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fun with auto cad

rowlands

Monkey
Nov 26, 2006
159
0
Got bored in class a while ago and decided to draw a bike that has been in my head for a while,



3-1 leverage ratio 8.25 travel, I like high leverage ratios

ps- don't steal my design :disgust1:
 

CrabJoe StretchPants

Reincarnated Crab Walking Head Spinning Bruce Dick
Nov 30, 2003
14,163
2,484
Groton, MA
...wouldnt the upper link hinder the movement of the rear triangle on that design?
It's made out of stretchy alum.;)

The way it's shown it certainly looks like it would. It is possible to have a design like that, but shock i2i/stroke would have to be specific to the frame and couldn't change. The coupler curve of the top link would only work for a specific shock i2i/stroke, any other shock of a different size, and the top swing link would be preventing the suspension from cycling through the travel.*

Kinda weird, but I like it.

*Pretty sure that's the deal, it's been a long day so I could be making stuff up. Is that what you had in mind greenblinker? (I know you're an engineering student as well IIRC);)
 

davep

Turbo Monkey
Jan 7, 2005
3,276
0
seattle
You might want to think about a couple of things.

The longer the links, the more flex/slop the rear will have especially in a 'vertial' orientation. The other thing is, at the orientation of the links, it is quite close to allowing the top link to flip backward...and that would not be good.
 

dhkid

Turbo Monkey
Mar 10, 2005
3,358
0
Malaysia
is there going to be a chain pulley? that is a really rearward axle path. its pretty much a high pivot single pivot coz the upper link is so short, makes the link to drive the shox so much easier tho.
 

Hougham

Monkey
Mar 28, 2007
375
3
Nice drawing, but as said the rear travel path is very odd. I cant really see that working well when you ride it.

If you are designing suspensions your best to do a series of models with the suspension more compressed on each one. Then over lap then and draw a travel line. You can also tell then if anything will get in the way as well as actual travel path.

If you can get a copy of ProE it is a lot more useful for bike design.
 

rowlands

Monkey
Nov 26, 2006
159
0
it probably needs alot of refining to get the design dialed but this is just the first draft, I wish I could get that linkage program to work on my computer to get the suspension and axle paths dialed but unfortunatly the program dosen't seem to work with mac's.
 

SK6

Turbo Monkey
Jul 10, 2001
7,586
0
Shut up and ride...
Use Solid Works. And before you give me the Autocad argument, I've used Autocad 22 years. SolidWorks WAY better.

The reason I mention this is because With SolidWorks, you could work out your upper linkage issues.

Good luck with your project! :thumb:
 

rowlands

Monkey
Nov 26, 2006
159
0
Use Solid Works. And before you give me the Autocad argument, I've used Autocad 22 years. SolidWorks WAY better.

The reason I mention this is because With SolidWorks, you could work out your upper linkage issues.

Good luck with your project! :thumb:
I wish I could My school dosen't have solidworks and I don't really want to dish out all of the $ on the program and I haven't been able to find one compatible with mac.
 

Hougham

Monkey
Mar 28, 2007
375
3
When I first started I used card and split brass tacks. Its very basic but works fine. I still do some times or knock up a basic prototype. But then I still draft a lot by hand as a have computers lol
 

FOXROX

Turbo Monkey
Jun 23, 2007
2,120
0
hambur,nj
stupid question but.... how much was that software? im trying to find a free one cause i have a good idea...but i havnt had any luck :(
 

mandown

Poopdeck Repost
Jun 1, 2004
20,285
7,819
Transylvania 90210
can we get some details form the designer regarding what the expected benefits of the of this design are over currently marketed options? he said the design had been in his head for a while. why is this special or desireable?
 

rowlands

Monkey
Nov 26, 2006
159
0
can we get some details form the designer regarding what the expected benefits of the of this design are over currently marketed options? he said the design had been in his head for a while. why is this special or desireable?
The only reason I actually drew it is because it is something a little different, and I have never seen it before so I knew I wasent just copying another design.

Im going to try and get that linkage program and dial the suspension, but for now I have no clew on how much the chainstays grow or if the suspension will even work, as I said before this is the preliminary drawing so nothing is dialed. I just wanted to get it on paper and get the geometry right.

If anyone wants to dial in the suspension using linkage or sugest changes feel free and I will make a second draft with all of the changes.
 

khoolhandz

Chimp
Jul 27, 2006
89
0
I LOVE SURREY
The only reason I actually drew it is because it is something a little different, and I have never seen it before so I knew I wasent just copying another design.

Im going to try and get that linkage program and dial the suspension, but for now I have no clew on how much the chainstays grow or if the suspension will even work, as I said before this is the preliminary drawing so nothing is dialed. I just wanted to get it on paper and get the geometry right.

If anyone wants to dial in the suspension using linkage or sugest changes feel free and I will make a second draft with all of the changes.

A quick first glance and any technically-inclined dudes/dudettes will tell you that your linkage will not work, period.

You can manual plot using autocad the axlepath/swingarm movement (or the lack of it) if you know how to do it.
 

E.T.

Monkey
Feb 23, 2004
128
0
NorCal
There are a few things wrong with your bike design.

First off your wheelbase setting is wrong since you are forgetting that there is axle offset from 42-47mm on most 200mm forks.

You also will have to have a pulley system for the bike to work properly. There would be a massive amount of pedal feedback without it that just would not work.

Your leverage rates are off. Your bike does not have a 3 to 1 leverage. It is more like a 5 to 1.

Ditch your autocad program and spend $25 to get Linkage. Go to www.bikechecker.com to pick it up. This is the best program for quickly and easily coming up with suspension concepts as well as analyzing your design. I put your bike into the program in about 5 minutes.

Hope this helps,

Evan
 

dhkid

Turbo Monkey
Mar 10, 2005
3,358
0
Malaysia
he probably talking about instantaneous ratios. overall it may be 3:1 but not at every point in the travel.
 

Stray_cat

Monkey
Nov 13, 2007
460
0
Providence
Personally I think it's a great start! Drawing stuff out in CAD is a great way to get your mind working around frame design. I know the first frame I drew (in high school), took me forever to do and a frame designer/builder would have looked at it and scoffed(and it was just an hardtail), but either way I learned a ton from that process. Keep up the good work man!

Oh, and for those looking for a free 3D parametric modeling program, check out Alibre. You can download a trial off their website. It's limited from the full version, but still a place to start.
 

grimm

Monkey
Jan 12, 2002
390
0
Sweden
There is also a stand alone program called Linkage, where you can play around with linkage designs. I dont know how "high level" it is, but if you need it i can send it over via email. I have version 2.0 and its from 2002 or something. send me a pm if you need it.
 
Apr 16, 2006
392
0
Golden, CO
^ That programs been discussed a few times in this thread already. Albeit a good program, it shouldnt be completely trusted when used inversely (taking a design from a .jpeg and "plotting" it) but it puts out good numbers and graphs if you actually design the bike in a cadd like program and plot it in linkage.
BTW upgrade to version 2.5, 2.0 doesnt give as much info or freedom in design.

Another good free 3D drafting program is Rhyno. not sure if its still free but it was a pretty good program from what i remember. If you have access to a university with solidworks by all means use it tho, and take a few lessons if you have to. Its pretty easy and fun to use.
 

beaverbiker

Monkey
Feb 5, 2003
586
0
Santa Clara
You don't need the Linkage program to figure out leverage ratios, etc... It's all simple math that you can just do by hand, and you'll get a better feel of how changing variables effects things because you'll see the numbers in their respective equations. If you really want to LEARN, don't use the computer program. If you just want to be a CAD jocky, then use the program.
 
Apr 16, 2006
392
0
Golden, CO
At the level these guys are involved im not sure they are very interested in learning the math needed to graph the leverage ratio curves. obtaining a simple travel/stroke ratio is simple however and most people should know that i'll agree. Some of it's not as simple to the general public esp when you get into moments, ic, etc. lol. I do agree however that learning the math is neccesary if you wanna push it to the next level in any form of engineering, in fact its required as I'm finding. and as far as being a CAD jocky, well i can see that being a bad thing if you consider linkage cad, but 3D cad has its place and the users are certainly not jockys, more like chariot racers or something
 

dhkid

Turbo Monkey
Mar 10, 2005
3,358
0
Malaysia
not many, but they are bikes out there which are very close to linear. the scott high octane is very close.
 

rowlands

Monkey
Nov 26, 2006
159
0
A quick first glance and any technically-inclined dudes/dudettes will tell you that your linkage will not work, period.

You can manual plot using autocad the axlepath/swingarm movement (or the lack of it) if you know how to do it.
Care to explain how this is done? I knew the design would probably not work but this is just my first go.

Anybody have any recomendations that would make this design usable? I really would like to make this work and at some point I wouldn't mind building it but theres no point in that if it dosent work.

Thanks for all of the help so far
 
Apr 16, 2006
392
0
Golden, CO
Shorten ur lower link so it more closely resembles a VPP design. In doing that you'll hafta adjust the shock attachment point on the lower link and then adjust the shock angle and frame attachment point to compensate for the leverage ratio change. and if you haven't DL'd linkage 2.5 demo version do it and play till ur hearts content with crazy designs and try and lock up the program with ones that physically won't work.