This year we have several big projects coming up such as revamping the front axle, building a chassis dyno, redesigning the fuel intake system and fuel usage tracking system!
We need all the help we can get, as any and all support is welcomed. Please feel free to share to those who may be interested in supporting our cause!
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out, we’d be happy to answer!
For more information, contact Max Somers:
mmsomers@umass.edu
Applications are Closed for 2024-2025 Academic Year!
If you want to learn about the club or are interested in joining in the future feel free to reach out!
For more information contact Emily O’Brien and Maeve O’Connor:
Introducing the 2024-2025 E-Board for the UMass SMV Team!
As some may know, the team is transitioning away from the SAE Supermileage Competition, and beginning to enroll in the Shell Eco-Marathon. One of the major rules changed that comes with this transition regards the vehicle’s brakes!
We have a dedicated brakes team this semester, focused on redesigning the brakes to comply with Shell’s rulebook. Previously, the vehicle was equipped with a single cable-operated bicycle brake that acted directly on the rear wheel, actuated by a hand lever. This is the system that our drivetrain and body were designed around. Shell’s rules require both front and rear brakes. These brakes must be hydraulic calipers acting on brake rotors, with separate pedal actuation and hand lever actuation. A big design change for us!
We’ve been hard at work removing the old brake assemblies, and upgrading with parts that we were able to purchase, thanks to our Minutefund Supporters!
Here are the old brake pedals being cut away from the body, these pedals were glued in place using an industrial strength glue right before this year’s competition. Cutting the pedals of was the easiest option.
And here are our new pedals, mocked up in the vehicle. The mounting for these pedals will be designed to be adjustable to accomodate multiple drivers of different heights.
And this is our current redesign of our vehicle’s manual clutch! We have modified our drive-side clutch plate with mounting points for a motorcycle brake rotor. Almost ready for the CNC!
This past summer the UMass Supermileage Vehicle Team participated in the finale SAE SUpermileage competition! Just a couple images from our competiton can be found below, complete gallery will be posted soon! We made a really good push but in the end we were not able to complete a run due to engine failures. But we’re not giving up! This may have been the last SAE Supermileage competition, but we’re looking to continue our work in the Shell Eco-Marathon starting this Spring! Stay tuned for updates and follow our Instagram @umass_smv.
Few of our team members (Alex, Mike, and Ryan) spent their spring break at Boston Boatworks and Symmetrix’s sites working on the development of the new carbon fiber composite monocoque. This video shows the 5-axis CNC machine, at Symmetrix’s site in Bristol RI, cutting away to create a foam plug of the body.
Highlighting some beautiful work done on our in-house Hurco CNC machining center.
Teamwork is a vital aspect of any project. Supermileage allows students to participate in real engineering scenarios, interacting with other groups to ensure system integration.
The engine dyno and EFI has been putting in the hours tuning prepping our modified Briggs and Stratton units. Next step: getting everything on the car and going for a hoon!
(Older Honda engine shown here)
Special shout-out to Montague Machine in Turners Falls, Massachusetts (montaguemachine.com) for donating and center-boring a nice piece of cast iron for the team. We are hard at work over winter break machining this into a new sleeve for our Briggs & Stratton #smv engine. Thanks for the support!