So I'm new to CADing... help a bro out!

[Sumdude]

Hello! So I've used AutoCAD a long time ago (couple of years ago or so, non-FRC related), but do you all have any idea how/where I can get started on CADing (specifically for FRC)? My friends recommended I use AutoDesk Inventor, but I honestly have never used that software before. Is there a library of CADs (like motors, channel metal, etc) I can use to import to create an FRC bot of some sorts? I've had only a basic understanding of making only one part in a CAD. So I have no idea how to assemble a robot out of multiple parts. Dx (Also, the art of CADing is kinda dead in my team, an older teammate that just graduated told me it is VERY important, and with it the building process goes by pretty fast).
Note: I have AutoDesk Inventor 2013 downloaded on my computer atm.
Any help is greatly appreciated! (Sorry if this post seems pretty stupid... I just don't know what to do) And again, Thank you!

[akoscielski3]

A lot of the FRC related things are here at Andy Mark

try finding Tutorials online to get used to the software. the more you design the better you will get at using it. I personally like SolidWorks, I taught myself how to use it and everyone that I have referred it to Have LOVED it. I am not sure if you can get it through a download, but I got it from filling out an application from SolidWorks and they sent it to me in the mail, completely free.

Look at the other CAD models of robot, chassis, and more to get an idea of how people design robots, and then you should start to design something, most people do a chassis their first time.

Here is a link to this years KOP and competiton field.

If you have more questions you can PM, and I can help you some more

Good luck!

[Walter Deitzler]

WELCOME TO CHIEF DELPHI!

First off, if you want to learn Autodesk Inventor, there are some very good tutorials all in this thread.

I personally learned a whole lot from the Built By Design tutorials, a set of Autodesk Inventor tutorials specifically for FRC purposes.

As for libraries, I think Aaron has you pretty well covered.

Good luck!

Feel free to PM me with any questions!

[Peck]

Welcome to Chief Delphi .Your post isn't stupid. It is a question you are asking to benefit yourself and others. If you ever have a question, feel free to post it or to pm someone you think knows the answer. The members of Chief Delphi are more then willing to answer any question you can think to ask that they know how to answer (within the relms of the sanity of the member's of the site which are rather wide).

[Anupam Goli]

It's wonderful to see people from my former team post on here! For CAD techniques, all it really takes is some tutorials. As mentioned before, AndyMark has a lot of parts that we commonly order and CAD files associated with those parts. There is a huge community behind AutoDesk Inventor and SolidWorks, so you ca always look around online for basic tutorials, or even find a book in the library on it.

[IanW]

Originally Posted by LedLover96

I personally learned a whole lot from the Built By Design tutorials, a set of Autodesk Inventor tutorials specifically for FRC purposes.

The Built by Design series is getting a major update within a month or two. Check out the teaser website if you want.
It's also going have an up-to-date library of pretty much any part you might want from the Kit of Parts, AndyMark, Banebots, WestCoast Products, and other FRC specific vendors. The one from last year is here, but trust me - the new one will have more of the parts you need, be way easier to use, and just be all around better.

Aside from that, I've found the best way to learn how to use the software is to think of a design you want to model and then just do it. You'll learn how to use each part of the software - 2D sketching, part modeling, assembly creation - as you need it. Make sure to start fairly simple though - don't try to model a WildStang bot for your first project.

Good luck, and your teammates are right - CAD is really important!

[Sumdude]

Thank you all so much! Chief Delphi is AWESOME! Also, is there a good tutorial to get set up on learning FRC programming? Thanks so much! (again)

[protoserge]

FYI, STEP (*.stp) files can be imported into most CAD packages (without material properties). I haven't found a huge resource of SolidWorks-specific libraries for FRC components, but there have been many STEP files available to import, correct, and assign material properties.