MiniBuggies
Minibuggies are small versions of our Gravity Racers. Made from 8 layers of sheet material these develop 2D -3D spatial awareness - a valuable skill for designers, engineers and architects.
The focus is to develop the ability to envisage a product as though cut through like a loaf of bread. What features would exist at what depth and position inside the product. A car is an ideal product for this where we imagine the space needed for the driver's feet and seating position. The 9 Layer Gravity racer takes this further and the 21 layer modelling course even further. All layers can be made in 2D laser cutting but the whole design can be exported to 3D for printing in PLA. And so this course is a perfect link between the two technologies.
This technique is covered in our CAD U CAN course
Stiction Racers
Sticktion Racers are our glue-less range where you build the car from a MDF frame and card body without the need for glue. Just a bit of Sellotape here and there maybe. These can be made by 10 year olds in 20 minutes and coloured to taste with felt tips.
The real STEM element comes when fettling the axles and wheels to achieve the highest speeds.
Our slow racing track facilitates competitive racing in as short a distance as 6 feet!
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Kits cost from £2.50 each with the Bugatti as a starting point. Getting more complex (check out the Napier Railton) gets more costly in laser cutting but hey . . .what a car . . .!?
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This project brings something for everyone. We can even laser cut a driver with your face!
Gravity Racers
This is actually our oldest project! Developed from a project called 'pine car derby' - where competitors craft a car from a block of wood, two axles and 4 wheels this project has moved into the 21st century using CAD CAM. Various iterations include cars with sprung chassis, multilayer MDF to minimal MDF and cardboard bodies.
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In this project participators build a standard kit designed to be quickly assembled with minimal tools and skill.
The racer is based on a standard chassis. This is fitted with bearings that can be changed out and compared for different frictional properties. The bearings can be fettled and honed to achieve amazingly free running.
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This project can be run without a design element by using standard bodies and chassis sets. Alternatively you can add to the racer, customise the layers to achieve your own unique design as part of a CAD CAM course that unites 2D and 3D design principles.​
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The starter pack contains one racer kit prepainted in metalic grey, axles, dowels and card to complete. You can prepaint the racer prior to assembly to get the best results or just assemble as is.
Subsequent design courses available online with video tutorials and CAD CAM software are available on request.
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