Additive Manufacturing Competition
Create a 3D-printed sail that turns engineering, aerodynamics, and innovation into motion, and see how far your design can take you.
Point of Contact
Reem Hany Aly
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Mechanical Engineering
rha3005@rit.edu
On-Site Competition
This competition requires no advance preparation and will be completed onsite using the materials and instructions provided on the event day.
Competition Overview
3D-Printing Sail for Wind-Powered Car Challenge
The 3D-Printing Sail for Wind-Powered Car Challenge is an additive manufacturing and engineering design competition for high school students in Grades 11 and 12.
The Challenge
Each team will be provided with an identical small-scale car chassis. Teams must design and 3D print a sail that uses wind from a standardized fan to propel the car as far as possible.
Design
Students will use Autodesk Inventor Professional to design their sail, applying engineering principles to develop a design optimized for wind-powered movement.
Fabrication & Testing
Teams will fabricate their designs using the provided 3D printer and filament. The completed sail will then be attached to the provided car chassis and tested under standardized conditions.
Engineering Concepts
What Students Will Apply
Winning Criteria
The winning design will be determined based on the distance traveled during the official test, along with the other criteria outlined in the competition grading rubric.
Competition Rules
Teams must follow the rules below throughout the design, fabrication, and official testing process.
Students in grades 11 and 12 are invited to participate.
Each school may register with only one team, with a maximum of three students per team.
All team members must participate in the design and development of the solution.
Each team will be provided with an identical car chassis.
Teams may modify only the sail. The provided car chassis may not be modified.
The sail must be designed using the assigned CAD software, Autodesk Inventor Professional.
The sail must be 3D printed using the material provided by the competition organizers.
Teams must remain within the specified maximum sail dimensions.
No external propulsion systems are permitted.
The use of motors and batteries is prohibited.
Teams may not use an external fan or any other source of wind.
The car must start from the same designated starting position for every team.
The same fan, fan setting, fan position, testing area, and testing conditions will be used for all teams.
The car must remain in contact with the ground throughout the official test.
The sail must remain securely attached to the car throughout the test.
Teams may not physically push, pull, or otherwise assist the car during testing.
Each team will be provided with one official testing attempt.
Technical Specifications
Build & Competition Requirements
Design, Equipment & Deliverables
01 Design Requirements
Each team must design a sail capable of using the supplied wind to propel the provided car chassis. The design should consider:
Important: The exact maximum sail dimensions and attachment specifications will be provided to teams at the beginning of the competition.
02 Provided Equipment
What Teams Receive
Identical small-scale car chassis
3D printer
3D-printing filament
Autodesk Inventor Professional
Standardized fan for testing
Testing area and measuring equipment
03 Prohibited Equipment
Not Permitted
× Motors
× Batteries
× External fans
04 Competition Deliverables
Complete These Onsite
Each team must complete and present the following on the competition day.
CAD model of the sail
3D-printed sail
Final assembled sail car
Brief explanation of the design approach and engineering considerations
Official test result
Evaluation
Scoring Framework
Evaluation Criteria
Distance Measurement
The distance traveled will be measured from the designated starting line to the front wheel of the car at the point where the car comes to rest.
Standardized measurement: The same measurement method will be used for all teams.
Constrains and Requirements
Competition Guidelines
Constraints & Preparation
01 Design Constraints
Design Rules
01 Only the sail may be modified.
02 The same car chassis must be used by all teams.
03 The sail must be designed in Autodesk Inventor Professional.
04 The sail must be fabricated using the provided 3D printer and filament.
05 The sail must remain within the specified maximum dimensions.
06 The sail must remain securely attached to the car during testing.
02 Testing Constraints
Standardized Testing
01 The same fan will be used for all teams.
02 The same fan setting and position will be used for all teams.
03 The same starting position will be used for all teams.
04 The same testing area and surface will be used for all teams.
05 Each team will receive one official testing attempt.
06 No physical assistance may be provided to the car during testing.
03 Onsite Readiness
Competition start time
Teams should arrive at the designated competition area before the start of their session and be ready to begin at 10:00 AM.
All software and equipment required for the design and fabrication process will be provided by the competition organizers.
04 Preparation Before Competition Day
What Students Can Review
Teams are encouraged to review the basic principles of:
No advance design required. Students do not need to prepare or submit a sail design before the competition. The design and fabrication of the sail will take place during the competition.