FTC Launchpad · CAD
CAD — design before you cut
- CAD = computer-aided design: 2D sketches + 3D parts you can measure.
- Teams use it to fit parts, plan holes, and explore ideas before committing to a physical build — saving time and materials.
- Follow your coach’s choice of tool—Onshape steps below match what many FTC teams use.
The idea in 30 seconds
- Sketch — draw closed shapes on a flat plane (like a top view).
- Extrude — pull a sketch into the third dimension (a plate gets thickness).
- Part — one solid piece (bracket, plate, hub).
- Assembly — parts snapped together with constraints/mates so they move like real life.
1 — Pick software & set units
Common choices
- Onshape — browser, free education accounts, great for teams.
- Fusion — desktop app, also common in schools.
Set document units to millimeters (mm)—FTC hole spacing and vendor drawings are usually in mm.
Onshape — account, FTC library, new document
Student account
- Go to onshape.com → Create a Student Account → complete the form → verify your email.
FTC parts library
- Open the Onshape App Store while signed in, find and subscribe to the FIRST / FTC parts library (wording may vary).
- Wait a minute, then open or refresh a document.
- In the right panel, use Insert (tooltip “Insert Tool”). If you land on Home or Help, open Home (top left).
- Global Libraries → pick a vendor (many teams use REV or goBILDA) or search by part name (search can lag).
New document
- Left sidebar: Create → Document → name it → Create.
Sketch toolbar tools (Onshape)—expand for full list
- Line — straight segments.
- Rectangle — rectangles (several variants).
- Circle, Arc, Ellipse.
- Polygon — inscribed or circumscribed.
- Spline — smooth curves with control points.
- Point, Slot, Text.
- Dimension — lengths, widths, radii.
- Constraints — parallel, perpendicular, and other relationships.
- Mirror, Pattern, Trim, Construction (reference lines), Fillet.
2 — Lab: your first plate (follow in order)
Do this with a mentor the first time. Names of buttons differ by app—the order is what matters.
- New part — blank workspace.
- Choose a plane — usually “Top” for a flat bracket.
- Sketch a rectangle — two dimensions you can measure (e.g. 40 mm × 80 mm).
- Extrude — thickness (e.g. 3 mm) → you have a plate.
- Save —
team_bracket_v1(no spaces—easier to share).
3 — Holes that actually line up
- Don’t guess hole positions—use dimensions from the vendor PDF or your ruler.
- Use sketch points or hole wizard features (name varies) so holes stay tied to the sketch.
- For pattern holes (motor mount): use a linear/circular pattern tool—one change updates all.
4 — Assemblies (how parts fit)
- Create a new assembly document.
- Insert two parts (e.g. plate + standoff).
- Use mates/constraints:
- Two faces flush
- One hole concentric with another
- Offset if you need a gap
- Rotate the view: does anything intersect that shouldn’t? Fix in the part, not by forcing the mate.
5 — Hand off to build & notebook
- Export what your team asks for (often STEP or PDF drawing)—ask the lead builder.
- Screenshot the assembly + add dimensions to the notebook so others know why you chose sizes.
Your CAD checklist
Go deeper (optional)
GM0 — CAD introBig picture
GM0 — CAD tutorialsStep lists
Design glossaryTerms
Onshape for educationFree tier info
- CAD is a year-long skill—this guide is a start, not mastery.
- Never machine or print without a mentor’s safety OK.