Maglev Car

Identify Problem

Design and build a small scale Maglev car to be tested and evaluated based on speed and efficiency.

Constraints:

3D Printed
Max of 6" long, exactly 2.5" wide
4 magnets (correct polarity)
1 motor/propeller

Brainstorm

Research/Sketch

In my research, I found that maglev systems work by using magnetic forces to reduce friction between a vehicle and its track. To move the vehicle, I used a motor and propeller that was mounted to push the car instead of pull it because a rear-mounted propeller provided better stability and kept the airflow away from the front of the vehicle. I also thought that keeping the wires in contact with the rails providing the electricity would be a larger problem. To fix this, I added a spoiler in the front and angled the motor upwards to ensure that the wires keep contact.

Design

Build

I ended up dropping the spoiler due to complexity, and only angled the motor up in the build, not the design. This not only decreased weight, but ended up being more effective in keeping the wires in contact, as it doesn't try to lift upwards on the front, flying off the track (because flying off the track would cause the wires to also fly off, crazy right).

Also during the design process, I realized that it sorta looked like a lobster so I printed it in red

Test & Evaluate

Testing the car consisted of putting it on a long track with magnets that repel that of the car, and guide rails on either side that provide electricity to the motor. I only got one test in due to time constraints but it was a very good test. It made the length of the track in 2.294 seconds, averaging 6.93 mph, with a final velocity of 9.74 mph. This is calculated by dividing the length of the track, 23', by the time it took for the car to get across, and then converting that from feet per second to miles per hour.

I believe it could have been faster had the connection of the wires to the rails been better, as I could see some arcs being formed in some places throughout the track. Also, designing the car to be eversoslightly less wide than the 2.5" of the track, as to reduce friction.

Redesign

Redoing this project, the main thing I would focus on is getting consistent contact between the wires and rails, likely by using a different type of wire or some sort of 3D printed solution that applies contact artificially.

Conclusion

This project gave me insight into the challenges of designing maglev vehicles, as well as the reason maglev isn't used more often in the real world. I learned about how factors such as thrust, weight distribution, and magnet placement affect performance.

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