MATERIAL LIST AND DESCRIPTION
PHOTON CRUNCHER MK IV
The intention was to design a basic car that would be easy to construct using only
common hand tools and equipment typically available in all schools. Reasonable
performance, and obviously meeting the VMSVC regulations was essential.
(CAUTION DESIGNED TO CONFORN TO 2005 REGULATIONS)
To achieve simple construction with only basic tools off the shelf components have
been used wherever possible.
From observations made at the Victorian Event, typically the biggest problems
faced by the competitors relate to constructing an accurate chassis with effective
running gear then achieving good energy transfer from the solar panel to the motor
and track.
Consequently we concentrated on these areas and chose components we considered
were easy to use reliable, readily available and likely to give the best results.
No attention was paid to minimising cost, weight saving , aerodynamics or body
design. All efforts were concentrated on producing a design that is easily assembled
using what we consider to be the best simplest and most reliable running gear
together with effective energy transfer. Having been given a head start with these
critical components we expect the students to take it from there come up with
improvements and modify the design to produce their own car.
This basic car consists of :
A 3mm thick PVC chassis fitted with wheels axles, guide rollers, motor mount and
gears from R&I Instrument and gear Co.
Power is from a Solarex SX-10 panel fed to a Faulhaber 2224 or 2232 6 Volt motor
via an Engelec Max-4 maximiser.
A body folded up from Corflute has been provided so the prototype car can be test
run and meets the regulations. Our intention is that students will take these
concepts , modifying them to produce a unique original car of their own.
If assembled accurately the car detailed here will give excellent performance , in the
order of 20 seconds race time (one lap) in 90% sun is predicted by the simulator.
Photographs and sketches showing construction details will be added when
available.
Preliminary material lists are included
A student designed and built car using these components recorded the following
performance in the Melbourne event 2005.
SUN LEVEL %
RACE TIME Sec.
60 21.9
53 38.6
This car had a lower frontal area and weight than the Photon Cruncher.