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Posted by Ed Sparks, Engineer on team #34, DaimlerChrysler Electronics & Bob Jones High School, from Bob Jones High School and DaimlerChrysler.

Posted on 4/16/99 7:00 AM MST


In Reply to: CAD Drawings? posted by Rick Gibbs on 4/15/99 8:44 PM MST:




I think you'll find that the longer you play this game, the more you will
depend on CAD. When we started out 3 years ago our machine was very basic.
We machined some stuff, but mostly it utilized parts 'as-is' from the
legal materials sources. I realized, after going to the finals, that if
we were going to run with the big dogs, we needed better equipment. I've
used Autocad & Microstation for years as an Electrical Engineer but I
had not drawn much in the mechanical arena. I had all summer to practice.

Last year, I needed to design a gearbox to rotate our basket and utilized
cad to generate a model, production drawings, and gear profiles that we
downloaded into our Wire EDM. There is no way I could have pulled this
off without CAD. We also figured out a better way to hold the drill
motor/transmission assembly (I can't stand those rinky-dink drill
housings)using CAD and downloaded this design to a CNC mill that knocked
'em right out. The more I worked with CAD on this project, the more I
relized the potential to build better machines. I even went as far as
to measure everyone's parts and build a model of that machine. It was
cool but not that useful after the fact. It did, however, impress the
students and cranked me up for this year.

Now I'm CAD crazy. This year I designed and manufactured retractable
'landing gear' wheels on Autocad. You've got to see them. Once again I
used the data to tell our CNC shop equipment what to do (I cut all of the
sprockets with a laser). I modeled most of the components in the 'kit-of
parts' and then went back and did last years. Best of all, I have a model
of this years machine that has helped us check for assembly problems.

I've got a lot of data that I would love to share with the rest of you
guys. I've always felt that a parts database would be a great thing have
on-line but I don't have the resources to start one. If anyone can get
one started, I'll send models.

I get laughed at a little and I don't get much sleep but it pays off in
the end by inspiring the students as to what Engineering is and after
all, that's what it's all about.......

Come see us @ Pit #34

Ed