[DFTF] The Question of CAD

[Jim Zondag]

Joe,
#1 thing to do to get around the whole which button orbits, pans, etc is to get a 3-d Mouse. It takes a little bit to learn but is a huge enabler.

http://www.google.com/products/catal...d=0CHIQ8wIwBw#

Once you get one of these, the interface can be the same on every CAD platform.

[Brandon Holley]

Originally Posted by Jim Zondag

Joe,
#1 thing to do to get around the whole which button orbits, pans, etc is to get a 3-d Mouse. It takes a little bit to learn but is a huge enabler.

http://www.google.com/products/catal...d=0CHIQ8wIwBw#

Once you get one of these, the interface can be the same on every CAD platform.

I've never been able to consistently use a 3D mouse. For whatever reason, I just prefer to have my hands on the keyboard and my other hand on the regular mouse. I felt like it almost took more time to constantly take my hand off the keyboard, adjust the view with the 3D mouse and then put my hand back on the keyboard. It's definitely a personal preference/feel thing!

-Brando

[Mr. Lim]

Not really much of an "opinion" to state here, but here is Team 610's current software line-up with respect to our complete workflow (not just CAD):

- Google Apps for:

- Gmail: student, teacher + mentor e-mail addresses
- Calendar: shared calendar with meetings, supervision schedule, events
- Zoho Project: project management, task lists, wiki
- Groups: e-mail lists for entire team, mentors, student executive
- Docs: Team lists, project notes, budgets, inventories, "to-buy" lists
- Code: Code version control w/ SVN and integrate NetBeans client

- SolidWorks for CAD
- VisualMill Plug-in for Solidworks (to drive our CNC Router)
- Windows-based file shares for document storage on school intranet

- Remote access to shares using HTTP Commander

I've had a chance to try Inventor, PTC WildFire + WindChill, and various other software combinations over the past few years. This is the best I've managed to come up with so far, and so far I've been very happy with it.

[Ed Law]

I have heard a little about you Dr. Joe. You are a legend. I still use your spreadsheet on chainvisualizer. It is very useful. Thank you.

To answer your question about CAD. For a FIRST Robotics team, you can get any CAD software for free: PTC Creo/Elements (formerly called Pro/E), Solidworks and Inventor. Our high school uses PTC software for CAD classes so it was a no brainer for us.

For the benefit of students, I would recommend Creo or Solidworks. That's what good engineering schools are using these days and many small to medium size companies also use them.

In terms of software functions, PTC Creo/Elements is the best. And it is closest to the high end software like CATIA V5, making it easier for students to learn in the future.

In terms of ease of learning, Solidworks may have a slight advantage. PTC Creo is more rigorous in terms of expecting you to do things correctly and won't allow sloppy work. Otherwise, students may get into bad habits of just putting something in that look close enough.

Here is the link to get started with free PTC software. It is www.ptc.com/go/first and click on the link at the bottom. They have very nice and free online tutorial called PTC University that covers many topics from very basic to advance uses. If you have any questions about PTC University, just PM me.

Since you use Pro/E at iRobot, I am sure you don't need me to tell you about it.

Self disclosure: I gave you my honest opinion even though PTC happens to be one of our sponsors

[mplanchard]

Hi Joe

Thank you for being a FIRST mentor. For SolidWorks sponsorship go to www.solidworks.com/SponsoredDesignContest

Also, you are a great SolidWorks customer and since we just moved our corporate headquarters to Waltham, if you want a crash rush - up to speed course, I am willing to come visit you. Just send me a private message to arrange a time. Also, iRobot helped me out when I was teaching design camp at Umass Lowell. Your engineers were very inspiring to my young students. Marie