Designing a Drill Powered Multi-Lane Booster

Elder18 Thursday, 11/3/2022

Hi everyone,

I've been an accountless lurker here for a few months because I was considering building my own track. The biggest feature of this track was going to be a marble racing inspired multi-lane booster that would allow me to make a full circuit instead of just a hill. I've now decided that I do not have to time or money to build this track but the possibilities a multi-lane booster would create for the community still is very exciting to me. So after a lot of research, dozens of YouTube videos, and some tinkering in Fusion 360, here is my prototype

This is a 3 inch model that would fit Crash Racer's track. The distance between the foam rod and the ground is 15 mm in this design but it is potentially too low for a taller car to fit depending on the stiffness of the foam. It also may be too short for a cordless drill to be connected to it. If you own a cordless drill and would like to help me make a working model, it would be great if you could lay your drill on its side and measure from the middle of the chuck to the ground because I'm having lots of trouble finding these measurments online.

If you have any ideas or concerns please let me know.


Discussion

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Deedose 11/3/22

Have you considered using an air compressor to accelerate the car ? I've recently got this idea , and it seemed so logical and easy that I'm surprised no one has ever tried this before . It could even be used to accelerate cars on straight roads .


  • That's a very good idea. I'll have to look into that — Elder18
  • Great Idea DeeDose! — Bent_Rod_Racing
  • that is a brilliant idea, boosting the car with a jet of air — dr_dodge

Here is a shot of a Crafstman 14.4 volt cordless. Looks to me its 1" center of drill bit.

Their are options as gearing bit to shaft raising height, incorperating a more thick roller. Problem is Various heights, but can be addressed with Specific castings so all Drivers are equal running through.

No Fear- Know Victory!

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dr_dodge 11/4/22

an interesting idea

instead of foam, maybe a bottle/toilet bowl type brush
that would compensate for heights of cars 

got me thinking, for sure
 

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dr_dodge 11/4/22

Air boost nozzle?




  • I would put it over the track , to avoid the cars hitting the brass tube . — Deedose

I can not remember the set name and I think Mattel released it in two colors with different names.  One was something scorpion in dark greens and in brighter orange and blues it was corkscrew or something..  anyways: interesting track that could have helpful parts for your build.

The heavy plastic base for this track has 3 individual boosted areas which are all turned horizonatally on a long single shift together.  I experimented with one for quite a while and ended up molding standard connection points for track where the set intended it to use the upwards pointing loop pieces.  Eventually the inlet side became problematic to alter but for parts and internal structure it may be a goldmine for you to find one.

You'll have to do your own testing but I have had swings of love/hate on vertical spinning boosters compared to dual horizontal.  Horizontal boosters bog down quickly on cars in succession unless fed more than batteries, they are loud and single lane awkward and they destroy axles BUT they are quick to set up and what we have all used forever.

Vertical boosters... suck! Wait no, they are awesome!  Nah on third look they do stink...  unless... on and on.

This style will greatly vary in output speed based on each cars height and they do not depend as heavily on the car's incoming speed.  Low cars barely get a nudge and cars just tall enough to fit without jamming will be ejected like rifled rounds from a barrel!  TB-13 is a moderately current vertical style booster that has medium variability if you want to look at what wheel it uses.  For the most insane boost I have ever experimented with there is a hand cranked dark blue plastic booster released around the same Era.  It is scary fast and uses a floating wheel of a larger diameter and firm rubber that can be "charged" by pressing a lever multiple times to build momentum.  Prone to jamming this thing on a single "pump" could send cars up 60-70 degree inclines to heights of over 6 feet by themselves.  Check it out but in all seriousness be careful.  I have multiple times completely sent cars through drywall and into the wall to live forever experimenting with this thing.


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Elder18 11/4/22

Thank you all for the great feedback! I'll keep experimenting and will update you all on my progress.

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