05-14-2010 11:13 PM

kstl99

Re: paper: Schematic for 1922's 2010 robot

I see lots of discussion of mechanical design (modelling) and program design but very little on electrical design, especially schematics. My team evidently didn't make schematics before I joined this year, so this became my roll. I use AutoCAD Electrical at work so I created schematics using the standards used in industry for machinery. Since many of the parts will be used again in future years (I hope) we should be able to reuse much of it in years to come. The componants and wires are all identified using the sheet and line of the location on the schematic. This system is very easy for people unfamiliar with the circuit to use.

How do other teams design thier robot electrical system?

05-14-2010 11:48 PM

,4lex S.

Re: paper: Schematic for 1922's 2010 robot

This could be pretty useful, and if I recall correctly, it was at one point recommended to ease the load on inspectors for a complex robot. Isn't the basic layout of the electrical system presented in the documentation now though?

That being said, AutoCAD electrical could be very useful for documenting custom circuits your team designs, I know it is our main design tool for circuits at work too.

It would be nice if people would do the same kind of thing with pneumatics too.

05-14-2010 11:48 PM

Chris_Elston

Re: paper: Schematic for 1922's 2010 robot

We use the same software. Glad to see others do the same!

2006 Version
http://www.frcsoft.com/forums/index....ds&showfile=28

2008 Version
http://www.frcsoft.com/forums/index....ds&showfile=33

We've got 2010 somewhere, just not up on our public archive site.

05-15-2010 12:46 AM

Akash Rastogi

Re: paper: Schematic for 1922's 2010 robot

Our electrical team students are proficient in OrCAD by Cadence and use this for our Electrical portfolio which is handed into judges and inspectors if they need it. Which one is better for the industry standard? We weren't sure what the pro's and cons were between this and AutoCAD Elec. so we just went with what our engineers could provide us for free and teach easily.

Are there any benefits to AutoCAD Elec. that OrCAD doesn't have?

.

05-16-2010 01:11 AM

kstl99

Re: paper: Schematic for 1922's 2010 robot

Although the basic layout is in the documentation, and I used it allot to create my schematic, you can add much more detail in the format I used, such as wire numbers, device labels, wire color and size. It is also a format that is much more common in industrial machinery and I wanted the team to get used to it.

In my experience, OrCAD is used for PC boards. I do not know it well but I believe it has lots of tools useful for documenting electronics (ICs and transistors). ACAD Electrical has lots of tools for electrical schematics or wiring diagrams. You can get a free 30 day trial. To learn more go to http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet...12&id=13846963

I need to talk to my company's ACAD distributor about supplying it for FIRST teams since Inventor is supplied. Otherwise it is costly.

05-16-2010 02:48 AM

Peter Johnson

Re: paper: Schematic for 1922's 2010 robot

students.autodesk.com has it available for download, along with Inventor and all of the rest of the AutoCAD suite. FIRST students and mentors have access to students.autodesk.com (you just need to get invited).

05-16-2010 10:39 AM

kstl99

Re: paper: Schematic for 1922's 2010 robot

Thanks, but how does one get invited?

05-16-2010 02:11 PM

Peter Johnson

Re: paper: Schematic for 1922's 2010 robot

Have your team leader go to students.autodesk.com, click on FIRST (in the top menu) and read the FAQ, which links to the step-by-step instructions. After the team leader gets registered, he/she can then invite other team members by putting in their email addresses. Unlike previous years, there is no set limit on licenses per team; instead, each team member that registers gets their own complete set of licenses.

05-16-2010 02:27 PM

kstl99

Re: paper: Schematic for 1922's 2010 robot

I will do that. This year I did the schematic on my own but I would love to have interested students be able to learn to do it.

Thanks