18 replies to this topic

[~stεεlspectrum~]

Hey guys  I've been browsing the forums a lot more the past few weeks. I've been interning at Dynamic Attractions this summer and it's keeping me extremely busy, so my spare time is mostly used by hanging out with a few friends here and going to Universal.

 

They also want me to build a SFX Coaster for them to have in the office and show at their IAAPA booth. I have freedom to design a custom layout as long as it fits within 3 x 4 feet and contains 3 of their special elements. The actual roller coaster section doesn't have to be long.

 

 

So it's basically the same space restrictions as in the SSC Winter Contest.

 

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I see that sharp spot on top of the lift... grrr.

 

This will be the side slide (I haven't cut the tubing yet):

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And here is the gyro table. It uses 5 servo motors:

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After hours of thinking, I finally came up with this "holding brake" for keeping the car in place on the moving track sections:

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Oh, and I have to have this finished in 2 weeks when I head back to California, so this won't be a long thread!

[YolosweggLord]

Holy crap this looks awesome! Good luck finishing it!

[sean9782]

I'm pretty much clueless when it comes to complex setups like this, but this is really interesting. Looking forward to seeing the layout!

[IOAgeek]

Looks pretty cool so far, but are those tube supports for the lift hill going to be locked in good enough or will you need more supports attached them to secure them to the ground better imo? You'll probably need some middle tubing for the lift hill as well, and did you bring all your knex to Orlando or just a few of them?

Edited by IOAgeek, 23 August 2017 - 12:10 PM.

[~stεεlspectrum~]

Thanks guys!

 

Looks pretty cool so far, but are those tube supports for the lift hill going to be locked in good enough or will you need more supports attached them to secure them to the ground better imo? You'll probably need some middle tubing for the lift hill as well, and did you bring all your knex to Orlando or just a few of them?

Instead of connecting all the supports together with K'Nex, I'm going to be screwing them into the wood base. They'll be rock-solid once I do that. You're right, I'll need to add middle tubing soon. I should be getting another shipment of micro chain tomorrow.

 

I actually didn't bring any K'Nex to Orlando, I bought everything and am getting reimbursed by the company. I've spent about $200 on K'Nex and $300 on electronics and Arduino stuff. I know there's some people on SSC who are interested in that stuff, so I'll show that too.

 

 

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The layout is pretty much finalized. I've added a small track drop, a small lift into the gyro table, and I'll be adding a mini-launch in between the station and the track drop. Haha, everything about this is tiny.

[rgarner42]

Love it.
Still a bit confused about where the track will go after the lift. Looking forward to seeing all the trick track elements working.

[YolosweggLord]

So, I take it the gyro table will have a full range of movement? I'd love to see how you've made that so compact.

[commando]

That is an awesome project to have at an internship! Whats it like working there? What else have they been having you do? 

[~stεεlspectrum~]

Love it.
Still a bit confused about where the track will go after the lift. Looking forward to seeing all the trick track elements working.

Thanks! I didn't even decide what to do with the layout until last night. I'll make sure to get plenty of video with the elements working.

 

So, I take it the gyro table will have a full range of movement? I'd love to see how you've made that so compact.

Yep, it's a 3 crank arm system, so it has roll, pitch and heave. Plus yaw with the yellow gear on top.

 

That is an awesome project to have at an internship! Whats it like working there? What else have they been having you do? 

Yes it is! They've got me working on the design and manufacture of a new project. Lots of legit engineering, so I'm glad I paid attention in all my ME classes. I may or may not have gotten to help design a coaster layout too... I'd tell you guys all about it if I could! The K'Nex is technically a side-project, so I'm not supposed to work on it while I'm at the office.

 

 

 

For the layout, I'm only going to do a few elements. I want to make sure it has enough speed even after running for a few months. Probably a turning drop, helix, and then a dive loop into the bunny hop you see below.

 

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I've never built a layout backwards before, so this feels weird to me. I'm hoping to complete the layout by tomorrow night.

 

This mechanism is overkill for a 3" vertical drop track, haha. But it would fit perfectly if I themed this coaster to steampunk!

 

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[YolosweggLord]

This looks absolutely incredible. Good job getting all this detail into a 3' x 4' space.

How is the car going to be ejected from the drop track? From the slide track as well?

[Rollerfreak987]

This project is super cool. I love all the new concepts that are being shown.

I'll definitely need to go to IAAPA to see it

[IOAgeek]

Very interesting indeed, I like the drop track though, hope it can work realistically. Why is there a cut off front car as well, I don't really know the reason for cutting up a good SS car tbh? Looks cool imo lol.

Edited by IOAgeek, 29 August 2017 - 05:30 PM.

[~stεεlspectrum~]

This looks absolutely incredible. Good job getting all this detail into a 3' x 4' space.
How is the car going to be ejected from the drop track? From the slide track as well?

 
Thanks! On the drop track I used the same mechanism to grab the bottom of the wheel bogie and push it forward. The slide track just uses a little pusher arm.

This project is super cool. I love all the new concepts that are being shown.
I'll definitely need to go to IAAPA to see it

 
Thanks! It's helpful to be able to look at how the real mechanisms work while I'm designing them.

Very interesting indeed, I like the drop track though, hope it can work realistically. Why is there a cut off front car as well, I don't really know the reason for cutting up a good SS car tbh? Looks cool imo lol.

I cut the top of the car off to put a custom car on top, and although I didn't have time, someone else may be working on it.


It's all done! I'm not allowed to post this video publicly, but you guys deserve to see it!

https://youtu.be/Esotav-phx0

[sean9782]

I'm blown away by how complex this coaster is! Even with a relatively short layout I was amazed. Hopefully everyone you work for is just as pleased as I am seeing this completed. Can't wait to see the rest of Everest!

[YolosweggLord]

I absolutely love the different mechanisms you've included in this, especially considering how small it is. THe only thing I'm not a fan of is that the track after the large lift feels a bit rushed.

[commando]

What kind of real engineering work? I always been curious as to how actual roller coaster companies go about doing things.

 

Track/Structure FEA? Calculations on power train components? Designing fixtures and jigs?

 

And of course, if its all super secret and you can't tell us, that's cool too! 

[IOAgeek]

Wow this looks awesome I like when the car turns 90 degree on that platform, it like rock backs and forth a little bit, how did you do that tbh? I also like that little stall on the inversion you added, the car goes slow over it as well! Maybe some theming on the coaster as well or not it doesn't matter?

Edited by IOAgeek, 07 September 2017 - 05:22 PM.

[KirbyCoast]

Whenever I build something I always find it fun to watch, I can't even imagine how fun it must be to watch this. At first I wasn't really sure what you meant by SFX coaster, but I think it's a really cool idea and I didn't even know a lot of this was possible. Also I think it would be really cool if you added a bit of theming to go along with all those little segments. Even if it's just little things like sounds and lights. Amazing job!

[pkiknex25]

LMAO! I'm done. I quit. All the K'nex going in the trash. You've done it Steel; you've ruined K'nex for me.