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Project Proposal and Feasibility Study Team 12: Iron Man Allen Bosscher Andrew Vriesema Lukas Woltjer Calvin College ENGR 339/340 Senior Design Project Winter 2013
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Page 1: Project Proposal and Feasibility Study Team 12: Iron · PDF fileProject Proposal and Feasibility Study Team 12: Iron ... This report outlines and describes the preliminary design and

Project Proposal and Feasibility Study

Team 12: Iron Man

Allen Bosscher

Andrew Vriesema

Lukas Woltjer

Calvin College ENGR 339/340 Senior Design Project

Winter 2013

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COPYRIGHT

© 2013 Team 12. All Rights Reserved

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Executive Summary

This report outlines and describes the preliminary design and research for the running cart prototype.

Team 12, Iron Man, has decided to design and build an off-road capable running cart that can be easily

collapsible and transported. For this design, the team will make the vehicle as light as possible while

maintaining the necessary strength to carry a teenage passenger. The team has specifically designed the

running cart with a disabled passenger in mind. The important aspects for this design that needed

significant engineering focus were the collapsibility, quick-wheel change, overall passenger comfort, and

maneuverability of the running cart. The team will also attempt to make the design as inexpensive as

possible for future manufacturing and business possibilities. Through the research and analysis presented

in this report, Team 12 has concluded that creating an off-road running cart is feasible.

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Table of Contents 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................ 1

1.1 Team Members ...................................................................................................................... 1

1.2 Project Definition .................................................................................................................. 2

2. Project Management .............................................................................................. 3

2.1 Team Organization ................................................................................................................ 3

2.1.1 Team Member Roles ...................................................................................................... 3

2.1.2 Team Documents ............................................................................................................ 3

2.2 Schedule Management .......................................................................................................... 3

2.3 Budget ................................................................................................................................... 4

2.4 Method of Approach ............................................................................................................. 4

3. Requirements ......................................................................................................... 5

3.1 Physical Requirements .......................................................................................................... 5

3.1.1. Strength .......................................................................................................................... 5

3.1.2. Portability ...................................................................................................................... 5

3.1.2.1. Size .......................................................................................................................... 5

3.1.2.2. Weight ..................................................................................................................... 5

3.1.3. Capabilities .................................................................................................................... 5

3.2 Cost Requirements ................................................................................................................ 6

3.2.1 Material Costs ................................................................................................................. 6

3.2.2. Manufacturing Costs...................................................................................................... 6

4. Research ................................................................................................................. 7

4.1 Material Options .................................................................................................................... 7

4.2 Similar Projects ..................................................................................................................... 7

4.3 Resources .............................................................................................................................. 8

4.4 Safety Requirements ............................................................................................................. 8

5. Task Specifications and Scheduling ...................................................................... 9

5.1 Project Categories ................................................................................................................. 9

5.2 Task Completion Level ......................................................................................................... 9

6. Design ..................................................................................................................11

6.1. Design Criteria ................................................................................................................... 11

6.2 Frame Material .................................................................................................................... 11

6.2.1 Frame Material Design Criteria .................................................................................... 11

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6.2.2 Frame Material Alternatives ......................................................................................... 12

6.2.3 Frame Material Design Decisions ................................................................................ 13

6.3 Quick Change Wheel Design .............................................................................................. 14

6.3.1 Quick Change Wheel Design Criteria .......................................................................... 14

6.3.2 Quick Change Wheel Design Alternatives ................................................................... 15

6.3.3 Quick Change Wheel Design Decisions ....................................................................... 16

6.4 Collapsible Design .............................................................................................................. 17

6.4.1 Collapsible Design Criteria .......................................................................................... 17

6.4.2 Collapsible Design Alternatives ................................................................................... 18

6.4.3 Collapsible Design Decisions ....................................................................................... 18

6.5 Block Diagram .................................................................................................................... 19

6.6 Preliminary Design .............................................................................................................. 20

7. Testing Plans ........................................................................................................24

8. Business Analysis ................................................................................................25

8.1 Marketing Study .................................................................................................................. 25

8.1.1 Competitive Analysis ................................................................................................... 25

8.1.1.1 Existing Competitors ............................................................................................. 25

8.1.1.2 Potential Competitors............................................................................................. 25

8.1.2 Target Markets .............................................................................................................. 25

8.1.2.1 Handicapped Clients .............................................................................................. 26

8.1.2.2 Caretakers .............................................................................................................. 26

8.1.2.3 Health Organizations ............................................................................................. 26

8.2 Cost Estimate....................................................................................................................... 26

8.2.1 Development ................................................................................................................. 26

8.2.2 Production ..................................................................................................................... 27

8.2.2.1 Fixed Costs............................................................................................................. 27

8.2.2.2 Variable Costs ........................................................................................................ 28

8.2.2.3 Financial Summary ................................................................................................ 29

9. Conclusion ...........................................................................................................30

10. Acknowledgements ............................................................................................31

11. References .........................................................................................................32

Appendix A. Work Breakdown Schedule ................................................................34

Appendix B. Pro-forma Financial Statements .........................................................35

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Table of Figures

Figure 1: Team Picture.................................................................................................................... 1

Figure 2: Quick Release Skewer Examples .................................................................................. 15

Figure 3: Quick Release Hitch Pin................................................................................................ 16

Figure 4: Block Diagram .............................................................................................................. 19

Figure 5: Initial Sketch of Running Cart....................................................................................... 20

Figure 6: Initial Frame Design ...................................................................................................... 21

Figure 7: Forces Acting on the Frame of the Cart ........................................................................ 22

Figure 8: Simulation Results ......................................................................................................... 23

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Table of Tables Table 1: Task Completion Levels ................................................................................................. 10

Table 2: Frame Material Design Criteria ...................................................................................... 11

Table 3: Frame Material Alternative Properties ........................................................................... 13

Table 4: Frame Material Decision Matrix .................................................................................... 13

Table 5: Quick Wheel Change Design Criteria ............................................................................ 14

Table 6: Collapsibility Design Criteria ......................................................................................... 17

Table 7: Team Budget ................................................................................................................... 27

Table 8: Estimated Fixed Costs .................................................................................................... 27

Table 9: Estimated Variable Costs ................................................................................................ 28

Table 10: Pro-forma Statement of Income.................................................................................... 35

Table 11: Pro-forma Statement of Cash Flows ............................................................................. 36

Table 12: Break-Even Analysis .................................................................................................... 37

Table 13: Break-Even Analysis (continued) ................................................................................. 38

Table 14: Iron Man Corporation Budget ...................................................................................... 38

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1. Introduction

Team 12 (Iron Man) is composed of three senior engineering students, all pursuing a degree in

engineering with a mechanical concentration. Each member provides a variety of experiences, skills, and

background to this project. The team consists of: Allen Bosscher, Lukas Woltjer, and Andrew Vriesema.

1.1 Team Members

Figure 1: Team Picture

Allen Bosscher

Allen was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is a senior engineering student at Calvin

College and expects to graduate in May 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree with a

mechanical concentration. Allen has interned at Rapid-Line, a metal fabrication company, for the past

three years. Through this internship he has learned valuable insight into production and design

engineering. He plans on entering the workforce upon graduating.

Lukas Woltjer

Lukas was born in Nashville, Tennessee and has lived in Washington State and Portland, Oregon. He is a

senior engineering student at Calvin College and expects to graduate in May 2014 with a Bachelor of

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Science in Engineering degree with a mechanical concentration. Lukas has interned at Calvin College as a

student researcher, Cascade Engineering as a renewable energy intern, and Oregon State University as a

technical lab assistant. He plans on entering the workforce upon graduating.

Andrew Vriesema

Andrew was born and raised in North Haledon, New Jersey. He is a senior engineering student at Calvin

College and expects to graduate in May 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree with a

mechanical concentration. Andrew has interned at Rapid-Line for the past six months. He plans on

entering the workforce upon graduating.

1.2 Project Definition

The project the design team is pursuing is the research, design, construction, and testing of a running cart,

usable by a person with moderate physical disabilities. Goals of this project include: a light-weight

design, ease of use by the runner and the passenger, the ability to travel well on various surfaces, and ease

of transportation through a collapsible design.

To achieve these goals, the team will work closely with people with experience in helping disabled

people. The team will use best practices in machine design and structural analysis to ensure the safety of

the passenger and runner, and to ensure reliable performance of the cart.

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2. Project Management

2.1 Team Organization

2.1.1 Team Member Roles

Many of the tasks associated with the design project will be completed as a team, although a specific team

member will be in charge of particular responsibilities. Allen Bosscher is in charge of the research and

customer relation aspects of the project. He will coordinate with the rest of the team about which areas of

the project will need to be researched more in depth as the project proceeds and will be in charge of

compiling all collected research. Allen is also in charge of communicating with the customer and other

entities that could provide assistance and direction as the project develops. He is also in charge of

maintaining the team’s schedule. Lukas Woltjer is the webmaster and is responsible for updating and

maintaining the team’s website. Lukas is also the primary lead on the design computer modeling aspect of

the project. He is in charge of how the design options will be modeled and analyzed through a variety of

methods such as finite element analysis (FEA). Andrew Vriesema is in charge of managing the design

options and delegating which team member should focus on what. He is also in charge of manufacturing

the prototype and troubleshooting issues that emerge with this process.

2.1.2 Team Documents

All electronic documents are saved on Calvin College’s “Shared Drive” through the file path

S:\Engineering\Teams\Team12. Additionally, hard copies of research documents and important

correspondence are compiled by Allen Bosscher and are available upon request. The design team also has

a team website located at the following URL: http://www.calvin.edu/academic/engineering/2013-14-

team12/index.html. This is maintained by Lukas Woltjer and will contain important documents and

general team information.

2.2 Schedule Management

The team has decided to dedicate one hour at the beginning of the first meeting of each week on

reviewing the schedule of tasks. The team will update the schedule as needed as new issues and other

project necessities arise. Allen Bosscher is the primary schedule coordinator, and will update the rest of

the team on what tasks should be completed first and the deadlines associated with them. Allen is also in

charge of submitting the necessary assignments as part of the senior design course in which the team is

enrolled. Priority is assigned to tasks which require immediate response, which include unforeseen issues

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and customer relations. The design team will strive to minimize the amount of unforeseen issues,

allowing the team to focus on important yet non-urgent tasks. This was suggested by Professor David

Wunder, as urgent and important tasks are large time sinks and force the team to deviate from the

predicted schedule.

2.3 Budget

Lukas Woltjer is the primary budget coordinator, and is in charge of maintaining the budget and adjusting

it as the design progresses. Adjustments which add to the budget will be made with team consensus, and

will need to reflect an important and necessary need that requires the allocation of funds. The revised

budget will then be approved by the team’s faculty advisor. Increase of the budget will be avoided when

possible, but the team will make sure there is a contingency which will allow for unforeseen costs to be

covered. This budgeting method was suggested by Professor Matthew Heun, and has been successfully

implemented in many critical projects. Because the budget is indicative of the overall cost of the running

cart, great care will be taken to ensure it is accurate and that costs are kept low. The detailed budget

appears in the business analysis section of the report.

2.4 Method of Approach

The team's approach is to break the project down into four stages, which may involve iteration and

overlap at some stages. The first stage is to research currently available and similar projects, to see how

the team can differentiate the final design product and provide a unique service or experience to the end

user.

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3. Requirements

3.1 Physical Requirements

Our goal for the running cart is to allow a teenage handicapped child to be able to get outdoors and

experience nature in a way that they would not normally be able to. This means that the running cart will

need to have several physical requirements. The first of which is strength. The cart needs to be strong

enough to carry a teenage child, as well as be able to handle potentially tough terrain. Another

requirement for the cart is to have it be comfortable to ride in. This will allow the customer to enjoy

using the cart, and let them focus on what is going on around them and not on how the ride feels.

3.1.1. Strength

The strength of the cart is an important aspect of the design. The biggest challenge when it comes to

strength will be supporting the weight of the person that the cart is transporting. The cart will also have to

be strong enough to withstand the force of the person pushing the cart. Other forces that the cart will

have to overcome include dynamic forces from the cart going over obstacles on rough terrain such as

gravel or small tree roots.

3.1.2. Portability

Another requirement for the cart is that it needs to be transportable. This means that the cart will be able

to fold up or easily come apart in some way that a person could lift it up and place it in the back of a van.

3.1.2.1. Size

The size of the cart should be big enough so that it is strong enough to comfortably support its passenger,

yet small enough to be easily maneuverable in use. One factor that will affect the size of the cart will be

whether or not the cart is collapsible, or if it breaks apart into sections. If the cart is able to break apart it

can be larger than if it was just collapsible because the sections could be made light enough to be

transported.

3.1.2.2. Weight

The goal for the weight of the cart has not been determined yet. The cart should be light enough for

someone to be able to push it and transport it without taking away from the strength of the cart. The

design weight that will be used in the analysis of the cart is approximately 200lbs.

3.1.3. Capabilities

The capabilities of the cart include being able to be easily transported from one place to another, and

being able to travel off-road over terrain that a normal wheelchair would not be able to traverse. As

previously stated the cart should be able to be placed and transported from one place to another. The cart

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should also be able to handle different kinds of terrains. To do this the design team has considered

making the cart capable of easily changing the tires to allow the cart to go from one terrain to the next.

For example, the customer should be able to easily change the wheels to go from asphalt to sand.

3.2 Cost Requirements

Due to medical costs related to disabilities, many families with physically disabled members don’t have

the opportunity to purchase expensive equipment. This is the primary reason for why a crucial aspect of

this project is to aim to keep the total product cost low.

3.2.1 Material Costs

The design team will design the product in a method that will minimize materials costs in order to keep

the selling price as low as possible. To do this, material options are limited to commonly available metals

and polymers, despite having to make weight sacrifices to maintain necessary strength. The design team

will also carefully select components such as bearings, fittings, and shafts in commonly available sizes

and tolerances to reduce costs.

3.2.2. Manufacturing Costs

Manufacturing costs for the budget given to Calvin College are preliminarily $0, because the team plans

to do all welding, machining, and assembly in-house. For the business plan, the manufacturing costs will

be approximated as assembly hours times a machinist's hourly rate.

Looking beyond prototype manufacturing, the design team will need to keep manufacturing costs low

without requiring large volumes. The market for a running cart exists, but more information will need to

be obtained on how large and accessible said market is. Of particular interest is what portion of families

with disabled persons would be interested in purchasing a cart. These ideas are discussed in greater detail

in the business analysis section of the report.

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4. Research

4.1 Material Options

Following the constraints imposed in section 3.2.1, the design team found four material options for the

frame. These options are detailed in the frame material design section of the report. Seat and cushion

material options are being researched. Similar applications or appropriate materials could be bicycle seats,

outdoor furniture, and automotive applications. The design team is interested in materials that will

withstand mold and mildew due to sweat and water and will maintain integrity when exposed to sunlight

repeatedly. Other desirable characteristics include comfort and durability (tear resistance).

4.2 Similar Projects

While the team has a goal of designing and delivering a novel idea, the team does not want to ignore

similar projects. Researching these projects will enable the team to observe areas of improvement and

issues that should be avoided through the entire design process. With this in mind, the design team was

able to find several similar projects that provided a baseline for which to build the project upon.

The first similar idea researched was the project known as “Team Hoyt.” This is a father and son duo who

participate in various marathons and triathlons. The son, Rick Hoyt, has cerebral palsy and is limited to

riding in a special boat during the swimming portion, the front of a special bicycle during the bike

portion, and a special wheelchair during the running portion of the triathlons. This idea is quite similar to

the team’s design, as the primary goal of both designs are to enable a parent or family member to more

easily involve a disabled or motion-limited child in outdoor endeavors. The physical differences the team

plans on incorporating are the collapsible design and the quick-change wheels. The design team also

desires to make the running cart more affordable than the “running chair” that Team Hoyt uses.

The second similar idea is known as His Wheels. This is a non-profit Christian organization which

focuses on providing people with lower-body disabilities hand-pedaled “trikes” for transportation. Their

focus is mainly overseas, where the effects of polio are still common, and where many have no means of

transportation or assistance, and must pull themselves around with their hands. His Wheels, although

producing a somewhat similar product, are focusing on a much different need.

The third similar idea is known as myTEAM TRIUMPH (mTT). This is an organization that provides

resources and equipment for disabled “Captains” to participate in long-distance events with the assistance

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of their “Angels”. However, mTT does not manufacture equipment and is therefore not a competitor to

the Iron Man Corp. The team has yet to determine the source of running chairs that mTT offers at events.

4.3 Resources

The team has established several contacts as resources for the project. The primary knowledge the team

hopes to learn from resources are the specific needs and requirements of a disabled person that pertain to

the running cart design. The following paragraphs describe the contacts made and the information gained.

The first contact identified was His Wheels International. The team is in contact with His Wheels mostly

pertaining to the ergonomics of the design. His Wheels will also assist the team due to their extensive

experience with people with physical disabilities, and will be a vital resource for any specific needs

corresponding to that. The primary contact with His Wheels is Alice Teisan, the founder and executive

director.

The second contact identified was Becky Van Zanen. She is a part-time caretaker for a disabled client,

and has extensive experience using a running cart. She provided the team with extremely valuable

information regarding the importance of various features of a running cart, and represented her client’s

needs thoroughly. We will maintain contact with her during the design and testing of the cart, and use her

input to tailor the design to meet the needs of many disabled people.

The third contact identified was myTEAM TRIUMPH (mTT). This is a contact highly recommended by

Becky Van Zanen, and it provides equipment and resources for disabled participants of long-distance

events. The team has initiated contact with the CEO of mTT, and will hope to meet and gain information

from him regarding ergonomics, competitors, and other design considerations.

4.4 Safety Requirements

To ensure the safety of the passenger and runner, the design team needs to consider methods to preventing

any possible form of injury. The possible injury scenarios considered include: roll-over, passenger

ejection, collision with stationary objects, collision with vehicles or pedestrians, abrasion from asphalt

contact, injury by moving components, skin irritation/damage from unsuitable materials, cuts or skin tears

from cart entry/exit, neck or head injury from excessive vibration and/or shock, and bruises and cuts to

the runner due to insufficient leg clearance. The design team cannot foresee all potential hazards, but it is

necessary to thoroughly test the cart and minimize the likelihood and severity of injuries sustained from

use of the cart. Through communicating with the team’s resources the team learned that round tubing

would be preferred on any surface that the passenger would possible come into contact with. The

resources expressed this is of greater importance with handicapped passengers, as they are more likely to

injure themselves.

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5. Task Specifications and Scheduling

5.1 Project Categories

The design team has split the design aspect of the project into five main areas: the collapsible nature of

the design, strength of the design, transportability of the design, easy of assembly and quick wheel change

design, and all-terrain aspect of the design. Each of these areas have specific requirements as defined

earlier.

5.2 Task Completion Level

The team is currently still in the research and project development stage of the design. The research at this

stage in the project is centered on outlining the preliminary objectives and requirements, as well as

building a foundation of similar ideas and novel concepts that could work within the scope of the project.

The design team’s first semester work schedule, including accomplished and planned work, can be

viewed in Appendix A. The team has reached out to several resources, which have assisted the team in

defining necessary requirements and outlining features that they would like to see in the designed product.

The team has constructed a SolidWorks 3D CAD file of the designed frame, and have performed finite

element analysis to determine the strength of the design. The team has also researched methods by which

to achieve the quick wheel change, and have selected the material that will be used for the frame and seat.

The team is on schedule according to the schedule outlined in the team’s Gantt chart. The table below

outlines the tasks needed to complete the project, and lists the percentage complete for each task.

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Table 1: Task Completion Levels

Task Percentage Complete

(%) Task

Percentage Complete

(%)

Define Project 100 Budget (continued) 80

Resources 75 Cutting and Approval 100

Gather Resources 75 Source out Suppliers 75

Survey to Understand Features 75 Secondary Design 25

Handicapped Concerns 75 Present to Resources 25

Research 60 Make Adjustments 25

Material Options 100 Final Design 0

Wheel Design 60 Construction of Design 0

Similar Projects 80 Gather all material 0

Jointed/collapsibility 50 Build Frame 0

Preliminary Design 80 Attach wheels and brakes 0

Initial Sketch 100 Testing and Modification 0

Detailed First Design 100 Strength Testing 0

SolidWorks 3D Model 80 Collapsibility Testing 0

Finite Element Analysis 80 Quick-wheel Change Testing 0

Budget 80 Ease of Assembly 0

Initial Sourcing 100 Present Final Product 0

Tasks that have provided the most difficulty and required more work than expected were the resources

and research tasks. Issues emerged in communicating between the several resources that have been

gained, as schedules would typically not overlap. Issues that emerged throughout the research phase were

finding similar projects and potential collapsible or jointed designs. However, the team was able to

overcome these issues and remain on schedule. Looking forward, the team plans on beginning

construction of the design on February 10. The team plans on finishing construction and beginning testing

and modification on March 10.

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6. Design

6.1. Design Criteria

The team is following several criteria when it comes to the design of the running cart. The first of which

is that the team is making the design as simple as possible. This will allow for easy assembly of any

prototypes, and make any future repair work easy and inexpensive. Another design criteria for the

running cart will be making the cart as light as possible, while still maintaining the necessary strength

needed to carry a teenage passenger. The cart needs to be light so that a person can pick it up and

transported to wherever the need to go. Also, the team will design the cart in such a way that the cart can

be folded up, or taken apart to make transporting the cart easy. The cart needs to be strong so that the

customers will feel comfortable using the cart without worrying about a failure of the cart. The cart will

also be designed to have interchanging wheels that will be easy for the customer to switch between

depending on the terrain they want to travel on. The following sections will describe each component in

the system in detail, with sections on the component’s design criteria, alternatives, and design decision.

6.2 Frame Material

6.2.1 Frame Material Design Criteria

The first system component the team analyzed was the material which would be used for the frame. The

criteria the team used to decide upon the final material appears in the table below.

Table 2: Frame Material Design Criteria

Criteria Weight

Cost 25

Strength 25

Manufacturability 20

Durability 15

Stewardship 5

Trust 5

Integrity 5

As shown in the table above, the cost and strength of the frame material were designated to be the most

important design criteria. This is due to these criteria directly affecting the design requirements. One of

the primary goals the team is designing towards is to maintain a low cost product, while still maintaining

the necessary strength requirements. The manufacturability of the frame material was also designated to

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be an important design criteria. This takes into consideration the ease of purchasing the material, the ease

of machining the material using the tools provided in Calvin College’s metal shop, as well as the ease of

welding. Durability takes into consideration the long term material properties, as well as relative ease of

fixing issues that occur several years into the product’s lifespan. Finally, the team identified three design

norms that are directly applicable to the frame material design. As Christians, the team ought to design in

such a way as to carefully use the earth’s resources. In this way, the team is called to be stewards of the

earth. Therefore, the team has included the design norm stewardship as a design criteria, as the frame

material chosen must consider the availability of earth’s resources. Economic and environmental concerns

of the material chosen are also included in this criteria. The next design norm is trust. This criteria is

rather straightforward. The team needs to choose a frame material that will be credible, dependable, and

reliable. Potential users of the product should not be concerned with the frame’s design at first glance.

Integrity is the final design norm that applies to the frame design. The frame needs to be designed so that

it is pleasing and intuitive to use. The material chosen needs to accomplish these goals, so that the

passenger and runner are not uncomfortable with the product.

These design criteria have the potential to be in tension. Maintaining the low cost of the frame while still

reaching the necessary strength and integrity requirements could prove challenging.

6.2.2 Frame Material Alternatives

The design team researched potential frame material options and narrowed the list down to four: 4130

alloy steel, 6061 aluminum alloy, 3AL-2.5V titanium alloy, and carbon fiber. The other material options

that were researched were ultimately eliminated due to the availability of the material as well as the

amount of information available. These material options were not commonly used on similar projects and

would have added a large amount of difficulty in procuring and using said materials.

The team selected 4130 alloy steel as a potential frame material as it is a very common material in frame

constructions. This alloy of steel is also easy to machine and weld, which were important to the design

team due to limited welding experience. Steel would also be the easiest material to purchase due to its

large presence in the manufacturing realm.1

The team selected 6061 aluminum alloy as a potential frame material as it is commonly used in bicycle

frames which are similar to the team’s design. Aluminum has a better strength-to-weight ratio than steel,

and result in a stiffer frame than steel. Aluminum is also a very common material in the manufacturing

realm, so procuring the material would not prove to be difficult.2

The team selected 3AL-2.5V titanium alloy as a potential frame material due to its high strength-to-

weight ratio and excellent resistance to corrosion. This titanium alloy is 3.5% aluminum and 2.5%

vanadium by weight, which are added to the material in heat treatment processes to result in a higher

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strength product. Titanium is more expensive than steel and aluminum and would provide manufacturing

issues.3, 4

Carbon fiber is the final potential frame material considered by the team. Carbon fiber is gaining

popularity in bicycle frames, mostly due it its light-weight yet corrosion-resistant and high strength

properties. Carbon fiber is the most expensive material option, but has the largest strength-to-weight ratio.

Beyond the monetary issue, carbon fiber also is more difficult to repair then the other options, as fatigue

failure occurs more readily in carbon fiber. Repairing cracks and other fatigue in the frame would require

more time and effort than the other options.5

The table below summarizes the material properties for all four material options.

Table 3: Frame Material Alternative Properties6

Material Yield Strength

(MPa)

Specific Strength

(kNm/kg)

Density

(g/cm3)

Tensile Modulus

(GPa)

4130 Steel 910 254 7.84 200

6061 Aluminum 270 214 2.71 69

3AL-2.5V Titanium 930 288 4.63 110

Carbon Fiber 4000 2457 1.75 250

The material properties displayed above clearly show the differences between each material. As

mentioned, carbon fiber is clearly the strongest yet lightest, whereas aluminum yields at a much smaller

force.

6.2.3 Frame Material Design Decisions

In order for the team to decide which material would be the best option for this design project, a decision

matrix was created. This decision matrix listed the design criteria mentioned earlier and assigned a 1-10

value for each material, with 1 being the lowest and therefore least preferred. This decision matrix

appears below.

Table 4: Frame Material Decision Matrix

Design Criteria Cost Strength Manufacturability Durability Stewardship Trust Integrity

Op

tio

ns

Weight 25 25 20 15 5 5 5 Total

4130 Steel 10 8 10 10 8 8 10 930

6061 Aluminum 8 6 8 7 8 7 10 740

3AL-2.5V Titanium 5 6 5 5 5 6 7 540

Carbon Fiber 1 10 3 3 3 8 4 455

The above decision matrix clearly shows that 4130 steel is the best frame material option for this project.

Therefore, the team has chosen 4130 steel as the frame material.

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6.3 Quick Change Wheel Design

6.3.1 Quick Change Wheel Design Criteria

The second system component the team analyzed was the quick wheel change method. The team is

designing the product in a manner in which the wheels could be quickly and easily removed, so that

different wheel options could be used. This would allow the product to easily traverse the applicable

terrain options. The team hopes to achieve this result on the following terrains: road asphalt, sidewalk

concrete, compacted dirt bicycle path, sand, and grass. The criteria the team used to decide upon the final

quick wheel change method appears in the table below.

Table 5: Quick Wheel Change Design Criteria

Criteria Weight

Cost 25

Ease of change 25

Change-over time 20

Durability 15

Trust 5

Transparency 5

Integrity 5

As shown in the table above, the cost and relative ease of changing the wheels were designated to be the

most important design criteria. This is due to these criteria directly affecting the design requirements. One

of the primary goals the team is designing towards is to maintain a low cost product, while still enabling

the end users to quickly and easily change tire options. Durability takes into consideration the long term

potential for the designs, as well as relative ease of fixing issues that occur several years into the

product’s lifespan. The team has also identified three design norms that are directly applicable to this

component. Similar to the frame material, trust is a design norm for the quick wheel change method. The

team needs to design this feature in such a way that it is readily apparent to the end users how to operate

and change. The end design for the quick wheel change will need to be reliable and easily repeatable. This

also factors in to the next design norm, transparency. The quick wheel change design must be

understandable to someone without extensive technical knowledge, as well as being consistent. The

design team does not want to create confusion in the end users concerning this feature, as that will

effectively eliminate the use of the feature. Integrity is the final design norm that the design team has

determined applies to this component. The design team recognizes that this feature in particular will need

to be pleasing and intuitive to use. If the end users do not feel comfortable with the quick wheel change

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design, they will most likely not use it. This results in a product that will not perform to adequate levels

on the various terrains, leading to a larger potential for damage and even personal injury to occur.

These design criteria have the potential to be in tension. Maintaining the low cost of the quick wheel

change method while still reaching the necessary time and ease of assembly requirement could prove

challenging.

6.3.2 Quick Change Wheel Design Alternatives

The team researched potential quick wheel change designs, and were able to determine two main options

for the product. The first quick wheel change option has commonly been used on bicycles ever since its

creation in 1927 by Tullio Campagnolo, and is commonly referred to as a quick release skewer.7 This

design is shown in the figure below.

Figure 2: Quick Release Skewer Examples 8

The quick release lever is tightened while in use, which secures the wheel and axle to the bicycle’s fork.

To remove a wheel equipped with a quick release skewer, the user must simply loosen the quick release

lever. This quick wheel change method has both positives and negatives. It is very common in the bicycle

realm, so procuring the components would be relatively simple. Additionally, the installation and use of

said design is straightforward, minimizing the potential for the end user to become frustrated with the

design. However, this method leaves the wheels to be susceptible to theft, as the release mechanism is

quite quick and easy. The potential for the wheel to become disengaged while the product is in use is also

larger than other designs, so care would need to be taken to ensure that it is properly tightened.

The second quick wheel change option that the team researched was quite similar to the quick release

skewer idea, but is less complex. This design option is simply referred to as a quick release hitch pin

system. The design option is displayed in the figure below.

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Figure 3: Quick Release Hitch Pin9

This design option is very inexpensive and quite common, so purchasing this would be straightforward.

However, the potential for the end user to incorrectly use this design alternative is larger than with the

quick release skewer. This design would also take longer to remove than the skewer and would not be as

reliable or understandable to the end user.

6.3.3 Quick Change Wheel Design Decisions

In order for the team to determine which quick wheel change method would be the best option for this

design project, a decision matrix was created. This decision matrix listed the design criteria mentioned

earlier and assigned a 1-10 value for each option, with 1 being the lowest and therefore least preferred.

The decision matrix for this component appears below.

Design Criteria Cost Ease of

Change

Change-over

Time

Durability Trust Transparency Integrity

Op

tion

s

Weight 25 25 20 15 5 5 5 Total

Skewer 8 8 10 5 8 7 7 785

Hitch Pin 10 6 7 6 4 5 4 695

The above decision matrix clearly shows that the quick release skewer design alternative is the best quick

wheel change option for this project. Therefore, the team has chosen to use this option in the preliminary

design. However, this decision is not to be considered final, as the team is still researching other methods

by which to achieve a quick wheel change. In addition to this research, the team will also discuss with the

team’s resources what they would prefer to have as the quick wheel change method, and will update the

final design and prototype as needed.

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6.4 Collapsible Design

6.4.1 Collapsible Design Criteria

The final system component the team analyzed was the collapsible aspect of the design. The team is

designing the product in a manner in which it could be easily collapsed and moved, so that the user could

easily transport the product in the back of a small car. This would allow the product to be used more often

and for more varied purposes. The criteria the team used to decide upon the collapsible nature of the

product appears in the table below.

Table 6: Collapsibility Design Criteria

Criteria Weight

Ease of use 30

Cost 20

Risk to user 20

Durability 15

Trust 5

Transparency 5

Integrity 5

As shown in the table above, the ease of use for the collapsible design was designated as the most

important design criteria. This design feature was the only one in which cost was not the most important

design criteria, as the design team concluded that designing a low cost collapsible design was not as

important as creating a design which would be easy to use and understandable to the end user. The

potential risk to the end user was also one of the most important design criteria, as the collapsible feature

of the design must attempt to eliminate or minimize all potential possibility of personal injury to the end

user. The design team does not want the collapsible aspect of this product to present additional risk to the

end user, as this could greatly increase the possibility of lawsuits and negative public image. Additionally,

if the end user believes this feature to be potentially dangerous, then they would most likely not end up

using it, effectively nullifying all of the design team’s work on this design feature. Once again, durability

also is a criteria that the design team took into consideration in its design. This criteria considers the life

span of the design, as well as the cost to repair. Finally, the team has also identified three design norms

that are directly applicable to this component. Trust is once again a design norm for this component. The

team needs to design the collapsible nature of the product in such a way that it is readily apparent to the

end users how to use. The end design will need to be reliable and safe. The collapsible feature of this

product will also need to be transparent to the end users. It must minimize the potential to injure the end

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users, as well as be readily understood. The design team does not want the collapsibility of the product to

confuse the end users, as that will effectively eliminate the use of the feature, as well as increase the

injury potential. Integrity is the final design norm that the design team has determined applies to this

component. Similar to the quick wheel change, if the end users do not feel comfortable collapsing the

product, they will most likely not use it. This would result in a product that would not be as easily

transported. Additionally, the potential for the end user to be injured would increase if the collapsible

feature was not used, as handling the final design would be too burdensome otherwise.

These design criteria do have the potential to be in tension. While most of the design criteria focus on

making the product easier to use and understand, the cost criteria will force the design team to consider

the cost of such safety concerns. The design team will not sacrifice the safety of the design in order to

minimize the cost, which is reflected in the relative weight of the design criteria.

6.4.2 Collapsible Design Alternatives

The design team is still in the research phase for collapsible design options. However, the design team has

found two broad collapsible method types that will be pursued in greater detail over the following

semester. These options are to collapse the product by: detaching the product into distinct parts, or a

jointed assembly, which would allow the product to be folded up to occupy a smaller area.

The detaching collapsible option would consist of designing the prototype in such a way as to allow it to

be taken apart into three separate parts. This would be achieved through a design which would use clips

and fasteners to attach the three parts together. This option would allow the highest maneuverability and

transportability of the design, as the three separate parts would be able to be positioned separately.

The second collapsible option would involve jointed features, allowing the design to fold up. This would

minimize the space required to transport the design, and minimize the size of the product, enabling it to be

more easily maneuvered and picked up. This design is commonly used strollers, a smaller scale similar

product.

6.4.3 Collapsible Design Decisions

The design team is still researching collapsible design options and has not reached a definitive conclusion

as to which would be preferred. This conclusion will be reached by creating a decision matrix for this

feature, which would use the aforementioned design criteria. The design team will also remain in close

communication with the resources that have been gained so far, as they will greatly assist the team in

realizing what option would be preferred.

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6.5 Block Diagram

The block diagram below will be used to ensure all necessary considerations will be taken into account in

the design process. It will serve as a “map” for the design team as they work on designing and assembling

individual components of the cart together, so that all needs are addressed and all requirements are met.

Figure 4: Block Diagram

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Figure 5: Block diagram showing design interactions and components.

6.6 Preliminary Design

The team began the design phase with a rough sketch of what the running cart would look like, which can

be seen below.

This sketch, while very basic in nature, does display several of the features that the team decided were

integral to the project’s success. The general appearance of the design shown above is the approximate

idea of what the team views to be the final design. The green lines in the figure above correspond to the

collapsible nature of the design, which was initially thought to involve a system of cranks. The red lines

in the figure correspond to the very basic seat design. It should be noted again that this was the initial

design that the team created, so this sketch only reflects the very basic ideas about the project.

Once the team had come up with the initial sketch, it looked for ways to improve the design of the cart.

To do this the team conducted research and talked to the contacts that it had made. The next step in the

design of the cart was to determine what the frame of the cart would look like. The initial frame that the

team has come up with was drawn using the 3D modeling program SolidWorks, and can be seen below.

Figure 5: Initial Sketch of Design

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Figure 6: Initial Frame Design

This frame design was modeled using 4130 steel as the material, which was the material that the design

team concluded was the best option for this project. This frame is still basic in nature, but does display the

overall idea of the frame that the design team is considering.

Once the cart had been drawn in SolidWorks, the team modeled the effects of the forces that would occur

from a person sitting on it using the program Autodesk Simulation Multiphysics 2012. The figure below

shows the distribution of the forces on the frame of the cart.

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Figure 7: Forces Acting on the Frame of the Cart

The team modeled the cart assuming a downward force of 200 lbs. This downward force of the passenger

is represented by the arrows pointing down in the figure above, and is distributed over the area in which

the seat is planned to be and ultimately where the passenger will be sitting. The arrows pointing up in the

figure represent the reactionary force on the frame of the cart and are located where the wheels would be

attached to the cart. The reactionary force that was used was also 200 lbs. After placing these forces onto

the frame design the team then ran the simulation program, which displayed the stress values on the

frame. The results of this simulation are shown in the figure below.

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Figure 8: Simulation Results

The simulation determined that the highest stress applied to the cart is 1202 Pa. The team compared this

to the yield strength of 4130 Steel, which was found to be 910 MPa. The yield strength of the cart is

much greater than the applied stress on the cart due to a 200 lb. force. This result showed the team that

the designed frame is strong enough to support a person of 200lbs or less. The simulation also shows the

team where the stress would be concentrated in the cart. This is shown by the yellow and red areas on the

figure above, with the stress increasing as the color goes from yellow to red. The team plans to continue

modifying and improving on the above cart design to achieve its objectives.

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7. Testing Plans

The design team plans on beginning construction of the prototype in early February, 2014. The design

team has a month budgeted for the initial construction. Once this construction is complete, the team will

begin testing and prototype optimization as needed. The design team will test the prototype in five

primary aspects: the rigidity, transportability, ease of assembly, maneuverability, and ability to travel on a

variety of terrains. Each testing area has been budgeted to last a week in duration. These tests will be

performed in coordination with the design team’s resources, allowing these resources to have direct input

into which areas of the prototype need further work. The rigidity of the prototype will be tested through

stress and strain calculations through the use of strain gauges when loading the prototype with varying

loads. This will enable the design team to determine the upper limit of the transportable weight. The

transportability of the prototype will be tested using a team member’s car, in order to determine whether

or not the design can fit within the designed size constraints. The ease of assembly of the prototype will

also be tested during this time, as the difficulty of disassembling and assembling the prototype under real

life conditions with test subjects will be determined. The weight of the design will also be tested and

optimized at this point, which will assist the design team in determining whether the design is simple and

light-weight for the end user to understand and easily handle. Finally, the maneuverability and all-terrain

versatility of the prototype will be tested in the field through several methods. The prototype will be

tested at the minimum on the following surfaces: road asphalt, sidewalk concrete, compacted dirt bicycle

path, sand, and grass. The force needed to start, stop, and maintain a set speed will be recorded on each

terrain, enabling the team to determine which tires are best for which surface and which terrains the

design team should be focused on.

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8. Business Analysis

8.1 Marketing Study

8.1.1 Competitive Analysis

8.1.1.1 Existing Competitors

Companies that could be considered competitors to Iron Man include wheelchair manufacturers, custom

running cart makers, high-end running cart makers, and other athletic wheelchair manufacturers. Very

few companies with an online presence make a product similar to what the Iron Man team will be

producing. These competitors are generally well focused in their respective market, and make a decent

product; their products are both comfortable and reliable. Their biggest strength over Iron Man is their

name recognition. However, these competitors also have weaknesses. Iron Man has found very few

competitors that are effectively targeting the normal family with a disabled child/adult. Such existing

products have some design flaws that make it difficult for the caretaker, and hard on the passenger.

Products that do not include these design flaws are prohibitively expensive to the normal family, or

perform well in some areas while being impractical for storage or poor in comfort.

8.1.1.2 Potential Competitors

Companies that could be considered competitors to Iron Man are mostly start-up companies that see the

team’s product and want to make it cheaper, or believe they can provide a superior product or the same

design at a better profit margin. Large companies that produce wheelchairs or similar products may desire

to enter the market, and would present significant competition with their extensive capital for marketing

and production. As long as Iron Man’s business continues to build name recognition and maintains a good

brand name, competition will likely not be able to take the team’s market share. There appears to be a

significantly larger market than the team’s planned capacity, so some competition would most likely not

directly affect the customer base Iron Man has built up. Iron Man has to stay competitive in design, cost,

and customer support to avoid being put out of business if a large company were to enter the market.

8.1.2 Target Markets

An estimated 3.3 million American citizens are bound to a wheelchair. 10 Not all of them are limited to the

extent that they would benefit from our running chair, but if even 1% was, that gives us a market of

33,000. In addition, it is reported that about 11,000 new spinal cord injuries occur each year, resulting in

paraplegia (loss of lower body function), and quadriplegia (loss of function in arms and legs) 11, 12. Based

upon this research, the design team has identified physically handicapped clients, caretakers, and health

organizations as the primary potential target markets.

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8.1.2.1 Handicapped Clients

The product designed and produced by Iron Man would allow handicapped clients to experience nature in

a way that they would not otherwise be able to. Making this product affordable is extremely important to

handicapped clients, because they generally have more expenses to cover with a comparably smaller

income than others in their age demographic. These clients will be looking for comfort as a primary

product feature, as well as features that are targeted towards caretakers.

8.1.2.2 Caretakers

Caretakers will be able to better care for their clients by being able to take them out more often and with

greater ease. Dependability, light weight, ease of maneuverability, ease of client transfer, and

transportability are features that were identified which would be important to caretakers. These features

would also benefit the handicapped clients, because it would make it easier for their caretakers to take

them outside for a run.

8.1.2.3 Health Organizations

Health organizations would be looking for a product with low cost and high dependability. Using this

product, they could offer a wider variety of activities to their clients, increasing their reputation and client

base.

The design team surveyed each of these three demographics in order to gauge what features were most

desirable and what price they would be expecting to pay for the product. Through these conversations it

was clear to the design team that the overall cost of the product was the primary concern in all three target

markets. Following this, the dependability and passenger comfort were emphasized. The need for this

product was shown in each of the three target markets, as all of the potential clients that were surveyed

expressed the desire to purchase the product. The price of the product varied between the clients,

according to what features they mentioned were necessary. The average price from all three surveyed

markets came out to roughly be $1,500. This correlates nicely with the design team’s estimated

production cost.

8.2 Cost Estimate

8.2.1 Development

The development budget for Iron Man is limited to the funds provided through the senior design course at

Calvin College as well as any external grants that the team was able to secure. The design team is not

currently seeking out donors for the project, as the budget submitted by the team to Calvin College was

approved. This budget is listed in the table below, which details the estimated cost of all necessary items

to produce the design.

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Table 7: Team Budget

Item Estimated Cost [$]

Metal for frame 150

Bolts and joint fasteners 25

Wheels (all) 100

Brake component 50

Seat materials and padding 40

Sheet metal for passenger deck 20

Bearings 20

Forks/wheel mounts 50

Handles 15

Brake hardware (lever, cable, etc.) 10

Paint 30

Suspension 75

Total 585

The budget approved by Calvin College was $665, which enables the group a fifteen percent leeway in

the overall cost of the design. This will hopefully solve any as of now unforeseen budgetary issues that

will emerge as the design progresses.

8.2.2 Production

8.2.2.1 Fixed Costs

The estimated complete development costs appear in the table below. Overhead costs are also included.

Table 8: Estimated Fixed Costs

Item Cost ($)

Total Development Budget 30,585

Design Time ($100/hr) 30,000

Prototype 585

Tooling and Manufacturing 36,400

CNC Band Saw 25,000(13)

MIG Welder 2,400(14)

Knee Mill 9,000(15)

Other Capital Expenditures 480,000(16)

Manufacturing Plant 400,000

Offices 80,000

Overhead 20,600

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Advertising 5,000

Legal Fees 5,000(17)

Interest Fees 10,000

Electricity 4,600(18)

Total 567,585

8.2.2.2 Variable Costs

The variable costs for the product sold by Iron Man are based upon the estimated market and annual sales.

These estimations are described in the financial summary section of the report, and are detailed in the pro-

forma financial statements in Appendix C. The estimated complete variable costs, on a per-unit basis,

appear in the table below.

Table 9: Estimated Variable Costs

Item Cost ($/unit)

Machined Components 245

Frame 150(19)

Passenger Deck 20(20)

Suspension System 75(20)

Purchased Components 340

Brake System 60 (21, 22, 23)

Bolts and joint fasteners 25(24)

Wheels (three per unit) 100(25)

Bearings 20(26)

Seat Cushion 40(27)

Paint 30(28)

Forks/wheel mounts 50(29)

Handles 15(30)

Packaging 17

Cardboard 10(31)

Poly-foam 4(32)

Instruction Manual 3

Labor 200

Saw operator 40

Mill operator 40

Welder 80

Assembly 40

Distribution 0

Total 802

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8.2.2.3 Financial Summary

The estimated retail price of the running cart produced by Iron Man is roughly $1,000. This retail price is

based off of market data collected by the team, which surveyed the three main target markets,

handicapped clients, caretakers, and health organizations. These markets are described in the target

markets section of the report. The price anticipated by these clients for such a product averaged around

$1,500. The full product cost that the design team expects is roughly $800. The difference between the

full product cost and the estimated retail price is the expected profitability per unit for Iron Man. This

profitability is therefore $200 per unit. Based upon the pro-forma financial statements prepared by the

team this product is therefore expected to be profitable. These statements appear in Appendix C. The

break-even point computed by the team will occur in the first year with the 644th unit sold. The expected

annual units sold is estimated to be 1,000 units. The design team based these break-even results according

to the expectation that Iron Man will have a first year sales revenue of roughly $1,000,000. This is

reasonable, as at the expected retail price of $1,000 only 1000 units would have to be sold. As mentioned

earlier, roughly 3.3 million American citizens are bound to a wheelchair. Selling 1000 units to this market

would correspond to only a 0.03% target market acceptance. Targeting individual American citizens

would most likely be the most time consuming and challenging, especially with a start-up company. The

design team would therefore achieve these desired annual sales by aggressively targeted the wealthiest

target market first, the health organizations. Advertising to this target market would allow name

recognition to grow quicker than pursuing the other target markets. There are ten open hospitals in Kent

County, Michigan. These would be the first health organizations targeted by the design team due to their

close proximity to Calvin College. There are 5,724 hospitals in the United States. The design team

estimates that an average of two running carts will be purchased by all interested hospitals, which means

to achieve the anticipated annual units sold, 417 hospitals would need to purchase Iron Man’s product.

The team anticipates achieving the annual sales volume by selling to each target market.

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9. Conclusion

Now that the preliminary design and design research has been completed, the design team has concluded

that this project is feasible. There is a lot more work that needs to be accomplished on this project, but the

research and preliminary designs completed so far have allowed the team to narrow its focus for the

upcoming semester. More detailed designs will need to be created and in-depth finite element analyses

will be used in order to refine the product. The team plans on completing this design and analyses next

semester, as well as purchasing all necessary material and constructing the prototype. Extensive testing

will then take place, during which the team will optimize and refine the prototype as needed, while

staying within the allotted budget.

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10. Acknowledgements

The design team would like to thank the entire Calvin College engineering department, in particular

Professor Nielsen, who served as the team’s advisor for the duration of the project. The team would also

like to thank Alice Teisan, the primary contact from the organization His Wheels for her support and

advice on design options. Thanks to Curtis Kortman for his initial involvement in the project and for

initiating contact with the potential customer. Thanks to Ronald Robb of mTT for meeting with us.

Thanks to Becky and Robert Van Zanen for providing many design considerations and initial design

ideas. Finally, the team would like to thank Phil Jasperse for his support in the metal shop and throughout

the construction of the design.

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11. References

“CDC FastStats Disabilities Page.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 30 May 2013. Web. 10

Nov. 2013.

Brault, Matthew W. "School-Aged Children With Disabilities in U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas:

2010." American Community Survey Briefs (2011). Web. 10 Nov. 2013.

<http://www.census.gov/prod/2011pubs/acsbr10-12.pdf>.

Global Trikes. His Wheels International, Nov. 2013. Web. 10 Nov. 2013.

<http://www.hiswheels.org/global-trikes/>.

Lee, Amy F. Statistics of Children with Special Needs. The Inclusive Church, 3 June 2013. Web. 10 Nov.

2013. <http://theinclusivechurch.com/2013/06/03/statistics-of-children-with-special-needs/>

Riley, William F., Leroy D. Sturges, and Don H. Morris. "Material Properties and Stress-Strain

Relationships." Mechanics of Materials. 6th ed. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley, 2007. 153-73. Print.

VanderLeest, Steven. Engineering 339. Calvin College, Grand Rapids. 4 Oct. 2013. Lecture.

Wunder, David. Engineering 339. Calvin College, Grand Rapids. 25 Sept. 2013. Lecture.

1. Gunton, Neil. "The Art of Bicycle Touring." N.p., 1 Nov. 2003. Web. 8 Dec. 2013.

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Appendix A. Work Breakdown Schedule

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Appendix B. Pro-forma Financial Statements

Table 10: Pro-forma Statement of Income

The Iron Man Corporation

Pro-forma Statement of Income

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3

Sales revenue

1,000,000

1,100,000

1,210,000

Variable Cost of Goods Sold

553,080

608,180

668,790

Fixed Cost of Goods Sold

190,000

190,000

190,000

Depreciation

7,202

12,772

9,978

Gross Margin

249,718

289,048

341,232

Variable Operating Costs

70,000

77,000

84,700

Fixed Operating Costs

37,600

37,600

37,600

Operating Income

142,118

174,448

218,932

Interest Expense

7,966

14,182

10,682

Income Before Tax

134,152

160,266

208,250

Income tax (40%)

53,661

64,107

83,300

Net Income After Tax

80,491

96,160

124,950

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Table 11: Pro-forma Statement of Cash Flows

The Iron Man Corporation

Pro-Forma Statement of Cash Flows

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3

Beginning Cash Balance

-

800,293

1,391,625

Net Income After Tax

80,491

96,160

124,950

Depreciation expense

7,202

12,772

9,978

Invested Capital (Equity)

535,400

535,400

535,400

Increase (decrease) in borrowed funds

227,600

(50,000)

(50,000)

Equipment Purchases

(50,400)

(3,000)

(3,000)

Ending Cash Balance

800,293

1,391,625

2,008,953

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Table 12: Break-Even Analysis

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3

Sales revenue

1,000,000

1,100,000

1,210,000

Less: Variable Costs:

Variable Cost of Goods Sold

553,080

608,180

668,790

Variable Operating Costs

70,000

77,000

84,700

Total Variable Costs

623,080

685,180

753,490

Contribution Margin

376,920

414,820

456,510

Less: Fixed Costs

Fixed Cost of Goods Sold

190,000

190,000

190,000

Fixed Operating Costs

37,600

37,600

37,600

Depreciation

7,202

12,772

9,978

Interest Expense

7,966

14,182

10,682

Total Fixed Costs

242,768

254,554

248,260

Income Before Tax

134,152

160,266

208,250

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Table 13: Break-Even Analysis (continued)

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3

Total Fixed Costs 242,768 254,554 248,260

Contribution Margin % 38% 38% 38%

Break Even Sales Volume 644,084 675,013 658,025

Break Even Unit Volume 644 675 658

Table 14: Iron Man Corporation Budget

Equipment Depreciation

Purchases Year 1 Year 2 Year 3

Equipment Purchases Year 1

50,400

7,202

12,343

8,815

Equipment Purchases Year 2

3,000

429

735

Equipment Purchases Year 3

3,000

429

7,202

12,772

9,978

MACRS Rates (7-year recovery period) 0.1429 0.2449 0.1749

Interest Expense:

Annual interest rate on debt 7%

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3

Average debt balance

113,800

202,600

152,600

Interest expense

7,966

14,182

10,682