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06Week 6

CAD and Mechanical Design

Build it on screen before you build it in the workshop.

This week your team learns to design robot parts in CAD (computer-aided design) using Onshape, a free browser-based tool. You will sketch, constrain and extrude parts, put them together in assemblies, plan for real-world tolerances and use versions to iterate safely. By the end of the week, every student will have designed a simple robot component that fits your kit.

4
Lessons
8 team hours
Estimated time
5
Learning objectives
Start lesson
Game of the week

Match the drawing

Engineers read 2D drawings every day. Find which 3D part matches the front, top or side view.

How to play
  1. 01Look at the drawing at the bottom left and note which view it is.
  2. 02Rotate the scene: the red arrow on the floor marks the front of each part.
  3. 03Click the matching part or press A, B or C.
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Lessons190 min

  1. 01Why CAD? Getting Started with OnshapeLearn what CAD is, why FTC teams rely on it, and how an Onshape document is organised into Part Studios, Assemblies and versions you can share with your team. 35 min
  2. 02Sketches, Constraints and FeaturesLearn how every part begins as a 2D sketch, how dimensions and constraints make a sketch fully defined, and how features such as extrude, revolve, fillet, hole and pattern turn sketches into solid parts. 50 min
  3. 03Assemblies, Mates and TolerancesBring parts together in an assembly, connect them with mates that model real motion, and learn how to size holes and fits so parts actually go together in the workshop. 50 min
  4. 04Design Iteration and Building Robot ComponentsUse versions and branches to improve designs safely, then follow a complete workflow to design a bracket or mounting plate that fits your kit and can actually be made. 55 min
Team assignment

Design a simple robot component or assembly in CAD

Working in pairs, design one real component your robot could use, such as a sensor mount, a motor mounting plate, a spacer set or a small bracket that bolts to your kit's structure. Model the part in a Part Studio using fully defined sketches, then place it in an Assembly together with the kit parts it attaches to (use the vendor's CAD files where available). Use mates to show how it connects, check clearances, and save at least two named versions that show how the design improved.

Deliverables

Tick items off as your team completes them.

0/5

Learning objectives

  • Explain why FTC teams design robots in CAD before building them
  • Create fully defined sketches and turn them into solid parts with features
  • Build assemblies with mates that show how parts connect and move
  • Apply clearance and tolerance guidelines to holes, shafts and 3D-printed parts
  • Use versions and branches to iterate on a design without losing work

Required materials

  • A computer or Chromebook with an up-to-date web browser and internet access
  • A free Onshape education account for each student
  • A mouse with a scroll wheel (strongly recommended over a touchpad)
  • Digital or dial calipers for measuring real parts
  • A few kit parts (channel, plates, screws, a bearing) to measure and compare
  • Engineering notebook or shared team document for notes and screenshots

Expected outcomes

  • Students can navigate an Onshape document and explain Part Studios, Assemblies and versions
  • Students can draw a fully defined sketch using dimensions and geometric constraints
  • Students can model parts with extrude, revolve, fillet, hole and pattern features
  • Students can assemble parts with fastened, revolute and slider mates
  • Students can design a bracket or plate that matches a kit hole pattern with sensible clearances

Knowledge check

14 questions across this week's lessons. Your best score for each lesson is saved.

  • Why CAD? Getting Started with Onshape–/3
  • Sketches, Constraints and Features–/4
  • Assemblies, Mates and Tolerances–/3
  • Design Iteration and Building Robot Components–/4

Completion checklist

Tick items off as your team completes them.

0/9