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3D Derby

Teams of students work collaboratively to design 3D bridge models and then print and test them.

Student teams of 2-4, will design a car in a CAD program and then print out their design on a 3D printer. Teams will add axels and wheels then test their cars in preparation for the tournament race.

3dD Derby Track

Main Event

Event Description

In this event, teams of 2-4 students will design a car and then print it on a 3D printer. Teams will then add axels/wheels and then test them to prepare to race at the tournament.  Teams will also submit a Design Document outlining some of the key aspects of the process. Design Documents must be converted to a PDF file before uploading to the TOT App Submission Portal by 10:00 pm on March 15, 2024.

Common Core Standards and 4 C’s

Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and present the relationships between information and ideas clearly and efficiently. Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, and Critical Thinking.

Designing and Creating Your Project

  • The process of creating your project should take the following steps:
  • Research car designs and their effect on speed.
  • Use a 3D program such as SketchupMake or TinkerCAD to create an original model of your car.
  • Each middle school has at least one 3D printer for you to print your car. You may use the MakerBot, Robo E3, or Robo E3 Pro 3D Printer.
  • Attach axels and wheels to your car and begin testing on a ramp.
  • Bring your car to the tournament and race to see who’s the fastest.

Technical Requirements and Specifications

  • The car must be completely drafted by the students. Cars will be designed and printed prior to the competition, using 3D modeling software and the MakerBot 3D Printers.
  • The entire car (body, wheels, axels…) must weigh 100 grams or less.
  • Car dimensions must be no larger than 5” long x 2.5” wide x 2” tall. (127mmx63.5mmx51mm)
  • There must be more than 1/4” (6.35mm) clearance under the car between the wheels.
  • There must be more than 1 5/8” (41.275mm) between the wheels. See Track Specifications here.
  • The entire car must be printed, the only exception is the nails/screws and weights.
  • The car may be printed in pieces and then assembled with glue.

3D Derby Reward Points

Teams will race their cars at the tournament. Each car will race 4 times (once in each lane). The 4 times will be added together for a total time and teams will be ranked. If a car does not finish a race, it will receive a time of 9.999s for that race. Points will be awarded based on the design of the car, the speed of the car, and the Design Document (see below).

 3D Derby Scoring Breakdown    
  Max Points  Formula
 Points from Rank 25  25-3 (Your Rank -1)
 Points from time 25  Fastest Time of Tournament / Team’s recorded time x 25 = Team’s Total Time
 Points from Car Design 20  See Car Design Rubric
 Points from Design Document 30  See Design Document on next page
 TOTAL POINTS 100  


Design Document

Overview

Students will create a document outlining the process of designing and testing their car. There will be four main sections: Research, Specifications, Testing, and Conclusion. The document will be submitted and scored before the tournament and will be worth 30 points. Design Documents must be converted to a PDF file before uploading to the TOT App Submission Portal no later than 10:00 pm by March 15, 2024.

Research

In this section, students will select a question or concept related to the project and use the internet or other sources to search for information and solutions.

Students may investigate their own question, or choose one from the list below:

  • Do large or small tires make a car go faster?
  • What does a spoiler do on a car?
  • How does mass affect a car’s speed down a ramp?
  • What role does friction play in a car’s tires?

Specifications

In this section, students will list specific measurements of their car such as mass, dimensions, wheel diameter, and thickness. They will also include screenshots of their car in the design stage as well as a picture of their assembled car.

Testing

Students will explain the testing of their car and what modifications they made to improve its speed. This could include physical changes to the car such as smoothing/sanding the body or wheels, adding a spoiler, or anything else. It should also include testing of lubricants on the axels. Students should include a data table showing the results of different trials.

View Example Table below

Trial Time Modifications
1 10.2 s  None, just attached the wheels to the car body.
2 9.2 s  Smoothed the axle hole of the wheels and smoothed the outer edges of the wheel.
3 7.2 s  Used lubricant A on the axles.
4 8.4 s  Used lubricant B on the axles.
5 7.7 s  Used lubricant C on the axles.

Conclusion

In the last section, students will write a conclusion that summarizes the modifications to their final car. They will explain why they chose certain adjustments and modifications over others citing their testing and results.

Getting Help

Contact Bob Donat at Robert.Donat@fresnounified.org or Yvette Eamigh  Yvette.Eamigh@fresnounified.org if you have any further questions or suggestions regarding this future competition event.

Additional Support Files for Coaches and Coordinators