Please read this page in its entirety before entering the first module
Welcome to the Mechanical Team on Northeastern Electric Racing! Here we design, fabricate and assemble the components that make up the structural and dynamic components of a vehicle. This page will serve as a hub for your first semester on the team, teaching you the basics on how to design and manufacture parts in a real world setting.
Table of Contents
Mechanical Subteams
The mechanical team is made up of four subteams: Structural, Handling, Powertrain and Ergonomics. If you have not already, you will choose a subteam to work under. You are not bound to this team once you decide, so feel free to attend meetings for all teams to see what fits best.
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Projects: Chassis, Aerodynamics, Bodywork, Floor and Firewall.
Projects: Suspension, Steering
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Projects: Accumulator, Transmission, Motor Cooling
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Projects: Seat, Steering Wheel, Dashboard, Pedal Box,
General Expectations of Members
We are a very large group of students all working towards the ambitious goal of building a new racecar every year. This means that we all need to accept the responsibility that comes with our respective roles. As a member of the mechanical team, you are expected to
Attend your system meeting and bay time every week
Come ready to learn and grow
Ask a lot of questions
Treat your fellow team members with respect and kindness
Be prepared to set aside about 5 hours to club work every week
Yes, this one is daunting, but this club will give you what you put into it. The time you spend here will provide you opportunities to grow as an engineer. Our engineers have a significant advantage in employment prospects due to the practical experience gained and engineering connections made through the effort they put forth.
What to Expect
Before you can take on ownership of your own system, you’ll need to build the skills required to do so. For the first couple of weeks, you will complete an introductory project to introduce you to the tools and skills we mechanicals use to complete our work. Once your introductory project is completed, you will start to be assigned tasks, such as Component Design, Machining, Machine Toolpathing, Assembly, etc. The tasks you are assigned are determined by your chosen subteam, so if there is anything you are particularly interested in, let your team head know.
Introductory Project
As a part of your onboarding experience, you will be guided through the design and analysis of a brake pedal to get you acquainted with the software and skills you will need during your time in the club.
Table of Contents
Software Installation and Logins
Solidworks
Part Design
Drawings
Simulation
PDM
Fabrication
Methods
CAM
Machining
Finishline
Competition Rules and General Timelines
Common Vendors and Purchasing
Design Practices and Resources
Documentation, what's important, why recording a history of your work is key
Design Justification
Notes - Delete Later
First a learner part to warm them up,
Pedal - Rules required force tolerance
need to teach about factor of safety, deflection, stress concentration, treat it like a class
when you complete this part and present your design, you will be given work for your subteam.
Modules to teach what you need, schedule for freshman/ sophomores?
Less rigid project - Simple design to get acquainted with the flow of design
Schedule
Week 1-Solidworks Install, PDM, Finishline, Rules/Timeline?
Week 2-Acquainted with Solidworks/ PDM
Part Naming, File Locations
Planes, Sketches, Dimensions, Extrudes, Revolves, Relations, Measure, Hole Wizard
Feature Tree Organization
Week 3- Design Principles, DFM, DFA considerations
HSMWorks, Methods, CAM
Rules and Timeline