The background to the project

This was my first project using CAD software (in this case Autocad and Fusion360). This project was part of my welding course at Northampton College. The project was chosen because of my career aspiration and previous background education in motorsport technology (at National College for Motorsport, Silverstone)

This project will go through the basic design and test analysis of the design of a Race Kart chassis. 

Steering Fork CAD Design

Steering Fork Stress Test

While stress testing the steering fork designs I found that the first design to be the weakest design. This is due to the two different thicknesses of metals being used (6mm and 3mm), this makes the design light, however, makes it weak on the joints. The final design was thickened to make it stronger. This design is bent into shape, instead of being welded. This design could be revisited to make is lighter by milling some of the unneeded material off the top and bottom plates. 

Chassis CAD Design

The first chassis design was way to small, this is because the dimensions being used were of a junior kart, thus making the design obsolete. The second design is where I started to use similar dimensions to a senior kart (my dimensions being 1080.8mm – 1836.5). This design was the heaviest, however, this made is the most rigid. With the final design I wanted to keep as much of the rigidity of the chassis as I could, however, I wanted to reduce the overall weight. Doing so I removed some of the supports, as well as making the rear axel a stress member. This allows for the bar at the rear of the chassis to be removed.  

Please Get In Touch At tbetetafreeman@gmail.com