CAD & Technical Drawings
Tips for using CAD to strengthen your Engineering Portfolio.
Computer-Aided Design (CAD) is a great way to document your robot's design. Here's how to use it well in your portfolio.
Why CAD Matters
CAD demonstrates:
- Planning: You thought through the design before building
- Precision: Exact measurements and specifications
- Iteration: Changes made throughout the season
- Communication: Clear visual representation of your robot
Types of CAD Views
Isometric Views
Overall robot from an angled perspective. Great for full robot overviews and assemblies.
Exploded Views
Show how components fit together. Useful for assembly order and highlighting parts.
Cross-Sections
Cut through to show internal components like motor placement and gear ratios.
Orthographic
Standard engineering views (top, front, side) for dimensional accuracy.
Best Practices for CAD Screenshots
- High quality renders: Use good lighting and shadows
- Hide unnecessary parts: Focus on what matters
- Add annotations: Label key components
- Use consistent colors: Same part = same color across images
- Include scale: Add dimensions or reference objects
CAD Page Layout Example
Here's how a typical CAD page might look in your portfolio:
Show Your CAD Evolution
Version 1
- Initial concept
- Basic prototype
Version 2
- Refined after testing
- Added finer details
Version 3
- Current design
- All hardware modeled
Common CAD Mistakes
Low-resolution screenshots that look pixelated when printed
Cluttered images with too many parts visible
Missing dimensions or annotations for clarity
Only showing final design (not iterations)