Design Handbook
A reference for the why behind every part. Mostly CAD-agnostic — examples use Onshape because the rest of the site does. Read in any order.
Strategic Design
The decisions you make before opening Onshape determine whether the rest matters.
- Game analysis — turning the manual into a design brief.
- Scope & build schedule — how much robot a team can finish.
- Execution within capability — picking what your team can build.
Hardware
Robustness and manufacturability — the unglamorous decisions that determine whether the robot survives match four.
- Materials & design for manufacturing
- Structural design
- Fasteners & standards
- 3D printing for FTC
- Tolerances & weight savings
Power Transmission
Getting motor torque from the spec sheet to where it does work.
- Motion components — bearings, bushings, axles.
- Rotational transfer — gears, belts, chain.
- Linear extension — cascade vs. continuous rigging.
- Motors & calculations
- Wheels & rollers
- Electronics & sensors
Mechanisms
Categories of subsystem that show up on every FTC robot. Cross-referenced with the Mechanism Examples.
Design Write-ups
Deeper essays that don't fit the reference format.