Balancing Requirements
In the end, all this
design work culminates into a final design which balances all priorities
in a neat fashion. In fact, looking back at your choices, you can gain
a sense of pride in knowing that your brain has given each one it's
due attention.
So how do you balance
requirements? A matrix is a good tool. By rating several parts or their
interactions, one can decide if a part is useful over a broader range
of criteria.
Consider wheels.
Here is a matrix defining the criteria:
| Wheel
brand |
Does
it suit the MNO hub wheel nut pattern? |
Is
the required tread of tire available? |
Brake
disc cooling by design? |
| Xyz,
Inc. 15 x 7 |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Abc,
Inc. 15 x 7 |
Yes |
Yes |
No
|
Simple as it is,
it shows that right off the bat, the Xyz wheel is not going to work
with the preferred MNO hub. However, maybe another hub would work too,
a further criteria. However, disregarding this fact, it is apparent
that the disc rotor would be better cooled with the Xyz wheel. This
is a compromise and an integral part of balancing requirements.
The designer would
at this point have the choice of either scrapping both wheel models,
and finding more sources and examples, or settling for the Abc wheel.
It is important
to keep safety at heart as well. Performance is best had in a car that
can handle the lumps should something go wrong. Drivers will want to
get back in if they don't have to be extracted. If cost is a limitation,
then performance will have to suffer to offer the lower cost.
Balancing Your
Time
As a final word
for this section, you should make building your race car an enjoyable
experience. Sacrificing relationships and relaxation time, over the
long haul required to build a car, is not healthy. Pace yourself, and
enjoy life, and if deadlines really beckon, then push, push, push!
Good luck!
