California Teams using the software
Cost Database - California Announcement
The latest version has been very problematic. It's unfair to teams in
California, and we realize that. We'll write up the official wording but
here is what we are going to do:
1) If you are not using the software you need to submit your Cost
Report on time. Don't forget there is no penalty for the addendum so any
AIR's you haven't gotten back you can fix in the addendum.
2) If you are using the software then:
A. You should email your database file (fca_DATA.accdb) along with
University Name, Car Number and name/email/phone for your contact person to
fsae.cost@gmail.com by the deadline. Make the subject: "California
Data: Car ###", fill in the car number (three digit number). This is to
verify you have been using the database and have data in it. Even if you
think the data is gone we can extract it, so don't worry.
B. Once the new version of the software is available to fix these bugs we
will distribute it and you will have 48 hours to finalize your cost reports
and mail the hard copy to the judges.
There have been a lot of growing pains this year. We are trying to be
fair. Please stay flexible.
Update: If you haven't already done so, please follow the above
instructions above emailing your database file as soon as possible and
without penalty. You will receive back a confirmation email.
New Release Available Soon!
Please see Cost Database Application Page for more details.
Updated California Expectations
For teams who are using the new Cost Software and sync'ing with the
server you will not be required to submit the eBOM in Excel format. Any team
who is not using the Cost Software must submit the eBOM in Excel by email as
per the expectations document. Here are the car numbers for teams I see in
the database who qualify for not submitting the eBOM in Excel if and only if
they finish their cost report in the software.
Car #'s:
0
5
6
17
23
31
33
42
44
47
Again, if you car number is listed above and if you finish your cost report
in the software you do not need to submit the eBOM. You should include a
printed version of all the reports in your mailed submission. The judges can
see the data online which replaces the eBOM file. If you car # is not listed
above or you decide not to finish the cost report in the software you still
must submit the eBOM in Excel by email.
If you have questions, please post here.
New Add Item Request Online Form replaces Excel File
See link at top left or follow this link.
Michigan Real Case Posted
Read here.
2009 California Expectations
25 Apr - Just like Virginia and Michigan we are publishing official
expectations document for the California event. The only change from
Michigan is the eBOM should be emailed to the address given. The eBOM
is the same as Michigan but has been renamed on the left download
links. This will be published to SAE.org next week.
Addendum Policy Update - No Penalty for Virginia, Michigan or California
in 2009
Review here.
Cost Software Goes Gold! Software Version 1.0 Now Available
This is the first full release of the Cost Software. We have fixed
all known bugs and issues. The authentication numbers are in the system so
teams should now have full functionality to input data, view and print
reports and synchronizing their data with the server. After performing
a "sync" with the server and updates to the administrative tables
(materials, processes, fasteners and tooling) will be downloaded and the
student data will be uploaded and downloaded from the server. This
allows team members to share data amongst themselves and have a single
report. Application Page.
Virginia Real Case Posted
The Real Case Scenario for the Virginia event is now available on SAE.org.
Link.
Please read the announcement
about the Michigan Cost event (announced 24 Mar)
The file required to be filled out and submitted with your cost report is
on the right in downloads or download here.
Question: Why are you adding another requirement one week before the
deadline?
Answer: Based on the judging of the Virginia reports we learned
that we really need the spreadsheet filled out to feed the scoring data into
the system, just like in years past. Originally, we thought we could
do this with the data from the cost software, but since we don't have a
stable release yet that the you can use, the spreadsheet is needed.
While the judges manually entered the data for Virginia they requested we
have you submit it with your cost reports. We apologize for the late
notice.
Make vs. Buy
A lot of teams are sending in Add Item Requests for
parts which are not necessary, because these parts are "made"
parts. Section 3.12 of the Cost Rules explains the difference, that
teams should cost certain parts as "made" even though they
purchase or buy them. This is in an attempt to reduce complexity in
cases where the competitive advantage of certain parts is very low and the
volunteers would have to add many different versions of something for very
little benefit for you, the students. For example there are many types
of steering racks and almost none of them are used exactly as
purchased. Most teams end up making many of the parts themselves.
Rather than catalog many steering racks we designate these as
"made" parts. So even if you buy a Stiletto steering rack if
the Cost Tables list this as a "made" part you cost it as if you
bought the aluminum yourself and machined it at a mill. Or any other
legal way to cost it. If the rack housing is cast then you cost it as
cast. In theory all parts of the car could be done this way but we
didn't want you to have to take apart your dampers to reverse engineer
them. And because it is hard to describe the differences between
dampers and there is a lot of performance difference between them (even ones
that are almost the same on paper) these are "bought" parts that
we list by make and model. For teams that actually make their own
dampers there is still a Student Built option.
This confusion is obviously caused by the Materials
Table not being clear. To try to make this more clear we will be
adding place holders to the table. For example "Steering Wheel
(All Cost as Made)" will be inserted. If you see this you will
know to cost your steering wheel as if you made it. For example stamp
out the steel shape, drill some holes, wrap in foam and cover in
leather.
Some parts are listed both ways. There might
be ten different calipers listed one of which is "Student Built'.
In this case you should use the caliper you bought unless you actually made
it then use the "Student Built" option and include all the
materials, processes, fasteners and tooling used to cost that caliper.
For more information please read section C3.12.
So if the material includes "Student
Built" then you know you can cost it as you made it (if you did). If
the material includes "(All Cost as Made)" then you know you have
to cost it as if you made it even if you bought it.
As of the evening of Feb 9 these items are the ones
that should be cost as if you made them even if you bought them.
Please see the Materials Table as this list will not be updated:
Brake Rotor (All Cost as Made)
Differential Housing (All Cost as Made)
Pulley (All Cost as Made)
Sprocket (All Cost as Made)
Fuel Rail (All Cost as Made)
Heat Exchanger Fan Shroud (All Cost as Made)
Muffler (All Cost as Made)
Mirror, Rear View, Housing (All Cost as Made)
Seat (All Cost as Made)
Steering Pinion (All Cost as Made)
Steering Rack Housing (All Cost as Made)
Steering Rack (All Cost as Made)
Steering Wheel, Quick Release (All Cost as Made)
Steering Wheel (All Cost as Made)
Throttle Body (All Cost as Made)
Again, if you see a part on this list don't send an Add Item Request,
instead cost it as if you had made it from the materials from which it is
made.
Questions? Email us! Help us improve
the clarity of this rules section.
FSAE Cost Event Announcement: 2009 Authentication Numbers and Submissions
Please see the following announcement
for important information about the cost event including deadlines for Add
Item Requests and the elimination of mandatory electronic submission
of the Cost Report for North America events.
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