Diamonite Electrathon America Racer

[Functional Artist]

I got some more supplies (some more sections of drip edge & a couple of valley pans)
...& got a bit more done

Drip edge installed around a "dual angled" corner

Installed some more foundation boards
...& the valley pans

* I doubled up the boards, under the valley pan
...ta give 'er more support (especially in the center)
But/also,
The steel panels are supposed ta end
...~4" from the center line/rain diverter
...&/so, we need "nailers" (actually screwer's) under that area

Trimmed the bottom edge a bit (as per directions)

Folded 'em under
...at the bottom
...instead of just cuttin' em off (ta mak'er more stronger)
...& kinda "pointed" the end of the rain/water diverter

Another view
...lookin' down thru the valley

* I folded the excess valley material over the top edge
...seemed like "good idea"
...instead of just cuttin' it off

 

[Master Hack]

Ya wanna do my roof also?

 

[Functional Artist]

Ya wanna do my roof also?

Um...sure...anything for my buddy T
...but, up on a mountain top??

Maybe "round up" some local "peasants"
...& have 'em "follow along"
...I'll "show" 'em as much as I can

 

[Grizzlymi]

Looking like it's coming together. Makes me want to do my roof in metal. Always wanted to. My house is a gable roof so it would be easy, my garage is a hip, so a little more work like yours.

 

[Functional Artist]

Looking like it's coming together. Makes me want to do my roof in metal. Always wanted to. My house is a gable roof so it would be easy, my garage is a hip, so a little more work like yours.

Look ma!
...I'm an influencer (in a good way)

Hey Grizz,

Nuthin' to it
...but, to do it

Post pics...I wanna see

 

[Functional Artist]

I got some more steel panels installed

Many of these panels needed to be trimmed (angle cuts) on both ends

I did my very best
...to make nice straight cuts
...especially on the bottom edges (along the valley)
...because those edges will be exposed...forever

Notice how much the steel panels over-laps the valley pan
...probably ~12"

The panels are mostly/only secured, along the top edge
...so, now, I gotta install lots more screws

This section...is next

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

Ez is on a roll with the photo editing. Lol.

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

Concrete ducks have english accents. Bet you did not know that.

 

[Denny]

View attachment 157520

What the duck?!

 

[Functional Artist]

While waitin' for spring/summer
...I've been thinkin' about potential swing arm/trailing arm designs
...& bouncing around some ideas for a lightweight suspension

Here are some rough ideas

It seems like the "top" design could/would cause a forward & backward effect, on the racer, when the "suspension" was actuated
&
The "lower" design could/would cause an upward & downward effect, on the racer, when the "suspension" was actuated

Any comments on which concept may/could/would be better
...& why?

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

From a dynamics perspective they are essentially identical, assuming the geometry is consistent. Is the cross-hatching in the drawing some kind of "spring" or damping material?

 

[Functional Artist]

From a dynamics perspective they are essentially identical, assuming the geometry is consistent.

Hey Ez,

I thought the "top" design could/would cause a forward & backward effect, on the racer, when the "suspension" was actuated"
...basically a "pitching" effect
&
"the "lower" design could/would cause an upward & downward effect, on the racer, when the "suspension" was actuated"
...basically a "heaving" effect

* I looked 'em up, ta make sure, I was usin' the correct terms

Heave, pitch, and roll are essential motions that describe how a vessel moves in response to environmental forces, significantly impacting its stability and navigation.
Definitions

1. Heave: This refers to the vertical motion of a vessel, moving up and down in response to waves. Heave occurs as the ship rides the crests and troughs of waves, which can affect its buoyancy and stability. Excessive heave can lead to swamping or instability in rough seas.
2. Pitch: Pitch describes the up-and-down movement of a ship's bow and stern around its lateral axis. When a vessel pitches, the front (bow) rises while the back (stern) lowers, or vice versa. This motion is often caused by waves hitting the vessel head-on, leading to a teeter-totter effect.
3. Roll: Roll is the side-to-side tilting motion of a ship around its longitudinal axis. This motion occurs when waves strike the sides of the vessel, causing it to rock back and forth. Roll can affect the comfort of passengers and crew and can also impact cargo stability.

Is the cross-hatching in the drawing some kind of "spring" or damping material?

Yes, I'm thinking something like a dense foam "pad"
...maybe like a "closed cell" type of foam

Like this

Closer up view

Side view
...while being compressed "pinched"

Side view
...after being uncompressed
...notice it bounces back nicely

Applying pressure across a wide'er area
...doesn't compress easily
...but, still provides abundant "shock" absorption

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

You have to look at it from a less isolated perspective. A force from a bump in the road is trying to push the vehicle up. No suspension design can alter the direction of that force on the whole of the vehicle. It can alter where the load goes within the structure of the vehicle, but not the net effect of hitting the bump. That being said, within the vehicle structure, absorb the jolt up and down or sideways, the only concern is effectively absorbing he jolt.

Or maybe I'm insane.

 

[Master Hack]

maybe I'm insane

Yer here so there' that.

Quite an innovative approach.
I gotta wonder... Can the foam rebound/decompress and compress quick enough to follow road irregularities?

 

[Functional Artist]

You have to look at it from a less isolated perspective. A force from a bump in the road is trying to push the vehicle up. No suspension design can alter the direction of that force on the whole of the vehicle. It can alter where the load goes within the structure of the vehicle, but not the net effect of hitting the bump. That being said, within the vehicle structure, absorb the jolt up and down or sideways, the only concern is effectively absorbing he jolt.

Or maybe I'm insane.

Isolated perspective?
...please explain

IDK...maybe I'm "barkin' up the wrong tree"
...or just "thinkin' out loud"

I'll try-n-explain a bit more of where I'm coming from

The "hinge" is/would be the fulcrum or pivot point, of the rear suspension
...& the rear axle would be the "orbit-or" (I guess you would call it)

This shows the arc, that the wheel would "travel", around the fulcrum

The "back stop" would be the area where the chassis "connects" to the suspension
...& where any "force" from the wheel moving (during suspension travel) would impact (the buck stops here)

Whereas this illustration (below) shows the arc, that the wheel would "travel" (in this configuration)
...& where ("if" the "backstop" was here) any "force" from the wheel moving (during suspension travel) would impact
(now, the buck would stop here)

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

Looks your just making a simple cantilever suspension system.
I think the net result will be the same like EZ² said. Your just moving the stress to a different part of the frame. The bump is still gonna lift the wheel.
By changing the length or attachment point on the bell crank you will change the ratio. This will change the force on your foam dampner making it appear firmer or softer.

 

[Functional Artist]

Looks your just making a simple cantilever suspension system.

Hey WTR,

Yup, just a simple cantilever suspension system

Yup, I understand that "The bump is still gonna lift the wheel."

I guess I am/was just over-thinkin' things

Thinkin' back...when I first started thinkin' about this
...I was contemplating a laminated fiberglass swing arm

Here is an example of (1) of the potential "outer" laminations

* This is why the swing arms, in the drawings, are so thick or wide

Think like laminated pad lock construction/style

* Notice how every "layer" can have a different shape
...& when laminated together...make up the whole component

This laminated fiberglass swing arm would (potentially) be mounted to the back (or floor) of a fiberglass tub (monocoque)
& so,
I was thinkin' about "where" the pressure or force, from the wheel traveling (up & down)
...was going to "end up" on the chassis
&
By extension "how" where that pressure or force was applied, may affect the handling (of the racer)
...or on the construction, of the monocoque itself

By changing the length or attachment point on the bell crank you will change the ratio. This will change the force on your foam dampner making it appear firmer or softer.

Yup, good point..."changing the length" from the fulcrum to the axle
...would change the amount of leverage, on the "pad"
&
This "leverage change" could be used to adjust the effect of the "dampner"
..."making it appear firmer or softer."

 

[Functional Artist]

Quite an innovative approach.
I gotta wonder... Can the foam rebound/decompress and compress quick enough to follow road irregularities?

Hey T,

I'ma thinkin' that this kinda foam "pad"
...will "rebound/decompress and compress quick enough to follow road irregularities"

I've used it before, as/for seat cushion foam
...& it was great at absorbing shocks, from road irregularities
...& didn't seem to have much "bouncy-ness" to it

So, IMO it has enough "potential" ta give 'er a try
...in this situation

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

Do you have a hydraulic press?

You can find your foams "spring rate"

We do this with valve springs and landing gear springs, but im sure you can modify for the compression rate for the foam.

Put an analog bath scale on the floor of the press. Then compress the spring usually one inch and read the weight on the scale. Some spring manufacturer data has this, some dont.

Its a good way to compare springs within a set.

Not sure how much that closed cell foam will hold and how fast is the rebound?