Ski Engineering Project HELP

ct_steeze

ct_steeze

Active member
Whats up guys, I'm a senior mechanical engineering student at Lafayette College. A few of my friends and I are attempting to design a ski that replicates the feeling of snow skiing on pavement for our senior design project. We spent last semester pretty much reverse engineering the Freebord and trying to apply a similar idea to skis. This semester we have to do a bit of market analysis and business stuff before we continue working on our prototype.

If you guys have about 1 minute of free time to answer this 9 question survey, It would really help us out! Thanks! If anyone is interested I will post some pictures of our prototype so far when I get a second later.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PS3NMFV

If you dont know what the Freebord is, here is a video:

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answers to some questions people have asked:

How do you stop?

Its just like the Freebord, wheels on the sides that can only roll in one direction (downhill) act as edges to stop/carve/control your speed while you are primarily riding on two swivel wheels on the base of the ski that creates the sliding sensation...Ill post some drawings/pics of the prototype later that will hopefully clarify this haha

'binding' part will be difficult.. Or would you use normal ski boots??

As of right now, we took the wheels off of roller blades and bolted the rigid plastic boot to our prototype...its pretty ratchet but it will work for now. Ski boots are always an option that would work. Would you prefer real ski boots and bindings or something that is easier to just throw on and not as hot in the summer? We will be figuring the binding situation out after we get the ski done.

what is flexure?

How flexible the ski is.
 
this. post pics once you build one.

I think the hardest part for you guys might be the binding interface, so I'd highly recommend simply using regular alpine ski bindings on the skis. Something like a universal mfd plate for any type of bindings could be nice as well. That way you could still use regular ski boots, and the experience would match skiing that much more.
 
did the survey

You should totes start a thread and put some pics and drawings and what not youd get tons of free feedback and advice!!!!

 
Adult-Scooter-3-Wheel-Scooter-En14619-Certificated-Flicker3-Scooter-Speeder.jpg


I used something like this recently and it was sick. You can carve with it, and pump to get speed on flat without taking a foot off.

You could try to do a 4 wheeled version with a widened front axle, and unlike a skateboard, you could use larger wheels. But the key is making it comfortable to push with one leg (that was the awkward part of the 3 wheeler.)

The goal is to make it a mode of transport.

If I were to do a 3 wheeler, I'd use larger wheels. But the one I used was for children, and I thought I'd break it.
 
There would still be some sort of release system we could develop. The question is whether or not you would want to wear your ski boots all day in the summer. Once you get down the hill would you want to walk up a massive paved road in ski boots all the way back to the top?

To Peanutbutterjelly:

Yes that is definitely something that is being considered. Right now we are more concerned with getting the ski carving aspect down and will be developing the binding method later on in the semester.

Thanks for the feedback everyone keep it coming!
 
Yeah not at all what we're talking about.

That is one problem with the freebord though, you can't really cruise on flat with it. its strictly a downhill toy, like skis...

i suppose that's why rollerblades are nice. you can skate around a flat skatepark with no slope, bungee, winch etc...

When you guys are done with your high-speed downhill death machines, you could build something skateable like rollerblades, but more forgiving like skis for a nice summer skiing experience.

Like these, but locked in, and slideable on pavement.

Rollerski3-V.jpg
 
If we have the time, we will start redesigning now from scratch! Thanks for all the feedback, we were really trying to get a feel for what people wanted and what people would enjoy using the most. You guys have already helped a ton. Last semester there were only 2 of us working on the project so we didnt get as much accomplished as we would have liked, but this semester we recruited 6 people and a lot more budget/machining time.

That being said, here are some CAD drawings of our "high speed downhill death machines" prototype, as well as what we managed to build last semester in the shop.

What the ski would look like turning, the block is where the binding would be:

691548.png

The edge wheels are at different heights so more wheels become engaged at different points during a turn. The inside pair of edge wheels on both sides are spring mounted so as you apply more pressure they resist the turn and allow you to get on the outer pair of edge wheels so you can carve with more edge.

691549.png

A close up of our prototype so far that is still lacking the edge wheels because of our lack of machining time:

691557.png

strapped in:

691550.png

Anyways we were designing with downhill use in mind, but we have a meeting tomorrow and I will definitely voice all of the ideas you guys have given me so far. I would like to try and redesign so the ski could also be used on flat ground as a mode of transportation as well as downhill and in the park and I already have some ideas for simple modifications to our existing model that might allow for that. If you are curious about the length, right now we are at 140 cm i believe, center-mounted and symmetrical sidecut.
 
Oh wow. I like your design. literally like two narrow freebords!

I cant wait for a video of you guys carving turns on asphalt with these!

Might i suggest you mount the slide wheels with adjustable-height settings? you may want to play around with how much lateral lean it takes to get them to engage and slow you down. With the right "edge grip" though, I'm sure you could skate around on flat ground with those things.

I must say I'm jealous of your engineering project. Building is fun. especially toys.
 
Is there any way you can connect the two skis together, like with the scooter, and then have a handlebar. Being able to hold it with hands would give that extra grip that you'd lose if you removed specialized boots.

Also, without specialized boots you could take it on a train or public transport. Maybe even fold it up.

Push like a skateboard, steer like a scooter, carve like rollerblades. Travel like a hobo.
 
.. I should add, what I have in mind is something that would allow a person to carry a backpack steadily, but still be on wheels, yet also be able to quickly jump on a bus, train or hitchhike; without having to take off any shoes: ideally allowing the scooter to be folded up.
 
Thanks man! We already felt out what height would feel the most realistic to engaging edges and designed accordingly. They would most likely be adjustable on a final model, but as of right now, they are going to be at a set height because its much simpler
 
Right now rollerblading is as close to summer skiing as you can get. Any better than that will be a win!
 
Standard rollerblades are limited in forward lean potential. The red blades at top look interesting, maybe a rockerer'd version of those. Their current design I suspect will be heavy underfoot - although being able to switch from a carve to a slide would be great..

A scooter version, from my experience on a 3-wheeled one, it is possible to get close to power-carves...
 
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