Hey CD I have a few questions about your CAD team.
1.) How many kids are on your CAD team?
2.)When do you complete the whole robot by?
3.) What do you use for transferring files from different computers do you have a data base or something so all computers can access the files?
4.) What is your CAD schedule? Like when is your deadline for everything completed ?
Thanks Guys !!!
My current rookie team is kinda DNA with this, but my high school team had a CAD team of one student (yours truely) and a mentor. We also had 12 kids on the roster, with a core of about 4-5 kids, so the numbers might scale a little bit.
1.) How many kids are on your CAD team?
One kid (and one mentor). The student CADed drive train and arm/claw, while the mentor did the lift (2011).
2.)When do you complete the whole robot by?
As soon as we can. The drivetrain was done in a weekend after the final choice so that production could start. The lift took about a week-ish, and the claw about a week and a half.
We made final robot choices at the end of week 1 for drive train, and by the end of week 2 for the rest of the robot.
3.) What do you use for transferring files from different computers do you have a data base or something so all computers can access the files?
We used flash drives and a different mentors computer was the hub of all the CAD files. I don’t really recommend this.
Dropbox is a pretty good internet-based file sharing system, but that has size limitations (2 gigs).
I believe that Inventor Vault was created for file sharing, but I’m not entirely certain.
4.) What is your CAD schedule? Like when is your deadline for everything completed ?
We didn’t really have a deadline, partially because with such a small group it wasn’t really a problem of someone slacking off. We got everything done as soon as we could, and really didn’t waste time (to the extent that I would sit in my friends chemistry class during my free period so that I could CAD on his laptop)…
It should be noted that how long you have to CAD really depends on your building resources. Teams like 217 and 148, who can almost literally “print” a robot (they are the first two I could think of) can afford to spend more time prototyping and CADing, whereas teams with little more than a drill press will need more time to build.
Autodesk Vault is a file-management system, but you need a dedicated Windows server for it to work properly.
1.) How many kids are on your CAD team?
1, although we are training more. (Today, actually). I kind of know Inventor, but not as much as the “dedicated” CAD person.
2.)When do you complete the whole robot by?
In CAD, not long after we complete it real life. In real life, <3 days before [strike]ship day[/strike] stop build day. We have a plan to use our CNC mill to mill more parts this season, now that we have the capability to turn Inventor models into G-Code.
3.) What do you use for transferring files from different computers do you have a data base or something so all computers can access the files?
We have a USB hard drive that used to be plugged into our router, now our CAD person stores everything on his flashdrive. AFAIK.
4.) What is your CAD schedule? Like when is your deadline for everything completed ?
We don’t really have one. We just do what we can.
In the past, my team’s never really had a CAD team (it used to just be me, but I also had to oversee a lot of things going on within my team, so not much got done with CAD), but they just built a new CREST building at my school, so now we have a bunch of underclassmen that a proficient with Inventor. 
1.) How many kids are on your CAD team?
Right now we have about 3 kids, with me overseeing them. They’re working off two computers so that they can get more done.
2.)When do you complete the whole robot by?
Hopefully around the same time the actual robot is done being built.
3.) What do you use for transferring files from different computers do you have a data base or something so all computers can access the files?
We use a flashdrive that we designated for CAD only. The CAD team keeps it on a necklace so that one of the other kids don’t accidentally use it.
4.) What is your CAD schedule? Like when is your deadline for everything completed?
The CAD team all have Inventor on their computers at home, and one of them have it on their laptop. They love doing it, so I guess our CAD schedule is a couple of hours a week (during meetings) and just whenever any of them have free time. The deadline really depends on the team.
The vault is used for file sharing, but within Inventor it can do so much more. It will provide updates to CAD users of what in their assembly is checked out by other users. Allows them to see which of their local parts are out of date. And, most importantly, allows a right click update within an open assembly that swaps out the out-of-date parts with the current versions located in the vault.
You do need to pick a specific machine to run the vault, but for small CAD teams (<10 simultaneous users) it doesn’t need to be anything more special than that one of the machines that can run Inventor. In fact, during previous seasons, I have had the teams vault installed on a laptop that was simultaneously being used by a CAD users. The key element is that you need administrator access to the computer to be able to start the IIS services on the machine. This component of windows is not always included in the windows install and you may need to explicitly add it from the Windows Components dialog.
The base version of Vault was included in the Autodesk package that was in the 2011 KoP. I would not be surprised to see a similar package in the 2012 KoP.
Is there something like the vault for solid works?
1.) Last year we had about 3 plus a mentor. Usually we have closer to 6 or 7 students.
2.) The whole robot is usually completed by about week 3 or 4, and drivetrain is completed ASAP.
3.) We have our own drive (its called the MAX Drive) for robotics. It’s one of the school drives (Like the student common drive, Personal Student Drives, etc.) So we can store everything there and everyone on the robotics team can access the drive. We also use the drive for things other than CAD Files, such as outreach powerpoints, Chairman’s essays, etc.
4.) The schedule should be individually determined by every team. Every team has different capabilities and CAD skills. As JVN once said, “Build within your means”. In this context, CAD within your means. You should try and make a rough schedule of when things should be completed. Use 2011 for a relative template. If you can figure out when each facet of your 2011 robot should have been done, then you’ll have a decent idea of how it’ll look for 2012. Granted, the game could be vastly different, and this is why on the day of kickoff, you should make a schedule. I highly recommend a Gantt Chart.
As for the drivetrain, no matter what team you are, a drivetrain should be CADded ASAP. Also, it’s not against the rules to have a Drivetrain CADded before build season, as long as that file is not being sent to a company that cuts the drivetrain for you (please correct me if im wrong)
Why not use Google Docs or sites like this?
Hope this helps,
-duke
When 842 was prototyping a drive-train, DropBox is a good way to get organized. It’s also a good idea to try and implement a version system if you do plan to be sharing files. That way two of you don’t make changes on one file at the same time and so you know what the latest one is.
1.) How many kids are on your CAD team?
10 ( 3 mentors sort of)
2.)When do you complete the whole robot by?
This is my first year on the team but normally they complete the robot towards the very end of build season due to design changes
3.) What do you use for transferring files from different computers do you have a data base or something so all computers can access the files?
We use the schools servers to hold our files ( Novell )
4.) What is your CAD schedule? Like when is your deadline for everything completed ?
Because we have an abnormally large number of CADers this year we have spilt everyone up into two main groups electrical and pneumatics and mechanical chassis with 5 people working on mechanical/ chassis and 4 people working on electrical / pneumatics
Our team requires us to be present during meetings 3 days a week minimum, So there are always 2-3 people Monday - Saturday CADing stuff
1.) We technically have five but if you look at the people who show up and do work it ends up being three, no real mentors to speak of
2.) We aim to complete the robot within the first 2 weeks, how ever (yes im going to go blame the mech team here) the mechs never know what they want until way to late into season for cad to be as useful as it can be
3.) Currently we use dropbox (I tried to switch to cloud but the rest of cad team rejected so what eves) basically with drop box the key is to create a project file in the drop box cad folder thing. Name it something obvious like 2012 - Rebound rumble or something. And then when you have multiple people working make sure they do not save over each other. Not the most elegant system but it gets the job done.
4.) Our cad schedule ends up being one of our three getting assigned to work with a mech. He and the mech talk and figure stuff out. Generally we have one of the three play “integration” basically him and his mech make sure every thing will fit and play nice. Our deadlines are very fluid based on the part. The more important the part the more stress we throw on the cadder to finish the part.
1.) Currently I am the only person really on the dedicated CAD team. I have had to teach myself CAD mostly because this is the first year we have tried to do the whole bot in CAD. We have mentors who know how to make drawings, but not really how to use Inventor.
2.) We have the whole robot done about 2 weeks before bagging date
3.) Because I am the only person on CAD team, I keep all the files on my laptop, which is a gaming laptop, and back them up on an external.
4.) We don’t really have a deadline for everything to be done, but all the main systems are on the robot 2 weeks before bag.
1.) How many kids are on your CAD team?
I’m one of the main CAD captains, but we involve much of the team members as many of our recruits come from our engineering curriculum, which teaches Autodesk to students. Essentially, everyone from programming to mechanical can access, modify and print files as needed.
2.)When do you complete the whole robot by?
Ideally one to two weeks, but we update and improve the model as we go to compensate for measurements and to ensure accuracy in the real world. That way the drones always drill in the right spots 
3.) What do you use for transferring files from different computers do you have a data base or something so all computers can access the files?
**We use Dropbox at the moment, but we are also looking into Autodesk Cloud.
**
4.) What is your CAD schedule? Like when is your deadline for everything completed ?
We improve the model over time, but when something needs to be modeled, it is completed within the hour.
haha do you call your mech team drones to their faces?
At times, although I did my fair share of mech work
Ironically, if anyone, it’s the cad team that are the drones, because we usually operate on a request basis. Alas, we can dare to dream 
and then you upgraded 
Our team uses Tortoise SVN to share files. I think it’s the easiest way to update and share files in real time.
What are you using to run your sub version server?
Before i start my team uses solidworks and it worked out great for us
1.) How many kids are on your CAD team?
four dedicated CAD people (three students one mentor) and a few people trying to learn
2.)When do you complete the whole robot by?
the plan is a week before ship but was more like 3 or 4 days before ship
3.) What do you use for transferring files from different computers do you have a data base or something so all computers can access the files?
Our team started using dropbox this year and it worked out great. It gave us plenty of space for everything we needed and let everyone have the CAD as it was being edited. Only bad thing was it got screwed up when two people edited the same part/assembly at the same time
4.) What is your CAD schedule? Like when is your deadline for everything completed ?
we try to have most of it CADed by the end of week three (didnt happen this year 
)
I’m the CAD person for my team. I like to use Dropbox for syncing and collaboration (though I had a few scares when two computers work at the same time on the CAD), but I’m sure there is a safer way than that. This year the CAD was mainly to help design specific robot systems, for visualization, and most importantly for the machinist drawing files. I didn’t need a “deadline” but after the robot was bagged I made everything pretty, and then constructed some animations to play from a monitor in our pit. I also had a virtual model of the CAD running on two iPads that we talked to judges and other people with. After the regional ended (and we won :] ), I constructed a video to be submitted for the Autodesk 3D Design Award. You can view the video here:
1.) How many kids are on your CAD team?
20 to 35 know the basics of cad with SW. about 10 really know it well
2.)When do you complete the whole robot by?
Looks close to complete: maby a week before hands off, officially done about 5 minutes before it enters the bag. (well, we sometimes tweak at our rejional)
3.) What do you use for transferring files from different computers do you have a data base or something so all computers can access the files?
The school proves a “share” folder that we can use for specific computers. We also use flash drives and external hard drives.
4.) What is your CAD schedule? Like when is your deadline for everything completed ?
start cad work: the moment we know what we might want.
stop cad: the rejional