CAD

CAD - Computer Aided Design

CAD builds 3-d virtual models of your parts and assembles them with constraints which you set. CAD applies real material desities and other physical properties, thereby enabling the straightforward calculation of component and assembly mass and centers of mass. It includes features for stress analysis of parts. It generates drawings. Parts files can be used as input for CNC (Computer Numerical Control) Machine Mills. This is how engineers design mechanical components today.

Team 1640 uses Autodesk Inventor as its CAD platform. Inventor is a FIRST standard. Autodesk donates licenses to registered FRC teams. The program is parametric, versitile and very capable. Team 1640 provides Inventor instruction, open to those outside the team as well as within. We've developed a substantial library of parts (and there are links for many more parts easily available).

More info later