http://www.science-of-speed.com/showroomlist.asp

CO2 Dragster Cars

Purpose of CO2 Activity• Learn engineering, aerodynamic design,

and testing principles• Understand how a CO2 car works

• Design your CO2 car

• Build your CO2 car

• Race your CO2 car

Overview

• Intro to Racing CO2 cars

• Student examples

• Engineering Principles (Dragster Design PowerPoint)

• Designing your CO2 Car

• Manufacturing your CO2 Car Youtube link example for tools and techniques of manufacturing CO2 Car

CO2 Car Examples

Intro to Racing CO2 cars• 2 Cars are set up • Cars ride on guide wire

from start of track to end of track

• Co2 cartridge is punctured –propelling car forward

• Two cars race• Cars go through end gate • light goes for fastest car• Race time is recorded for

each car

What do you use for the track?

• Many times when people are new to CO2 racing, they hear about cars running on a "track" and think that a track specially made for CO2 cars is needed to race them.

• Our track will be the hallway floor

CO2 Racetrack

• The only track required is 50# test fishing line. • Fishing line is used as a guide line that the

eye-hooks on the bottom of the cars attach to. • The fishing line runs between the start gate

and the finish gate• We will likely run our races using only fishing

line along the floor of the hallway. The smoother the surface, the faster the times will be.

length of the track

• The length of the track is also important. You need to have at least 60 feet without any obstructions. Any shorter distance than this, and the cars will destroy themselves upon finishing a race.

• The optimum track length is 66 feet (20 Meters), which is in scale with real dragstrip lengths of a quarter mile.

How fast are these things?• Up to 60 mph (100 kmh)

What is CO2?

• Power is created by CO2 gas propulsion - CO2 gas is in the metal cartridges.

• CO2 is the chemical abbreviation for Carbon Dioxide. Not to be confused with the poisonous Carbon Monoxide (CO) ,

• Carbon Dioxide is made up of two Oxygen atoms and one Carbon atom sharing electrons.

Engineering Principles

The following Engineering Principles

Relate to how and why a CO2 car works

• Newton’s Laws of Motion

• Mass

• Drag

• Friction

More Details on CO2 Dragster Design PowerPoint

What's the best design for a CO2 car?

• Your Car must meet the size and dimensional requirements of TSA.

• The best design is the one that wins. There is no "one design" that is best.

• Generally, the two best indicators of a good car are clean aerodynamics and high craftsmanship. Often, really good designs that are built poorly will loose to so-so designs built well.

Designing your CO2 car• Step 1: Work on Design Journal

Understand & define• Understanding the problem or purpose- trying to achieve

the fastest speed and/or best appearance

• Take notes on CO2 Dragster Design ppt

• Use the CO2 dragster specification spreadsheet to document requirements

• Make quick sketches with dimensioning requirements making notes as to what design aspects you want to implement

Designing your CO2 car• Step 2 Design forms worksheet• Explore Define Prototype

– Brainstorming (think about what you want your car to look like)

– Look online at different designs– http://www.science-of-speed.com/showroomlist.asp

– Sketch different possible design ideas – Create detailed sketches in journal

Designing your CO2 car

• Step 3 Inventor prototype– Complete technical drawing for CO2 car– You must have a high quality, accurate

drawing– Drawing must be 1:1scale (actual size)– Drawing must be dimensioned

(all dimensions must be in millimeters (mm) – note: 10mm =1cm)

Designing your CO2 car

• Step 3 Inventor prototype• Detailed assembly drawings similar to example project.

• Presentation video showing axle and wheels assembly with car.

• 2 “Blue print” drawings. One showing parts list and balloons and one showing detailed dimensions. Information tables should be personalized to your project.

• Final Solution rendered image and video from Inventor

studio of finished dragster.

Designing your CO2 car• Step 4

– Project falcon wind tunnel report -Images and data from the wind tunnel simulation

• Step 5– Refine if necessary– Update Design Journal

• Step 6– Get instructor to look over your inventor applications,

drawings, and design journal. You must get instructor approval before beginning to manufacture the car that you designed

Manufacturing your CO2 car• Step 7 - Create a template

– Draw or trace the outline of your car on the graph paper. Attached it to the side and top of your basswood block - using clear or masking tape.

Manufacturing your CO2 car• Step 8 - drill the holes for the axles (using the drill

press). – Make sure the axle holes are in the right spot and

are straight– The holes should be perpendicular to the center

line of the car and parallel with the bottom surface of the car.

– * Take care to make sure these holes line up evenly and are drilled accurately. Crooked holes mean a slow car! Use a drill press and take your time! *

Manufacturing your CO2 car• Step 9 - Using the Bandsaw,

cut out your shape. • When using the band saw to

cut curves, you must use relief cuts (or you will break the band).

• Follow the shape that is on the template that is taped to your CO2 car.

• Youtube link example for tools and techniques of manufacturing CO2 Car

Manufacturing your CO2 car

• Step 10 – Shaping and Sanding– Use a rasp or wood file ( you may also use the belt or

spindle sander) for the initial sanding, in order to create desired roundness and curves

– Hand Sand your CO2 car until you have reached the desired shape

– Hand sand with fine sand paper to prepare the CO2 car for finishing.

Manufacturing your CO2 car

• Step 11 – Finishing– Finish cars with wood stain, wood oil, varnish or

spray paint.– Allow to dry and finish sand between coats.– Paint adds weight! Do not paint inside Co2

housing!!!!

Manufacturing your CO2 car

• Step 12 – assembly– Assemble all the parts of the

CO2 car– Wheels

– Axels

– Body

– Eyelets

– CO2 cartridge

Manufacturing your CO2 car• Step 13 – Measure and Test alignment on

incline• Complete Design Testing Handout

Manufacturing your CO2 car

• Step 14 – RACE and DOCUMENT RESULTS• On Results handout and in design journal.

Manufacturing your CO2 car• Step 15 – Bask in your glory! • Complete design journal, Powerpoint, submit

documentation and results to your personal web page