Student Project Details

Name: Owen G.
Grade: 12
WTSA Event: Computer-Aided Design (CAD) 3D, Engineering

Current Post-High Plan(s)/Career Goal(s):

I am planning on going the Wentworth Institute of Technology, in Boston, Massachusetts to pursue my undergraduate in mechanical engineering. And masters in Civil engineering. I would love to work somewhere I can really take ownership and pride over my work as an engineer, and I hope to return to TSA a event volunteer!

Why This Event?

I chose this event back in December. Because it sounded easy, at the time, I was really heavily involved with FIRST robotics, and I knew I wouldn't have much availability to do other competitions. So I chose 3d CAD for Engineering, since I could only dedicate 3 hours to it. In hindsight, I wish I signed up for more events like the Dragster race, or the Catapult, and took some time out of robotics to try something new. I hope in the future this is something my peers will consider!

The Design Brief

For 3d CAD for Engineering I was given a not-to-scale technical drawing of a multipart design. At the conference, I was given a design for a 4" vice. I had to convert the 2D drawing into 3D in CAD model, with an accompanying animation and a new set of technical drawings.

Toolset & Engineering/Design Methodology

I used Onshape for the January qualifier. At the time that was the software I was using the most and, I had wifi access. At the competition, I decided to run Fusion 360, due to me having no guarantee of wifi.

Overcoming Challenges

Time. Time was my biggest challenge during the competition. I realized that it was not a competition solely on the ability to read a technical document and convert it, but how to manage time to deliver a minimal viable product.

WTSA State Conference Experience

DO MORE EVENTS!!! I had a lot of fun with my peers but there were times where I wanted more action. Something I wish I had done was more competition events, and tried more new things!

The Veteran's Brief (Advice for Newcomers)

Do all the cool things you think you want. Don't just limit yourself to the events you know you're comfortable with!

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