VARIATOR DESIGN optimal design and setup variator for scooter, quad, minicar, etc. by NT-Project

How it works?

The software Variator Design allows to see how the choices of the various elements of the variator affect the performance of the vehicle (speed, acceleration, etc.) in function of the engine power curve, allowing you therefore to find with ease the best solutions for your needs.

To be able to make the best choices is necessary that the calculation is very precise, for this reason the software Variator Design takes into account of all the factors that influence the performance.

- vehicle weight	- wheels axle inertia
- aerodynamic drag	- weather conditions
- rolling resistance	- vehicle balance
- engine inertia	- grip level

The operation of the software is very easy.

For first you must enter the data of the engine power curve. The power curve can be measured with dynotest, or can be calculated directly from the software Variator Design entering the data acquired from your acquisition system in a session on track. Together to this you must enter the type of engine (2S or 4T), and if you know them, the values of the crankshaft inertia, and of the auxiliaries mounted (pulley, flywheel, ignition system, etc.).
You must then enter the informations of the vehicle, and of the driving wheels. In addition to the total weight of the vehicle with rider, must be inserted, the frontal area, and the diameter of the wheels. The values of aerodynamic drag, of the rolling resistance, and of the wheels inertia, if aren't known can be derived from the examples present in the software for all the main vehicles with variator (scooter, quad, minicar, etc.)
These data are sufficient to perform the calculation assuming that the adherence allows to exploit all the engine power, but the software Variator Design allows also to perform the calculation taking account of the real adherence avalaible, in this way you can make the choices of the gear ratios also on the basis of this important factor. It will be enough enter in the software also the data relatives to the gravity of the vehicle, and to the grip level.
If between the variator and the wheel there is also a fixed gear transmission, in the software is possible to enter these gear ratios. Moreover in this area you can enter, if you know it, the inertia of the shaft of the clutch pulley.
At this point you must enter the characteristics of the variator, which can be modified until you find the optimal solution to get the maximum performance from the vehicle and fully exploit your engine.

The software Variator Design allows to define easily all the features of the variator that affect the operation, so will be possible to act on each element to see how it affects the performance and to find the best solution.

For first you must enter the standstill geometry of the variator, therefore:

- starting diameter drive pulley
- starting diameter clutch pulley
- wheelbase pulleys

VARIATOR DESIGN optimal design and setup variator for scooter, quad, minicar, etc. by NT-Project

After you must enter the geometry of the drive pulley:

- rollers scrolling position and profile
- fixed plate shape and angle
- distance plate semi-pulley

You must enter also the features of the belt:

VARIATOR DESIGN optimal design and setup variator for scooter, quad, minicar, etc. by NT-Project

- width
- angle

Moreover you must enter the characteristics of the torque corrector on the clutch pulley:

- diameter helicoidal guide
- angle helicoidal guide

At this point you must enter the features of the elements that you can easily modify on the variator, the rollers, and the contrast spring.

For the rollers:	For the spring:
- diameter - weight - number	- preload - stiffness

Results

At the end of the calculation the software Variator Design you show how the variator changes the transmission ratio, and gives its value at the differents speed. Morevoer you show the time to reach the differents speed. In this way you can have a complete picture of the choices made, also to compare the differents solutions that you want testing.

In addition to the global data, the software shows you the graphs in function of the time of all the of all the quantities of main interest to evaluate the performance, therefore the progress of the engine speed, of the speed, and of the acceleration, in function of the time. Furthermore you show how changes the transmission ratio during the acceleration. This allows you to evaluate the performance in all the phases, being able to analyze in detail the more suitable choices for the variator.

OPTIMAL ROLLER
The software Variator Design allows to find the optimal weight of the variator rollers, in fact allows to compare the performance with differents solutions, and therefore to easily find the more adapted for your needs. For the example in the case of the images, the new rollers (blue) allow to have a better performance. In fact in this case the maximum speed is reached with a time significantly lower, and in general the whole phase of acceleration is more competitive.

OPTIMAL PRELOAD and SPRING
Together to the choice of the rollers, other aspect very important is the choice of the contrast spring, and of the preload, above all track by track. The software Variator Design allows you to see how changes the performance in function of the spring features, so you can know in base at the different springs, which choice can be better for the different situations.

In the case of the images, the new spring, and the new preload, given a worsening of the acceleration in the central phase, but after a consistent improvement, therefore thanks at this information will be easy to make the best choice in function of the features of the track.

OPTIMAL ROLLERS SCROLLING PROFILE
In the examples shown above you have seen the use of the software to obtain an optimal set-up of the variator, then by intervening on the elements that are easy to replace, but the software Variator Design can also be used during the design of the variator, or to change radically the characteristics of the variator, in fact it is possible to study a different profile on which the rollers scroll.

In the case of the images the new scrolling profile (red) that gives a faster rise of the roller in the starting phase, determines an improvement of the performance, all however it is related to the characteristics of the engine, and what is the optimal value must be assessed on a case-by-case basis, thanks to the software Variator Design you can make the best choice specific for your engine and your vehicle.

OPTIMAL TORQUE CORRECTOR
As for the rollers scrolling profile, the choice of the torque corrector characteristics significantly influences the behavior of the variator. Thanks to the software Variator Design also this aspect can be assessed easily and safely.

In the case shown, the new torque corrector (red) determines a more homogeneous variation of the transmission ratio during the acceleration phase, and this leads to an improvement in performance up to almost the maximum speed. Also from this example you can see how thanks to the software Variator Design is possible to find many solutions for the variator, both in setup phase, both in design and development phase, that allow to improve the performance in function of your needs and to exploit at the best your engine based on the characteristics of the vehicle and its use.

OPTIMAL SET-UP FOR DIFFERENTS RIDER WEIGHT
As we have seen according to the characteristics of the engine and of the vehicle, thanks to the software Variator Design, is possible to find the best solutions for the variator to achieve the maximum performance, in addition to this, the software can also be used to differentiate the variator set-up in based on the weight of the rider, in fact often happens to have riders of different weight, and therefore is important to see if the choices made for the variator are optimal for both riders, or it is necessary a different setup.

In the case shown by intervening on the variator set-up, an improvement compromise has been found which reduces the loss of acceleration due to the greater weight of the rider.

OPTIMAL SET-UP AFTER ENGINE TUNING
If you make engine tuning that modifies the power curve of the engine, the set-up and the characteristics of the variator that had been identified as better, may require modifications. Thanks to the software Variator Design, by inserting the new power curve and working on the different calibration elements of the variator, you can easily see if there is a better solution than the previous one to make the most of the new power curve.

In the case shown, thanks to the software it is possible to work on the variator set-up until finding a solution that better adapts to the new power curve of the engine, obtaining advantages on the performance of the vehicle.

Obviously every engine and every vehicle require differents choices, for this reason the help of the software Variator Design is essential, and allows you to find the best solutions to make the most of the different power curves, but also to better meet the different needs that there are in function of the competition, at the track, or of the driving style of the rider.

Purchase