Learn . Create . Succeed

Fun with Physics and SolidWorks

I have fun with physics.  I have fun with math.   Your students can have fun too with this SolidWorks Motion Tutorial from our friends in Cuda Country. 

Use SolidWorks to create a Car and Track assembly. Then create a Motion Study using functions: Solve as Flexible, Motor, Contacts, Friction, Gravity, suppress Mates and Calculate.

Add Linear Velocity Results and Plots to determine the velocity of the car.

Make adjustments and try to go faster – without the car falling off the track.  Great way to apply STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) subjects in one project.  Marie

 

F1 in School Greece Team Succeeds at World Finals

Congratulations to the students from Team Ground Force Project that won two awards

• Best Newcomer Award
• Best Use of Social Media

 in the F1 in Schools 2012 World Finals in Abu Dhabi.

The success of the Greek team will inspire and motivate more teams to participate in this year F1 in Schools Greece, 2012 – 2013 championship.

Thank you to Dimitris Polymatidis, F1 in Schools Greece & Cyprus, for the photos. 

Anyone can use the SolidWorks F1inSchools lessons, go to the SolidWorks STEM Teacher Blog.  http://blogs.solidworks.com/teacher/  Search the F1inSchools category for your language.  Marie

Formula SAE Michigan - students at their best

My day at FSAE Michigan starts with a stop at the F1inSchools US finals.  What a difference a year makes.  I first met Team Raptor,  Kelly, Sabine,  Anna,  and Claire last year at the US finals. These girls, now in high school from Marietta Georgia have been using SolidWorks for four years.  That's right,  four years designing in SolidWorks, manufacturing and testing, all learning how math and science are really applied. They went to the F1inSchools finals in Malaysia partnering up with a German team.  The girls are working on their second trip to the world finals - no matter what happens, I know they will be successful.

I also notice this year's displays at F1inSchools looked like them came from experienced marketing professionals.  Ipads, turntables and great posters, like these flow analysis images from Pirate Racing.

Back on the track, things were heating up in the acceleration event.  Times were calculating out to 3 decimal places.  We gave out "SolidWorks Let go design" umbrellas out to every team.  They are great when it is hot and when it rains.  You have to protect your driver!

 Tomorrow weather will determine if the faster cars will go in the morning or afternoon  for the endurance event.  Safety is an issue and nobody wants fast cars racing on a wet track.  Marie

SolidWorks drives F1inSchools UK finals

SolidWorks sponsors F1inSchools and the UK event this month was more exciting than ever with more teams participating in this engineering competition where students design a miniature F1 race car, test, manufucture, race and have fun project.  The project starts with a block of wood but becomes the foundation to teach Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)  concepts in with product design, marketing and teamwork.

 The F1 in Schools UK National Finals, held at The Big Bang Fair, NEC, Birmingham, brought together the top 32 teams from around the UK, who had won through from ten Regional Final events held earlier this year.

SolidWorks provides F1inSchools curriculum in 7 langauges.  Student use SolidWorks to design, SolidWorks Simulation to perform stress analysis and SolidWorks Flow Simulation to test drag in a virtual wind tunnel. 

I like to thank my UK engineering colleague Justin Burton for presenting the SolidWorks Design award at this event.

F1inSchools curriculum can be found on the SolidWorks STEM Teacher Blog:  

Marie

SolidWorks Tutorial: CO2 Dragster from Team CudaCountry

 
SolidWorks Tutorials by master teacher,  Pat Haley astound me again with his lastest SolidWorks Tutorial featuring a CO2 dragster. 

Take a look at the updated CO2 Dragster Car Tutorials at Cudacountry

http://www.cudacountry.net/html/sw_co2car.html

New in the SolidWorks 2011 tutorials:

Mate References - In the assembly file parts with Mate References; wheels, axles, spacers "snap" in place on the body!

Z Component Velocityin SolidWorks Flow Simulation  calculates velocity trajectories rather than pressure. Makes it easier to see problem areas.

Rendering in PhotoView 360 - makes you want to buy the dragster right off the racetrack.

There is MasterCam and CAM Works instruction too. 

If you are looking for more engineering projects for your students of all ages try out one of the other SolidWorks Tutorials on boats, rockets, planes and springs.  Thank you Pat for your amazing work and helping so many students have fun learning.   Marie

F1inSchools drives success for STEM education

Sometimes you just have a good today.  That was today in Michigan at the US F1inSchools finals at Formula SAE.  I met Team Raptor,  Kelly, Sabine,  Anna,  and Claire. These girls, now in East Cobb Middle School, Marietta Georgia have been using SolidWorks for three years.  That's right,  three years designing in SolidWorks,manufactuing and testing, all learning how math and science is really applied.  They presented me their design and explained its creation as truly experienced young designers.

 
 
Their car, Lola will race in the finals tomorrow.  Not matter what the outcome, these girls have already won.  I love being a mechanical engineer!  Marie

 

Brazilian SolidWorks Blog in Portuguese to Help Teachers and Students

 
My friend Jose is from SENAI, that assists students in Industrial Education in Brazil.  He has created a new blog to help teachers and students - in Portuguese.

www.solid3d.blogspot.com 

Descrição:

Este blog é destinado aos usuários para ampliar seus conhecimentos em solidworks e como recuros para despertar o interesse para os usuários em CAD 3D. Além de trazer noticias sobre o mundo SolidWorks.

Muito Obrigado pela atenção.

The SolidWorks Education team produces teaching material in Portuguese.  One example is F1inSchools with SolidWorks.

Marie

SolidWorks Tutorial: F1inSchools (Portuguese)

  
  
 Here are the complete instructions to develop a  F1inSchools SolidWorks 2010 car with a step-by-step  .pdf and  2010 model files for the complete project. Create the body part, car assembly and drawings.  perform a stress analysis for the axle and flow analysis to determine drag.  Available in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, and German.  See our customer portal, www.solidworks.com/customerportal for instructor solutions.

Download the model files, project file and view the video.   Marie

Model Files: SolidWorks 2010-Models

Portuguese PDF EDU_2010_F1inSchoolsDesignProject_PTB

Video: SolidWorks and F1 in Schools - Streaming

SolidWorks Tutorial: F1inSchools (French)

  
 
Here are the complete instructions to develop a  F1inSchools SolidWorks 2010 car with a step-by-step  .pdf and  2010 model files for the complete project. Create the body part, car assembly and drawings.  perform a stress analysis for the axle and flow analysis to determine drag.  Available in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, and German.  See our customer portal, www.solidworks.com/customerportal for instructor solutions.

Download the model files, project file and view the video.   Marie

Model Files: SolidWorks 2010-Models

French PDF  EDU_2010_F1inSchoolsDesignProject_FRA

Video: SolidWorks and F1 in Schools - Streaming

SolidWorks Tutorial: F1inSchools German

 
  
 Here are the complete instructions to develop a  F1inSchools SolidWorks 2010 car with a step-by-step  .pdf and  2010 model files for the complete project. Create the body part, car assembly and drawings.  perform a stress analysis for the axle and flow analysis to determine drag.  Available in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, and German.  See our customer portal, www.solidworks.com/customerportal for instructor solutions.

Download the model files, project file and view the video.   Marie

Model Files: SolidWorks 2010-Models

German PDF   EDU_2010_F1inSchoolsDesignProject_DEU

Video: SolidWorks and F1 in Schools - Streaming