Dassalut Systemes released Draftsight earlier this year as a free download.
Here is just another of many examples of how these contests help students to produce and utilize industry standard softwares and procedures.
Our team downloaded and began to use this past Fall. We participate in BEST robotics as well as FIRST Robotics, FTC and Texas Computer Educators Association LEGO Robotics Competition.
We used this program to help design an Omni wheel for the BEST Robotics contest. We had to build it out of material in the KOP. The students used Draftsight with the design of the wheel. We designed two different models of the wheel. Each wheel is made of Lexan sheet, PVC pipe for rollers with Lexan inserts. The axle for each roller was made from 1/8" wire. Mentor Tim Ousley, Electrical Engineer with National Instruments, lead the design and manufacturing of the omni wheels.
Dessault Systemes release an article about the use of the product today on their website.
http://www.3ds.com/products/draftsig...ftsight-story/
Thanks to Tim Ousley and Dessault Systemes for the opportunity for my students to participate in this process.