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Cleat Traction Tester

The Cleat Traction Tester was a semester-long design project in 2.70: FUNdamentals of Precision Machine Design, taught by Alexander Slocum at MIT. I worked with one other mechanical engineering student to design a portable, cost-effective mechanical device that measures how cleats interact with playing surfaces under realistic loading conditions.

The project was motivated by the link between rotational traction and ACL injuries in cleated sports. Our goal was to create a second-generation traction testing system that could apply controlled vertical loads, measure both linear and rotational traction, and operate without external power, making it suitable for both lab and field testing. The final design used purely mechanical systems to simulate athletic loading and was modular and transportable.

Through this project, I practiced precision mechanical design and proof-based design. Using Alex Slocum's design philosophy pushed me to consider each component choice and associated risks. I looked at system  stiffness, loading paths, friction, backlash, and error sources, and learned how small design choices can dramatically affect measurement quality. Overall, my design process has become more intentional and efficient. 

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Technically, I strengthened my skills in:

  1. Designing load paths for controlled force and torque application

  2. Using springs, leadscrews, pulleys, and torque tools as measurement instruments

  3. Estimating stiffness, friction, and error using first-principles calculations

  4. Designing for repeatability and robustness​

Takeaways

  • CAD

  • Mechanics

  • Design analysis

  • Precision design

  • Problem solving

Process

Motivation

 

Athletes, coaches, and equipment designers all care about how shoes interact with the ground, but there is little data on cleat-to-surface traction. In sports like soccer, football, and lacrosse, too little or too much traction can be dangerous. Low traction reduces performance and control, but high rotational traction is strongly linked to knee injuries, especially ACL tears.

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Most existing traction testing systems are large, expensive, lab machines that are difficult to use on real surface conditions. This makes it hard for elite athletes to choose the right cleats, and for designers to  test new tread patterns or materials.

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Goals

 

The goal of the Cleat Traction Tester project was to design a portable, mechanical system that could measure how cleats interact with playing surfaces. The device needed to be used both in controlled testing environments and directly on real fields.

 

Design requirements included:

  • Measure both linear and rotational traction to capture cleat-surface interaction

  • Apply realistic vertical loads that approximate the force athletes generate during cutting, turning, and accelerating

  • Operate without external power

  • Be modular and portable for easy transport and testing across different fields and surfaces

  • Allow adjustable testing angles for traction to be measured in multiple directions relative to cleat orientation

  • Be simple to operate without specialized training.

 

By meeting these requirements, the Cleat Traction Tester helps relate traction to cleat design and helps athletes have safer footwear for their playing conditions.

Progress

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Concept Generation and Down-Selection

Based on our design requirements, we brainstormed how to apply loads and measure traction. We thought through weighted frames, spring-loaded systems, cable-and-pulley mechanisms, and screw-driven systems. Each concept was evaluated on portability, complexity, stiffness, and ease of use. We ultimately chose a purely mechanical approach using a leadscrew to apply vertical load, springs to tune force, and mechanical force/torque gauges to measure traction. This concept avoided electronics entirely.

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Proof-Based Design

Before building anything, we performed first-order calculations for the system. We estimated athlete loading conditions and designed the structure to handle those forces without failure. This analysis included  calculating spring constants for desired force, sizing leadscrews for load and cost-efficiency, estimating friction losses in pulleys and sliders, and analyzing bending and stiffness of structural members. Because each component has an analytical "proof" behind its choice, this step avoids overbuilt or underbuilt components. 

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Mechanical Layout

With our component specs, we built the full system in CAD. This included the frame, vertical loading mechanism, traction interface, pulleys, springs, and measurement points. We designed the system so that angles, loads, and traction direction could be changed without rebuilding the device.

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Final Design

The final Cleat Traction Tester was a compact, mechanical design that could apply realistic loads and measure linear and rotational traction without external power. It could be transported to different surfaces with its folded and compactable features, adjusted for different angles, and operated with minimal setup.

 

Next Steps​

Next steps for the Cleat Traction Tester would be to build and test the system. There is a lot to learn from turning CAD into a physical product, especially when looking at how the user interacts with the Tester. We did have components that were external, such as the force and torque gauges, that may not be ideal for someone to use in the field. User feedback on the design would be crucial to the next iteration, with the hopes of the device being a tool for athletes, coaches, and designers to make safer decisions about footwear and playing surfaces.

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