Go-Kart Modification: Final Reflections

For today's post we wanted to let each guy reflect on their week with the group:

JB- This week we learned lots of valuable skills including welding, soldering, and changing tires. My favorite part of the week was getting to modify the go karts and racing them. Another thing that I enjoyed was going to Portsmouth for a day and learning more about altering things and inventing things.

JD- I learned many things this week that will help me in the future. We learned how to change oil in cars and also how to change the tires. We learned how the buildings on campus were heated and how the ice rink runs. The best part was re-modifing the go karts and being able to drive them. We learned many valuable things this week it was a lot of fun.

TM- The project go kart modifications has been a good experience that I would love to do again. I liked the balance of learning real life skills in the morning and then having fun building our kart in the afternoon. I learned new skills and we came out with a cool finished project.

KZ- This project week we learned a lot of stuff. The best part was when we started  modifying the go kart. I liked to put it all together and drive around after we finished.

SW- This week for project week the go kart modifications group worked with facilities to fix and improve the two go karts and learn about the plumbing and engineering that goes one behind the scenes at NHS. The first day was learning how to service vehicles and working to get our go karts to run. The second day we learned all about how facilities heats and circulates air in the buildings. On Wednesday we traveled to Ipsumm manufacturing in Portsmouth and learned about professional engineering. On Thursday we went to Home Depot to get materials and begin work, and on Friday we finished and tested the karts. 

WM- We began the week learning about the different heating systems around campus and fixing the engines on both the go karts and the New Hampton vehicles. Then we took a tour of an engineering company to learn more about the modification process and the machines that they use to create their products. We then went back to learn about welding and soldering. The final part consisted of the modifications we made to the go karts. Then we took them on a test drive to see how the modifications helped.

WR- During project week, I learned a plethora of new skills. In the beginning of the week, I learned how to change tires on both a go-kart and a pick-up truck. I also learned about the different types of oils and filters that an automobile needs, and how to replace them. We learned how to do these replacements, both under the hood of the truck, and under the truck as well. Later in the week, I learned how to, both, welding and soldering. At the end of each day, our project week group worked on making modifications to our respective go-karts, in 2 groups. The different groups made spoilers, a roll cage, and lights, both battery and solar powered. After we finished both go-karts, we drove them around on the upper parking lot, adjacent to Kennedy field. After thorough testing, we are confident that our symposium will be one not to miss! 

NF- I had a very fun project week. I learned many new skills like how to weld, solder, how to modify a go-kart, and even how the systems work at New Hampton. That was a very good project week and I learned many new things.

KTM- I had a wonderful time during project week here at New Hampton. My favorite part was learning how to weld. I didn't dislike anything we learned. I hope I could come back in a few years and check out the go kart my group and I built. 

MS- For my project week I chose to do go-Kart modification. This proved to be the right choice. We learned a lot about engineering and buildings. The go Kart part was very fun. My group made a roll cage, hooked up lights, and make a spoiler. All this topped off by an American flag.

SB- Today we finished making modifications on our go-karts and got a chance to drive them today. I enjoyed learning about the basics of mechanics and learning about how everything works around the school. I developed a lot of skills this week such a brainstorming skills, mechanical skills, and patience.

BB- During project week, I participated in modifying go karts. However, it was more like building them again because they were in such poor condition. I learned a lot this week. Especially with the support from the maintenance crew. They were very helpful. For example, changing oil on trucks and go karts, all about a cars engine, how to weld, how to solder, and I learned about most of the heating systems in the school. Then we started to modify the go carts. I though they would not turn out that well but they did. Better than I expected. They ran faster than I expected too. Overall this week turned out to be very fun.  

Go Karts Day 4

Today during the morning session we were split into three different groups that rotated. The maintenance guys the first group was taught plumbing and how to use soldering tools correctly. the second group learned how to weld using chopper and a blow torch. The third group got to go around to different dorms and measure the dorm temperature and check on boilers and the heating system.

In the afternoon we worked on modifying the Go Karts. Some guys went to Home Depot to get all the things we needed, like paint, a helmet, lights, piping, wood, and screws. We fixed the wheels and rim so we could put them back on correctly.  After making our specified modifications we tested the go karts to make sure they were running correctly. After the testing we made any necessary fixes and painted the go karts.  This will allow them to dry overnight. We are going to test, fix, and finish everything tomorrow. 

Go Kart Modification Day 3

Today we traveled to Portsmouth, where we visited Ipsumm, a manufacturing and design company.   We toured with Ipsumm's President and CEO, John Kodzis. He told us about the process of creating and manufacturing new products, and how complex patenting can be. John toured us around the office, warehouse, and in the fully functional machining facility. He showed us various machines and robots, that all completed different tasks, as well as a brand new technology in development by one of Ipsumm's Engineers.

At the end of the tour, John asked us all a simple question, 'Do you know how to ride a bike?'. Of course, the answer was a resounding 'yes'. However, John never specified the type of bike. He put each of us up to the test of trying to ride a bike that steers reversed (left turn goes right, right turn goes left). The task proved more difficult than it looked, and our group found that none of us could ride the bike successfully. When children are asked to ride the bike, they learn to do so in hours, as opposed to adults, who can take weeks to learn the new skill. This is because kids learn have generally have an open mind, and less of an ego. John told us that this bike represents life in general. To become successful at anything in life, you must do so without an ego and with an open mind. he tour and meeting with John was inspirational and really helped us look at our project a different way.

Go Kart Modifcation - Day 1

Today, our group of 14 students, met with the maintenance crew to do some work in the garage behind Draper House during the morning. They taught us many valuable skills. First, they taught us how to rotate tires. The point of this is to maintain the traction of the tires evenly. We learned how to change the oil of a truck. Finally, they showed us the uses of each tool inside of their tool boxes and different vehicle maintenance to keep cars running smoothly.

After working with the real trucks, we began improving our go-carts. First, we took the chain off of the engine and cleaned it along with the engine itself. After working tirelessly on the engines, we finally got them running. We took all the tires off in order to rotate them and also changed the rims on the tires to improve them. We changed the oil on the go-carts, just like we did with the truck.  It was very interesting to see the relation between the large maintenance trucks and the go karts we are using, they were very similar just on a smaller scale. We are looking forward to putting everything back together tomorrow and testing out the go karts. 

Day 2 in the Pits

In Build A Go-Kart the two manufacturing teams, Bowser and Donkey Kong, have been diligently working! As team Bowser, we have successfully built the frame and begun putting on brake pads. Both teams ran into difficulties when installing the brakes. Calipers didn't seem to align with the rest of the frame and wouldn't align with the disc as well. However, through problem solving, we found a solution and felt great about the fact that we overcame a pretty big obstacle early! Final steps in completing the kart will be to install the four hp motor, attach the wheels, and customize our ride. These final steps will happen today! We are looking forward to seeing this project come to shape today and tackle any further obstacles that we may encounter.  

As we get into the customization process, the group members are looking forward to researching different automotive and aerodynamic laws and principles as we attempt to decrease drag and increase overall speed.

Getting Started... Building a GoKart!

Our day began in the cafeteria where we discussed our project and the plan of action for the day/week. Our first objective, acquire tools that we would need throughout the week. We first looked over the instructions and took an inventory of what we would need.  Once we had our list, we made the long trip to Lowes in Tilton, NH, where we gathered and purchased a number of tools to help with our building process.

When we returned to campus, we unpacked everything, brought it into the lower gym and set up our “Workshops”.  Our project leaders had secured two Go-Karts so at this point we established two design and construction teams, "Donkey Kong" and "Bowser".   There was some deconstruction that needed to take place before we could put these Go-Karts together, so several members, under the guidance of DJ and John (Project Leaders) took the initiative to begin detaching the wood pieces. It was a tough job since the pieces needed to be precisely cut. Here we began our own mini production line where a couple students would detach pieces and pass them off to two others that were sanding the pieces. Once sanded, the pieces were then given to others in the group that began construction.  

Construction consisted of people fastening parts together with screws, once they were identified and correctly placed. Only a couple of road blocks set us off course briefly, but due to the diligent work and oversight these errors were corrected quickly.   

Jake Rossner, who was one of the managers, helped Team Donkey Kong take the lead in getting to the halfway mark. Our plan for the second day is to get the Go-Karts as close to finished as possible. On the third day, we plan on painting the carts. We look forward to seeing the finished product.

Build Your Own GoKart

In just 12 short days 14 very fortunate New Hampton Students will be doing their best to create an aerodynamic racing machine! Through sound research and design, these 14 students will be working with Flatworks GoKart company to build two GoKarts and test them for speed and performance! The Essential Question that we will attempt to answer is:

How does a design team work together to research, design and build a GoKart with sound engineering principles?

Stay tuned for more to come!