Design Challenge #1

[cmreeder]

How about that first cardboard design without the kerf? Worth chucking some laser-cut critters at, I think?

[steph]

Hahaha oh man, totally worth it! Though if I still have that damn rhino file I have zero idea where it would be I might have some other ideas on the drawing table though…

[jkopel]

That is very clever.
I would strongly suggest cutting a bit big and giving all the bearing surfaces a light sanding in the direction of rotation. Even a super accurate laser cut introduces regular roughness along the axis of the laser*. Matching two such surfaces as a bearing is going to have a lot of friction, and sanding in the opposite direction will help.

(*verified empirically)

[polarbrainfreeze]

You beat me to it @likeablejerk.

Here’s the one I made at lunch time.

I like how you did the grill on the front of yours, and the back “gate”. I actually used a separate piece for my grill, but your design is simpler. I’ll have to adjust my design to do something similar.

[johnwills]

Awesome!

[likeablejerk]

Some combination of the two would work.

You know, if we did this with stacked 1/8" stock instead of 1/4", we could put quite a bit of detail in it that otherwise looks too chunky (including the seam of the split windshield.)

This kinda makes me want to do a laser-based pinewood derby.

[polarbrainfreeze]

I like the 1/8" idea. But it limits how many cars I can fit on one sheet (remember, the competition rules say “one sheet of material”). BUT if we are talking about things outside the competition, then I’m all for it.

In fact, we could use a combination of 1/4 and 1/8. Have 1/4" things in the middle, and 1/8" pieces on the side. You could make much nicer tires, and you could have nice details on the sides.

[cmreeder]

@likeablejerk

This kinda makes me want to do a laser-based pinewood derby.

I’d go for that! I recently did pinewood derby with a bunch of teenage girls I work with. I figured since I’ve had cub scout envy since my brother’s first pinewood, my girls and I would have fun.

I was right. Raingutter Regatta is also a lot of fun.

So far we’ve seen ballistics and toy cars… I’m rather delighted with this thread. I need to quit reading and go design something.

[likeablejerk]

I was never a Cub Scout so I never got to do an actual Pinewood Derby, but when I was a teenager, my scout troop used to organize and run the competition for the little guys. After they all went home, we (including our leaders) would end up staying late into the night to hold “outlaw” races for the cars we’d built, most of which entirely ignored the actual derby build rules… and occasionally ignored basic safety rules.

[polarbrainfreeze]

I’ve never done a pinewood derby either. It would be fun to do a laser-based one.

[likeablejerk]

@rebecca: I think we just accidentally found Glowforge Challenge #2 .

[caribis2]

I don’t have a glowforge and now you’re posting Jeep porn. I thought this forum was supposed to be G rated or something. My friend just got rid of his J10; not exactly the same league as your Willys, but nice to drive around the countryside.

I made the mistake of going past the MN State Fairgrounds to pick up lunch today and was engulfed by the Back to the Fifties traffic. Last year they were just short of 12,000 registered 1964 and earlier vehicles. Your truck would undoubtedly be welcome.

[johnwills]

I almost bought a J10 years ago. They’re pretty cool in their own right. There’s a cruise night a couple miles up the road every Thursday that I have yet to go to. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtSjRtVulM8

If I show up at a cruise night with a laser cut toy truck like this sitting on the dash next summer, I may well drive out with half a dozen orders for versions based on their cars.

[jamesdhatch]

@cmreeder

I recently did pinewood derby with a bunch of teenage girls I work with. I figured since I’ve had cub scout envy since my brother’s first pinewood, my girls and I would have fun.

My daughter carries a small Leatherman multitool on her keychain. Some new kid at her work saw it and told her he was a Boy Scout and asked if she were an Explorer (they’re Boy Scouts who include girls). She said “dad and all the brothers were” so she could do all the cool stuff without having to be smelly.

[jbv]

What are the dimensions of the slings/payload area for the trebuchets?
And what are the dimensions of the truck beds?
I’m playing with some ideas for ammo. I’m thinking of tabletop games… battleship meets angrybirds meets jenga meets seige weapons.
skully-ammo.ai (1.6 MB)

edit: also loose-stackable “castle” walls to knock down. Trying to make them tessellated for the least waste possible from a sheet of material

[smcgathyfay]

Is it me or do the wheels look like Oreo cookies

[likeablejerk]

Working with 1/8" is fun! It allows a lot of flexibility.

[Xabbess]

@jamesdhatch

she could do all the cool stuff without having to be smelly.

Hilarious! And very smart of her.

[likeablejerk]

@jamesdhatch

without having to be smelly.

But that’s half the fun!

[rebecca]

A car? That rolls? Are you kidding me?! It is sooooooo cool! What a great project!!