Concept
Concept is a scale model toy car featuring a generatively-designed chassis, compliant elastomeric wheels, and pressed-in high speed bearings.
Defining forces in solidthinking Inspire
Defining “Design Space” and “Non-Design Space” primitives
The chassis is designed for high levels of torsion, as well as stiffness in bending from a roof-side load. The form was first sketched out, then input into solidThinking Inspire for load analysis.
Rough generative output - I interpret this rough mesh to inform my design.
After lots of sculpting, this form is what I modeled from interpreting the generative output.
The form was designed to be simple, elegant, and evocative of how a car might look if grown in the natural world.
Printing the car on a Carbon M2 printer in RPU 130, an engineering resin derived from 40% bio-based plant material.
Sourcing small bearings on McMaster! I modeled in feature sizes that were large enough to accept the bearings, but small enough to ensure a snug press-fit.
After some assembly of the bearings and shafts into the main body, the elastomeric wheels simply slide onto the shaft and grip on snugly.
The press-fit tolerances on the elastomeric wheels were more forgiving, as the material is more compliant. All assembled, the simple forms make an elegant toy car for a fun gift!
