use a curve, but you shouldn't worry about a perfect brachistochrone.GravityVehicleHelp wrote: ↑February 19th, 2020, 5:16 pm Hi i am a freshman and this is my first time doing gravity vehicle. So I finished my car but I was wondering if anyone could give me tips on how to make the ramp. I am planning to use wood and curve it, but I was wondering if it is easy to cut the wood into this shape, which will probably be a brachiostochrone curve, and also how should i make the best release mechanism. I only have 9 days till comp so I am looking for a more simple and efficient solution.
To build the ramp, you could frame it with 2x2s or similar wood. The entire ramp surface (the part the car rolls down) doesn't have to be supported, so a simple L shape made from 2x2 should be fine. Then cut/sand the wood down at the top and bottom to force the ramp surface to curve.
2019 - 2020 Events
~ Boomilever
~ Detector Building
~ Gravity Vehicle
~ Machines
~ Ping-Pong Parachute
~ Boomilever
~ Detector Building
~ Gravity Vehicle
~ Machines
~ Ping-Pong Parachute
-
- Member
- Posts: 4
- Joined: February 24th, 2020, 3:39 pm
- Division: C
- Has thanked: 0
- Been thanked: 0
Re: Gravity Vehicle Ramp Please Help
If you do use the pencil and loop starting mechanism, are you penalized if the loop drags on the ground? According to Rule 3g, "The only parts of the Vehicle allowed to contact the floor during the run are wheels/treads. Pieces falling off during the run constitutes a construction violation."
- Tendan
- Member
- Posts: 63
- Joined: January 27th, 2019, 5:37 pm
- Division: C
- State: PA
- Has thanked: 5 times
- Been thanked: 0
Re: Gravity Vehicle Ramp Please Help
If the loop is attached to the car, yes. I would build the car so that the loop is attached to the ramp and goes around a part on the car, holding it in place, so the loop is not attached to the car, if that makes any sense.thehuntfornedoctober wrote: ↑February 24th, 2020, 3:43 pm If you do use the pencil and loop starting mechanism, are you penalized if the loop drags on the ground? According to Rule 3g, "The only parts of the Vehicle allowed to contact the floor during the run are wheels/treads. Pieces falling off during the run constitutes a construction violation."
2019 - 2020 Events
~ Boomilever
~ Detector Building
~ Gravity Vehicle
~ Machines
~ Ping-Pong Parachute
~ Boomilever
~ Detector Building
~ Gravity Vehicle
~ Machines
~ Ping-Pong Parachute
- Things2do
- Member
- Posts: 154
- Joined: February 12th, 2018, 2:30 pm
- Division: Grad
- State: TN
- Pronouns: He/Him/His
- Has thanked: 93 times
- Been thanked: 56 times
Re: Gravity Vehicle Ramp Please Help
I had a small eye hook on the back of my car. It doesn't sag, it doesn't scrape the ground, it's simple to install and operate, and it provides a firm loop that will never stretch or wear out.Tendan wrote: ↑February 24th, 2020, 6:34 pmIf the loop is attached to the car, yes. I would build the car so that the loop is attached to the ramp and goes around a part on the car, holding it in place, so the loop is not attached to the car, if that makes any sense.thehuntfornedoctober wrote: ↑February 24th, 2020, 3:43 pm If you do use the pencil and loop starting mechanism, are you penalized if the loop drags on the ground? According to Rule 3g, "The only parts of the Vehicle allowed to contact the floor during the run are wheels/treads. Pieces falling off during the run constitutes a construction violation."
John 5:46-47
Eagle Scout
Colorado School of Mines
"[A] new project car is always a good idea. [Y]ou always need a new project car[.]" - jaspattack
Let's go, Brandon!
Eagle Scout
Colorado School of Mines
"[A] new project car is always a good idea. [Y]ou always need a new project car[.]" - jaspattack
Let's go, Brandon!
See Wiki
- MTV<=>Operator
- Member
- Posts: 142
- Joined: February 8th, 2019, 12:41 pm
- Division: Grad
- State: NY
- Has thanked: 9 times
- Been thanked: 4 times
Re: Gravity Vehicle Ramp Please Help
And if you can't get an eye hook or some other sort of metal loop before competition, some good strong zip ties will never fail youThings2do wrote: ↑February 24th, 2020, 7:20 pmI had a small eye hook on the back of my car. It doesn't sag, it doesn't scrape the ground, it's simple to install and operate, and it provides a firm loop that will never stretch or wear out.Tendan wrote: ↑February 24th, 2020, 6:34 pmIf the loop is attached to the car, yes. I would build the car so that the loop is attached to the ramp and goes around a part on the car, holding it in place, so the loop is not attached to the car, if that makes any sense.thehuntfornedoctober wrote: ↑February 24th, 2020, 3:43 pm If you do use the pencil and loop starting mechanism, are you penalized if the loop drags on the ground? According to Rule 3g, "The only parts of the Vehicle allowed to contact the floor during the run are wheels/treads. Pieces falling off during the run constitutes a construction violation."
THHS '21 Builder Cult Member
2017-2018
2018-2019
2019-2020: GV (9 YUSO, 5 NYC), Detector (8 YUSO, 7 NYC), WS (10 NYC), PPP
2020-2021 Events/ Yosemite/HUSO/River Hill/ NYC South Regional
Vehicle Design / 1/--/--/--
WICI / 3/--/--/--
Circuits /--/ 3/ 5/ 1
Machines /--/ 4/ 2/ 2
Detector /--/--/ 2/--
2017-2018
2018-2019
2019-2020: GV (9 YUSO, 5 NYC), Detector (8 YUSO, 7 NYC), WS (10 NYC), PPP
2020-2021 Events/ Yosemite/HUSO/River Hill/ NYC South Regional
Vehicle Design / 1/--/--/--
WICI / 3/--/--/--
Circuits /--/ 3/ 5/ 1
Machines /--/ 4/ 2/ 2
Detector /--/--/ 2/--
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests