CAD Class Curriculum for High School Students
Based on FRCDesign.org Onshape Learning Course
Course Overview
This semester-long CAD class introduces high school students to Computer-Aided Design (CAD) using Onshape, a cloud-based CAD platform, following the FRCDesign.org Learning Course (https://www.frcdesign.org/). The curriculum is designed for beginners and progresses to advanced FRC-relevant design skills, culminating in the ability to model a full robot. Students will learn sketching, part design, multi-part modeling, assemblies, and engineering concepts through hands-on projects. The course emphasizes practical skills for FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) design, best practices, and collaboration.
- Duration: 18 weeks (1 semester, assuming 2–3 hours of class time per week)
- Prerequisites: None (Stage 0A for absolute beginners; Stage 1A for those with basic Onshape experience)
- Platform: Onshape (free education account required)
- Resources:
- FRCDesign.org Learning Course: https://www.frcdesign.org/learning-course/learning-course
- Onshape Learning Center: https://learn.onshape.com/
- MKCAD and Featurescripts (setup guide: https://www.frcdesign.org/learning-course/stage-0a)
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, students will: 1. Master Onshape fundamentals (sketching, parts, assemblies). 2. Apply FRC-specific design techniques (e.g., pivot design, robot modeling). 3. Create and document complex CAD models for FRC robots. 4. Use best practices for collaborative CAD design. 5. Demonstrate engineering problem-solving through project-based assignments.
Weekly Curriculum
The curriculum follows the FRCDesign.org Learning Course stages (0A–4C), adapted for high school pacing. Each week includes lessons, hands-on practice, and assignments. Assignments are linked to separate Markdown files (to be created) with detailed instructions. Students new to CAD start at Stage 0A; those with Onshape experience may begin at Stage 1A after a pre-assessment.
| Week | Topic | FRCDesign.org Stage | Activities | Assignment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to CAD & Onshape Setup | Stage 0A | Overview of CAD, Onshape interface, account setup, MKCAD/Featurescripts installation | Assignment 1: Onshape Setup & Basic Navigation |
| 2 | Sketching Fundamentals | Stage 0A | Sketch tools, constraints, dimensions | Assignment 2: Basic Sketch Practice |
| 3 | Part Design Basics | Stage 0B | Extrude, revolve, basic features | Assignment 3: Simple Part Design |
| 4 | Multi-Part Modeling | Stage 0C | Part Studio, multi-part workflows | Assignment 4: Multi-Part Model |
| 5 | Assemblies Introduction | Stage 1A | Assembly basics, mates, constraints | Assignment 5: Basic Assembly |
| 6 | Intermediate Sketching | Stage 1B | Advanced constraints, patterns | Assignment 6: Complex Sketch |
| 7 | Intermediate Part Design | Stage 1C | Sweeps, lofts, fillets | Assignment 7: Advanced Part |
| 8 | Intermediate Assemblies | Stage 2A | Subassemblies, mate connectors | Assignment 8: Subassembly Design |
| 9 | FRC Design Concepts | Stage 2B | Pivot design, FRC mechanisms | Assignment 9: Pivot Mechanism |
| 10 | Midterm Project | Stages 0A–2B | Design a simple FRC subsystem (e.g., arm) | Assignment 10: Midterm Subsystem Project |
| 11 | Advanced Part Studio Techniques | Stage 2C | Configurations, variables | Assignment 11: Configurable Part |
| 12 | Advanced Assemblies | Stage 3A | Motion studies, exploded views | Assignment 12: Dynamic Assembly |
| 13 | FRC Robot Modeling | Stage 3B | Chassis design, integration | Assignment 13: Robot Chassis |
| 14 | Design Optimization | Stage 3C | Weight reduction, best practices | Assignment 14: Optimized Component |
| 15 | Full Robot Assembly | Stage 4A | Complete robot model | Assignment 15: Full Robot Draft |
| 16 | Documentation & Drawings | Stage 4B | Technical drawings, BOM | Assignment 16: Robot Documentation |
| 17 | Final Project | Stage 4C | Design a complete FRC robot | Assignment 17: Final Robot Project |
| 18 | Review & Showcase | All Stages | Peer reviews, project presentations | Assignment 18: Project Presentation |
Assignment Structure
Each assignment includes: - Objective: Specific CAD skill or FRC concept to master. - Instructions: Step-by-step tasks, often referencing FRCDesign.org exercises or Onshape tutorials. - Deliverables: Onshape document link (shared with instructor), screenshots, or exported files (e.g., drawings, STEP files). - Rubric: Assessed using the scoring rubric below. - Example: Assignment 1 might require students to create an Onshape account, import MKCAD, and complete a basic navigation tutorial, submitting a screenshot of their workspace.
Note: Assignment Markdown files (e.g., assignment1.md) should be created separately in an assignments folder. Each file should detail the task, link to relevant FRCDesign.org or Onshape resources, and specify deliverables. For example:
```markdown
Assignment 1: Onshape Setup & Basic Navigation
Objective: Set up an Onshape account and navigate the interface. Instructions: 1. Create a free Onshape Education account (https://www.onshape.com/en/education/). 2. Follow the FRCDesign.org Stage 0A setup guide (https://www.frcdesign.org/learning-course/stage-0a). 3. Complete the Onshape "Introduction to CAD" tutorial (https://learn.onshape.com/). 4. Take a screenshot of your Onshape dashboard. Deliverables: - Screenshot (uploaded to [class LMS]). - Share your Onshape document link with the instructor. Due Date: [Insert date]