3D Printed Derby 2023

This year ERRF will have three classes with a stronger focus on the awesome creativeness of our 3d printing makers. This year we will have Stock class Creatively Fast class Concours/Show car class The Stock class is a pure racing class based on official BSA rules and has not changed since the 3d derby began in 2018. The Stock class is somewhat rule intense and is listed last below. The Creatively fast class allows you to use your imagination to make your fully or almost fully 3d printed car fast with minimal rules with the exception that the car must work on the track without disturbing other race cars or damaging the track in any way. Lastly the least regulated Concours/Show Car class, no racing for these cars, show off all your maker skills and let those fancy cream puffs shine.

The Concours/Show Car Class Rules

Cars purposely built for show car class WILL NOT RACE on the track, (wouldn’t want to get them scuffed up now) and should fit within a 4” wide x 8” long x 4” tall box
Cars should have working wheels and somewhat resemble a car
Cars may participate in Show car Class if they do not meet the rules of the other classes (fail to pass tech)
Other than that, design, 3d print, build and paint them till your masterpiece is ready!
Makers should focus on creativity
First and Second place winners are determined by attendee votes.

The Creatively Fast Class Rules

General
- All the rules for the Creatively Fast class are centered around having a fully printed car (as much as possible, if not all of the car) that is compatible with the track and can race to the finish without impeding other racers.
- All weight is to be 3dprinted, no paint (lets see those layers), the car must work on the track and fit within the tech dimensions, minimal rules other than that. Nothing mechanical, no added propulsion, nothing but the beauty of 3d printing, and maybe a couple pairs of axles.
- 3D Print all of your car with the exception of axles if need be, and a dry lubricant! That’s it!!!

Cars must comply with the following to work on the race track:

Weight: not to exceed 6.0 ounces on a scale accurate to 1/10 ounce. For scales that have more than a single digit beyond the decimal point, the maximum weight is 6.0500000
Width: The maximum width of the car, including wheels and axles, must not exceed 2-3/4 inches. (69.85mm)
Length: Not to exceed 8 inches
Height not to exceed 3 inches
Bottom Clearance: The distance between the bottom of the wheels and the bottom of the lowest point of the car other than the wheels must be at least 3/8 inch. (9.5mm)
Width Between Wheels: The distance between the innermost edges of the left and right wheels must be at least 1-3/4 inches. (44.5mm)
Wheels: must be printed and not fall apart while racing. In order to reduce risk of damaging the track surface no part of the car shall contact the track other than the wheels while racing.

****Your car must be built to go down the track, all the way, and not interfere with other cars or leave the track or anything on the track at any point, cars that violate this rule will be removed from the race. It is the racers responsibility to ensure the car rests securely against the starting pin when placed in the starting position and is wide enough to trigger electronic finish lines.****

The Stock Class Rules

GENERAL
• These rules have been adapted from traditional Pinewood Derby racing rules.
• A completed car purchased from a third party is not allowed. Racers are strongly encouraged to design and 3D print their own entries.
• The car may not be sent to third party facilities for tuning or other performance enhancements.

BODY
The main body structure(chassis) must be 3D printed. Any process/filament/material is fine. Any additions must be firmly attached, non-propulsive, and meet the following car size specifications. Car must fit into official race measuring box, maximum dimensions are detailed below.

Overall Width: not to exceed 2 3/4 inches (69.85 mm)
Length: not to exceed 7 inches (177.8mm)
Weight: not to exceed 5.0 ounces on a scale accurate to 1/10 ounce. For scales that have
more than a single digit beyond the decimal point, the maximum weight is 5.0500000
Clearance: The wheels are the only part of the car allowed to touch the track.
Center rail width: Wheels must clear center guide rails, no less than 1 3⁄4 inches minimum. (44.5mm)
Car bottom: to clear a filled center rail, the bottom of the car should be no less than 3/8 inch from the surface (9.5mm)
Wheelbase: the distance between the center of the front and rear wheel must be no less than 4 inches.
Front: the front/leading edge of the car must be no more than 1 inch above the wheel lane of the track and be at least 1⁄2 inches wide (12.7mm) at the center of the car. NO NARROW POINTED FRONT ENDS.
When placed in the starting position, no part of the car may protrude beyond the starting pin.
This rule ensures the car rests securely against the starting pin when placed in the starting
position and is wide enough to trigger electronic finish lines. Another way to say this is no
needle nose cars and no cars with a high front end. The needle nose makes it hard to align for
a straight start and often does not trip the electronic sensor until enough of the car has passed
to cover the hole.
At least 4 wheels must be attached to the sides of the car body. Each wheel must be attached
to the car’s chassis with a legal axle.
Each attached wheel must not be angled(canted) more than 20 degrees from vertical.
The front most and rear most wheels must be positioned across the body from one another.
The complete inside and outside lettering of each wheel must be visible when the wheel is
attached to the body.
- One more note… The wooden blocks provided in traditional Derby kits measure:
  - 7 x 1.75 x 1.25 inches. (177.8 x 44.45 x 31.75mm) and working within these dimensions is
    suggested.
  - The following items are prohibited:
    - Springs
    - Starting devices or propellants
    - Electronic or lighting devices that interfere with the race electronics.
    - Liquids, wet paint, oil, sticky substance, or powders of any kind (other than axle lubrication)
    - Glass or excessively fragile parts
    - Bearings and or bushings
    - Hub caps covering the nail head
    - Loose/moving objects on or in the car
  - Although at least 4 wheels are required, it is not required that all 4 wheels touch the track
    surface. It can actually be difficult to get all 4 of the wheel s to touch. Most of the fastest cars
    have one front wheel raised slightly and not touching.
  - The rationale for 4 wheels is that it ensures the car will stay on the track and not slide off the
    center rail and collide with another car.
  - NOTE: Any covering of the interior of the wheel must be transparent(clear) and if using interior
    wheel weights there must be a slot that allows for rotating the wheel for interior inspection.
  - Washers/body treatments to help reduce friction ARE ALLOWED. Washers may be between the
    body and the wheel, and the wheel and the axle head.
  - Body treatments (between chassis and wheel) may be things like sprayed on graphite paint,
    Teflon tape, other slippery materials/waxes applied to the body

WHEELS

Only official BSA wheels are allowed. 3D Printed wheels will not be allowed.
All lettering and numbering, both inside and outside of the wheel, must remain complete and
be visible with the wheel on the car.
The fluting, spokes and other markings on the outside wheel area must remain visible.
(“Fluting” refers to the small bumps on the outside edge of the tread.)
The wheel diameter must be no less than 1.16 inches.
The tread surface width must be no less than 7.5 mm.
The tread surface must be flat and parallel to the wheel bore. Therefore, the following
modifications are prohibited:
- Rounding of the tread surface
- Grooving, H cutting, or V cutting the tread surface
- The following wheel modifications are prohibited:
  - Removing material from the inside tread surface or the inside sidewall surface
  - Drilling holes in the tread, sidewalls, or spoke area
  - Removing material from the sidewalls or spoke
  - Filling wheel tread with any type of material
  - Filling the wheel holes and re-drilling the bore
- The rules permit many wheel modification so long as you observe the dimension limits and
  restrictions listed above. Common legal modifications include but are not limited to:
  - Truing the tread surface with sandpaper, straight edge, or lathe to correct “out of round”
    wheels.
  - Truing and shaping the inner edge of the thread surface
  - Narrowing the tread surface to 7.5mm to get straight edges
  - Applying wheel bore treatments such as polish and wax to smooth the bore.
  - Tapping the wheel bore
  - Truing and re-coning the tip of the inner hub
  - Removing the double step from the outer hub
  - Balancing the wheel by adding material such as glue or fingernail polish to the inside of the
    wheel
  - Adding a transparent cover to the inside of the wheel to reduce air drag

AXLES

Metal axles with a nail head are required with an overall diameter of no less than .084 inches.
One-piece axles that extend through the width of the car to support both wheels are not
allowed.
You may use official BSA axles or after-market nail type axles from various vendors.
You may also polish and groove the axle provided that the journal portion of the axle (the part
the wheel rides on) is no less than .084 inches, roughly the same diameter as the original BSA
nails.

LUBRICATION

Over application of lubricant, which results in excessive shedding onto the track is not allowed.
Only dry lubricants are allowed.

WEIGHTS

Weights may be used to bring a car to the maximum allowable weight.
Interior wheel weights are allowed as long as they allow for inspection of the interior of the
wheels.

Some online vendors sell aftermarket BSA wheels that have been lightened by removing material
from inside the wheel surfaces. These wheels are NOT allowed and are easily recognized at
inspection. Cars with these wheels will NOT be permitted to race. If you plan to use aftermarket
wheels, confirm with the vendor that no weight is removed from inside the wheel.

RACE DAY

Please check in and register your 3D Printed Derby racer at event by time posted/requested
TBD.
Each car must pass inspection by the Official Inspection Committee before it may compete.
The inspectors will disqualify any car not meeting these rules. While the inspectors’ decisions
are final, every effort will be made to get accommodate all race entrants as best as possible.
But please remember, inspectors’ decisions are final.
Every effort will be made to do the inspection without any altering of the car. If we can’t verify
that the wheels have not been lightened due to interior wheel weights, air dams, fenders, or
other reasons, we will ask YOU to take the wheels off for inspection.
After a car has passed inspection, only race officials may handle the car.
Cars will be placed on display racks until the time for the competition.
After check-in, adjustments are not allowed. Car repairs during the race are not allowed unless
authorized by the race officials.
Once Inspection is PASSED before the race, the car will not be re-inspected after the race.
Good sportsmanship and behavior is expected. Race officials may ask anyone not following
this rule to leave.

Event 411

Tweets by EastRepRapFest