Improved Smith-Machine

Design
Cauy Goar
 Stakeholders
This machine design will appeal to different areas of the fitness world.
• Exercise Equipment Manufactures
• Commercial Gym Owners
• Personal Gym Owners
Current Smith-Machine Major Flaw
• Articles from professional body builders, videos, and personal experience show
that the one common design flaw with all available smith-machines is there lack
of mobility.
• This lack of mobility is caused by the guides that the main lifting bar rides on.
These guides restrict the lifting bar to ride in a single vertical plane.
“My biggest problem with the Smith Machine is that people are convinced they are
still doing free weight movements when they perform exercises on the Smith
Machine. Because an Olympic bar is attached to the machine does not make this a
free weight piece. The reason is this piece only allows movement in a fixed plane of
motion(1)”
 Point Of View
I am a 33 year old male who attends a commercial gym every morning and work
out alone. Since I work out alone I like to use the smith-machine because it
eliminates the need for a “spotter”. However I sacrifice form by using a smith-
machine because it does not allow the bar to follow my bodies movement but
restricts it.
 Problem Statement
I want to design a smith-machine that gives the user full mobility to perform all
exercises that require a barbell. With this design the barbell will move on two axis
while giving the security to lock the bar in any position in the event of muscle
failure.
 Criteria
• Durability
• Minimal Moving Parts
• Range of Motion
• Ease of operation
• Versatility for all exercises
 Requirements
• The design shall support 600 pounds.
• The design shall be able to lock and hold weight at 15 positions
• The design shall not restrict vertical movement or lateral movement to a single
plane
• The design shall have the range to go from 6" off the floor to the overhead
position of 8'.
• The design will have the ability to use a removable bench
Analytical Hierarchy Process Analysis
Criteria 1 2 3 4 5 Total Weight
1. Durability
1 1 4 1\5 7 1 13.2 0.295
2.Minimal Moving Parts 2 1\2 1 1\5 1\3 1\3 2.11 0.047
3.Mobility 3 5 5 1 3 2 16 0.358
4.Ease of Operation 4 1\7 3 1\3 1 3 7.47 0.167
5.Versatility for Exercises 5 1 3 1\2 1\3 1 5.83 0.13
7.39 16 2.23 11.66 7.33 44.61
Mobility carried the most weight since it was the driving force for the design. Durability was very
important since the user puts total trust in the machine to protect them.
 Design Idea #1

• This design uses three linear

bearings on each side, two
which are horizontal that allow
the vertical column to move
back and forth.
• The third linear bearing is on the
vertical column that lifting bar
rides on, this portion of the
design is what traditional smith
machines use.
Design Idea # 2
• This design uses two linear
bearings, one on the lower
horizontal guide and one on the
vertical lifting bar guide.
• The top horizontal guide is what
differs this design from the
previous one. This design uses a
trolley system that rides on a I-
Beam.
Design Idea # 3
• This design’s vertical rail pivots
on a lower fixed position.
• The top horizontal guide has
positions to put in locking pins
to limit the over travel of the
vertical rail.
 Decision Matrix

• Design A & B offer the same 1. Durability

amount of mobility while design 2.Minimal Moving Parts
A had greater durability. 3.Mobility
4.Ease of Operation
• Design C did well in regards to
5.Versatility for Exercises
ease of operation and minimal
moving parts but lacked in Design A Design B Design C
mobility. Criteria Weight Rating Score Rating Score Rating Score

1 0.295 4 1.18 3 0.885 4 1.18

2 0.047 3 0.141 2 0.094 4 0.188

3 0.358 5 1.79 5 1.79 3 1.074

4 0.167 4 0.668 4 0.668 4 0.668

5 0.13 5 0.65 5 0.65 3 0.39

Total 21 4.429 19 4.087 18 3.5

Winning Design
Winning Design
Winning Design
 Function of the Design
This design allows the user to unlock the weight from the vertical rack by rotating
their grip on the bar 45 degrees( like operating a throttle on a motorcycle), perform
exercise movement then engage the locking mechanism by rotating back 45
degrees.
 The Solution to the problem
• With this design user can perform any exercise that includes a barbell, such as the
main three compound exercises ( bench press, squat , deadlift).
• This design allows the user to maintain correct form by letting the bar follow an
arc instead of a straight line as it moves up and down.
• With multiple locking positions the user can safely get out from underneath the
bar in the event of muscle failure.
• With a simple movement of the wrist the user can easily operate this machine
safely.
The Value of the Machine
• The machine is made of entirely of mild and stainless steel.
• The total cost of the machine will be between $750 and $1000.
• With the versatility of the machine the user can do a wide range of exercises that
would normally require multiple machines.
• “Whether you’re short on time or the gym is packed, you can still get a fantastic
total-body workout with one single piece of equipment: the Smith machine.(2)”
 References
(1) Josh Henkin, April 12, 2016, ”What's Wrong With Using The Smith Machine For Squats?”
Online document, https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/henkin6ttt.htm
(2) Lara McGlashan MFA CPT,AUG 1, 2014 , “The Ultimate Smith-Machine Guide”,
Online document, https://www.oxygenmag.com/training/the-ultimate-smith-machine-guide-9256