How RC Cars are Made – Start to Finish (Detailed)
In short and precise words, this article addresses all you need to know about how and where RC cars are made, the materials used in making them, and lots more.
Are RC Cars Made in a Factory? Or Are There Parts that are Made by Hand?
Just as there are different grades to almost every item in the market today, the same applies to RC cars. It is actually possible to make some RC cars at home however, definitely they are not the kind you would get in stores online or supermarkets.
Different brands have honed their names in the production of quality RC cars and most of these brands have factories located all over the world that help in the production of these cars.
Technological advances have in many ways limited the use of manpower in the production of goods and services.
Due to the fact that these companies produce in large quantities, the bulk of the work is done by machinery in factories which makes production faster, easier, and able to meet the market price demand.
How are RC Cars Made in The Factory
Depending on the grade or the purpose for which the car is made, there might be variations in the production of RC cars.
Similarly, the method of production of RC cars may vary from company to company. however, there are some basic things that are common to all of them.
Through the use of computers, the design and precise shape of the car to be made is programmed.
After which, it is computed into the machine that would craft out the design into the plastic form.
The final process ends with the addition of the motor parts and finishing of the car’s body through painting.
What RC Cars Are Made Out of
An ideal RC car is made with durable plastic, silicon, and aluminum materials.
The body particularly is usually made with thick polycarbonate plastic materials which are very durable.
Basically, the important parts that make up an RC car include the motor, body, wheels, and servos. These would be discussed in detail below:
Engine/Motor
The motor of RC cars are mostly made from cobalt, nickel and iron. Though due to it’s cheap price, iron is the one that most producers turn to. While Cobalt is the least used.
To make the motor, you would need the following items:
- Breadboard
- Magnet wire
- Rotor
- Steel bolts
- 2 Neodymium magnets
When it comes to motors in RC cars, there are two basic types.
There are the brushed motor and the brushless motor. Mere looking at the motors, the way you can distinguish between them is that the brushed motor has two wires and ventilation holes while the brushless motor has two wires and no holes.
Both the brushed and brushless motors have specific Electric Speed Controllers (ESC) which control the movement of the RC car.
Though both of them have their unique characteristics, the brushless motor type is more common in RC cars.
They are more expensive compared to brushed motors. However, unlike them, their use is somewhat unlimited. Brushless motors are usually fast, efficient, and more powerful than brushless motors.
Body
An RC car needs a body that is rugged, flexible, and can withstand different sorts of abuse that may be subjected to it.
This sort of durability and flexibility is what you find in most hobby grade RC cars today. The kind of material that meets the description and is used for making the body of most RC cars is Lexan.
Lexan is actually a brand name for Polycarbonate plastics. These polycarbonate plastics clearly meet the requirements for an RC cars’ body.
They are very flexible and at the same time, durable.
Wheels
The wheels are a combination of two materials. The tires are rubber while the wheel frame is made from plastic materials or metal, usually aluminum.
To make the wheels, the mold is first sprayed, and then an accurately measured weight and volume of rubber placed pressed into the mold. The molding machine then heats the rubber to melt it and into the mold cavity. After which, the heat is stopped and the rubber is allowed to solidify again.
There are a number of wheels available in the market today that differ in shape, quality, size and the list goes on.
Your choice of wheels would depend on the speed you want and the kind of terrain the car would be running on. At any point, you may decide to change the wheels of your car to suit your needs. This feature is sadly only available for torque focused cars rather than speed focused which use “bead-lock” rims to hold the tires in place.
The reason for this is that for an RC car to function at maximum speed, the tires have to be permanently attached to the wheels.
Servos
Basic servos are made of plastic, however, the plastic can be replaced with metal gears in high power servos. Within the servo, is the circuit that compares the signal from the receiver with a one-shot timer with the aid of the pulse width comparator.
Simply put, the servos are the movers. They are the part of the RC car responsible for the movement of the car. The servos are responsible for the radio control of the car through the receiver.
The servo does not work independently. Instead, it works in conjunction with the motor and gear which are in turn responsible for the speed and torque of the car.
The Materials In An RC Car
A quick look into the content of the RC car would show you these items
- A circuit board
- A battery pack
- An antenna
- Two, or more, electric motors
It is amazing to realize that as complex as the RC motor may seem just these few items are required to keep it up and running.
The circuit board holds the resistors, diodes, capacitors, and IC which are in control of the motors. The battery pack serves as the source of power to the motors. One of the motors is responsible for the movement of the front wheels towards the left or right direction, while the other is responsible for moving the rear wheel in either forward or backward directions.
Nonetheless, to make up these materials, below is a list of items you would need:
- Lexan sheet
- 9v battery
- 2 inch wheels
- 8 small bolts
- Servo
- Transmitter
- Receiver
- Speed Controllers
- Electric drill
- Super glue
- 2 800rpm electric drive motors
Where RC Cars are Made?
There are different popular brands out there that make quality RC cars, this section discusses where the top 3 brands make their RC cars.
Where Are Traxxas Cars Made?
This Texas based country dates as far as 1986. The company focuses on the production of nitro and electric powered radio-controlled vehicles, cars, boats and so on. Traxxas RC cars are usually made in Taiwan after which, they are shipped and assembled in the United States. However, the distribution is made across their several companies all over the world.
American Made RC Cars
Some great brands have their RC cars made in the United State, one popular example is ARRMA. Another example of a brand that has its RC cars produced in the US is The X Factory.
Read All About: RC Cars That Made In The USA
What type of Plastic Are RC Cars Made From
As discussed earlier, RC cars are expected to be durable flexible and impact resistant. Sequel to this, the best material to provide these features is the Polycarbonate plastics.
Can You Make an RC Car from The Scratch?
Indeed, it is possible to make an RC car from the scratch you just need to know the things you need and follow the steps to assemble them together.
How to Make an RC Car from Scratch
You would need to get the materials listed above in the previous section. Then go ahead with the following procedures:
First, cut out chasis from the polycarbonate plastic sheet. To the front of the chasis, connect the wheels. Then, make the servos for the fore wheels and with the plastic, make out the steering.
Next, connect the second motor to the rear wheels and attach it to the chasis. To the motors and servos, attach the battery, the receiver and the speed controller and finally, you can drive your RC car around with your transmitter.
*Note that the batteries have to be disconnected while you are making your RC car for safety purposes.
