INTRODUCTION
Now that we are at the beginning of May and quite close to the date of the competition, which will take place in Hockenheim, Germany, from July 28 to August 2. Being that close to the competition, the preparations have become feverish. Most parts of the vehicle are already constructed and assembled. Moreover, testing of the racecar has begun, aiming for the diagnosis of potential problems and the application of adjustments. Apart from the vehicle, which will take part in the competition, the related research and development on the third vehicle of the team started along with the needed experiments. Finally, last month our team successfully went in search of new members.
kiκιγηγγκιγξξ ENGINE To begin with, the members comprising the sub-team of engine, successfully built the rig for the programming of the pneumatic air shifter. The system has already been placed successfully on the race car, waiting for the final settings in the track.
Τhe new differential mounts have been placed on the car.
Moreover, a new restrictor of the intake system will be printed with the method of 3D printing. After those changes our next step is the programming of the engine aiming not only for a better behavior of our car in the racetrack but also to increase the horsepower.
SUSPENSION The Suspension sub-team activity was focused on two domains in the last month. The first one deals with the small amends in the overall functioning of the suspension system (such as friction and lash) as well assembly of the new parts that have arrived. The second domain concerns the setting of the foundation for the suspension of the 3rd racecar. rocker
As far as the 1st domain is concerned, new bell cranks have been designed to overcome friction, and new steering arms for the rear tie rod have been installed to eliminate toe compliance.
antiroll bars
Moreover, the ARB tubes have been received and tested torsionally in our lab, through the simple setup shown below. In the following weeks, we will calculate the real CoG center of the car which will help for the design and the prediction of certain parameters for the 3rd racecar. Also, our new steering system is to be delivered.
shafts
Regarding the 3rd racecar, the sub team is currently underway in creating a 3 degree of freedom mathematical model, the optimization of which will aid in the calculation of the general dimensions of the racecar (wheel base, wheel track, weight dist.). The results of the optimization will of course align with the vehicle performance targets that have been set.
CHASSIS Regarding the sub-team of chassis, progress made towards the use of the vacuum infusion pump by conducting further experiments, in order to get familiar with applying fiber carbon on surfaces with different kind of shapes. At first, simple pieces of parts with carbon fiber were made, then carbon fiber was applied in a mold with curves and corners.With the use of vacuum infusion pump and carbon fiber, the new body will be made in the near future.
Surface of angles and curves
mock up
Simple carbon surface
At the same time the sub-team initiated the research and development of the third car’s chassis. In this respect, mock up design is almost done. From this rig, we intend to collect important ergometric information in order to design our new chassis. Some of the parameters that will be measured are the ergonomics, basic chassis’ dimensions as well as packaging of major components.
ECONOMICS This month the sector of economics continued the efforts of approaching more companies eager to support our project and help us to achieve our goals. The local companies of Thessaly continued to support us through our fund raising program 100x100. By the end of April, 10 companies became our sponsors, reaching the overall number of 30 local supporter companies. Along with small companies, larger companies, belonging to higher sponsorship categories, play an active role. These firms help Centaurus Team not only by funding us, but also through material sponsorships. We would like to thank, in particular, Pegasus Company, which continue to support us for a third consecutive year and Iaoponiki S.A that became one of our silver sponsors. Moreover, we want to thank “Lazarou bros sheet metal works”, “Koutsogiannis Ltd.” for the machining processes offering to us throughout the year. Furthermore, we thank the workshop “Tsakanikas Georgios”. In the end, we want to thank “SP Spiliotis and Moto Gavopoulos” for their material sponsorships. We would, also like to thank “Racoon City Paintball” for their valuable assistance to the purchase of the regulator and the sponsorship of an Arduino, which our team used to manufacture the electro-pneumatic air shifter.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that this month our team, is in search of new members to design and construct the third vehicle, during 2015 to 2016. The first stage of the recruitment ended successfully and the presentations made was attended by many young students interested in the project and eager to work. During the next stage, the enrolled students will be included in the team. Their integration will be achieved by informing them on the rules of team’s operation and a series of tests that should pass, in order the team to ensure that they have the necessary skills to participate in and carry out the tasks assigned to them in the future.