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Ready for a new challenge? This week we introduce trailer manufacturer Tikitreiler. They need your help to redesign their torsion axle and are interested in just what you’re able to dish out.
Design a clever solution and win $1,500 USD! Tikitreiler wants to see your solution for an axle. An Axle which contains a parabolic springs and a clever solution for integrating the spring with the axle. We have all the requirements, files and other guidelines listed below. A new axle design. $1,500. Are you up for it?
The current design
- The trailer doesn’t withstand a load well (50x50mm steel profiles are currently used between hubs)
- The spring and axle assembly is time consuming to manufacture (welding the threaded rods to the square profiles takes too much time)
- The Axle / spring / shock assembly contains too many parts
Files to be used in the new design:
Hub, shock, Spring – All CAD files found in GrabCAD library and in the compressed zip file under Specification link .
Axle solution for two pair of wheels
The whole system (2 axles) must withstand a load of 1850 kg (4075 lbs) with a safety factor of 2 (meaning 3700 kg or 8150 lbs)
The given parabolic spring must be used on both axles (4 springs all together)
The given shock must be connected to the axles/springs (4 shocks all together)
The given hub must be used (4 hubs all together)
The Dimensional references shown on the drawings must be met
The solution must be as easy to produce and manufacture as possible. The production volumes are high so saving material and assembly time is very important
The Function has top priority over looks of the design
The system has to have two separate identical axles
Distance between the 2 axles has to remain between 650-700 mm
The best solution will earn $1,500 USD
The winning design will be chosen based on the requirements on the right
This competition is open to everyone
You can participate with as many models as you like
Team entries are welcome. With a team win, the prize money will be transferred to the team leader who is solely responsible for splitting it among team members
Only models uploaded to the GrabCAD library will qualify for the competition
Tag your model when uploading with “Tikitreiler” to index your model for the search
You can upload a private model, but you need to share access to indrek@grabcad.com
Privately uploaded models will be made public after the deadline
Models can be done in any CAD software as long as STEP or IGS files are provided as well
Competition starts on August 16th, 2011
Competition ends on August 31st, 2011
The winner will be selected by a joint jury of Tikitreiler and GrabCAD and announced on the GrabCAD blog
Tikitreiler is manufacturer of trailers under brand name Tiki since 1990 with annual volume exceeding 15,000 units. Currently TIKI has over 50 different trailer models in serial production, as well as various custom made trailers for the transportation of vehicles, yachts, cables, etc.
Have an awesome idea for this competition? Want to win cool prizes? Sign-up now to upload your entries.
If you don't receive the email within an hour (and you've checked your Spam folder), email us as confirmation@grabcad.com.
13 comments
Indrek Narusk over 12 years ago
We updated the requirements. Main change is the number of axles. The solution must be designed for 2 identical separate axles (4 wheels, 4 springs, 4 shocks all together)
kirk watkins over 12 years ago
Could we please get more specifications on the current hub that needs to be kept and the trailer frame. What modifications are you willing to make on the frame? Are the hubs bolt on, or is it a spindle welded in? The current models for the hub do not import correctly, the preview for the solid edge one shows all the profiles correctly but none of the uploaded versions have the spindle for the hub. Could we get a dxf or dwg with the dimensions needed to model the hub correctly.
Doug Davey over 12 years ago
New ball game
Joel Anderson over 12 years ago
The term "torsion axle" is a little misleading to me.
My understanding of a torsion axle is that the hub spindle is offset from the axle and hence the axle itself acts as the spring in torsion. In this case we are using leaf springs.
Could you confirm if we are required to use the torsion axle principle as I just described it or are we just designing it with the required leaf springs in mind without the axles in torsion?
Michel Ellul over 12 years ago
my model was not included in the entries section :(
Doug Davey over 12 years ago
Please Indrek or anyone can we get, at a minimum, the cross section of the chassis and its thickness. It very important if we want to mount the shock correctly. A shock needs to work at am optimal angle to be effective.
Also because these springs are single point mounts, sideways stability is a risk, we may, depending on the chassis info, be able to use the shock to reduce the problem
Doug Davey over 12 years ago
Is there a cross member in the chassis centered over the axles. If so pleas give the position relative to the centre of the two axles.
Margus Holland over 12 years ago
Michel, please check your spelling in the tag for the model.
Michel Ellul over 12 years ago
Thanks Margus :)
MECA over 12 years ago
I have another question… Observing the parts provided, I’m curious about the implications of the hub (brake drum) and the part called “plaat”. These components are characteristic of a wheel mechanism with brakes, so I’m thinking that the trailer must have a drum-brake system installed. This means that we must not only consider the vertical load, but the braking torque must also be accounted for when calculating the axle’s capabilities to withstand the operational loads. Please confirm this information and, if it’s true, I would need you to provide some technical information in order to calculate the required braking torque. Thanks!
Cemal Uslu over 12 years ago
which one is true?
trailer or treiler? :)
Stelu HARSAN over 12 years ago
Both I think. Maybe it depends on the language ...
John Evans over 12 years ago
I'd like to understand better how the hub assy mounts to the frame. There is nothing specific in the images, and I have seen numerous variations on trailers.
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