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I was wondering if anyone here works for or has any connections with a company that deals in or uses high tech materials or expertise, and likes to get involved cool charitable projects. If this sounds like a plug for something, it is. If you've heard of Formula SAE, then you know what I'm talking about. I'm a mechanical engineering student going into his sixth year of school (don't switch when you're a senior) and we are building our first car.

If you haven't searched yet to find out what it is, it is a design competition where we build a small open wheel race car and compete against 139 other schools in design, presentation, and five different races including drag, skid pad, slolom, autocross, and endurance. The premise is that we are building a prototype racecar with a budget of $25k.

Since it is our first car we aren't going nuts like some of the schools with 20 cars/years under their belt and 50 people working on it. At the moment we comprise a team of about six or seven, with myself doing the bulk of what currently needs to be done. Our frame, which is 95% done, is constructed out of thin walled mild steel, as opposed to aluminum or really thin walled chromoly since it is our first car and just getting there and being competative is a big deal. Some even go with a carbon fiber/aluminum honeycomb monocock.

Anyways, we are limited to 610cc's and four strokes, which means a four cylinder bike motor. We've got a '02 suzuki gsxr600 motor just chillen, with fuel injection and individual throttle bodies. We have to run a 20mm restrictor, but 50-60 hp in a sub 500lb car is nothing to shake a stick at. We've got wheels from keizer. Three peice magnesium centers weighing out at about 6.5 lbs apiece. neat stuff. In the last couple years, cars have been getting under 370lbs with the driver, and pulling 1.8g on the skidpad. I'm shooting for at least 1.5g. Since I know we are not going to be the lightest car there, Im' focusing on the suspension. We have all the Bill Mitchell software which is as good as it gets for suspension geometry, simulation, brake calculation, and gears. We are most like likely going with carbon tubes we'll make with our vacuum bagging system and aluminum ends, either 6061 or 7075.

Which leads me to my point. We need to find all of our own capital whether it be cash, materials, or expertise. THe majority of public schools (I go the the University of Minnesota-Duluth by the way) are pretty tight on the budget these days meaning we have to get all of it ourselves. I'm having a really hard time getting my department to buy a mandrel bender when whe have a shitload of metal working equipment already. So I'm saying if anyone is connected with any industry that may be of assistance, and wouldn't mind some exposhure through the car itself(stickers), our website(soon to be up), newsletter, and word of mouth, we would appreciate any help would could get.

Ihave tons of pics, but I can't host them right now since I'm too broke to pay the school $40 to have access to the 20MB that I normally do during the year. I can crop them and send them if anyone wants. I work at Old Chicago in Canal Park hosting, so I make $6 an hour untill I starting serving at the end of the summer and can take home two bills a night.

So, all in all, its a cool project that is better than getting some lame internship where I sweep floors and suck dicks for the summer. I'll easily have 1000 hours into this before the competition in Pontiac Michigan in May.

If you want to know more let me know.

you need cliffnotes

Cirrus Design is a GA aircraft manufacturer. Their aircraft are completely composite, have side stick controllers, and glass cockpits. All really progressive stuff in the small aircraft industry. I bring them up because they are a rapidly growing Deluth company. They are back ordered two years on 200K+ planes, they may be able to help with some dolla's. They also have some of the best ovens for fiber glass and carbon that you may be able to use. I worked at their plant in Grand Forks for a while and UND's engineering dept. had a couple of projects go through their ovens.

cliffnotes? Are you saying I talk too much? If thats the case, guilty as charged.

I was definately planning on hitting up cirrus. I know they do alot with composites and will have plenty of expertice. It is kinda neat that a top notch plane manufacterer is local. My cousin used to work for Northstar Aerospace and they made tons of stuff for them.

Right now I'm at the stage of getting together a bunch of photos and what not to show people what we have done and draw a bunch of stuff in Catia. Its hard to get money when you don't have anything to show as was the case earlier this year. Archer racing in town has helped out a lot with numbers to shoot for on suspension tuning like camber gain, kingpin axis, ackerman, antidive/antisquat, CG/CGH, toesteer, bumpsteer, scrub, etc. They also know many people who deal in parts we need

Its just a tough process of aquiring $30k plus when you are already doing the bulk of the work on it. Right now I'm trying to figure out the $1800 worth of suspension software we have to set suspension points which will allow me to draw up some a-arm ends, steering knuckles, hubs, and all that.

Thanks for the input though. I didn't know Cirrus had the large ovens and what not. I wonder if they do any filament winding. I guess I'll just have to stroll up there and find out.

I'm pretty sure it's all pre-preg.