Engineering project, leaving cert 2012

Bbbbolger · 16-11-2011 11:01pm

Probably a stupid question but when the brief states weight is a key issue does that mean they intentionally made it light or heavy? I can see arguments for both so if anyone could shed some light on it for me?

fullback4glin · 16-11-2011 11:09pm

I'd assume light because it has to be transported to the moon so I can't imagine they'd want it to be too heavy.

Bbbbolger · 16-11-2011 11:13pm

Good point. I had got it stuck on my head that it would have to be heavier due to the lower gravity of the moon.

Fiendish Human · 17-11-2011 1:35am

Bbbbolger wrote: »

Good point. I had got it stuck on my head that it would have to be heavier due to the lower gravity of the moon.

Think of the gravity on the Moon as a great asset. It would be a shame to "anchor" the LRV slightly so that it would still be subject to the limitations of Earth gravity. I'd personally find it quite fun sitting on an LRV, jumping around the surface of the Moon

confuzeled!!!! · 23-11-2011 8:01pm

Hi, Can anyone help me with any ideas for my project kinda behind and dont know what to use as in the steering and all, any suggestions would be great.:D

youngcardinal · 24-11-2011 9:49pm

hello

just wondering has anyone thought about what materials they're gonna use?

confuzeled!!!! · 25-11-2011 7:45pm

hi, can anyone give me any ideas for this project im kinda behind and have no idea atm...

Fiendish Human · 25-11-2011 11:26pm

confuzeled!!!! wrote: »

hi, can anyone give me any ideas for this project im kinda behind and have no idea atm...

Maybe this would be a good place to start...

Darius.Tr · 26-11-2011 4:19pm

Seems like a great project this year, alot better than last years... Good luck to everyone who is doing it this year

ghilliemaster · 27-11-2011 6:03pm

any of ye doing the steering meck on yer models??

Iony94 · 02-12-2011 10:59pm

How would yous incorporate the suspensions on the LRV ?

Leftyflip · 03-12-2011 7:10pm

Suspension - with a lot of thought and ingenuity, honestly - it's a complicated thing to do with the size constraints.

Steering mech - the possibilities are endless, rack and pinion, linkages, etc, etc.

How far along is everyone at the moment anyway?

Iony94 · 03-12-2011 10:37pm

Chassis and Steering mechanism done

. Any ideas for the wheels ?

Fiendish Human · 07-12-2011 5:02pm

Iony94 wrote: »

Chassis and Steering mechanism done . Any ideas for the wheels ?

You could build the wheels yourself using sheet metal or some other light material or you could use the pre-made ones in your classroom. I was going to build them myself but then realising how time consuming it would be decided to just use the already made ones.

Mayo_Boy · 07-12-2011 5:57pm

Fiendish Human wrote: »

You could build the wheels yourself using sheet metal or some other light material or you could use the pre-made ones in your classroom. I was going to build them myself but then realising how time consuming it would be decided to just use the already made ones.

would you not be better using nylon for the wheels and make them on the lathe?

Iony94 · 07-12-2011 11:12pm

Mayo_Boy wrote: »

would you not be better using nylon for the wheels and make them on the lathe?

I think you would yes

. That's what I will probably do . Also you could drill 4 or 5 holes into the wheel for the design

Wilwarin · 12-12-2011 9:00pm

If the LRV has to have individual drives for front wheels, why does it have to have steering mechanism for the front wheels? You can steer with the individual drives, as it has no sense on turning the front axle plus the individual drive. or should it be one variable resistor for both engines?

partyatmygaff · 12-12-2011 9:08pm

You're thinking of tanks. Trying to steer a four wheeled vehicle by just controlling the rotational speeds of the two front wheels is impossible.

Fiendish Human · 12-12-2011 9:14pm

partyatmygaff wrote: »

You're thinking of tanks. Trying to steer a four wheeled vehicle by just controlling the rotational speeds of the two front wheels is impossible.

I wouldn't go as far as to say it's impossible, just not very effective :rolleyes: As for Wilwaren's question: We have to do both the steering and the individual drives because it would improve control over the LRV for the astronauts AND because the brief said so.

Wilwarin · 12-12-2011 9:18pm

and what if the front axle would be on a bearing and the individual drives would turn it by accelerating one wheel?

Fiendish Human · 12-12-2011 9:20pm

Wilwarin wrote: »

and what if the front axle would be on a bearing and the individual drives would turn it by accelerating one wheel?

That would work and you could hit it home to the examiner that the bearing was in fact your steering mechanism

Wilwarin · 12-12-2011 9:22pm

Thanks a lot

And do you have any other ideas? Or is it okay as it is?

Fiendish Human · 12-12-2011 9:24pm

Wilwarin wrote: »

Thanks a lot

No problemo! Nowhere in the brief does it say that the steering mechanism has to be motorized...

Wilwarin wrote: »

Thanks a lot
And do you have any other ideas? Or is it okay as it is?

As long as it does what it says in the brief then it's okay as it is, but if you have any other ideas then by all means use them if you feel it's necessary

You'll make a better project if you like the ideas you use and an original project always sits well with examiners.

ghilliemaster · 14-12-2011 6:17pm

Is my school the only one doing models?

Fiendish Human · 14-12-2011 11:01pm

ghilliemaster wrote: »

Is my school the only one doing models?

Some people in my school are doing that, I decided not to though: making a model for a model of an LRV? :cool:

Lausie93 · 21-12-2011 11:04pm

How far along is everyone?? Think im pretty much up poop creek, didn't bother doing much for first few weeks and now don't know if i'll finish it! Starting to despise engineering, is anyone else really far behind??

Mayo_Boy · 22-12-2011 1:30pm

Lausie93 wrote: »

How far along is everyone?? Think im pretty much up poop creek, didn't bother doing much for first few weeks and now don't know if i'll finish it! Starting to despise engineering, is anyone else really far behind??

I Just have chassis,mudguards, seat and wheels done

Leftyflip · 23-12-2011 8:11pm

Chassis, steering, motor mounts, suspension done myself.

Iony94 · 04-01-2012 3:33pm

What safety features could you include in your project ?

Downing · 05-01-2012 8:37pm

Leftyflip wrote: »

Chassis, steering, motor mounts, suspension done myself.

how are u incorporating a suspension into it?

Leftyflip · 05-01-2012 10:15pm

Downing wrote: »

how are u incorporating a suspension into it?

Think logically, it's very simple to do.

partyatmygaff · 05-01-2012 11:22pm

Iony94 wrote: »

What safety features could you include in your project ?

Sealed electronics for one...

A dab of hot glue on finished solder joints and hidden wiring would do the job nicely if you were doing everything point-to-point.

As for the suspension, a very simple method would be to have a separate chassis and a body. I.e. a Non-monocoque design.

Just keep all moving parts such as the steering and motors within the chassis and suspend the cabin and the external shell over the chassis with your suspension.

I actually have a brilliant design for a coilover in my head but I simply don't have the time to draw it out.

Donal O Muiri · 08-01-2012 4:02am

I've the mechanism, the chassis, the suspension, the brackets for the axels done. still have to put in the central control unit and the seat. the seat wont be too hard but i'm thinking of putting a spring in the seat. I need to make brass bearings to support the suspension though... Folder rightly done. I didn't bother with a model myself, I done the whole thing out on solid works so I have the drawing printed out. some minor tweaks to be done to the origional design tho, my free 30 days of soliud works was up a right while ago, hopefully I'll get it done. Finished thae construction and DCG projects though so I'm getting on rightly. Need to work more on the theory end of engineering now, really unprepared for that,teacher expects us to know everything, him thinkin it's all common sense. Gonna do out a right few of the past engineering exam papers in evening study for that. The questions really repeat themselves so I'll have a good bit of it down if i do that

MattHelders · 23-01-2012 8:28pm

Is there anyone doing a flat chassis for their project. I was going to but when I looked at it the motors were too high up so the LRV looked ridiculous. Anyone know any other ideas I could use for a chassis. Really struggling. I should fly through everything else as I have the steering and electonics done so I'm not too worried about time

Foley2012 · 26-01-2012 2:52pm

Is it possible to get a time extension on the project due to an illness that restricted you from attending school?

spurious · 26-01-2012 7:18pm

Foley2012 wrote: »

Is it possible to get a time extension on the project due to an illness that restricted you from attending school?

Nobody here can answer that.

Your school would have to apply to Reasonable Accommodations and see what happens. I wouldn't be that hopeful considering there is still over a month left to the closing date.

If you spent one hour per day after school catching up you would have more time spent on it than many people have had in class.

Sean. · 30-01-2012 5:50pm

Finished my project today. It's such a great feeling to have it done! I went in this morning determined to finish polishing/ testing and evaluating. Now my brief and project are sealed in a box in the storage room awaiting examination

I'll make sure to post my stuff here after June! Good look to the rest of you on finishing your projects, peace out!

JonnyMcNamee · 01-02-2012 12:34am

Really regret taking Engineering now, am absolutely dire at practical. My projects not near done and it won't be done at this stage. I'll have to just make the best of a bad situation I suppose and get as much marks as I can. Really ticks me off though because the theory is handy. Ah well, no point crying over spilt milk. :rolleyes: Still 7 other subjects to worry about! :pac:

deand21594 · 01-02-2012 2:17pm

dont worry too much about it, surprisingly the project is only worth about 12.5%, so theres still plenty of % left to get a good mark

Lausie93 · 01-02-2012 9:04pm

Thank god im not the only one not even nearly finished! I only have the chassis and central control panel and steering done.

Is anyone else not nearly finished??

Mayo_Boy · 01-02-2012 10:44pm

Lausie93 wrote: »

Thank god im not the only one not even nearly finished! I only have the chassis and central control panel and steering done. Is anyone else not nearly finished??

Me

caramello_ · 04-02-2012 5:27pm

Im fairly stuck on the project..I know it should probably be sealed up and ready for examination now but gahhh.did'nt put much effort into it, and kicking myself now! no folder either, would anybody be kind enough to give me details,examples of steering mechanisms to put into the folder? know pretty much nothing about engineering, only took it up last year, coaxed with the promise of high grades....

partyatmygaff · 04-02-2012 5:54pm

deand21594 wrote: »

dont worry too much about it, surprisingly the project is only worth about 12.5%, so theres still plenty of % left to get a good mark

Not really tbh... If the project piece is going badly, focus all your efforts on preparing for the practical exam and on your brief. If you mess up the practical side of Engineering you're restricting yourself to a maximum of a D.

deand21594 · 04-02-2012 6:39pm

Yeah i see where your coming from but he's still got time to turn things around

Lausie93 · 05-02-2012 10:59pm

partyatmygaff wrote: »

If you mess up the practical side of Engineering you're restricting yourself to a maximum of a D.

Jayney a D? The theory is so easy and if your brief is up to par and the day exam goes okay, thats hardly a D? Hope not anyways, hoping to get at least a B if everything but the project go good!

partyatmygaff · 05-02-2012 11:22pm

Lausie93 wrote: »

Jayney a D? The theory is so easy and if your brief is up to par and the day exam goes okay, thats hardly a D? Hope not anyways, hoping to get at least a B if everything but the project go good!

Oh no, don't get me wrong. I meant, if you completely leave out the practical or theory (A guy in my class didn't even open his exam paper in the theory exam) you'd be restricting yourself to a maximum of 50% or a D.

If you make a decent attempt at the theory, project portfolio, project piece and practical exam you'll have the full spectrum of grades open to you.

Lausie93 · 07-02-2012 6:55pm

Yeah hopefully it will be grand, if i get the project finished i'll be happy at this stage. I think the rest of engineering will be fine! How is everyone incorporating suspension into their project? Would a spring under the seat count as suspension?

Iony94 · 07-02-2012 9:58pm

What's the story with the suspension part ? I didn't incorporate any suspension on mine and I can't think of any way on how to incorporate it ?

PS: Having a spring under your seat is a good idea but does it count ?

partyatmygaff · 07-02-2012 10:03pm

Iony94 wrote: »

PS: Having a spring under your seat is a good idea but does it count ?

I doubt it tbh. The whole point of a suspension is to "suspend" the vehicle chassis over its driving mechanism (Wheels in this case). Putting the seat on springs just looks silly.

ghilliemaster · 07-02-2012 10:09pm

Where does it say that you have to have suspension??

Engineering project, leaving cert 2012

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