Cal Poly’s senior project team, Super Aces — in conjunction with the 3D Printing Aircraft Club — participated in the second annual 3D Printed Aircraft Competition at CSULA on May 18.
The competition requires students to build a purely 3D-printed aircraft. This year, the competition doubled in size, hosting 15 different teams from nine universities.
The competition evaluates three separately judged categories: flight, simulation and design. The flight consisted of achieving the longest airtime with the constraints of a maximum of 8 seconds of power and a 35-foot ceiling. The simulation was open-ended and was judged as the best computer simulation, formatted in a report. The design contest focused on the most innovative design, shown in a formatted report.
The senior project team consisted of mechanical engineering students Andrew Edwards, Jose Ramirez, Manny Ruiz and Sebastian Bessoudo, advised by Professor Eltahry Elghandour.
Despite the strong competition, Cal Poly showcased exceptional skill, securing first place in flight, with a flight time of 17.310 seconds, and first
place in simulation.
The Super Aces team went with a traditional pod and boom design, innovatively designing an exceptionally light aircraft weighing less than 2 pounds with an over 5-foot wingspan. This was essential in maximizing the gliding capabilities and minimizing drag during flight.
The competition will be a recurring event and will continue to be supported by Cal Poly. The 3DPAC club is currently looking for members interested in joining the competition. Contact Jose Ramirez at jrami314@calpoly.edu for information on how to get involved.
