[TroyCDH]

With multiple CAD people you should break down based on robot function as you suggest. chassis/drive train---arm---shooter--electronic board and so forth. Your main CAD person should be managing the overall assembly ensuring the smaller design teams have a current overall assembly to work with that is up to date. This designer will also need to resolve issues between the design teams as they both try to use the same space of the robot for their individual designs.

You could have students new to CAD create the purchased components in 3D. Or find files on the web. The experienced CAD/Designer student could focus on the custom parts and design. Kind of a lead student & apprentice student situation.

Good thought (concern) on names of files. As you may know, you must have unique file names. The chassis team cannot save a part as "bracket" if the shooter team already has a "bracket". This same filename can (incorrectly) be done if teams are on their own PCs or drives (folders) but once all the parts are stored in the same folder to make the final assembly you will have issues. You can rename files, while watching for related assemblies and drawings, but it is better to have a filename plan.

One simple thought is that every CAD person use his/her initials at the beginning (or end but the team must decide) of the file name. For example "taa_bracket" would not conflict with "frc_bracket". A better solution might be for the chassis team to start all filenames with "chassis". Or your team could assign meaningful letters. A for arm, C for chassis etc.

The main goals are the file naming process is written down, the CAD team(s) know it and follow it. You could assign numbers like business do but if you are working at home, of after school, or an idea pops into your head at a certain time you might not have access (permissions) to an overall part number system. That leads to the renaming files once the master number sheet is available again, and watching file relations of drawings and assemblies.

Troy