Case Study: Purdue University Formula SAE achieves faster, safer race car machining with Mastercam

Purdue University Formula SAE Team Finds Ways to Win

Purdue University's Formula SAE team, a collegiate group of undergraduate engineers, faces the annual challenge of designing and building a high-performance, durable, formula-style race car from scratch to compete in international events. They required precise and reliable CAD/CAM software to machine nearly all of the car's custom components in-house, ensuring the parts meet strict tolerances for safety and performance. They utilized Mastercam's Mill, Lathe, and Dynamic Motion software to accomplish this.

The solution was provided by Mastercam, which offers its software for free to Formula SAE teams. The students used Mastercam's Verify and Backplot features to simulate toolpaths and prevent machining errors before they occurred on the machine tool. This allowed them to identify potential collisions and optimize their processes, saving valuable time and ensuring complex parts like suspension uprights were machined perfectly. The result was a reliably manufactured vehicle that gave the team a competitive edge, while also providing the students with crucial real-world manufacturing experience that benefits their future careers.

Purdue University Formula SAE

Adam Dewey

Drivetrain Team Leader