Hi all,
I am looking for a model in Solidworks that I can show my rookie team at a meeting we have coming up in a week.
I’ve found lots of parts and pieces but no complete models.
Does anyone have a model, or can point me to one?
Thanks much guys, this is great stuff. 
Mike
There should be a Yoke assembly (and maybe some more) in the software tutorials.
It’s the typical assembly that comes as a demo/tutorial with SW for quite a number of years now.
Take a peek through the Solidworks folders on your C drive where it’s installed, & look for the tutorials.
What version of Solidworks are you using?
Thanks for the replies. I should clairefy that I am looking for a model of a FIRST robot. Or pieces there of.
I have other models I could show them, but I think it would mean more to them to see an actual robot like we might build.
Another question just hit me. If anyone could comment on how long it took them to draw their robot that would be good info to pass along. The kids seem to think it’s a couple of hour thing and I think it’s muchhhhhh longer.
I am currently using SW2007. It would be most convenient to have a file in that format. I am looking into getting a newer version for student use in hopes of being more compatible.
Thanks again,
Mike
I work in Solidworks 2008. If you’re able to upgrade, I can find a way to get you a 23MB archive of the drive train I posted here – http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/31984
The time required to model something is dependent upon a few things, obviously. Foremost, there is significant difference between designing something in Solidworks – and iterating on that design – and modeling something that will not change. Design takes a long time, but modeling does not, comparatively.
That drive represents about four hours of distracted work on my part, but I work professionally with Solidworks, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it took others somewhat longer.
It took my team something on the order of 2 weeks of work to draw up our bot.
I am not a SolidWorks Ninja (SWN), but I did use it a little bit in college for 3-4 classes. I think my lack of talent in this realm is finally useful!
For estimating time, I found it helpful to mentally break the tasks down into blocks. I’d choose the blocks so that they’d be equally difficult, and take me 3-4 hours each ( a SWN could do each block in far less time ).
Typical “Blocks”:
Modeling a complicated part - an interesting wheel
Modeling a group of simple parts - all of the simple structural members
Assembling a group of parts - taking the structural members and snapping them together
Final Assembly - taking the different groups and snapping them together.
Also, remember that the design process is likely to be the gating process, rather than the design capture. Solidworks is a very intuitive tool, but you have to know what you are drawing first.
Hmmm, SW ninja you say, I think I’m more like a SW yellow belt. lol
Anyways, thanks for the replies.
Yes, Madison, if we could figure a way to FTP it or something I’d love a copy of your drawing.
I’d still have to see where to get a copy of 2008 or 9 but I think that’s do able.
There is so much to learn when you are new at this. Fun, but time consuming.
Thanks again, have a great day, 
Mike
Are you looking for the SolidWorks files for something like the attached jpg illustrates?
It is certainly not a fine example of SolidWorks Expertise (I was learning as I created it); and it certainly isn’t a finished model of an entire machine; but just as certainly, it can be used to make the point that CAD can be a useful tool in a team’s repertoire.
If no one else in the hundreds of FRC teams offers up a better model, we can figure out how to get this one’s files to you.
Blake
You ought to be able to download our model here:
It will work for 7 days or for 100 downloads; whichever comes first.
I’ll upload the CAD of 1015’s robot from the previous season this evening. I think it used SW 2006 Student Version. The actual robot underwent a lot of changes from the CAD model, and all in all… was our worst robot yet :rolleyes:
(and I did the design*, so I get to do what I want with it)
*We as a team did a bad job gauging how to play that game… thus the unfortunate robot.
Alrighty:
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~erelson/files/2008RobotAssem.rar
That’s most likely there until I graduate… in 3.5 years o_O
That was probably 30 hours of work? Probably a low estimate. I did the design in two days, and then modified it a bit as the season progressed… before eventually I could just ignore it.
Oh, and luckily for you, I don’t have 2008 for my own comp yet. That’s all in 2007 student version. (But I use 2008 on campus computers…)
Thanks guys, now I just have to get my laptop to accept the solidworks transplant. lol, nothing is easy with Vista 64…
Thanks again
Mike
Hi Mike
You can go to www.solidworks.com/SponsoredDesignContest to fill out an application for sponsorship on the right side of the page.
Also, you can join SolidWorks Robotics University by sending an email request to [email protected]. THere are different design techniques using SolidWorks posted in my forum
Also try models in www.3dcontentcentral.com - there are now hundreds of FRC and FTC components that you can download.
Marie
Hi Marie,
I think our advisor is in contact with you about this. We are team 2846, the Fire Bears (formerly Roseville robotics, we just got our name last Wednesday).
His name is Tom Langeson.
I sent him the link too.
My problem was/ is that I haven’t been able to get 2007 to install properly on my Vista 64 laptop. I know it’s not officially supported but I thought I’d try anyways. So far I’ve showed the kids some edrawings of models people have offered.
Thanks for your helpful thoughts.
Mike
Try using Solidworks Viewer, too.
I haven’t actually used it much, so I don’t recall how much it can do, viewing-wise.
Hi Mike
For Vista 64 you will have to wait til the summer 2009. Marie
