3d pinewood derby car made from Sketchup Pro model download

[mccoy178]

A fellow teacher of mine wanted to carve a camaro for his sons pinewood derby race. So he grabbed the full scale model off of Sketchup, scaled it down, and exported it as a .dxf. I imported it into Cut3d and about an hour later it was done. Here are some pics for your enjoyment:

[mountain]

CHEATER!!!!!!!!

 

That is sweet! My son took home the goods when he was that age. It was a blast! We spent a lot of time grinding and polishing the wheels down, getting the weights right and painting it.

[CheffoJeffo]

That turned out beautifully, but .... yeah .... CHEATER!!

[Malenko]

reminds me of both my childhood and that commercial.......

I did most of the work on mine, but my dad did help me. other kids you can tell the parent did all/most of the work. then the kid who barely did anything to his car won by a landslide.

[mccoy178]

I think in this particular instance, it will be a glaring example of father interference.  His kid could care less, but for me, I thought it was sweet to use the 3d software for once.  Of particular notice is that I know I can download any 3d model on sketchup, scale it, and cut it.  i.e. guitars, props, statues, etc.....

[Malenko]

could you make me a 1995-1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX with the high spoiler?

[mccoy178]

Why do we even pretend that kids participate in pinewood derbies?

Just make the damn things adults only and get it over with.

Why do you troll?

[danny_galaga]

nice! pine is an aweful material to machine, can you do one in mahogany or something?

[mccoy178]

could you make me a 1995-1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX with the high spoiler?

I could make it if it exists in google sketchups 3d models.  Unfortunately time restraints would be my problem.

nice! pine is an aweful material to machine, can you do one in mahogany or something?

Well, the race requires that it is made out of pine.  When we do our toy drive next Christmas, I will be making them out of all sorts of different materials.   

[HaRuMaN]

could you make me a 1995-1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX with the high spoiler?

I dunno, it's gotta be pretty hard to machine rice 

[mccoy178]

I think in this particular instance, it will be a glaring example of father interference.  His kid could care less, but for me, I thought it was sweet to use the 3d software for once.  Of particular notice is that I know I can download any 3d model on sketchup, scale it, and cut it.  i.e. guitars, props, statues, etc.....

Why do you perpetuate bad parenting?

Get over it.

[ChadTower]

How well does that router work with plastics?  I bet that could turn out some really sweet custom arcade signs without a ton of effort past the CAD.

[JimmyU]

I think in this particular instance, it will be a glaring example of father interference.  His kid could care less, but for me, I thought it was sweet to use the 3d software for once.  Of particular notice is that I know I can download any 3d model on sketchup, scale it, and cut it.  i.e. guitars, props, statues, etc.....

Sweet, I've enclosed a Sketchup model of a Donkey kong Cabinet.  It would be cool to see it reproduced.

[mountain]

How well does that router work with plastics?  I bet that could turn out some really sweet custom arcade signs without a ton of effort past the CAD.

He has been cutting a lot of Plexi with that machine. Remember the Acrylic Juke he made for his buddy? Cast acrylic machines very nice. Here is a video of mine cutting a tool to use with my machine.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raCL-Fn-tFQ&feature=channel_page[/youtube]

[ChadTower]

Very cool.  Can't say I follow his project so I am not familiar with that juke.  I'll see if I can find it.

[mountain]

Very cool.  Can't say I follow his project so I am not familiar with that juke.  I'll see if I can find it.

Here it is.

[ChadTower]

Sweet, I've enclosed a Sketchup model of a Donkey kong Cabinet.  It would be cool to see it reproduced in acrylic.

fixt   

[ChadTower]

That acrylic cutter is perhaps the coolest tool I have ever seen.  It demands to be tested for pinball plastics.

You should see the laser cutter CPR uses.  Fantastic.

[Ummon]

When I was in Cub Scouts, we did make them ourselves. The year I won the race, another kid won the prize for nicest car*, and it was. Totally. By hand, he made something almost as snazzy as that camaro. Something in the vein of an aston martin or something. And did they increase the size of the block they use? Looks larger.


*He also came in third in the races. It was an interesting circumstance. Everyone thought the kid who'd cut his down to about three-quarters of an inch, and drilled out the back and put long fencing nails into it, would win because of the aerodynamics of it. Mine was a VERY basic sedan design, that was complimented by a little hood scoop from a plastic model car, and the back accidentially being lower than the front, I've since figured reducing drag and increasing reflex (or whatever one might call it). He came in second.

[mountain]

There are a ton of tricks that can be used to make it fast. We put a bevel on his plastic wheels and then repolished them. The bevel on the wheels limited the footprint of the wheel for less drag. Polishing the axles works wonders too.

[SirPeale]

...did they increase the size of the block they use? Looks larger.

The block that comes in the kit has the wheelbase at the limits set forth in the rules.   Since these are recessed wheels he must have used another block of wood.  Which is fine, as long as the overall car adheres to to the dimension rules.

[ChadTower]

I've seen the snaptastic plastics that they produce with that laser cutter, too.

That was taken care of... they changed the material after the first couple of releases.  Had to make some changes to the laser cutter to accommodate it, too, which is why they chose the lesser material to begin with.

[ChadTower]

Believe whatever you want, the complaints persist on RGP.

RGP is part of the intarwebs... it exists mostly so people can complain.  I got to see some of the playfields that were sent back to them as "nonsatisfactory" too... damn if I could find anything wrong with them.  We both know how ridiculous some pinball collectors can be.

[danny_galaga]

could you make me a 1995-1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX with the high spoiler?

I could make it if it exists in google sketchups 3d models.  Unfortunately time restraints would be my problem.

nice! pine is an aweful material to machine, can you do one in mahogany or something?

Well, the race requires that it is made out of pine.  When we do our toy drive next Christmas, I will be making them out of all sorts of different materials.   

oh, i didnt think yuo were really going to race it. arent they supposed to be made by kids or summink?

[mccoy178]

Well, it is supposed to be made by kids.  If anyone there thinks this kid made it, they are out of touch.  The rest of the parents will probably roll their eyes or make snide comments.  I mean it is what it is. 

[CheffoJeffo]

I have parents like that in my groups and to those families I hand out two kits -- "Jimmy, this one is for you to make" -- "Jimmy's Dad, this one is for you to make".

Who gives a crap what the other *parents* think ? 

It's the feelings of the other kids that matter and are being ignored by the "let me do that for you" crowd.

EDIT: Ironically, there were two mostly-parent-made entries this year -- one was made by the husband of another leader and she was the one who insisted, sometimes excessively, that the kids do the work. The other was a car that I made for a new Cub who had just joined and wouldn't have had a car to race (and I made sure that it wasn't a work of art, but rather consistent with the cars built by other kids ... which wasn't a problem because my carving skills aren't really there).

[ChadTower]

Well, it is supposed to be made by kids.  If anyone there thinks this kid made it, they are out of touch.  The rest of the parents will probably roll their eyes or make snide comments.  I mean it is what it is. 

Two months ago my wife and I spent about 30 hours volunteering at our elementary school helping the kids write a 6 minute stage presentation.  They had to write the skit, design/build the set, choose the music, do everything themselves.  All we could do were ask them questions or answer questions to guide them.  As a result these 4th graders put together a pretty decent skit, but it took 30 hours, vs the 3-4 it would have taken had we been able to help or do it for them.

The other group from our school had one dad who built the whole thing for them and did all their arrangements while those kids screwed around the whole time.  Their set was awesome, but the kids never even touched it, and their arrangement was the same way.

Guess which team won the competition?  We never were able to convince our team their accomplishment was something to be proud of because the other kids kept bragging that they didn't have to do anything and they still won.  Our kids left that day upset and feeling like they wasted their time because it was obvious they never had a chance.  The judges didn't have a choice because all teams signed papers saying that the kids had done the work and that's all they could go by.

[mccoy178]

That sucks.

[SavannahLion]

ChadTower, yeah, the same thing happened recently here with a local kids baseball team. They were fishing for ideas until I gave them mine. Helped them plan it out. Another parent helped with the heavy power tools. The children did most of the work. I didn't even want credit for any of it since I felt it was all the kids work anyways. In the end, it was all for naught, they won second (or third or something) place while another team who had a professional carpenter actually build their float with money and materials from a hardware store owner (there was a budget, but this was apparently ignored) all on a rented full sized flat bed big rig trailer. The kids were bummed. As young as they are they recognized what happened and how badly they got screwed by the judges.

That's one of the reasons why I quit cub/boy scouts. My father made it a point that I was to do the work myself. He would show me, but I would do the work. I spent weeks working on my pinewood car. Used a dremel to carve out the block. Hollowed it out for weights, added weights, added a self lubing graphite system to the wheels (never thought of polishing or modifying the wheels). Built a ramp to test the speed and "straightness" of the car. It wasn't modeled on any particular car, just on the general aerodynamics based on photos I used.

The car that won was a kid that had full access to the "official" ramp since his father stored it in their garage. It was also pretty clear that his father built the car. The kid was so bored with the whole process he pretty much stood around talking with his friends while the race was set up and run. I don't think he was even there at the so-called awards ceremony.

At least my particular group was pretty cool. We did our scout requirements for the day then head upstairs to this tiny arcade at the lodge and spend the rest of the day having gaming competitions on Space Invaders and PacMan or go out back and fish on the docks. None of that ---That which is odiferous and causeth plants to grow--- structure with an annoying adult watching over us.

[ChadTower]

That's one of the reasons why I quit cub/boy scouts.

My sons have never and never will be associated with the Scouts for two reasons:

1)  I grew up in backwoods NS and can better teach them anything the Scouts can.

2)  This guy was Scoutmaster in this town for four decades.  Do the math.

[patrickl]

Chad,

Is winning a competition all that's important? Isn't it supposed to really be about letting the kids learn something? In the end your group learnt something. So ultimately they gained experience and education. The other group got a useless trophy.

[ChadTower]

Chad,

Is winning a competition all that's important? Isn't it supposed to really be about letting the kids learn something? In the end your group learnt something. So ultimately they gained experience and education. The other group got a useless trophy.

I know that, and you know that, but convincing them of that isn't working.  What they know is they worked their asses off and were beaten by classmates that taunt them about how little work they did and still won.   

[shardian]

Chad,

Is winning a competition all that's important? Isn't it supposed to really be about letting the kids learn something? In the end your group learnt something. So ultimately they gained experience and education. The other group got a useless trophy.

I know that, and you know that, but convincing them of that isn't working.  What they know is they worked their asses off and were beaten by classmates that taunt them about how little work they did and still won.   

Later in life, it will mean something to them.

[ChadTower]

Later in life, it will mean something to them.

It might.  But half of my team quit because "the competition isn't fair".  I'm sure at least 4 of the 5 kids would have stayed otherwise.  Many instances would have meant more than one.

[mccoy178]

I think it is those memories that help us develop into who we are.  I mean, look at how bitter PBJ is all the time.

[Ummon]

Later in life, it will mean something to them.

It might.  But half of my team quit because "the competition isn't fair".  I'm sure at least 4 of the 5 kids would have stayed otherwise.  Many instances would have meant more than one.

Sounds like he spent too much time not getting any ass. Female or male, as long as it'd been of legal age, he might never've done that.

Anyways, there were strict rules about lubricants used, modifying the wheels, etc when I was in. Honestly, I didn't even really like most of Cub Scouts. Was too much like school. I preferred the after time when we munched and played. Especially when my dad was Webelos leader except we didn't have munchies then, unfortunately - if there was time we'd play capture the flag and stuff in the parking lot while waiting for the other kids' parents to come get them.

[danny_galaga]

Later in life, it will mean something to them.

It might.  But half of my team quit because "the competition isn't fair".  I'm sure at least 4 of the 5 kids would have stayed otherwise.  Many instances would have meant more than one.

Sounds like he spent too much time not getting any ass. Female or male, as long as it'd been of legal age, he might never've done that.

Anyways, there were strict rules about lubricants used, modifying the wheels, etc when I was in. Honestly, I didn't even really like most of Cub Scouts. Was too much like school. I preferred the after time when we munched and played. Especially when my dad was Webelos leader except we didn't have munchies then, unfortunately - if there was time we'd play capture the flag and stuff in the parking lot while waiting for the other kids' parents to come get them.

hmmm, 'lubricant' and 'ass' in the same post...

[Malenko]

I dunno, it's gotta be pretty hard to machine rice 

nothing says rice like 500Hp AWD Turbo charged 5 speed

The high spoiler I have is factory, not an aluminum bench seat bolted to the trunk, only body mod I have is a VIS carbon Fiber hood, and I painted my center section and blacked out the tails.





but yeah, I get the joke; ---smurfing--- (college) kids and mexicans Ricers.......


back on topic...... anyone surprised chaddles did in 30 hours what others can do in 4, and with worse results? 

[ChadTower]

back on topic...... anyone surprised chaddles did in 30 hours what others can do in 4, and with worse results? 

Wow, did he miss the key details in that post or what? 

30 hours = 5 4th graders
4 hours = professional carpenter with his full toolset

[mountain]

Looks like you need to switch focus and soup up that roof

[Malenko]

Wow, did he miss the key details in that post or what? 

30 hours = 5 4th graders
4 hours = professional carpenter with his full toolset

nope, was making a joke. Did you help the professional carpenter by loading the wood in his truck for him? sheesh

Looks like you need to switch focus and soup up that roof

GF's house, her roof lol.   Roof doesnt look like that now, dunno what that was about, never noticed it till you pointed it out.

I need to finish up my girlfriends juke, see what you started?

[SirPeale]

2)  This guy was Scoutmaster in this town for four decades.  Do the math.

You can say the same thing about /any/ organization.  Catholic church, anyone?

[CheffoJeffo]

I dunno what it is like down in 'Merica, but up here there are very strict rules regarding the interaction of kids and leaders (and these are provided to parents so that they are aware and can monitor us).

I'm not allowed to be alone with any kid, even my own, let alone be in a position to sleep in the same space (let alone, again, the same bed). I always need to be in the line of sight of another leader.

Oh, and I can teach these kids better than someone from the backwoods on New Brunswick ...  and I know how to load lumber! 

[ChadTower]

You can say the same thing about /any/ organization.  Catholic church, anyone?

Any church, not just Catholic.  It's only the Catholics here in New England that get the attention because that's most of the churches.  I fully agree and my kids don't go into churches alone either.  Especially here - the main Catholic church 2 miles down the street was one of the worst offenders in MA while that was all in the news.  Let's just say we didn't know any of this when we moved here.

The key is that this wasn't just some random incident.  This guy was allowed that access for four decades.  It wasn't a very well kept secret but he wasn't removed - he just retired and moved west where he was damn near immediately exposed, charged, and convicted.

Cheffo, the rules are the same here, but they are only as good as the people enforcing them.  If the Scoutleader says they can be relaxed and noone protests there you go.

[Donkey_Kong]

GF's house, her roof lol.   Roof doesnt look like that now, dunno what that was about, never noticed it till you pointed it out.

It's more than likely a type of growth, mildew/algae. Most roofing material now days contains zinc to help prevent that type of thing, it's only been implemented recently by most shingle companies.

[Ummon]

Later in life, it will mean something to them.

It might.  But half of my team quit because "the competition isn't fair".  I'm sure at least 4 of the 5 kids would have stayed otherwise.  Many instances would have meant more than one.

Sounds like he spent too much time not getting any ass. Female or male, as long as it'd been of legal age, he might never've done that.

Anyways, there were strict rules about lubricants used, modifying the wheels, etc when I was in. Honestly, I didn't even really like most of Cub Scouts. Was too much like school. I preferred the after time when we munched and played. Especially when my dad was Webelos leader except we didn't have munchies then, unfortunately - if there was time we'd play capture the flag and stuff in the parking lot while waiting for the other kids' parents to come get them.

hmmm, 'lubricant' and 'ass' in the same post...

Gets ya goin, does it?

[mccoy178]

Well if it makes Chad feel better, I just received an email from the other teacher saying his kid won best of show.    It makes me wonder about the judges.

[mountain]

Well if it makes Chad feel better, I just received an email from the other teacher saying his kid won best of show.    It makes me wonder about the judges.

When my son did it, the kids judged the different classes.

[mccoy178]

Well, I don't know what to tell ya.  (Not you Mountain, the purists in general).  We live in a flawed society.

[shmokes]

best trick to build a fast car is to bend one of the rear axles (the axles were just nails last I did one of these).  This allows you to grab the tip with a pair of needle-nose pliers and twist it until you can get it so the car rolls without the wheel touching the ground.  Three wheels is where it's at.  And since rolling down the track itself bangs the hell out of it, you can test it between races and make adjustments if necessary.

BTW, one year my older brother carved a replica of an Oldsmobile Aerotech Quad 4 for my pinewood derby.  It was entirely by hand, mostly using an xacto-knife.  Super cool.  I wish I had pictures of that. 

[Ummon]

best trick to build a fast car is to bend one of the rear axles (the axles were just nails last I did one of these).  This allows you to grab the tip with a pair of needle-nose pliers and twist it until you can get it so the car rolls without the wheel touching the ground.  Three wheels is where it's at.  And since rolling down the track itself bangs the hell out of it, you can test it between races and make adjustments if necessary.

I think the cars generally were off balance due to how the wheels are mounted.

BTW, one year my older brother carved a replica of an Oldsmobile Aerotech Quad 4 for my pinewood derby.  It was entirely by hand, mostly using an xacto-knife.  Super cool.  I wish I had pictures of that. 

Thing is, there are cars that are actually luxurious, let alone functional, and probably a bit cheaper, that are faster. There's an Aston Martin I think I really like for only a few hundred thou and does almost three hundred. Great sedan.

[shmokes]

BTW, one year my older brother carved a replica of an Oldsmobile Aerotech Quad 4 for my pinewood derby.  It was entirely by hand, mostly using an xacto-knife.  Super cool.  I wish I had pictures of that. 

Thing is, there are cars that are actually luxurious, let alone functional, and probably a bit cheaper, that are faster. There's an Aston Martin I think I really like for only a few hundred thou and does almost three hundred. Great sedan.

Ummm . . . . errrrr . . . . umm . . . You do realize that we're talking about pinewood derby cars.  They're not exactly known for being particularly luxurious.  In fact, being that they are a solid block of wood I would say they are decidedly not luxurious.   

[Dartful Dodger]

BTW, one year my older brother carved a replica of an Oldsmobile Aerotech Quad 4 for my pinewood derby.  It was entirely by hand, mostly using an xacto-knife.  Super cool.  I wish I had pictures of that. 

Thing is, there are cars that are actually luxurious, let alone functional, and probably a bit cheaper, that are faster. There's an Aston Martin I think I really like for only a few hundred thou and does almost three hundred. Great sedan.

Ummm . . . . errrrr . . . . umm . . . You do realize that we're talking about pinewood derby cars.  They're not exactly known for being particularly luxurious.  In fact, being that they are a solid block of wood I would say they are decidedly not luxurious.   

Ummon's link is to a high end race carish thingy, by Oldsmobile.

I think they're trying to highjack this thread into who knows about the most obscure race car.

...I owned a Dodge Dart road race car with a slant 6 motor.

[ChadTower]

...I had a Ford EXP with a custom convertible frame... that sucker could go zero to sixty in under 5 minutes. 

[Ummon]

BTW, one year my older brother carved a replica of an Oldsmobile Aerotech Quad 4 for my pinewood derby.  It was entirely by hand, mostly using an xacto-knife.  Super cool.  I wish I had pictures of that. 

Thing is, there are cars that are actually luxurious, let alone functional, and probably a bit cheaper, that are faster. There's an Aston Martin I think I really like for only a few hundred thou and does almost three hundred. Great sedan.

Ummm . . . . errrrr . . . . umm . . . You do realize that we're talking about pinewood derby cars.  They're not exactly known for being particularly luxurious.  In fact, being that they are a solid block of wood I would say they are decidedly not luxurious.   

Ummon's link is to a high end race carish thingy, by Oldsmobile.

I think they're trying to highjack this thread into who knows about the most obscure race car.

...I owned a Dodge Dart road race car with a slant 6 motor.

I had a dart, too. My first car. Nothing special about it, though. Anyways, I guess I should've explained that I was referring to the Olds linked.