CFECO's X-Car Project Re-Do

[freebeard]

Like this?

[kach22i]

More on the above.

Bamboo bridge wins second place | Department of Mechanical Engineering

[CFECO]

YES....!
Great, now I have a whole other field to investigate, I really didn't want to have to make my own tubing either.

[Xist]

Looking at that image, it looks like it is actually pretty easy. How many of us here could do that?

[CFECO]

That "wood" make a cool looking car body!

[NeilBlanchard]

The aerodynamic template "only" applies up to 250MPH. Above that speed, the dynamics change quite a lot, apparently.

[CFECO]

It makes sense, the blunt front would build up a pressure wave and at the rear separation would occur as the speeds increased.

[CFECO]

Well... "freebeard" got me looking at the bamboo bridge test beam, and now I have been thinking of using corrugated cardboard formed into rectangular tube sections, and wrapped with fiberglass, or a bamboo fabric if such a thing is made. And i will have to look at the Fiberfix too...might end up with a "Paper car-taped together"...LOL! Seriously though, cardboard is very strong for it's weight, and enough for the basic frame is about $200.
Even though the X-Prize is over, I would still like to keep to original the intent of making a production possible vehicle.

[RustyLugNut]

Originally Posted by CFECO

Well... "freebeard" got me looking at the bamboo bridge test beam, and now I have been thinking of using corrugated cardboard formed into rectangular tube sections, and wrapped with fiberglass, or a bamboo fabric if such a thing is made. And i will have to look at the Fiberfix too...might end up with a "Paper car-taped together"...LOL! Seriously though, cardboard is very strong for it's weight, and enough for the basic frame is about $200.
Even though the X-Prize is over, I would still like to keep to original the intent of making a production possible vehicle.

I have used it for decades in structurally loaded prototypes.

Private airplanes have been constructed out of it.

I have an old book from about 30 years ago by an Author , named Jack Lambie. Very informative and practical and provided valuable guidelines to make usable parts the first time out. He authored numerous books before his death in 1999.

Although out of print, you can still find examples of the book on Amazon.

[freebeard]

Well, "CFECO", if that's what your name really is...

I talked to a SF author, standing next to his fiberglass sports car built over a corrugated cardboard core in the 1970s. I think it was Vernor Vinge but I can't document that. I have a published picture somewhere of him sitting behind the wheel; who knows when I'll see that again.

I have been thinking of using corrugated cardboard formed into rectangular tube sections, and wrapped with fiberglass, or a bamboo fabric if such a thing is made.

Laminate the corrugated cardboard and band-saw your shapes out of it. With cardboard (or balsa) you want the grain running between the skins, not parallel to them.

You can buy bamboo socks! I hear they're comfortable and wear well.