Welcome To Our Project
In many third world countries there is a need for low cost, low maintenance, multi-purpose vehicles. These types of vehicles are very similar to small trucks, yet can be operated like a small tractor. These vehicles can be used on the farms, bringing people back and forth from town, and can be adapted to many different uses. Some of these uses include; integrating a small single bottom plow, adding a tilt bed that is lifted with an electric winch, adding an attachable seeder that can be used with many different seed types.
Project Videos
Click the links below for videos of this projectComplete Project Overview
Driving Test
Plowing Test
Constraints
- Cost - The total budget of the vehicle will be kept at or below than $2,350.00
- Size - The vehicle must be kept at a size that can be shipped in a shipping container.
- Weight - The vehicle must be able to withstand the 1600lb payload, while still being as light weight as possible.
- Maintenance - The vehicle must be built using common components, allowing easy maintenance as required
- Simplicity - The vehicle must be able to be used by anyone that comes into contact with
Progress
Meet Our Team
Ben Byma
Jon Goorhouse
Matt Hoogstrate
Reuben Swinkels
Seth WeaverProject Assignments
Benjamin Byma
Lift bed
Plow
Rear end suspension
Jonathan Goorhouse
Front suspension and frame
3D modeling
Webmaster
Matthew Hoogstrate
Front end steering and frame
Plow
Seating
Reuben Swinkels
Power transmission
Centrifugal clutch
Gearing Ratio
Seth Weaver
Power transmission
Drivetrain
Power requirements
Downloads:
Project Proposal
To view this document in PDF format, click the link below.
Project ProposalThis project proposal document is a professional memo documenting our project idea. This proposal describes the following items for our project.
Project Objectives and Constraints
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Objectives and ConstraintsThis document describes the goals, constraints, and requirements of our project.
Requirements
Project Proposal and Feasibility Study
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Final PPFSAll of the project's research, work, and anaylsis are incorporated into this Final Project Proposal and Feasibility Study.
Project Brief
To view this document in PDF format, click the link below.
Project BriefThis document is an executive summary of our project for an Industrial Consultant. Topics included in this summary are listed below.
Final Report
To view this document in PDF format, click the link below.
Final ReportAll of the project's research, work, anaylsis, and final decisions are incorporated into this Final Report.
Project Brief
To view this document in PDF format, click the link below.
Project BriefThis document is an executive summary of our project for an Industrial Consultant. Topics included in this summary are listed below.
Personal Biography - Benjamin Byma
Ben is from Lansing, Illinois and will be graduating from Calvin with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a Mechanical concentraion. He enjoys outdoor recreation like hunting, fishing, hiking and camping. During his summers away from Calvin, he worked at Countryside Landscaping in the Chicagoland area as well as taking summer classes. Along with studying engineering at Calvin, Ben also participated in the Army ROTC program at WMU. Upon graduating college, he will begin work as a Manufacturing Engineer at Hadady Corporation in Dyer, Indiana as well as commission as an officer in the Indiana Army National Guard. He also plans to get married in June 2012. He has thoroughly enjoyed the hands-on experience gained while working on this project.
Resume
Team Members
Personal Biography - Jonathan Goorhouse
Jon is from Holland, Michigan and is excited to be graduating from Calvin with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a Mechanical concentration. He loves to do any outdoor activities and has especially enjoyed playing on the Tennis Team at Calvin College. Besides taking summer classes and having a design internship at HS Die and Engineering, Jon has been involved with the Grand Rapids Wheelchair Sports Association by helping coach an adult tennis class in the summers. After graduation, Jon is excited to continue his learning at Gentex Corporation in Zeeland, MI while contributing to the company as a Production Support Engineer. He has really enjoyed the past four years at Calvin College, all the memories that have come from them, and is looking forward to seeing where he will be led in the future.
Resume
Team Members
Personal Biography - Matthew Hoogstrate
Matthew Hoogstrate was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He enjoys fishing, boating, hiking, kayaking, and any other outdoor activity. During his senior year of high school he was uncertain what the next step was, and now after graduating from Calvin is blessed to have spent four great years studying engineering at Calvin. His plans for the future are not clear but hopes to be able to serve others and make the most out of any situation he encounters.
Resume
Team Members
Personal Biography - Reuben Swinkels
Reuben Swinkels is a senior mechanical engineering student at Calvin College. Reuben is from a small town called Niagara on the Lake, Ontario, Canada. His interests and hobbies are basically anything that can be driven and has an engine. In the summers Reuben has worked along-side of his brothers in construction, building “green” homes. He hopes to use his knowledge from Calvin, as well as his hobbies of driving and fixing things with engines to contribute to this utility vehicle project. After graduation Reuben plans on staying in the west Michigan area.
Resume
Hobbies
Team Members
Personal Biography - Seth Weaver
Seth is from Hudsonville MI, and is enthusiastic about implementation of the knowledge he has obtained from Calvin College. Having been with Innotec in Zeeland MI for 3 years, Seth has a large mechanical skill base. Having worked with design, fabrication, and debugging of machines, Seth will head the drive train group. Being immersed in hands on mechanical activities from an early age, this project seemed to fit him perfectly. After finishing his yearlong internship with Steelcase in Kentwood MI, Seth will start his career at Progressive Surface as a mechanical design engineer.