So i recently decided to take up CADing software and try to see if I can create my robot in the later laters in this type of format.
Im asking from anyone to give any helpful tips, advise etc…
I wanna be cool like you guys 
Always great to see more people take on learning CAD!
What software are you starting out with?
Good luck, and always feel free to search for answers and post questions on here.
Hey, welcome to the CAD family.
Many questions you may have have answers in the CAD section of the forums (you may need to search long spans of time to get some answers) and you will likely find answers to questions you never thought to ask. If the question hasn’t been asked (or not asked recently enough to apply to the current version) then feel free to ask In that section. For software specific questions, it is often best to ask in the specific sub forum for that software.
I feel so welcomed :’)
im using auto desk Inventor fusion…it seems like the simpliest
I have started some previous threads here on similar CAD subjects, I’ll post them here when I can get on a CPU and find them. Or I will just PM you.
ohhh thank you that ll be helpful!
CAD ALL the things!
I found the autodesk tutorials to be fantastic. Inventor is super intuitive and is really easy to use for FRC applications.
Good luck!
Just a tip, I use Inventor at my day job most days of the week and use it quite a bit for side projects and robotics. Personally, I try and recommend that you try to stay away from the Fusion aspects of Inventor unless you’re looking to draw simple parts to convey ideas. Otherwise, Inventor is a great program, I learned it back in 2008 or so by pressing F1 every time I had a problem…
I would make it as close to your real bot as you can without at extraneous detail, and then if you want to, come back and clean it up. Check part libraries for any COTS parts before you try to do it yourself (Unless your doing it just to practice). Also, try to keep your CAD libraries and folders organized and properly labeled and named, it can get messy really fast. I find it helpful to have a library full of the CAD models for COTS electronics and fasteners like standard bolt sizes, the core electronics system, KoP Items, and so on. I use SolidWorks, and not inventor, so I don’t know where you can find a parts library; if someone else on here knows the link, can you post it?
P.S. If you get a chance to try out SolidWorks, take it for a spin. I prefer it to inventor, I think the interface and controls are a little more intuitive. Just my $0.02
Figured I’d post in here instead of making a new thread:
1675 is looking to build a couple computers since the ones at our school, well, stink 
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I’m just checking that my assumption is right – CAD programs are mainly GPU and RAM intensive right? Just basing this off 3D games. Or does it do a lot of calculations off the GPU so we need a beefy processor?
(Bonus points if you can confirm that 3DSMax has the same properties, we’re looking to dual-purpose these as animation machines)
Thanks!
As far as I know, you are correct. Be sure you get a workstation/professional videocard and not a mainstream gaming one if you are look for serious power. Others know way more about this than me, so I’ll leave the suggestions on particular brands and models to them.
Try to stay with either inventor or solidworks. Inventor is nice because it is free. I have heard good things of solidworks, and it makes 20 times nicer renderings.
Well one will hopefully be using the GTX 550(? 580? I forget) that we got for free from nVidia at the Midwest Regional last year (thanks nVidia!)
If I recall correctly Nvidia gave away GTX480’s. You could probably use it, the things got some beef to it (I run decently on my home computers GTX460 and my laptops GTX555m), it’s just if you are purchasing something, get a workstation card. But, if it’s free, take whatever you can get
Also:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=91132550276
Apply to this, and you can get several copies of SolidWorks for free. I spent about 10-15 minutes on this survey, and we got 20 team copies of SolidWorks within 2 weeks.
I was a CAD-Master for my team for the past 3 years, and I think that the most helpful thing for my CAD / Design skills was to design a unique robot for every year of FRC since its start. While it was a daunting summer project, I feel it really helped me during the 2012 season.
I definitely agree with CADding something before the season, though CADding a robot for EVERY FIRST game seems a little much. Maybe 1 or 2 games. I personally CADded a swerve module in the offseason. It was okay, and I learned a lot from it, but we probably will never use it. Because this year was my first year CADding during the season, and I had basically no help in the CAD aspect, there were a lot of things that I learned to speed up the process during build season, instead of before, and I feel that I was less prepared than I could of been, had I done a full robot. For this reason, I recommend CADding at least one robot. Also, choose a drivetrain that you are likely to go with during the season, as you should be able to reduce a lot of time spent during build season, as long as you practice in the offseason.
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.