3132 from Down Under here,
Just checking into Chief Delphi and I’ve got some questions for that cranium of yours.
Our dedicated mechanical team has given us a generous 2 inches of room in which we have to slot in our kicker. Since our chassis is so low, the ball is taller than the AndyMark frame itself, so some questions rise for my fellow engineers.
For the kicker, we’re using a rotating cam to build up tension and then release it using our ‘super secret’ method. 
Now, the current design is direct driven, but we’re also considering using a lever instead. I was just wondering what advantages the lever would have over the direct driven kicker.
Also, what would be the most suitable CAD software to model the kicker in. I would preferably want software that supports animation and simulation.
Thanks, 3132.
Every FRC team has free access to the autodesk products for different awards, prototyping, and much more. You can make a login here:http://students7.autodesk.com/?nd=first_home&lbon=1
You can download the products, but i would recommend inventor for prototyping. It is a very in-depth program, but it is very useful. If you create your whole robot on this program to these specification you can also win an award at one of the competitions, if yours is the best.
http://www.usfirst.org/uploadedFiles/Community/FRC/Game_and_Season__Info/2010_Assets/FIRST%202010%20Autodesk%20Award.pdf
Category one is the inventor award. 3d animation uses a program called 3ds max, an animation program. It is similar to the programs used by pixar. That is the animation award, also on that .pdf.
If you have any questions please pm me.
The bumpers are required to be attached to your frame at a hieght of 10 to 16 inches. If your frame is lower than the ball, how are you going to meet the rule for bumpers?
Have an upper and lower section of the frame? Our frame starts at 4" off the ground and has a second level at 13" for bumper attachment.