Mini Buggy Design

[robotmickey]

Here is my solidworks design for the mini buggy I want to build. I have been working on it for about two weeks now. The challenge was to make a two seater that would fit through the 48" gate into my backyard so I could work on it. Still not done by any means, just kind of an overall look. Just playing around, we'll see if anything like ever gets made.
600cc ~60ish horsepower
Frame is 46" wide
Ground clearance is ~14"
Wheels are 24"
Track width is 53 1/2"
Wheel to wheel is 75 1/4"
Overall length is 100"
About 1200-1300lbs.

What do you think?

 

[rcarteraz07]

Looks pretty nice. I'm not a real designer/builder so I can't offer you solid advice but it looks pretty cool to me. Would be something I wouldn't mind trying if I was able too.

 

[robotmickey]

Also, disregard the rear half, I haven't worked on that at all, the a-arms are identical to the front along with the spindles, the arms are only on there for an idea. As you can see the camber on the rear wheels is waaaaaay to much, so I need to fix that.

 

[treyfus]

it looks pretty good man! im a designer at E-Z-GO/Bad Boy Buggies and i know a decent amount about frames, what gauge and size tubing are you looking at? if its not very thick you may want to look at adding some structural support in the front connecting the section that the A-Arms mount to to the section at the top where your struts mount to help reduce stresses. I did this on my buggy. helped the stress levels on my FEA a LOT. haha

 

[treyfus]

But by the way that design looks very professional. and you may not even need the above, i just cant see the pictures too close. great ideas!

 

[robotmickey]

Like this? I hid some of the tubes so you could see what I added.

 

[bighead]

I like how your seats are set up. Lots of room for riders and plenty of airflow over the engine head. If air cooled that is.

1200lbs is heavy. Granted I have no clue what these buggies way. An FL350 is like 600lbs I think. Could be wrong though.

 

[robotmickey]

CBR600 Water Cooled, just got a big new Honda Civiv radiator for it too. 1200lbs is just a liberal estimate. It's designed using some pretty think stuff with lots of little members and stuff. I designed the spindles out of 3/8" steal. I want it to very robust. I don't car if it only goes relatively slow if doesn't break, haha.

 

[fowler]

looks goo

needs more support around the shock mounts
and id replace the section between the rear rol bar with an X
also id connect the front roll bars down to the floor
the more u tie the roll cage into the frame the better
also id mount the engine lower the floor

id try and find the regulations for designs for your local race club

failing that look up the CAMS regulation (australian)
some are unnessercery but most are quite a good base to design from

it looks pretty cool
good chioce of engine
wont be any race machine but should be trusty with a honda
and go alright for a two seater

 

[iswim_reelyfast]

Not bad! Theres a suspension calculator just google "suspension geometry calculator" It is interactive and you can see how mounting points at the frame and hub along with a-arm length all effect camber throughout travel. It has one downfall, its all metric because its for rc cars but ive used it and its amazing. Get out your calculator!

 

[robotmickey]

So I haven't updated this in a while but I have been fiddling with the design. If you notice in the very first post, the down tube goes right through your line of vision, like right in the middle of your face. So I changed it so it's not in the way anymore. Did a few other things too.

 

[Fox_Dune_Cart]

looks good. Me as a fabricator i would personaly go with a chromemolly frame with tig welds. Only downside is mandrill benders are not cheap and around where i live one bend is almost 15.00.

 

[robotmickey]

Yeah chromoly is nice... and expensive. I have a bender and TIG machine at school that I have access to, but I would probably just put it together with MIG, then TIG the important stuff.