Hi! Thank you for coming to our first suspension workday. Here is a guide of the things we discussed today, the new member assignments, a rough description of the projects we are working on, and some resources and suspension tasks for the week. Please feel free to reach out to me and the other leads! The mechanical leads are happy to answer questions.
Introductions - prefaces, feedback, and transparency
slack and communication is key
New Member Project and Introduction to Suspension components using Daybreak CAD
utilizing VSUSP (and maybe a reference sketch) to understand suspension as a linkage system
building a suspension assembly using dimensions from VSUSP and reference sketch!
Reference sketches, also known as master models, or skeleton models are a top down method of CADing using the overall hardpoints and dimensions. Then creating parts and assemblies by referencing the significant dimensions to the master model sketch to keep updates and consistency!
I recommend taking notes or writing down the work you are doing and any research you are looking into in order to complete this. Documentation is something we emphasize throughout LHR, and I would like to compile all your work and notes into one place on sharepoint for future reference.
Here are some resources that I want you guys to read as well:
Because you will have the video to annotate, the model mania CAD for the week, and the VSUSP assembly new member project, these are not required to be read by the end of the week. In two weeks though I want you guys to have read both of them. Notes are encouraged but not required, and if you take any please send them to our channel / send them to me / upload them to some documentation!
I think reading these are good resources for understanding suspension and may be helpful in the new member project!
The winning solar car is one of our best resources in understanding solar cars as a whole. I will be encouraging that we read it all year lol, I used to put it off but I understood so much more after finally reading it.
SRR - system requirements review
the very first goals being set from all mechanical systems. We talk about the very base of what standards dynamics will be following, design methodology, regulations, and what requirements we are basing designing and manufacturing on.
I would like to go over it formally with all suspension members because it is the blueprint of all we will do this cycle
Assigning members to tasks / evaluating interest and projects:
Assigned for all dynamics members:
Watch video from ASC (from dynamics channel message)
do model mania (from dynamics channel message)
Want to do machining, math?, calculations, vehicle dynamics?, etc.
...
1 member : Composite components collab w composites, > interest in load analysis, composites, materials testing - La’akea
First meeting with composites for composites-dyn collab with advait and javi
1 member : Daybreak - bearing insert research and control arm design and manufacturing
...
Who would like to have a focus in manufacturing
possible tasks related to roles
DB - implement CAD of the control arms w inserts in assembly
Calculate theoretical spring rates for DB and New gen
Make a reference sketch of the rear trailing arm - maybe a few depending on how many potential geoms we have
Compile rear trailing arm geometries done previously x unsprung member
Continue composite pushrod assembly research and CAD - implement into next gen secondary CAD
DB control arm redesign - bearing insert research and load calculations
Research how to machine control arms with c clip groove
CAD it
Composite pushrod assembly - put it in your starter project - research ways to do inserts and what type of rod end you should use
Research tasks will be very emphasized throughout the semester but for now we will not go into specifics
for example decoupled suspensions and progressive motion ratios were researched HEAVILY last year by me and kadhir - we will go over the details and the findings some other time
of course most things in projects and understanding suspension and dynamics in general need some research anyway
we encourage documentation as that is how our team grows and how we all learn together - it is also nice to post your work