CAD & Mechanical Design
Automotive Playground Design
A complete SOLIDWORKS playground assembly designed around safety, structural requirements, and an automotive theme for children ages 2-5.
Overview
This project focused on the mechanical design of a residential playground combining a slide, tire climbing wall, and free-hanging tire swing into one complete assembly. The structure was modeled in SOLIDWORKS with an automotive theme and designed around the dimensional and safety requirements for children ages 2-5.
The final design incorporated pressure-treated lumber, HDPE, steel hardware, and repurposed tires while considering component placement, accessibility, structural loading, and guidelines from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Outdoor Home Playground Safety Handbook.
Reference: CPSC Outdoor Home Playground Safety Handbook
My Contributions
- Designed and modeled the complete playground structure in SOLIDWORKS, including all components and final assembly.
- Created the main deck, staircase, slide, tire climbing wall, swing structure, safety railings, and automotive themed features.
- Produced engineering drawings, assembly visuals, and presentation renders from the completed CAD model.
- Contributed to structural analysis and design validation.
Mechanical Design
I designed the complete playset in SOLIDWORKS, including the main deck, staircase, slide, tire climbing wall, swing structure, safety railings, and automotive-themed features. Individual components and subassemblies were developed and integrated into the final assembly while accounting for clearances, accessibility, and structural support.
Key dimensions and component placement were developed using guidance from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Outdoor Home Playground Safety Handbook, including platform and barrier heights, stair and handrail protection, equipment spacing, and fall protection.
Engineering Analysis
Structural analysis was used alongside the CAD design to evaluate the playground under expected loading. For the slide, an 80 lb child load and a dynamic load factor were used to evaluate bending moment, bending stress, shear stress, and material suitability.
The analysis was used to verify the selected HDPE geometry and demonstrate how mechanical design decisions could be supported through analytical calculations before fabrication.