B&M and Intamin Question

Can someone tell me why the quick transitions, turns, and inversions on B&M and Intamin coasters are so smooth, but Arrow and Vekoma coasters knock you around, and produce a ton of headbanging? Is it just the different track that B&M and Intamin use, or is it something else?

-Raven_Rider

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"Hold on tight, with all your might, and enjoy your flight on the Raven!"

I feel the main reason for this is that B&M and Intamin use compound curves, which eases and slows the transition into the curve. Arrow and Vekoma used fixed radius curves, so there is a very abrupt transition. Note that new Arrow coasters use the same compound curves as B&M and Intamin, so they are smooth also.

The reason is that the trains operated by B&M and Intamin use springloadfed wheels which mean on corners the train does not have a jult as the side wheels make contact with the track as they are permanatly against the track.

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JawCoasters - Site for UK Coasters
www.wilkes2536.freeserve.co.uk

What are compound curves?

I've always thought it had something to do with the track style and the supports. Weaker supports, especially Arrow's, allow the track to sway a bit and that might cause some G's that aren't supposed to be there. Also, the Arrow/Vekoma track does not have the spine or bars holding the track (whatever they're called) of B&M, Intamin or Giovanola so it might wear faster.

If you look at the berrings on a B&M, Intamin, or Giovanola train you can see that the wheels are attached to a spring which allow the wheels to move freely from the train. Kinda hard to explain.

Pete nailed it on the head. I notice a tremendous abruptness in the way Arrow curves (and the several feet of track approaching them) are laid out, whereas B&M's seem more gradual in their transitions and changes in direction. On Raging Bull and Mantis, those last few turns are my favorite parts of the ride, but they would hurt on an Arrow. Although Arrow's wheel carriages are able to pivot in several areas (which is necessary on any coaster for proper tracking), they are very basic and always seem to hit every angle hard. I know for sure this could be fixed by getting rid of those split-second transitions and making them more gradual. Sure that means more track, but it would be a heck of a lot smoother. I am so anxious to ride Tennessee Tornado, the "B&M" of Arrows!
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www.angelfire.com/oh4/tk173
An unnerving stillness in the woods of southern Indiana beckons for you on May 11th.....

Parabolic curves baby! That makes a difference, yes, but the major reason is that given by John Wilkes.

A good example is Corkscrew at Cedar Point. Notice how smooth the entire first part of the ride is, all the way past the vertical loop. Why? The whole thing is nearly in a straight line. Hit that first curve, and you can see the car in front of you bounce around in the track separate from the one you're sitting in. That's because the guide wheels aren't making constant contact with the rails.

Now do the same on a B&M or Intamin ride, and you'll notice that the train very closely adheres to the form of the track. The wheels touch at all times, so there's no bouncing.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

Its the CAD programs the companies use.
All coasters "calculated" by Werner Stengel (Intamin, B&M, Premier) use Stengels programs which calculate the track for every milimeter. Arrow and Vekoma use slightly less advanced programs, that calculate in larger frames, therefor the space inbetween is just "estimated". The Arrow track design doesnt help too much either, to prevent vibraton. Sorry, i just cant explain it properly in english.
Stengel dedicated his whole carrer to perfect his programs, his know-how is unmatched in this field.