Post 4: The Chassis Build!

 As Project Rev continues at Bishop Reding, the team gathers many hands to take turns finishing the chassis construction. 

Working together, students complete welds on key joints to secure the chassis of the REV electric vehicle. Then, others work to grind away the top and bottom of the chassis to flatten the surface for the seat legs and front fascia to be eventually installed.

While the chassis was being structurally finalized, a member of Mr. Peca's TCJ Construction Class set to work taking measurements of the front fascia of the Quadricycle and glued some wood panelling to eventually form the front and bottom panels of the body for our vehicle.

 Another REV team member was able to replicate the curves of the side panels of the front fascia with templates, and work with another student to cut and sand the panels in the woodshop.

Back in the auto shop, students worked on cleaning up the chair legs and getting them ready to bolt onto the chassis once done.

Days later, the custom bore wheels we ordered arrived, and a grade 12 REV team member was able to pick them up from our other community partner Spokes N Slopes in the Milton Mall.

The wheels look great, and we can't wait to assemble the main support components of the chassis!

Check in with post 5 to see the chassis finally come together for the first time, and discover our second Design Challenge!

Post 3: Design Challenges As We Go!

 As students begin work on the REV (Reding's Electric Vehicle), Mr. Da Silva will be leading the observation of various design challenges along the way. 

It is throughout the construction of the build, that we note particular challenges for which students must work together utilizing the theories they have learned in other subject areas to help obtain the best solutions for these challenges.

At each stage of the build, we will highlight each design challenge, and the details of how it is solved. It is this strategy of utilizing the talents of various disciplines and subject areas to find tangible solutions to real world problems; blending together theory and application!

And now... WE BEGIN the BUILD! 

Keep an eye out for each DESIGN CHALLENGE as we go!

-Late October:

With the details of the build explained to members of Project REV, we set to work first by obtaining a rough blueprint of the Henry Ford Quadricycle. 

Design Challenge #1: How to obtain the dimensions of the vehicle in order to recreate a scaled version.

Under the lead of Mr. Mule's TDJ Tech Design Class, students were able to import the drawing into a design software program and resize the image to scale. From the picture, he was then able to show students how to extrapolate general sizes of things like wheelbase, total width, and spacing of the frame members. Students continued to measure key distances and draw up a list of materials for the build.

With that, the team set to work on ordering the steel for the chassis from our community partner      Solex Metal Fabrication. And when it arrived, members of Mr. Da Silva's TTJ Transportation Technology program measured and cut the steel for assembly and welding by the REV team. 

With the chassis construction underway, other students set to work on the steering system.

Having noted the difference between the Ford Quadricycle steering and suspension, and ours, we were unable to find small scale leaf springs for the REV, so we elected to make the REV a hardbody, with no suspension. As a result, we decided to make custom spindles that utilize 9/16" hardware to hold upgraded bicycle wheels, much like that of the original vehicle had over 100 years ago.

As our first build session comes to an end, we take a moment to enjoy our progress, then it's 

back at it next week to continue on with the chassis work. Check out post 4 for next steps on the chassis!

Post 2: Team Layout & Workflow

Time to lay out a team of dedicated workers for Project REV. Let's begin!

With a goal in sight, Transportation Technology SHSM lead teacher Mr. Da Silva and several other teachers at Bishop Reding will be working to assemble a group of hard working students from different subject areas to construct the Quadricycle.

In order for the Quadricycle to be built, we need a team of students from various curricular subjects to contribute their knowledge to several ongoing design challenges of the build.

To begin, students have been assembled from the following subject areas:

AREA OF BUILD:                            SUBJECT AREA:              LEAD TEACHER:

CHASSIS MEASUREMENT           Tech Design     (TDJ)         Mr. A. Mulé

CHASSIS ASSEMBLY                     Transportation (TTJ)         Mr. C. Da Silva

COACHWORK                                Construction    (TCJ)         Mr. D. Peca

UPHOLSTERY                                Construction    (TCJ)         Mr. J. Koechl

THEORY AND R&D                       Science           (SNC)         Mr. A. Lograno

                                                          Physics            (SPH)        Ms. S. Mulica

STEERING & PROPULSION        Mathematics    (MPM)      Mrs. J. DiFederico

                                                                                                    Mr. R. Piva

NETWORKING & POWER             Engineering     (TMJ)       Mr. Berardi

    The basic workflow strategy for the year will involve designing and building the chassis and steering components first. Then, Science, Physics, Math and Engineering students will calculate, build and test the electric propulsion system, solar charging system and radar controlled braking system.

Check post number 3 to see each of the specific design challenges for the build!

 

Post 1: Let the Project Begin!

 Welcome everyone, to Bishop Reding's Student Success endeavor: Project REV!

    Project REV is 2023-2024's cross-curricular project that combines several areas of school instruction under the STEM learning model. 

This year's big goal will be for students to design and construct a near replica of Henry Ford's Quadricycle. 

    The famous American industrialist's 1896 design was a humble prototype of a wheeled cart. It moved under it's own power by means of a small internal combustion engine. The tiny carriage had an overall length of under eight feet, and was constructed of mostly simple components like bicycle wheels, stick lever steering, and a carbide lantern for a headlight.

    As a tribute to Mr. Ford's creation, our students will recreate most of the quadricycle and preserve its historical look. After the chassis, seating and steering systems are built, the REV team will endow the vehicle with new technologies. 

    The REV team, comprised of several teachers and students from different subject areas, have begun the design work and construction of this exciting machine, along with the co-operation of a few community partners in the Halton area. These partnerships will also work together with HCDSB's Specialist High Skills Major program to give member students exposure to several sector based career opportunities after high school.

Check out post number 2, where we lay out our team groups, subject areas, and workflow strategies!