SolidWorks
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LINKSters can access SolidWorks serial numbers and install instructions at the private wiki page below
CAD (Computer Assisted Design) can be a very difficult and time intensive skill to learn, but is one of the most useful skills to have, both on the team and once you graduate. The best way to learn how to CAD is to watch YouTube tutorials at your own pace and spend lots of time practicing in SolidWorks. Our team has assembled the following resources and exercises in order to try and teach team members how to CAD.
LINKS has designed and used a West Coach Drive (WCD) chassis for the past few years, so it is important for everyone on the team to understand how to design a very simple WCD chassis. You should watch both parts of the following tutorials from FRC team 973, and it is recommended that you work on step 5 while watching the tutorials.
CAD Project: This is where you will put your CAD skills to the test and practice everything that you have learned so far. Your goal is to CAD a full WCD chassis, essentially what is shown in the 973 videos. Below are a few things to keep in mind while CADing the chassis
Use plane and symmetry mates as much as possible
Try and make your CAD easily editable (if someone were to go in and change one dimension, you don’t want your CAD to break)
Use midplane extrudes as much as possible
Try and keep your part and assembly origins at the center of the part or assembly
4468 uses the 3 CIM VexPro Ball Shifter Gearboxes instead of custom gearboxes (CAD for these are available on the VexPro website and the team GrabCAD Workbench)
4468 uses the VersaBlock Bearing Block Kits (CAD for these are available on the VexPro website and our team GrabCAD)
LINKS does not have access to a mill so all bearing holes should be slots (allows for tensioning and are made with a step bit)
Don’t forget to CAD the CAMs at the correct distance from the bearing holes to allow for chain tensioning. Use the drawing provided by VexPro for correct dimensions.
Bearing holes should be smaller than the bearings themselves so that the bearings do not fall in
CAD your own VersaFrame (even though you can download it from the VexPro website) so that you can practice using the linear pattern tool and maintain correct origins.
You do not need to CAD electronics (other than motors).
The frame perimeter (if you were to tie a string around the chassis, this is what it would represent) should not exceed 120 inches.
When you are done, post all of your CAD to the team GrabCAD (send a slack message to Kristin with your email to be added), and message Kristin or Andrew to look over your CAD and give you feedback
Expect to make some changes to your CAD once you are given feedback.
If you need help, post in the #cad channel on slack or direct message Kristin (@kweiss), Andrew (@amo4468), Tynan (@tynanpurdy), or Daniel (@dannylee) on Slack.
We have developed this CAD file naming system for the purpose of being able to identify exactly what a file is for and when it is from just by looking at the name. The system was inspired by 254, 1114, and 971. Avoid using spaces, UseCapitalLettersToSeparateWords.
[TEAM #]-[LAST 2# OF YEAR]-[FOLDER]-[PART OR ASSEMBLY #]-[NAME]
The part naming system has five parts each separated by a “tack” (-).
FRC team number
Last 2 digits of the current year
The project or folder name the file is contained in
The manufacturer part number, if it is a COTS, Consumer Off The Shelf, item. If the part is not COTS, use the 1114 style part and assembly number (eg. A003 for the 3rd assembly in the project).
The last part is the regular part name. This is the most easily identifiable part of the file name. If it is a COTS item, use the official name of the part. If the part is custom, use an easily understandable name that concisely identifies the part.
Example Part File: 4468-17-AwesomeRobotName-P005-SpecialNotCOTSPart
Example COTS File (VexPro): 4468-17-AwesomeRobotName-217-2000-CIMMotor
Example Assembly File: 4468-17-AwesomeRobotName-A001-WCDriveTrain
[TEAM #]-[LAST 2# OF YEAR]-[FOLDER]-[SUBASSEMBLY FOLDER NAME(IF NEEDED)]
The folder naming system uses many of the same parts as the file naming system.
FRC team number
Last 2 digits of the current year
The project or folder name
IF APPROPRIATE: Subassembly folder name, if the folder is for dependent parts of a subassembly
Example Project Folder: 4468-17-Rhonda3.0
Example Project Subassembly: 4468-17-Rhonda3.0-GearCoinSlot
If you have never used any CAD system, or would like a review of the basics, start with these tutorials and exercises. If you are already comfortable with the basics of Solidworks, you are welcome to skip these.
Everyone should watch the 1114 Simbotics SolidWorks Tutorials, which give a good overview of basic CAD techniques and give a tutorial on how to design a sheet metal drive train in Solidworks. While 4468 does not currently use sheet metal, it is something that the team is considering for the future, so it is worth taking the time to learn how to use the sheet metal feature. For these tutorials, you are welcome to skip over 1.1-3.6 if you feel comfortable with the basics, although everyone should watch 4.1 until the end of the series.
One feature of most drive trains is a belly pan which is used to mount all of the electrical components as well as keep game pieces and debris from getting under the robot. Belly pans are normally made out of sheet metal and cover the entire underside of the robot. Sheet metal panels this large can get very heavy, so in order to minimize their weight while still maintaining the structural integrity of the pan, we use what is called a lightning pattern. Go through the following guide on how to CAD a belly pan with a lighting pattern. This step can also be done while working on step 5.
