Electric go kart project

[Danifrau87]

Hello everyone,
I'm currently in the middle of a kart diy project.
I'm going to 3d print with reinforced pla carbon fiber a kart chassie and other components, probably wheels seat and steering wheel.

Although I'm finding difficult to have a whole picture of everything I need, to have a running kart, here the list below:


2 front wheel axle stub
4 tires
2 front wheel hub
2 steering rods
1 steer column
Rear axle
2 Rear hubs
Brake system
Rear sprocker
Electric motor + batteries
Chain

Is there anything I'm missing?
Thank you in advance

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

Your parts list looks ok, but DO NOT, under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES make a 3D printed kart chassis!!

It will most certainly be not strong enough, even wood is better, and it's still pretty bad.
Also, where'r ya gonna find a big enough 3D printer???
Fastening small pieces together is even worse.

Where are you located? filling out a profile location will help us help you. Try looking on Craigslist or the local equivalent for a used kart chassis. It will most certainly be safer, plus you'll have an excellent start!

For those needed parts, try:
www.ombwarehouse.com (my favorite)
www.bmikarts.com
www.mfgsupply.com
www.gopowersports.com

Please make safety the ABSOLUTE #1 requirement for your build. A kart can be replaced, but you can't!

 

[Danifrau87]

Hello JTSpeedDemon, thank you for your reply.
Sorry I should have introduce myself first, I'm based in Ireland at the moment. Iknow already a real place that supplies otk and tony kart components, so I was thinking to go there and have a real conversation with the guys, and maybe gather some advices .

I know it might be very risky but I saw already similar projects and of course the chassie tickness and joints are not the same as a metal frame.

Sport cars have their chassies made out of carbon fiber so eve though plastic is not the most suitable material, I founded filaments made of 30% CF so I thought it's worth to try.
I might be wrong tho, I know

Anyway, I'll have a look at Craigslist.
Cheers man

 

[itsid]

carbon fibre infused PLA is NOT
comparable to a carbon fibre carpart.. by no means..
So, please do yourself a favour and test the material!

How about that: get your old BMX out and print a PLA crank;
install it and ride around for a week to see how it holds up
just to get an idea

'sid

 

[Danifrau87]

Hello its, and thank you for your reply.
I see your concerns, for sure it's not the same as pure carbon fibre, although, again, I'm not doing a conventional chassis, the geometries are quite different to compensate the different material mechanical properties.

From the other hand I don't think PLA only is comparable with reinforced carbon fibre one, hence in my case it's not worth using it.
But for sure I'll run some tests before jumping into it.

Cheers

 

[itsid]

pure carbon fibre is pointless..
carbon fibre resin problerly layered and autoclave baked is not

And I meant carbon infused PLA for your crank..
it's tough stuff (comapred to ordinary PLA filament) it's still a looooooooooong way from anything of significant strength.
Nylon filament will likely serve you better.. heck even ABS schould compete agains carbon infused PLA
(PLA is structurally crap I'm afraid)
and the very very short fibres are not too helpfull

the strength of professionally made carbon body or chassis parts comes solely from the length
and weaving of the carbon fibres embedded in a rather dense resin.

Yes you can bake your prints to get a better bond, yes carbon infused PLA is better than non infused PLA and takes quite some beating..
And no it's still not good enough.

Again, take your desired Material and make a bike crank, pedal away for a few days
and see if you think that's good enough..

Also.. I sure hope you have a couple dozen printers,
I mean a bike crank will take 6-7hrs to print...
I think Ivan printed his tank in a few months on 6 printers

And I would love to suggest you to follow his example and aluminium or steel reinforce all structurally important parts!

And for sure I would not under any circumstances make the steering/axle components out of PLA (infused or not)
that'd be quite stupid really.

'sid