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IGES Files
4 days ago Chalk. said:Sure I attached some pics. The part "Rally Fighter Body v1.0 (081310).sldprt" there are 7 rebuild errors on my model. I'll list them below:
-(Imported_1_2_7.jpg) This is below the rear bumper. I hid the main body surface, which is called "Surface-Imported1" in my tree, so you can see them better. I assume its just mad b/c surface Imported1, 2 and 7 are floating.
-(Surface-Imported_1.jpg") Is the main body surface in my model. I didn't bother pointing them out b/c its just minute little gaps here and there. But if you would like i can.
-(Surface-Imported_4.jpg) This is the trunk. I'm assuming its just mad about the gaps that i pointed w/ the red arrows.
-(Surface-Imported_8_12.jpg) These are the two rear tail lights. I'm not really sure what the error is for that one.
IGES Files
5 days ago mpisani said:Yeah, the body and rear axle may have some rebuild errors since the surfaces may not have imported the way SW would like. If you want to clear them out, this can usually be corrected with Import Diagnostics, but that can sometimes take a while for SW to clean up the gaps in faces etc, and in some cases, cause the system to crash.
There shouldn't be anything "wrong" with the files, but SW is picking up gaps or overlapping surfaces, which it processes as "errors". That is technically true that they're errors, but for what we're using these files for most of the time (representing the volumes), it doesn't really have an adverse affect on the part. In the case where you'd want a perfect surface, it is possible to go in and clean it up if need be using the surfacing tools.
If you can easily identify what the errors are, send me some pictures just to make sure it's consistent with what I've got just so we're sure you and other community members aren't getting something that actually is wrong.
IGES Files
6 days ago idesigncars said:Hey Chris, I don't have any experience with solidworks, and Mike just took off for the weekend and will be back next tuesday-- I know thats almost a week. I'll ask our new engineer Alex if he has any idea since he has some experience with SW08. I'm sorry I'm not able to help out right now though.
IGES Files
7 days ago Chalk. said:I'm having some problems with the CAD files. I have to use the IGES files because i'm using SW 08 and as you know the files aren't backwards compatible. Ive been trying to open the IGES in my SW and it either crashes, or gives me errors every time i open it. I also have tried opening the IGES in catia but its blank. There is nothing in the tree and nothing in the modeling space. Do you have any ideas of what could be wrong?
What it means to be Open?
10 days ago mpisani said:The Spindles are on the list of the next round of parts to be uploaded soon. It wasn't added initially since the data there needs a little more cleanup/detail to be useful, but it's on the list of upcoming parts. It was a part that we scanned vs. modeled from reverse engineering the original part, so there are holes in the surface, it still has the lower ball joint mount (we cut it off for use in the car), and the pick up points for the upper ball joint and the steering need a bit more definition to be easily used by all.
Processing IGES Files
12 days ago Chalk. said:Some of the LM team requested that i share the recent questions i've been asking them through email. So this is just FYI if anybody else is in the same situation.
The CAD files from LM are saved in SolidWorks 2010 therefore it can only be opened in 2010 or newer SW. I am currently using SW2008 therefore i cannot open the SW files they provide because they are not backwards compatible. But additionally they provide the IGES file!, which can be opened with almost any CAD software. The main difference with the IGES files compared to the SW files is that there are no steps in your tree. For example if your part was a plate w/ a hole in it, the tree will not show the extruding step and the cut step for the IGES file. It will just come in as a single part. When importing the complete vehicle files it took me about 20min to process; so be patient. Since its being imported into the same basic program (in my situation) the majority of the parts transfer over fine without SW getting mad. The parts that SW did get mad at was the surfacing parts which are the body shell and the rear axle. It will tell you that there are rebuild errors. I personally don't have any experience w/ surfacing in SW but i have been in a similar situation in CATIA with a different project; and had similar problems/errors. So I think this is normal. I sent some of the pics of the errors to Mike @ LM and although these errors do not exist on his files, he confirmed that there is nothing wrong with the model. There are just tiny gaps and overlaps in the surfaces that are introduced from the file being imported between the different versions. If you need to fix these it should be possible to use the import diagnostics feature in SW. I've been trying to do that but haven't had any luck because of my computer freezing; but from looking at the "errors" they are simple enough that i feel I could fix them manually. So its not a big deal.
CLIFF NOTES of everything i said above is that, if your importing the IGES files theres a good chance there will be rebuild errors. But its nothing to really worry about unless you need to work with the perfect surface. In which case it can be fixed manually or through the automated import diagnostics.
What it means to be Open?
13 days ago Chalk. said:I'd also like to request the front uprights/hubs.
What it means to be Open?
17 days ago mpisani said:The SolidWorks files were generated in the 2010 version. If you have 2010, mod away right in SolidWorks! If not, the IGES files will be the files you'll need to download, and although you won't have all of the detail behind the parts, you'll have a lot of great parts to begin modifying the RF or parts for it!
What it means to be Open?
18 days ago jrogers said:This is perhaps the most exciting evolution in Local Motors in recent history...the availability of our CAD data to the general public for free! Now protected under the Creative Commons license (Attribution, Non-Commercial, No Derivative), the Rally Fighter data can now be downloaded freely by anyone and everyone who would like to see it, copy it, share it, design based on it, and make comments on it. WOW!
To our knowledge, no company has ever before co-created a car in the face of a global community, and much less offered it back to the public. This first makes us either 1) colossally stupid or 2) perhaps on to something revolutionary in the car industry. We, of course, hope for the second outcome on judgment day
Time will tell. In the meanwhile, if you have a CAD reading program, dig in and share your comments with us in this forum. If there is a part of the CAD data that you hoped for, but did not see...let us knowabout it here also. In the future, we hope to offer many more project type files, to allow upload of files directly to this forum for review, and even to make some sort of free or low priced CAD program available on the web so that any user can at least view the data. Here's tp the future!
Open CAD Data
19 days ago tthomas said:Share your thoughts, ideas and modificaton images of LM Open Source Share your thoughts, ideas and images of your own revisions of the Local Motors Rally Fighter CAD Data here. Soon you will be able to post your own revised CAD files here as well - in the mean time send them to support@local-motors,com
More hands on work = ?
21 days ago sarahstokes said:Jereme, watching your video now! Thanks for sharing.
You can't work more on the vehicle beyond the 2 long weekends. The build process isn't finalized yet, but the idea is that the customers do the major work already and while they are gone, the tedious tasks are completed (maybe rivets are a good example) I somehow missed this question - so am sorry it's taken so long to respond.
You've got some serious talent! Holy cow. I didn't know what Parkour was until the video.
MDR Accident
23 days ago Chalk. said:Yeh its a pretty big deal. MDR=Mojave Desert Racing Series in California http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/inland_empire&id=7610843
The numbers vary depending on the news source, but regardless its a very unfortunate tragedy and a big hit to the off-road community.
General Forum
27 days ago jeremyfox43921 said:I have been following this car for 3 years now just wanted to pat you all on the back and tell you how awesome you did. I see this monster and I instantly think If Kit(night-rider) and MadMaxx had a kid and their kid had a cocaine addiction this would be their spawn lol. Tho I can't afford one I would be willing to fight Brock Lesner for one of these beasts
Auto repair tips that won't break the financial in
34 days ago Timothy said:Perhaps the best windshield will crack, given time. If you do nothing over it, those cracks can eventually cause the windshield to shatter. This can create numerous obviously unsafe situations, particularly if you're driving at the time. You certainly cannot go without a windshield, for reasons of safety and garnering the attention of authorities. For these reasons, knowing a thing or two about auto glass repair is essential for maintaining your roadway safety.
Post resource - Don't drive off without this auto glass repair knowledge by Car Deal Expert.
Knowing more about auto glass repair
Don't skimp on auto glass repair. Automotive Troubleshooting Secrets advises everyone to consider a full, professional job rather than a quick fix. You'll want to ensure that your safety glass is installed by Federal Motor Car Safety Standards (FMVSS)-certified technicians. Look at the urethane adhesive they use; it should be Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standard (AGRSS)-certified. And that adhesive should not be expired. Perhaps expiration of a single day is too long, and hence unsafe. It should also be compliant with your automaker's factory rating and by airbag-rated if your automobile has airbags. Priming materials should pass comparable standards from the AGRSS.
What about if you're using a certified installer?
If a repair tech is working on your windshield, you'll want them to be National Glass Association (NGA)-certified so that your answers to the following questions will be answered in the affirmative:
- Is the windshield perfectly centered?
- Make certain the molding fits and sits flat around the circumference of the windshield
- Check to make sure the windshield is flush to the frame
- Does the windshield wiper motor nevertheless work?
FMVSS certification is non-negotiable
Know that you will find numerous auto glass repair shop options available, but not all of them will carry the all-important FMVSS credentials. When such highly trained technicians repair your auto glass, they should affix a sticker announcing the window was repaired by an FMVSS technician. It is a mark of quality, a sign that this work has been done well. Accepting cheap imitations is an unwise course.
Discover more about this topic here
automotivetroubleshootingsecrets.com/auto glass repair.htm
Auto repair tips that won't break the financial in
34 days ago Timothy said:Perhaps the best windshield will crack, given time. If you do nothing over it, those cracks can eventually cause the windshield to shatter. This can create numerous obviously unsafe situations, particularly if you're driving at the time. You certainly cannot go without a windshield, for reasons of safety and garnering the attention of authorities. For these reasons, knowing a thing or two about auto glass repair is essential for maintaining your roadway safety.
Post resource - Don't drive off without this auto glass repair knowledge by Car Deal Expert.
Knowing more about auto glass repair
Don't skimp on auto glass repair. Automotive Troubleshooting Secrets advises everyone to consider a full, professional job rather than a quick fix. You'll want to ensure that your safety glass is installed by Federal Motor Car Safety Standards (FMVSS)-certified technicians. Look at the urethane adhesive they use; it should be Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standard (AGRSS)-certified. And that adhesive should not be expired. Perhaps expiration of a single day is too long, and hence unsafe. It should also be compliant with your automaker's factory rating and by airbag-rated if your automobile has airbags. Priming materials should pass comparable standards from the AGRSS.
What about if you're using a certified installer?
If a repair tech is working on your windshield, you'll want them to be National Glass Association (NGA)-certified so that your answers to the following questions will be answered in the affirmative:
- Is the windshield perfectly centered?
- Make certain the molding fits and sits flat around the circumference of the windshield
- Check to make sure the windshield is flush to the frame
- Does the windshield wiper motor nevertheless work?
FMVSS certification is non-negotiable
Know that you will find numerous auto glass repair shop options available, but not all of them will carry the all-important FMVSS credentials. When such highly trained technicians repair your auto glass, they should affix a sticker announcing the window was repaired by an FMVSS technician. It is a mark of quality, a sign that this work has been done well. Accepting cheap imitations is an unwise course.
Discover more about this topic here
automotivetroubleshootingsecrets.com/auto glass repair.htm
More hands on work = ?
41 days ago jeremesanders said:This is pretty much a pipe dream for me to ever own one of these vehicles, with the 2000 limit on construction of these awesome vehicles. I've never been much of a car person at all since I've always seen them as very kind of limited in their abilities, I myself own a Dual Sport motorcycle just so I can pretty much do what I want with it, I aim for adaptability in myself and pretty much everything that I use so when I saw this Rally Fighter it was pretty much love at first sight. It seems like with the versatility this machine will have, as well as the ability for it to be converted to bio diesel, and the idea that I'd be able to physically work on this vehicle just blows my mind. So my question is, would there be anyway I could do more hands on time with the vehicle for less price?
( I train Parkour, and have been doing so for around 6 years and it's as much a part of my life as breathing or sleeping is. Here is a video of me if you don't know what it is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WlQ-VbOfKU
Project Theme
41 days ago André said:Hi all! Been a long time since my last post here, alot of projects have taken my time, designing other stuff than cars.. Im in a search for a new topic for an upcoming project of mine, vehicle design. I need ideas! Brainstorming etc. I like the idea of an arctic vehicle, it gives me more to explore than just a regular car.. Maybe in a setting like avalanche rescue or so? Im openminded for everything actually, and I need help from the Pro`s
So, not a supercar or streetcar, as it will be just another "car".. Bring on the ideas folks And thanks so much in advance!
Rally, roadster, what next?
42 days ago TheFull9Yards said:AlexFi, you have a point, but the point of LM is to fill a niche market. Yes, there's always a niche for an awesome sports car, but as of now there is nobody established in the field of the electric cars. Tesla is growing, Toyota just re-released their RAV-4 electric car, and Fiskar is releasing a masterpiece. But it's not a field that's been set in stone. LM has the chance to fill a niche there, and moreover, grow as a respected car manufacturer for the masses. Just my two cents.
Rally, roadster, what next?
42 days ago AlexFi said:It seems people are pretty sure the next car should definitely be compact and street oriented, because LM has to avoid being pegged as just a "truck" manufacturer. Then the argument becomes, is it a city eco-car, or a sports car. I feel that how LM would approach a eco-car is really contingent on what comes out from major car companies in the next couple years. It seems like there is a lot of action in the eco-car and alternative drive markets right now, and it might be best to see what techs get put out, what sticks with customers, things like that. As much as LM should be ahead of the curve, we can't forget that there is an E-rod engine in the RF, so whether we like it or not, some of the results of the RF are tied to a previously created tech. I know the eco-friendly car market is attractive right now because of all the movement, but its like the LED market; the most attractive technology is not always found at big companies that have any kind of a real life span, and they will not always support your supply needs. Even the large companies aren't sure what the "best" direction is. I think a unique sports car is a good bet for the early-in-life LM. First, it establishes LM's segment flexibility, and enthusiast identity. Second, it is still acceptable to use tech that is advanced, but established. It could be a hybrid drive, or anything that underlines the performance positives of having an alternate drive, but it doesn't have to be "the BEST next 'greentech'" for it to be considered one of the top machines in its segment.
The main point, as Tellurian pointed out, is that there seems to always be room for a sports car, and the things that make a "better" sports car are not so heavily based in "greentech/next fuel alternative" as they are with eco-cars. As forward thinking and awesome as LM is, at least for right now they still use building blocks for some things like powertrain. The sources that would be acceptable providers to LM of eco-friendly building blocks are still shaking down their own directions, and it might be best to let them figure out what they intend to keep and who will live. Then LM can come in with an eco-design and once again using some of the best, but established tech, produce an impressive package that stands out in its segment.
Facebook spaming
44 days ago idesigncars said:OpenSaysMe, thank you for posting this topic-- I want to let you know that we have been fighting this spammer for the past two days and are currently working to fix the problem. While I am not sure if it is a problem with the facebook linking, the fact is that anyone can create a profile on Local Motors, and so sometimes things like this can happen. We are currently looking for a fix to stop this particular spammer from continuing thier strategy. I am sorry you have received this spam message--- please rest assured that other than seing your profile, your e-mail address is secure. Again, thank you for posting this topic to help inform members of the community-- I will create an announcement now to inform other members.
Nyko
Facebook spaming
44 days ago OpenSaysMe said:I believe that someone is using your facebook linking software to spam people. Here is a post from someone I just received.
This person wants to get your email address from you when you email them so they can use it to spam you. Please address this! --posted message to my LM account follows:
There is a new comment on a Profile Wall on which you have commented:
joymab4's Avatar joymab4 said...
"Hello, My name is Joy, i got you from,..local-motors.com and i want to have a good relationship with you, please i need your cooperation,contact me with my email adress, (joymabou0091@yahoo.com ) am yours Joy. thanks, Joy."
Rally, roadster, what next?
45 days ago PhantomChief said:http://www.local-motors.com/checkup.php?c=4519
This is what LM should do next. With a turbo or supercharged 4 or 6 cylinder, and a price tag around $30k. Keep the amenities to a minimum. Gauges, radio and GPS or phone mount. Storage should be roomy enough for 1 or 2 bags of golf clubs.
Rally, roadster, what next?
46 days ago PhantomChief said:I signed up for this site as soon as I found out about it through Factory Five. I think it is awesome that a platform like the Rally Fighter, has come about and being built in my home town. I was curious if you knew of anything else to be released soon. Nothing I have found suggested anything else was close to development. I am not much for the style that the RF brings.
I would love to see a sports car available that is small, sleek, and unique available. I would also like to see some engine flexibility. It shouldn't be too hard to set up an engine bay to support multiple brands. Small Diesels, and a V6 or V8 petrol would be nice to have as options.
I love many of the concepts in the forum and wish I had the tech background to help out. The addition of the ISIS system should make the electronics for everything short of the engine electronics relatively simple.
Rally, roadster, what next?
47 days ago jrogers said:This is my favorite thread so far at LM, because it is the sould of the Company and why we created it. Tym's comments resonate so much with me. I agree with lightweight, fun, and electric. As for a rolling chassis sent out for competition, I am not so sure I agree. Though there may be examples of chassis that were "skinned" to be winners, when the chassis is inexpensive in the way LM does it, I cannot see the reason to build a chassis and then try to fit a body around it. This is basically what Iconic has been trying to do at Art Center and it might work for them, since they have to do it that way, but it is constraining. Why not have basic packaging specs and then design a car and then engineer a chassis in realtime? Just my two cents. As to the other comments, by favorite part about building this Company was to engender feelings like the one in this thread about defining new categories and being know as the Company that made vehicles that others would not. Wow! This, I believe, can stretch the language of automotive design by moving beyond the grille and the hood ornament and light design and into the beauty and function of the entire car. What if you were known for your elegance....like the great clothing brands. I am brimming with excitement on these subjects. Come to the Open House. Come see Tym display his latest work!!
dig the new portfolio view and the new competitions page layout, looks fresh 
These Forums Suck
47 days ago hiredgun79 said:Hi Hawk!
Thanks so much for the suggestions. You read our minds! We've been working on a major revamp for a while now and we just pushed some big changes live. I believe you'll be a lot happier with the result.
Please keep the comments coming, we're happy to oblige, and make communicating on Local Motors as painless as possible.
Thanks again,
Tony
bike designs
48 days ago AlexFi said:ha, I'm glad you understand. No, that bike was not my gs. I had everything done on the bike except making some fiberglass body work. I had it stretched out and lowered done with the seat about 10 inches off the pavement, had it back together and running, but never had time to do the composite molds and such before real life killed the project. I have another bike I want to do it to, and now I have a garage again, I just need to get my / a welder here (I moved from NY) and a grinding wheel. That's a start at least.
bike designs
48 days ago R/Evo said:Is the attached image what you were trying to emulate, or is that the bike you built? If it is yours, I'm impressed, and would like to see more images! I've seen a few 'Akira like' bikes in the past. They were quite impressive, and can understand why you would want to build one.
bike designs
48 days ago AlexFi said:I'm a little ashamed to admit this, but I've always wanted to build a recumbent bike, sort of like that bike from Akira. It's too'80's for me, but the shape has good possibilities. I got almost done with it using a'83 gs1100e, but lost use of a garage and had to call it quits. Not very good for turns (the suzuki was about 1 ft oversize after the frame mods), but I love the long and low look.
bike designs
48 days ago AlexFi said:These are all customs obviously, but they are the reason Duc Streetfighter. A lot of Streetfighters start their lives out as big plastic track bikes. Then some German gets a hold of it, strips the plastic off and jacks up the tail six inches. (Germans seem to love the snub tail)
bike designs
48 days ago AlexFi said:I also think I bike would be a really interesting side project. Maybe we can't warrant a competition yet so early in LM's public development, but for those of us into it, we could get a couple group projects going. It seams like there are a bunch of people here who like the Streetfighter look (the genre not the bike model!). If you have not heard of the style, take your favorite bike model (as long as it isn't too exotic), and do a google image search "(model) streetfighter," and enjoy the craziness! That would be a fun group project. Also an enduro style bike might be good just because "southwest" is the first LM Micro factory location. If there was any possibility of there being a LM bike sooner rather than later, it would be with a rider style that fits into the southwest/baja/touring area I would think.
Rally Fighter < $10 curated good competition
48 days ago jdomolky said:We have chosen today's winners...
< $10 Nick Bauer with the Quick Fist Clamp
http://www.sierraexpeditions.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=90
< $5 Alexis Fiechter with the Master Lock Adjustable Stretch Bungee
http://www.drillspot.com/products/370361/Master_Lock_3039DAT_Stretch_Bungee?s=1
Congratulations to Nick and Alexis! Both of these products were exactly what we were hoping for. Stay tuned for more curated goods competitions &3A
Rally, roadster, what next?
48 days ago Tellurian said:The thing about it is, there is room in the market for innumerable low-volume sports cars. It's almost as if no matter what you build within this particular genre, you are assured to find buyers -- and if it's 'cool' enough, price isn't an issue.
So AGAIN I put the challenge to LM engineers to design and build a rolling chassis for an ELECTRIC sports car -- because the future is electric -- and then submit that as a basis for a design competition.
One of the most beautiful cars ever -- the Lamborghini Miura -- was a rolling chassis first.
Rally Fighter < $10 curated good competition
48 days ago R/Evo said:Hey Guys,
Hope yo don't mind my re entering my CRKT Eat'N Tool from the last contest for the <$10 category, it retails for $6.99? I really do feel this fits the type of goods that relate to the RF / LM lifestyle. Please note it also comes in a black teflon version. It must be popular as it is sold out right now at their website!
In the multitude of multi-tools, this one addresses 2 extremely important needs of survivalist and just your 'normal', party animals: EATING & DRINKING. Designed by Liong Mah (http://www.liongmahdesigns.com/), the CRKT Eat'N Tool (http://www.crkt.com/cgi-bin/crkt.pl?pgm=co_disp&func=displ&strfnbr=81&prrfnbr=385&sesent=0,0&search_id=323985) is a spoon, fork, bottle opener, screwdriver / pry tip, a 3 metric wrench, and a carabiner.
Rally, roadster, what next?
49 days ago TheFull9Yards said:I I really think that there is an opening market for eco-friendly compacts. The Smart Car is doing well, and growing. Unfortunately, one must sacrifice lots to drive these. And I also agree with Luci_ued: people buy city cars based on looks and MPG. Horsepower and top speed don't really matter, we're not going to do 150 to get from one block to another. Focus on getting a lightweight, 4 seater city car that has looks.
Rally Fighter < $10 curated good competition
49 days ago AlexFi said:Under $5
$4.87
Master Lock adjustable bungee cords. We've got a cooler, wet bags, and who knows what other luggage that will go into the Rally Fighter, and then you're going out to drive hard over rough terrain. These have steel reinforced polyethylene hooks so as not to mark up any surfaces, and they are adjustable from 6 to 40 inches, so they can accommodate any sort of gear. The hooks are also offset which makes it easier to latch them into odd spots.
http://www.drillspot.com/products/370361/Master_Lock_3039DAT_Stretch_Bungee?s=1
Rally Fighter < $10 curated good competition
49 days ago c1freestyler said:Under $5
2-in-1 Windup LED Flashlight / Phone Charger coming in at $3.00
Just in case all else fails you got a little back up.
http://first-aid-product.com/first-aid-kit-sale-under-5-dollars.htm
There are a few other products on this site that might come in handy also.
Rally Fighter < $10 curated good competition
49 days ago c1freestyler said:Under $10 dollars: Aquamira Frontier Emergency Water Filter System
comes in at $8.37, You can drink straight out of the water supply where ever it maybe. But of course you could use the extra $1.63 to buy a cup. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OR115W/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0014EAYUM&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1KX
Rally Fighter < $10 curated good competition
49 days ago Wazioc said:Under $10:
Cobber cooling neck wrap (~$7.50). Got a similar product when I hiked the Grand Canyon and it works just as it says.
Company website with option to become a distributor with retail display stands and ability to print company logos on the product:
http://www.bodycool.tv/englishmain.html
Video and individual sales:
http://www.luckyvitamin.com/p-32758-bodycool-industries-neck-buddy-body-cooling-neck-wrap-blue
Under $5:
Light duty tie downs $4
http://www.jegs.com/i/G-Force/471/D1055/10002/-1?CT=999
Rally Fighter < $10 curated good competition
49 days ago Nick021 said:Under $10 quick fist clamp $9.95
http://www.sierraexpeditions.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=90
Under $5 Chrome mounted bottle opener $1.05
http://www.amazon.com/Update-International-Wall-Mounted-Bottle-Opener/dp/B001M2S68S/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1279641069&sr=1-18
Rally Fighter < $10 curated good competition
49 days ago jdomolky said:Today we will be running another competition for who can nominate the coolest curated good or accessory for us to sell here in the Micro-Factory. For this competition there will be an additional constraint - The product nominated must be less than $10. We will give away two t-shirts, one for the best product under $10 and one for the best product under $5.
We want cool products that are affordable for everyone!!!
Good Luck
GO
7/19/10 Ninjas Work at the Sign Company
49 days ago Ari said:Our sign painters are more stealthy than graffiti artists! None of us saw the signs being put on the building.
And you know what's stealthier than tag artists? Ninjas...
Ninja sign painters.
Think about it.
The most important thing is it looks beautiful.
Design & Technology Posts
50 days ago AlexFi said:I just went and purchased 4 spark plugs (at about $25.00 a plug) to replace the ones in my 2 rotor rx8. That's two plugs per rotor, because spark plugs as they stand now can't ignite the full compressed profile of the rotor against the rotor housing without working in pairs.
There is a company called Knite though that has a system that generates a plasma at a claimed 100 times the power of a conventional spark plug. They start by creating a high voltage discharge at the base of their igniter, and then move the plasma out past even the tip of the plug with high amperage. Their plasma behavior is tunable, and they say that the efficiency of their burn is such that they in some cases eliminated the need for a catalytic converter. The higher quality burn allows for greater fuel efficiency even under more challenging conditions such as high compression or forced induction engines even at higher engine speeds.
Design & Technology Posts
51 days ago AlexFi said:Check out this form of rotary engine. Don't think Wankel so much though. It uses 12 plates that ride a sinusoidal circuit to create compression and pumping action on a center plate. This gets 24 ignitions per rotation. The rotor housings on a Wankel rotary allow for a pretty small scale, but these could provide efficient output at even smaller scales, supposedly. I think they claim a diesel version that has a 1lb per 1hp ratio.
http://www.radmaxtech.com/
These Forums Suck
51 days ago Citizen Hawk said:I really dislike this forum software! sometimes its hard to determine the thread start and end, Cant open threads in new tabs/windows, responding to the thread is awkward by going back to the top, plus it seems to load slow for only display 10 threads per page.
Design & Technology Posts
54 days ago R/Evo said:There is a category for 'neighborhood (?)' electric vehicles that are limited to low speeds, but I think their competition will be mopeds (limited to 30mph in HI). That being the case, you'll also not need to get insurance or wear a helmet. That would make it even cheaper to own and operate!
About a year ago a rental company started renting these trike cars to tourists as an alternative to mopeds. They costs about $5,000 and they may sell them too. I believe they also are regulated to moped speeds.
7/13/10 Rally Fighter Action on the Dirt Course
54 days ago Ari said:This is what you've been waiting for.
This and the video of the Rally Fighter taking on the Dirt Course: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljYwQUe-IFk
More still shots of the Rally Fighter jump will go up in the Rally Fighter Forum.
Success!
7/9/10 Mini Baja Test Course
54 days ago Ari said:The first photo is CEO, Jay, watering a huge pile of dirt. Why, you ask? So that Colby can move the dirt more easily and create less dust in the process.
Colby & Jay are building the Mini-Baja Test Course for the Rally Fighter.
Jumps, straightaways, and whoops on the way!
The second photo is just meant to give you an idea of how BIG this project is.
7/8/10 Plant Poles
54 days ago Ari said:Wire mesh under pink foam is the frame for the living plant poles. The 4 center poles in the middle of the factory will spring green foliage. Jay is making these.
Sarah is off to the side building the curated goods store.
R&D wall is framed in the back. You can see the trench we jack hammered for the Bradley Wash Fountain on the right (under pink foam).
And the second pic is Sarah's dog skillet. Skillet is lolly gagging while Sarah builds.
Creepin' at LM
54 days ago Ari said:The CreepStool is here!
These handy little guys are comfortable and portable work stations.
Customers use these for Rally Fighter Builds.
Sarah used this as her desk chair for a bit but decided a mesh version would be more suitable in the 100 degree heat.
AC hasn't been installed yet.
7/7/10 R&D Walls & Jack Hammering
54 days ago Ari said:The first picture was taken by Aurel. This is the wall frame to section off the R&D area.
The second photo is low-res since it is a still shot from a youtube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUHwu-9wQe0)
The guys are jack hammering to install the Bradley Wash Fountain.
7/6/10 Sarah's Shelving
54 days ago Ari said:I can not read this. Luckily, Sarah can.
This is her planning sketch to build shelves which will display curated goods & strategic partner items.
So if you make a part for the Rally Fighter, this is where it will be displayed.
Note: Sarah is a much better builder than sketcher.
Design & Technology Posts
54 days ago R/Evo said:This electric 'Bubble car' from China may bring smirks or just plain all out laughter, but that reaction may fade away when you find out what it offers. It supposedly can carry 3 passengers (looks more like a driver w/ 2 kids) with all-weather protection (I remember having seen a similar canopy made for a bike, and thinking they should make one for a small vehicle) and a bit safer protection than a moped. This 3 wheeled vehicle is inherently stable, and has a low center of gravity. Its range is 60 miles, a top speed of 27mph, and recharges in 6-8 hrs. (around 40 cents of elec!) via house current. The manufacturer's say that with more expensive batteries (costing several hundred $s) they can double the range, and halve the recharge time. And finally the price ... $730 USD! Maybe if they had a matte, black paint job with flames option ...
Design & Technology Posts
60 days ago R/Evo said:VW has plans to bring 3 & 5 door hatchback versions of their E-Up electric car to the US in 2013. The specs are pretty good with a 80 mile range and 84mph top speed. But the most mpressive spec for this car, is that the base model will sell for between $10-11,000! Imagine how cheap it will be if you can also qualify for the Federal tax credit. Just hope that a 'microbus' version also makes it here!
Design & Technology Posts
60 days ago Tym said:That is a cool image. After close examination however I'm pretty sure its a photoshop creation. Notice how the tread fender just kinda fades to black all along the top? The actual geometry wouldn't match up. The door cuts disappear too. The tread kinda moves out of perspective in the rear area too. That thing on the hood is out of perspective too. Its a fun concept, it would have to to be a lot taller or wider to actually fit the tracks on the Smart frame.
Design & Technology Posts
60 days ago R/Evo said:I found this image of what appears to be a Smart car, customized to look like a German tank. Hope I'm wrong, but I think the tracks are just a fascade over regular wheels. Anybody familar with this, as I would like to find out more about it? Neat concept!
Interior
61 days ago sarahstokes said:AlexFi, I don't think we'll do the spray in liner - we might spray some of it. I think we'll partner with a company for customers that want to spray in...in fact, you have now created a task for John Domolky (strategic partnerships)
to find the best spray in partner in the local area. I actually don't know what it takes to do this - I've only had it done to my F-150 bed - less worriesome than the interior of my Rally Fighter. I'll find out though. Rubicontrail.net - thanks for sharing. We have about 16 different tire and wheel sets around the MicroFactory. I need to ask Dave what he's settled on - I think we will be putting more miles on the beta Rally Fighters before deciding but I bet he's 80% sure at least. Sorry, I don't have an answer for you tonight, I'll get one.....
Sarah
Interior
61 days ago rubicontrail.net said:Sarah, I agree you have to make a bit of compromise on road noise for better tires. I upgraded the tires of my Commander before I even took delivery of it because I needed something that wouldn't get destroyed as soon as they left pavement. I went with Goodyear Wrangler SilentArmor but I don't think they are quite addressive enough for the Rally Fighter.
Rally Fighter Curated Goods Competition
62 days ago msd-boston said:Wazioc --
They're great for keeping sand and dirt out of your stuff, too. Strap them to the roof if you run out of space. Carry water or even gas in a pinch. They pack efficiently. You can color code them. Etc. etc. My $.02 anyway.
Curated Goods Competition Round 3!!!
62 days ago jdomolky said:Today's Winner is...
Giovani Urrutia with The EasyLift Exhaust Powered Air Jack!!!
http://www.air-jack.com/default.asp
Runner up goes to Perry Journey with the Recon GPS googles, and we commend him on his thoughtful and accurate description. It would have won but unfortunately it isn't available yet. If it does become available we will get Perry a T-shirt and he will be recognized as the person who nominated it.
http://www.zealoptics.com/transcend/
"This is the website for Recon instruments. They are a new Bold company like local motor sports revolutionizing their field. That being goggles. These goggles are designed so that the rider or driver in our case, can tell whats going on around him in ... See Moregreat detail. The goggles show your rotation in the air, your air time, track time, top track times, GPS, speed, and a lot more. All of these features are built into a screen on the inside of the goggle so you can see them while your driving. You can also link it to your computer to compare it to other people.
I think this product would be perfect for every rally fighter owner, and the owners will get to see all the aspects of their vehicle in real time."
Lastly, The IROC-Z award goes to Glen Warner for the RF Window Louvers
http://www.jcwhitney.com/rear-window-louvers/p2011868.jcwx
Interior
62 days ago AlexFi said:What impact will spray on insulation have with the build process? Spray denotes the possibility for big variability in the product if it is done by potentially inexperienced individuals like some customers. Even if it is done by LM, it could be more time consuming than you want unless you have specific equipment.
Rally Fighter Identity
62 days ago sarahstokes said:AlexFi, please forgive my tardy response! Thinking of early depositors (first 105) - I'd say it's a pretty tidy split between the three groups. We are building it for the first two, Local Motors, in addition to our customers, will race our Rally Fighters. We want (and expect) customers to go experience the back country in a more chill manner too. I will, like some of my customers, drive my Rally Fighter to work and on road trips that are more interstate than off-road. I'll likely keep a set of street wheels/tires and swap them for longer interstate trips. Phoenix to LA, for example - but not required. In writing all of that, I guess I'm in all three groups
Design & Technology Posts
62 days ago R/Evo said:Design News: Bad, Good, and ?
The bad news is that Citroen has changed its mind, and decided to not build a limited quantity of its GTby Citroen Concept car.
The good news is that Infiniti will try again (M series has some design cues), to incorporate some of the design style of its Essence Concept car into an upcoming, FWD car that is compete against the Mercedes Benz CLC. I considered the Essence, one of the best designs in '09.
? news: Mazda will unveil their new design vision with a concept that will be unveiled in the Milan show this September. Wonder if it might be for the preview for the next Miata, or RX-7/8 replacement?
Interior
62 days ago sarahstokes said:Hi All, Until it's finished, I can't tell you exactly how relatively quiet or loud the Rally Fighter interior will be but I can say 1) we want to be able to clean out the interior easily and 2) we will deaden the sound beyond what is in the interior now (T6 6061 Aluminum). It will be a combination of different insulation methods, all with an 'eye' towards weight, some might be spray on, some bolt on, some cloth. All options on the table. Most likely, the loudest sound will be the road noise from the tires. We believe that customers will trade off some tire road noise for having tires that won't split easily off-road. SS
Curated Goods Competition Round 3!!!
62 days ago c1freestyler said:Rear window louvers would look sick on the Rally Fighter. Being that its designed for the desert there is no shortage of sun. With one of these on the back window it would for sure keep the internal temperature of the Rally Fighter down. Allowing you to use less air conditioning, maximizing your mpg and putting more power to your wheels. The rear window louvers would also be a joy to have by preventing your Rally Fighter from turning into an oven while it is parked. Imagine the savings on sunscreen and burn ointment. One link I found is http://www.jcwhitney.com/rear-window-louvers/p2011868.jcwx .
Rally, roadster, what next?
63 days ago Tym said:Tellurian, it sounds like what you and I and others are talking about is sort of a Blurb Books business model. If you've never tried Blurb Books (or any of their spin-offs) you can go online plug your content into their tools get a price for professional quality printing of whatever quantity of books you want and get them in back in 2 weeks. Their prices generally beat local print shops because they are tooled to do a high volume of short runs and their quality is amazing.
On the same site you can turn around and sell your books to others through their outlet at what ever markup you'd like. Blurb makes money off every book they print like a print shop but they can sell like a retailer without printing until the product is already sold. Better quality - than doing it your self
lower price - than a custom shop
custom content - without the overhead
I could see LM adopting an adaptation of this model. Allowing anyone to build the car of "their dreams" with a set of specific power plants or levels of finish.
Of course a minimum number would have to be pre-sold to begin the build.
Rally, roadster, what next?
63 days ago Tym said:I guess I should point out, I don't mean LM should literally make those cars I'm posting. I mean a modern equivalent interpretation of those cars. Light powerful fun but are road legal and safe enough not to kill any of my children. Open wheels may be bad idea in a road environment etc. There are quite a few examples of these modern light cars floating through the community that I'd love to build.
Curated Goods Competition Round 3!!!
63 days ago Wazioc said:I spent the past couple hours off and on looking for a survival kit that would be a good fit for the Rally Fighter. Of course we all hope nothing happens to our vehicles, but in the off chance it does, the desert is one of the toughest places to be. As a certified search and rescue team member, this kit has a lot of the items I would look for at a surprisingly good price. Since it's not likely you'll be by yourself, this pack includes enough supplies for 2 people.
Key features include:
Water (Huge concern in a desert environment), food bars, shelter, emergency sleeping bags, rope, fire starting equipment, signal mirror and whistle, compass, radio, hand chargable flashlight, first aid kit, multi tool, Sunscreen, and water purification tablets.
Not only does it have the key ingredients of a good survival kit, but it goes above and beyond to include some creature comforts such as: Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, wetnaps, Shampoo (though you probably wont waste water on that in the desert), shaving cream, razor, deodorant so you don't smell as bad when you're rescued, and they even included a deck of cards to keep you occupied.
For $99 you really can't beat this Guardian emergency survival pack. Food and water have a 5 year shelf life so throw it in your trunk or under the seat and it will be there when you need it. It's amazing how much the right items can change a situation.
http://www.desertshieldpersonalsafety.com/servlet/the-562/Deluxe-Guardian-Emergency-Survival/Detail
Curated Goods Competition Round 3!!!
63 days ago AlexFi said:In the event that you need to do anything outside the car in the desert, be it recreational or maintenance, etc. what about a Kelty Shadehouse. It's not as involved as a full on tent, but it is still free standing unlike shelters specifically intended for cars which usually need a roof rack of some sort. This would be portable shelter outside the car for eating, changing a tire, whatever. And it would pack up small enough that it wouldn't write off too much luggage space.
http://www.kelty.com/p-128-shadehouse.aspx
Sponsorship page
http://www.kelty.com/t-sponsorships.aspx
Curated Goods Competition Round 3!!!
63 days ago Ellocomotive said:I guess any hydration source will do, but I plan on having this on the back of my seat:
http://www.camelbak.com/government-military/hydration-packs/sixbak.aspx
This is another thing I've been considering.
http://www.kleankanteen.com/products/wide/klean-kanteen-64oz-wide.html
Curated Goods Competition Round 3!!!
63 days ago Ellocomotive said:Also, this survival kit: http://www.survivalmetrics.com/id_escape_and_evade_tactical_military_survival_kit
Because I know there might be a time I need one.
And lastly, the MSR Hubba Hubba tent.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001O593JE/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000XB0YIO&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0G0SXJ6XSH4NRSH3AT5N
Curated Goods Competition Round 3!!!
63 days ago Ellocomotive said:A handful of times with a flat on an up-armored HMMVW meant that jacking it up wasn't going to go well on a rainy day in some parts of the Mojave. I wish I had one of these, and I think the RF should definitely have one, considering the terrain its made for.
It's a jack that uses your exhaust and it doesn't need perfectly level, hard ground!
http://www.air-jack.com/default.asp
Curated Goods Competition Round 3!!!
63 days ago R/Evo said:In the multitude of multi-tools, this one addresses 2 extremely important needs of survivalist and just your 'normal', party animals: EATING & DRINKING. Designed by Liong Mah (http://www.liongmahdesigns.com/), the CRKT Eat'N Tool (http://www.crkt.com/cgi-bin/crkt.pl?pgm=co_disp&func=displ&strfnbr=81&prrfnbr=385&sesent=0,0&search_id=323985) is a spoon, fork, bottle opener, screwdriver / pry tip, a 3 metric wrench, and a carabiner. I'm sure it's very reasonable price would make it a popular choice for owner and visitors alike.
LM should check to see that with enough quantities, you may be able to have the LM logo silkscreened on this item. May I also suggest a limited edition version, with the RF graphics!
Curated Goods Competition Round 3!!!
63 days ago jdomolky said:We will be giving out yet another LM T-shirt today!!!
Whoever nominates the best product for the Rally Fighter (as decided by the LM Team) will get it!
See the round 1 and 2 threads for inspiration!
We are looking for cool and unique products for the Rally Fighter owner / enthusiast.
The winning products have the potential to be displayed here in the Micro-Factory along with the name of the person who submitted it.
Rounds 1 and 2 were a huge success and we were all thrilled with the amount of participation. Keep it up!
Design & Technology Posts
67 days ago R/Evo said:After coming across the new images of Murray's T25 at multiple websites, I questioned the practicality of accessing the interior through a tilting, roof canopy. With the forward location of the pivot points, even in a relatively low speed collision the alignment would easily be disrupted. Thus it would be become difficult to close or jammed shut. And how would you get out, if it happened to roll on its roof?
But even a more likely scenario: just the time to open and close the canopy for the driver (and even longer with pasengers) would allow rain, to dampen most of the interior!
Interior
67 days ago rubicontrail.net said:No doubt, this is just a reality that all auto manufacturers have to deal with, getting the right price point. As cool as the RF is, you have to look at who potential customers are. They are most likely the outdoors type. You know plenty of folks on here have expressed the wish that the RF was AWD. Well some of those customers may choose to spend their $50,000 on an AEV Wrangler with 4WD, professionally tuned suspension (like RF), lockers, upgraded gearing, winch, snorkle, HIDs, navigation, Kicker audio system, and heated leather seats (removable carpet is standard) instead of a Rally Fighter. These are two vehicles, geared for the off-road, albeit one more for desert blasting and one for rock crawling. Granted Local Motors is only trying to sell 2000 units, so maybe it's not a big deal if some people choose to go with another manufacturer. I guess I am just pointing out that Local Motors has to be careful in pricing. At $50,000 there are just going to be some expectations from potential consumers.
Interior
68 days ago AlexFi said:LM is in a tough spot, because this first car will have a major impact on their branding when it gets shown at high line shows and such. If the Rally Fighter comes off not specialized enough, then it will bring into question the whole design framework we are all pushing because it will look like we couldn't focus on one goal. If the Rally Fighter is too specialized though, it has the potential to make people question LM's ability to turn right around and do a "street" car.
