New Cad site?

[jdiwnab]

Just a thought. Would anyone be willing to start a new CAD site like FIRST CAD library? FCL is a great site, but it hasn't been updated recently (I don't know the reason, but I'm sure there is a good one for this). I know that it would be real great to have a site for all the new parts. I have been giving out my model fo the new breaker panel and know it would have been better to have it hosted somewere like FCL. Does anyone have the time/will/equipment to host a site like this? Or, if Ed Sparks (the guy who runs FCL for those who don't know) is out there, would you be willing to update/hand over the site so it could be kept current? Just a thought.

[Mirza95vx]

I think that would be an awsome idea. We didnt get to finish our robot on Inverntor but it would be kool to do it after Nationals.

I think the FCL was a great site and it would be awsome if it was updated.

[Stu Bloom]

I agree ... firstcadlibrary.com is a fantastic resource. I would not want to see anyone minimize Ed's efforts. It's got to be a ton of work for one person to maintain a site like that. I'm not sure if Ed has any specific quality or procedural standards that he would want to maintain, but I am sure he would entertain an offer of help. He my even be able to work out a system where you get some acknowledgement for the parts that you model/contribute.

[team222badbrad]

I really do not have the means to make a site like this, but I do have a great suggestion!

Instead of having a webmaster maintain a site like firstcadlibrary, have a site where anyone can just go on and upload their CAD parts similar to www.putfile.com.

At the same time when they upload the file also have them include a description, a picture of the CAD file, multiple file types of the CAD drawing (if the up-loader is able too), and also allow them to choose the category the file should be uploaded to.

I would gladly help organize what the page should include and give some of my suggestions!

[kjhobin]

This is because according to Al on the FCL website, he wants to make sire that the quality is good and that you can use the measurements to plan your bot or to cut metal, etc.

[activemx]

I will be willing to donate webspace. I can help setup the frontend but i need people todo it since i dont have much time. PM me or email me at dodeja at gmail.com

[Mirza95vx]

Posted By: team222badbrad

I really do not have the means to make a site like this, but I do have a great suggestion!

Instead of having a webmaster maintain a site like firstcadlibrary, have a site where anyone can just go on and upload their CAD parts similar to www.putfile.com.

At the same time when they upload the file also have them include a description, a picture of the CAD file, multiple file types of the CAD drawing (if the up-loader is able too), and also allow them to choose the category the file should be uploaded to.

I would gladly help organize what the page should include and give some of my suggestions!

I like your idea but the only problem that I see is whoever makes up the part might not have the dimensions exactly right which would do no good to anyone. There would have to be someone checking everyones drawing to make sure that they are accurate and to scale.

[Babyhueyhnx]

id be willing to host your site. if you buy a domain name i can put it on one of my severs. i have tons of space available and would not be a problem. if you don't want to buy a domain then id gladly host it on a domain i already own.

pm me or email me at psloat@gmail.com

-Phil

[jdiwnab]

I threw this out there becuase I saw a growing need to update/replace FCL. I don't really have the time to run it, but I think I could do some of the Inventor Modeling.

Reguarding putfile.com: Think that the site would need to be controlled somehow. I don't think it is a job for one person, but someone needs to review models and double check them and havee them in the right format for consistancy's sake.

Activemx: Do you have a server/domain yourself or do you own a domain on another's server or are you saying you are willing to buy a server/domain for this?

Babyhueyhnx: I know it is possible to get a domain name for about 5-10 bucks a year. Would your server be able to handle the files and the traffic that this may generate?

Ed Sparks: I would love to hear your input on this. Or if you need more help to maintain FCL, then we can keep FCL and don't have to worry about domain and webspace.

On a side note, I am supprised on how many people already responded. I wan't expecting such support. Thanks.

[Babyhueyhnx]

i currently have control over 2 servers. as to how much space would be required I'm not quite sure. maybe you could give me a ballpark idea. from there i could better asses this situation.

ive been looking into getting a bigger server with 20 GB of storage. not sure if it will materialize yet.

Phil

[jdiwnab]

Originally Posted by Babyhueyhnx

i currently have control over 2 servers. as to how much space would be required I'm not quite sure. maybe you could give me a ballpark idea. from there i could better asses this situation.

ive been looking into getting a bigger server with 20 GB of storage. not sure if it will materialize yet.

Phil

Inventor models are about 1-2 MB each. FCL has hundreds of models. We could estimate about 100-200MB for just inventor models are on FCL. Most have AutoCAD files (.5-1MB i think) so that is 50-100MB. Most have STEP and STL which is another 1-2MB each (+200-400MB). That brings FCL up to 350-700MB range (conservitiave estimate). I have a feeling that we will end up having many more models (so 10 times more is about 7 GB). Is that doable? There is also space needed for the site stuff (html ect) so i wouldn't want much less than 10GB (but that's just me )

Hard drives are cheep. Look in you newspaper ads and wait for someone to have a rebate on hardrives. I got my 80GB hard drive for $40. I saw some 40GB ones for 20. get one at about $.50 a gig. You don't need a new server, just more hardrives. Most servers have that I have seen (and most other computer) have support for many hard drives. just add another one in there for the models.

[TLonghorns0593]

A great inventor resource is use is http://www.cbliss.com/inventor/Parts/index.htm It has tons of files you can download and change with the excel document attached to the files. It doesn't have any of the FIRST items we want, but it still is a great resource i really suggest you use it. Saves tons of time.

[petek]

Originally Posted by TLonghorns0593

A great inventor resource is use is http://www.cbliss.com/inventor/Parts/index.htm It has tons of files you can download and change with the excel document attached to the files.

Charles Bliss's site is a great resource for common Inventor parts. What I believe the originators of this thread have in mind is one which is dedicated to FIRST-specific Inventor parts. Examples would include IFI control components and drive systems, van door motors, etc.

When he has had time, Ed Sparks has maintained a site for this purpose. I believe that Ed personally made sure of the accuracy and compatibility of the parts he posted, which is a sizeable undertaking. Also, if memory serves, Ed only posted Inventor v5 parts, to be certain that all FIRST teams would be able to use them. That would preclude the use of many team-designed parts, as a lot of us are using more recent Inventor releases, and I am unaware of any utility which would back-convert these to previous versions.

[jdiwnab]

Originally Posted by TLonghorns0593

A great inventor resource is use is http://www.cbliss.com/inventor/Parts/index.htm It has tons of files you can download and change with the excel document attached to the files. It doesn't have any of the FIRST items we want, but it still is a great resource i really suggest you use it. Saves tons of time.

Yes, that site has some great parts, but the VKoP that FIRST puts out lacks and I don't care to have to make all the FIRST special parts every time. I have used some the that sites parts, but my first resource for parts is (or was) FCL.

Reguarding a new site, if we don't have to make a new site (aka use FCL) than that would be best becuase people already know about it. If we have to make a new site, it would be great to retain a) FCL's domain and b) FCL's models. That way it would a) be remaking FCL and making it better and b) we don't have to model everything all over again or download the whole FCL one at a time and keep it all together.

New idea: FIRST gives teams the next to latest Inventor and CAD. But not all teams can run it (bad computers). Maybe, if we do this, we could have multiple versions of the models (I4, I8, CAD r14, CAD 2002, CAD 2004, ect) and have people select what one they want, like from a dropdown menu.

If you need to contact me for some strange reason, email at jdiwnab at gmail dot com

[Babyhueyhnx]

i am going to make an account at sevaa.com. i am also going to get buy frocadvault.com (FRC CAD Vault).

the next step will be ideas for the design and upload system.

(Special thanks to Seveaa.com for donating their services to all FIRST teams and related sites.)