Buggy | Libby Armon

FRINGE Buggy

Buggy is a historic ritual at Carnegie Mellon University. The buggy is a gravity driven racing sport. Mechanics build composite vehicles using a pan wrap technique. Drivers steer inside the buggies and pushers move the buggies up hills before free-roll. Top speeds reach 30mph.

Fringe Buggy Shop 'Froom' Visit

Video showing evolution of buggy (1920-now)

Process Gallery

Sketching out the base design for the pan

Cutting out the pan shape using a dense foam

Remove spots for safety attachment points

Hard plastic insers to be used for safety attachments

Dry carbon fiber sheet layups with 5hr set epoxy

First layer pan wrap with unidirectional carbon fiber sheet

Another layer of unidirectional fiber placed 90 degrees from the last

Reinforcement example using extra fiber layups

Vacuum layup for epoxy setting with underbody support. Bleeder with film and putty tape used to create seal.

Tie rod reinforcement

Custom laster cut foam to form body of buggy

Sanding the exterior of foam mold

Plaster surface smoothing for foam mold

Example layup for full buggy design. Quick release sheet is present on top

Base of pan attached to body with metal support beam

After completing carbon fiber shell layup there is intensive sanding

Nomex is used in front nose come since the hexoginal sheet provides ample crush

Construction of the foam fairing molds to cover the wheels

Attachment of the fairing foam molds to the front end of the buggy

Gentle supporting of the buggy on its side to complete fairings

Underbody of the buggy with rear wheel slot cut

Stiff foam is used to structurally assist the windshield and front hatch

Close up initial reinforcement

Nomex on entire buggy exterior for energy absorbtion in case of crash

Foam digout with bottom metal structure observable

Mechanic for Fringe buggy

In 2018 I was a mechanic on Fringe buggy and worked on the build for Bumper. Bumper won 2nd in Design Comp behind the 2017 Fringe buggy blueshift. Bumper experimentally featured smaller wheels than previous years because of ease to push uphill. The design ended up not being optimal since the small wheels were not as fast on the downhill as the larger wheels previously used.

During the build, I did pan wraps, molding, brake work, among other things.

I was also responsible for maintaining older buggies, which includes tie rod alignment, wheel building, and steering replacement

D Team pusher photo after race

Photo of Fringe buggies

Preparing for vacuum

D Team pusher photo after race

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