mouse trap cars 19-20

Objective:

Building on the skills and knowledge that has been developed throughout the course, apply your many talents and wisdom to design and engineer a Mouse Trap Racer. This project will require careful balance of several objectives and priorities. The racer must be able to travel in a straight path, traverse over an incline and then stop within a defined zone.     

Constraints:

The Mouse Trap Racer may only be powered by the one mouse trap provided. Other materials will be provided to build the remaining components, however, outside materials may be brought in and used. The Mouse Trap Racer must be designed and drawn in CAD. Two mechanisms must utilize the two digital fabrication tools, laser cutter and 3D printer. 3D printed parts must be 3-dimesional, parts that are simply 2D extrusion should utilize the laser cutter. 3D printed parts must also be reasonable in size. It will be the team’s responsibility to appropriately set up and operate each one of these tools. No dimension may be larger than 12”. Each racer must remain motionless and completely independent at the beginning of each race and must be engaged without disrupting its original position. Distance will be measured from the center of the defined zone to the racer.