[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":170},["ShallowReactive",2],{"Sxa2qgT0Sjc-bozCn9dyErT8DxryLOcJRt-QbOPrZY8":3,"article_creating-the-next-belly-racer-with-solidworks-part-three_solidworks":10,"_apollo:default":168,"_apollo:identified":169},{"mailchimpAudience":4},{"actionUrl":5,"slug":6,"locale":7,"default":8,"__typename":9},"","creating-the-next-belly-racer-with-solidworks-part-three","en","https:\u002F\u002F3ds.us3.list-manage.com\u002Fsubscribe\u002Fpost?u=ed4601044e1936748c0d2aa6b&id=e5080ff9fe&f_id=002d4de2f0","MailchimpAudience",{"posts":11},{"nodes":12,"__typename":167},[13],{"id":14,"slug":6,"title":15,"uri":16,"excerpt":17,"locale":18,"featuredImage":21,"tableOfContents":30,"content":31,"date":32,"authorJobTitle":5,"author":33,"masterings":45,"globalTags":66,"products":103,"disciplines":114,"seo":156,"__typename":166},"cG9zdDoyNjU3MA==","Creating the Next Belly Racer with SOLIDWORKS – Part Three","\u002Fproducts\u002Fsolidworks\u002Fcreating-the-next-belly-racer-with-solidworks-part-three","\u003Cp>Let’s get caught up with SOLIDWORKS resident “car guy” Mike Sabocheck as…\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"locale":19,"__typename":20},"en_US","Locale",{"node":22,"__typename":29},{"large":23,"__typename":24,"medium_large":25,"thumbnail":26,"srcSet":27,"sizes":28},"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_10-1024x549.jpg.webp","MediaItem","https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_10-768x412.jpg.webp","https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_10-150x150.jpg.webp","https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_10-1024x549.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_10-300x161.jpg.webp 300w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_10-768x412.jpg.webp 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_10.jpg.webp 1270w","(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px","NodeWithFeaturedImageToMediaItemConnectionEdge",[],"\u003Cp>Welcome to the “Creating a Belly Racer with SOLIDWORKS” blog series. If you need to catch up, you can start with the first one \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fbit.ly\u002F3wm5KYC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>As I indicated in the \u003Ca href=\".\u002Fbrands\u002Fsolidworksblog\u002F2021\u002F04\u002Fhow-solidworks-helped-design-a-belly-racer-part-two.html\">second blog\u003C\u002Fa> in this series, we’ll start to look at the Belly Racer chassis design in more detail in this Blog. Keeping with the original design intent Paul Cameron defined at the beginning of this project, the Belly Racer chassis will be based on an airplane airframe. An airframe is defined as the mechanical structure of an aircraft. An airframe is typically made out of aluminum because access weight must be kept to a minimum.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>We’ll follow the same rule with the Belly Racer and minimize the weight and use aluminum T-6061 for the majority of the chassis design. Steel will be used for critical components such as the roll bar and surrounding driver protection which will be integrated into the chassis design. The design of the Belly Racer chassis will be comprised of Bulkheads, Stringers, Longeron and the Skin. Here’s a good image showing what these components look like.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"710\" height=\"617\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_1.jpg.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-26572\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_1.jpg.webp 710w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_1-300x261.jpg.webp 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 710px) 100vw, 710px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003Cp>When I started the Belly Racer Project Paul Cameron supplied me with his concept models shown here.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"551\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_2-1024x551.jpg.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-26573\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_2-1024x551.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_2-300x162.jpg.webp 300w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_2-768x414.jpg.webp 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_2.jpg.webp 1430w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"555\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_3-1024x555.jpg.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-26574\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_3-1024x555.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_3-300x163.jpg.webp 300w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_3-768x416.jpg.webp 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_3.jpg.webp 1420w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"555\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_4-1024x555.jpg.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-26575\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_4-1024x555.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_4-300x163.jpg.webp 300w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_4-768x416.jpg.webp 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_4.jpg.webp 1420w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003Cp>I used Paul’s models as reference for the chassis design. The finished design looks similar to these models. A lot of additional features were added to the components to make assembling and welding the chassis easier by using self fixturing components. Here are images of the SOLIDWORKS assembly model of the chassis.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"523\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_5-1024x523.jpg.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-26576\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_5-1024x523.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_5-300x153.jpg.webp 300w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_5-768x393.jpg.webp 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_5.jpg.webp 1432w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"523\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_6-1024x523.jpg.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-26577\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_6-1024x523.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_6-300x153.jpg.webp 300w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_6-768x393.jpg.webp 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_6.jpg.webp 1432w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003Cp>The design is fairly simple as you can see. The intent is to manufacture the Belly Racer as a kit so someone can build and race it. Each component will be laser or water jet cut out of T-6061 Aluminum.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Assembly and welding will need careful planning because of the way each piece fits together. Here’s the front suspension main bulkheads and stringers, which shows the tabs and slots used for the self fixturing in this exploded view.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"523\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_7-1024x523.jpg.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-26578\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_7-1024x523.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_7-300x153.jpg.webp 300w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_7-768x393.jpg.webp 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_7.jpg.webp 1432w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003Cp>Looking at the rear end of the chassis we see where the “T”-shaped stringers attach to the differential housing. The horizontal component of the “T” is bent slightly so it will conform to the curved shape of the body skin and the vertical component will fit into the slots in the bulkheads. The slots will help with assembly and welding without the need to elaborate fixturing.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"523\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_8-1024x523.jpg.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-26579\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_8-1024x523.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_8-300x153.jpg.webp 300w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_8-768x393.jpg.webp 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_8.jpg.webp 1432w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003Cp>Here’s an overall look at the chassis. There’s one component not shown and that’s the roll bar\u002Fdriver protection cage. I’ll show that in the next blog.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"523\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_9-1024x523.jpg.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-26580\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_9-1024x523.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_9-300x153.jpg.webp 300w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_9-768x393.jpg.webp 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_9.jpg.webp 1432w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003Cp>To get an idea of the strength of the chassis, we ran some simulation studies on the chassis with the body skin in place. A weight of 200 lbs. was placed in the driver’s seat to mimic a driver. A linear static simulation study was performed using the 3DEXPERIENCE Simulation Structural Mechanics Engineer. Here are the results from one of the static studies. The maximum displacement is 0.3mm, which is mostly in the seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"549\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_10-1024x549.jpg.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-26581\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_10-1024x549.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_10-300x161.jpg.webp 300w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_10-768x412.jpg.webp 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fbellyracer_2_10.jpg.webp 1270w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003Cp>We’ll be doing other types of simulation studies to check the structural integrity of the chassis in both static and dynamic situations.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Until the next blog cheers!\u003C\u002Fp>","2021-06-07T08:00:51",{"node":34,"__typename":44},{"nicename":35,"description":36,"slug":35,"name":37,"firstName":38,"lastName":39,"avatar":40,"__typename":43},"michaelsabocheck","Mike Sabocheck is a Technical Sales Director with Dassault Systemes SOLIDWORKS. Mike has been with DS SOLIDWORKS for 21 years. Prior to SOLIDWORKS he worked for Xerox  for 17 years and then for Intergraph. His specialties are applying SOLIDWORKS to different design and manufacturing processes.","Mike Sabocheck","Michael","Sabocheck",{"url":41,"__typename":42},"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fmsabocheck.jpg.webp","Avatar","User","NodeWithAuthorToUserConnectionEdge",{"nodes":46,"edges":58,"__typename":65},[47,53],{"id":48,"name":49,"slug":50,"uri":51,"__typename":52},"dGVybTo5NQ==","Customer Stories","customer-stories","\u002Fmastering\u002Fcustomer-stories\u002F","Taxonomy_mastering",{"id":54,"name":55,"slug":56,"uri":57,"__typename":52},"dGVybTo5Mw==","SWUGN","swugn","\u002Fmastering\u002Fswugn\u002F",[59,63],{"isPrimary":60,"node":61,"__typename":62},false,{"id":48,"name":49,"slug":50,"uri":51,"__typename":52},"PostToTaxonomy_masteringConnectionEdge",{"isPrimary":60,"node":64,"__typename":62},{"id":54,"name":55,"slug":56,"uri":57,"__typename":52},"PostToTaxonomy_masteringConnection",{"nodes":67,"__typename":102},[68,74,79,82,87,92,97],{"id":69,"name":70,"slug":71,"uri":72,"__typename":73},"dGVybTo5NjA1","3DEXPERIENCE Platform","3dexperience-platform","\u002Ftags\u002F3dexperience-platform\u002F","Taxonomy_tag",{"id":75,"name":76,"slug":77,"uri":78,"__typename":73},"dGVybTo5NjIw","Collaboration","collaboration","\u002Ftags\u002Fcollaboration\u002F",{"id":80,"name":49,"slug":50,"uri":81,"__typename":73},"dGVybTo5NjA4","\u002Ftags\u002Fcustomer-stories\u002F",{"id":83,"name":84,"slug":85,"uri":86,"__typename":73},"dGVybTo5NjI0","Dassault Systemes","dassault-systemes","\u002Ftags\u002Fdassault-systemes\u002F",{"id":88,"name":89,"slug":90,"uri":91,"__typename":73},"dGVybTo5NTk5","Design","design","\u002Ftags\u002Fdesign\u002F",{"id":93,"name":94,"slug":95,"uri":96,"__typename":73},"dGVybTo5NjA3","Simulation","simulation","\u002Ftags\u002Fsimulation\u002F",{"id":98,"name":99,"slug":100,"uri":101,"__typename":73},"dGVybTo5NjAz","SOLIDWORKS","solidworks","\u002Ftags\u002Fsolidworks\u002F","PostToTaxonomy_tagConnection",{"edges":104,"nodes":111,"__typename":113},[105],{"isPrimary":60,"node":106,"__typename":110},{"id":107,"name":99,"slug":100,"uri":108,"__typename":109},"dGVybTo1Ng==","\u002Fproducts\u002Fsolidworks\u002F","Taxonomy_product","PostToTaxonomy_productConnectionEdge",[112],{"id":107,"name":99,"slug":100,"uri":108,"__typename":109},"PostToTaxonomy_productConnection",{"nodes":115,"edges":147,"__typename":155},[116,130,140],{"id":117,"name":118,"slug":119,"uri":120,"parentId":121,"disciplines":122,"__typename":129},"dGVybTo2MA==","3D CAD","3d-cad","\u002Fdisciplines\u002F3d-cad\u002F","dGVybTo1OA==",{"nodes":123,"__typename":128},[124],{"title":118,"uri":125,"parentId":126,"__typename":127},"\u002Fdisciplines\u002Fdesign-engineering\u002F3d-cad","cG9zdDozNzcz","Discipline","Taxonomy_disciplineToDisciplineConnection","Taxonomy_discipline",{"id":131,"name":132,"slug":133,"uri":134,"parentId":135,"disciplines":136,"__typename":129},"dGVybTo3Mg==","Management and Collaboration","management-collaboration","\u002Fdisciplines\u002Fmanagement-collaboration\u002F",null,{"nodes":137,"__typename":128},[138],{"title":132,"uri":139,"parentId":135,"__typename":127},"\u002Fdisciplines\u002Fmanagement-collaboration",{"id":141,"name":94,"slug":95,"uri":142,"parentId":135,"disciplines":143,"__typename":129},"dGVybTo4NQ==","\u002Fdisciplines\u002Fsimulation\u002F",{"nodes":144,"__typename":128},[145],{"title":94,"uri":146,"parentId":135,"__typename":127},"\u002Fdisciplines\u002Fsimulation",[148,151,153],{"isPrimary":60,"node":149,"__typename":150},{"parentId":121,"id":117,"name":118,"slug":119,"uri":120,"__typename":129},"PostToTaxonomy_disciplineConnectionEdge",{"isPrimary":60,"node":152,"__typename":150},{"parentId":135,"id":131,"name":132,"slug":133,"uri":134,"__typename":129},{"isPrimary":60,"node":154,"__typename":150},{"parentId":135,"id":141,"name":94,"slug":95,"uri":142,"__typename":129},"PostToTaxonomy_disciplineConnection",{"canonical":5,"title":157,"metaDesc":5,"opengraphAuthor":5,"opengraphDescription":158,"opengraphTitle":15,"opengraphUrl":159,"opengraphSiteName":160,"opengraphPublishedTime":161,"opengraphModifiedTime":162,"twitterTitle":5,"twitterDescription":5,"readingTime":163,"metaRobotsNoindex":164,"__typename":165},"Creating the Next Belly Racer with SOLIDWORKS – Part Three - Blog Solidworks","Let’s get caught up with SOLIDWORKS resident “car guy” Mike Sabocheck as…","\u002Fproducts\u002Fsolidworks\u002Fcreating-the-next-belly-racer-with-solidworks-part-three\u002F","Blog Solidworks","2021-06-07T12:00:51+00:00","2026-02-13T00:00:26+00:00",3,"noindex","PostTypeSEO","Post","RootQueryToPostConnection",{},{},1776255986259]