This document outlines the procedures for building an electric car as a final project. It describes 3 main parts: 1) The structure which involves creating a "double T" bumper and attaching it to a wooden base. 2) The electric circuit which connects a motor, batteries, limit switch, and wires. 3) The mechanical part including attaching the motor and creating front and back shafts to connect to wheels. The project provides detailed tasks for constructing each part and assembling them into a working model car.

1. IES Mesa y López 3ºA - 2013 Final Project.
Technology Department
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PROCEDURE 1: THE STRUCTURE
TASK 1.1: THE BUMPER
o Create this “double T” structure using pine wood stick and the coping saw.
o Glue the parts using white glue
TASK 1.2: THE BASE
o Measure, mark and cut up a piece of plywood of 18 cm x 10 cm (use a squere
for this)
TASK 1.3: PUT THE WOOD STRUCTURE TOGETHER
o Use the cutter or the hand auger to drill two holes around the middle of your
base
o Attach your bumper to the base using two straps.
o Stick one small piece of wood to your bumper, so it can activate the limit switch.

2. IES Mesa y López 3ºA - 2013 Final Project.
Technology Department
Page 2 of 5
PROCEDURE 2: THE ELECTRIC CIRCUIT
This is the electric circuit that you have to create:
The limit switch is a toggle (in Spanish, conmutador), with three connections, named C,
NO and NC
o ‘C’ stands for Common; it is the connection that goes to the motor
o ‘N.O.’ stands for Normally Open; this connection goes to one side of your battery
holder
o ‘N.C.’ stands for Normally Closed; this connection goes to the other side of your
battery holder
TASK 2.1: TESTING
1. Place all the components (switch, engine, limit switch, batteries) on your table
2. Connect the components using the wire
3. Check that the circuit works
TASK 2.2: DRAWING
4. When you have tested the circuit, think how you are going to place the
components on your structure
5. Use a pencil to copy the electric circuit on the of your structure
Your final circuit will be similar to this:

3. IES Mesa y López 3ºA - 2013 Final Project.
Technology Department
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4. IES Mesa y López 3ºA - 2013 Final Project.
Technology Department
Page 4 of 5
PROCEDURE 3: THE MECHANICAL PART
The mechanical part of your project will consist of a motor with mechanical
reduction, and two shafts. The back shaft is going to be attached to the motor. The front
shaft is going to move freely. This is what we call in Spanish “tracción trasera”
TASK 3.1: ATTACHING THE MOTOR
1. Use the hot glue gun to attach the motor vertically to one side of your structure
TASK 3.2 ATTACHING THE FRONT SHAFT
1. Use the tape measure, the marker and the hacksaw to saw a 14 cm. piece of
threaded rod
2. File the threaded rod sides until it is safe
3. Find a small empty tube (a drinking straw or an empty Bic pen is perfect) and insert
your shaft inside. This tube will allow your shaft to move freely
4. Glue the tube and to the structure using the hot glue gun. Make sure you glue the
shaft perfectly parallel (using a square is a good idea). Otherwise, your car will drift
to one side
TASK 3.3 ATTACHING THE BACK SHAFT
1. In this task, you need to add an extension to the motor shaft
2. Measure how long is the extension that you need
3. Mark and saw a piece of threaded rod of the desired length
4. Attach this piece of threaded rod to your motor shaft using a terminal block
5. Check the picture for inspiration
TASK 3.4 THE WHEELS
1. Use your imagination to create four wheels. You can use bottle lids, tuna cans, used
cars lids or you can create your own wheels by sawing them in plywood
2. Attach your wheels to the shafts using a nut and a washer

5. IES Mesa y López 3ºA - 2013 Final Project.
Technology Department
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KEY QUESTIONS
 Can you help me with this, please?
 Can you give me the (…hacksaw, threaded rod, sand paper, ….), please?
 How do I (saw, file, attach) this?
 Is this OK?
KEYWORDS
o To attach: to connect two parts mechanically
o Motor: engine
o Battery holder = a place to keep your batteries
o To solder = to put together metals using heat
o Switch = a device to open and close electric circuits
o Limit switch = a device to divert electricity to one way or to other
o Tin = a special metal used to solder
o Solder = a device used to solder. It can get really hot
o Wire = cable
o To connect = to join parts of an electric circuit
o Shaft = a long piece of metal used to connect wheels
FILE or RASP
HACKSAW
NUT
WASHER
BRUSH
WHITE GLUE
PLASTIC
STRAPS

6. IES Mesa y López 3ºA - 2013 Final Project.
Technology Department
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COPING SAW
LIMIT SWITCHHAND AUGER
TAPE MEASURE
PLYWOOD
SANDPAPER
THREADED ROD
TERMINAL
BLOCK PINE WOOD STICKS