SolidWorks Robotics Summer School

[JulieB]

i wonder if college mentor can sign up

[mplanchard]

To answer your questions:

You fill out a survey, SolidWorks will send a DVD in the mail with a special code for you to install on your home computer.

Offer is good in US and Canada - sorry to other countries - we have export legal issues and collection of data online from students.

Mentors, if they are in college can apply. You must be a student

Each week, a new lesson in July and August will be posted online at www.solidworks.com/robotics. These lessons are not there yet. Our first step is this large distribution to all robotics competitions. You will go through certain SolidWorks Tutorials - then a specific issue will be addressed in robotics and math.

Why SolidWorks software - too many people asked me in Atlanta how could they use SolidWorks and too many people were sad they missed the Chief Delphi raffle.

Why math - I used to teach math to engineering students - you have go to be good - even without a calculator. You need to do math every day.

Why design robots better - there is functionality in SolidWorks that will make your life easier. The questions that were asked at the Boston Regional, Manchester Regional, and in Atlanta would save time in robot design. Some tips you may know; others come from being an engineer for a laboratory robotics company (the best job for a mechanical engineer)

What if I use another CAD product? Doesn't matter. I have used at least 10 in my career - the more tools you know the better. You need to experience different user interfaces and different techniques.

Post any other questions and I will try to answer promptly.

Marie

[technoL]

Thanks mplanchard for the clarification!

I've wanted to learn Solidworks for a while now and this seems like a really interesting approach. Do you know what type of math will be taught with this? Geometry? Calculus? A bit of everything?

Also, how long is the student copy good for? Is it a 1-year license like the other student editions?

[fimmel]

i signed up. we will see what happens

also i suggest for people that like SolidWorks to look for solidworks user groups in your area i go to one in northern Vermont and they have meetings bi-monthly where they do feature demos and let people share solutions to their problems. its a great experience! sometimes they give things away like ipods, hats, backpacks, t-shirts, and i even won a copy of SolidWorks 2008 student edition (which is great)

...forest

[mplanchard]

Originally Posted by fimmel

i signed up. we will see what happens

also i suggest for people that like SolidWorks to look for solidworks user groups in your area i go to one in northern Vermont and they have meetings bi-monthly where they do feature demos and let people share solutions to their problems. its a great experience! sometimes they give things away like ipods, hats, backpacks, t-shirts, and i even won a copy of SolidWorks 2008 student edition (which is great)

...forest

You can find user group meeting throughout the world at
http://www.swugn.org/pages/calendar/calendar.html

[mplanchard]

Math level: Basic Math (such as perfect squares/perfect square root from 1 - 20. For example is someone said 15^2 would you know the answer with no calculator)

Algebra, Geometry, Trig (definitely my favorite), Combining Geometry with Trig - such as a unit circle. There is just little Calculus - by more applied and how it relates to the robot; such as center of mass, moment of inertia. However, even when I taught Calculus or Differential Equations most students made Algebraic mistakes.

Although I believe in using a calculator, TI is a great customer, you need to realize, that there are engineering professors that will not allow calculators on a test. This is a fact that surprises many high school students when they get to college. You are at an age where you can figure things out in your head - with math you just have to exercise your brain. Sometimes in the summer students forget.

Also, there is not exam, no PSAT, SAT, AP exam, State standard exam, classroom exam, no test - what about just learning for learning, with no pressure? Marie

[JulieB]

I signed up. I would love to learn solidworks since i am a drafting major.

[DanDon]

I signed up- any info on who the lucky 1,000 were would be great . And I loved the Solidworks car pins in Atlanta.

[IbleedPink233]

I signed up for it, too - I just started learning Solidworks and I love it. This is an awesome idea. I think that FIRST could benefit by using this same system to help train students for the next season in other design software, programming, animation, etc.

[HighLife]

I also signed up.

[Andrew Bates]

Signed up, always wanted to learn how to use solidworks to it's full potential.

[cooker52]

Signed up too.
Love doing that kind of stuff and figured I may as well throw my hand at whatever is offered.

[MGoelz]

I signed up. I've had a copy sitting by my computer that has yet to be used. It's a 90-day thing from VEX, but I never got around to it. I know a lot about Autodesk Inventor, and I want to learn something a little different; I want to expand my horizon a little.

[Justanotherguy1]

signed up

[swaknight]

im guessing that means that you missed the cutoff

i signed up a few hours ago, but it would still be nice to get some feedback.
I'm trying to expand on my skills and this looked like the perfect way