ProjectAir Takes Flight with SOLIDWORKS Cloud Apps for Makers: Part One

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ProjectAir is known for taking on ambitious DIY projects, and its latest challenge—a solar-powered plane—is one of its most exciting yet. In the first part of its solar plane series, they set out to design and build a plane that runs entirely on sunlight. Over months of planning, trial and error, and a few dramatic crashes, the project came to life piece by piece.

After carefully designing and 3D printing key components, ProjectAir tested the first version of its solar-powered plane. Spoiler alert: not everything went smoothly. Plenty of challenges exist, from clouds obscuring the sun to fragile solar cells to expanding the wingspan, but that’s the beauty of a DIY project. It’s all about learning from setbacks and moving forward.

The plane’s first successful (and fully solar-powered) flight was thrilling, even if it only lasted a few minutes. As ProjectAir continues to perfect its design and adjust specifications, the goal is to create an aircraft that can fly autonomously for extended periods and store solar energy even during cloudy conditions.

The Rights Tools for the Job

ProjectAir uses SOLIDWORKS for Makers to design custom 3D-printed parts, like motor mounts and propellers, which are crucial to the solar plane’s build. If you’re a Mac user like ProjectAir, you’ll appreciate SOLIDWORKS Cloud Apps for Makers, the new cloud-based design package from SOLIDWORKS for Makers. With the xDesign and xShape apps, you can design your DIY and hobbyist projects in your browser. This means all your work is stored online, and you can access it from any device, anywhere. And, if you’re still using a Windows-based PC, don’t worry—you can download both local and cloud-based apps, giving you the flexibility to work however you prefer.

Watch The First Step of the Journey

Whether you’re an experienced maker or just curious about solar-powered flight, ProjectAir’s video offers a front-row seat to innovation. You’ll get an inside look at the highs and lows of creating a solar-powered airplane from scratch, from selecting suitable solar cells to tackling the inevitable design setbacks. ProjectAir’s latest design project is part drone, part glider, and part propeller-driven plane. It’s an incredible project for anyone who loves building, experimenting, and solving real-world challenges.

 

As the series continues, the solar plane project will move beyond its current achievements and evolve with new ideas and even more ambitious solar flights ahead. If you’ve ever dreamed of taking your DIY projects to the next level, stay tuned on ProjectAir’s YouTube channel to see how this adventure unfolds. You can catch up with the initial test light and the challenges that it presented by watching this video about the solar plane project.

SOLIDWORKS for Makers’ New Cloud Apps Package

If you’re feeling inspired, explore SOLIDWORKS for Makers yourself. It’s the ultimate tool for bringing your DIY projects to life, whether building solar-powered planes or realizing your own passion project. At just $48 USD/year, SOLIDWORKS for Makers can power your next creation.  With full-functionality 3D CAD tools for personal use, it’s perfect for hobbyists, makers, and DIY enthusiasts who want professional-grade design software without breaking the bank. Compare features and pick your maker package with a choice of cloud apps or desktop.

Watch the Full Video

SOLIDWORKS

SOLIDWORKS

Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp. offers complete 3D software tools that let you create, simulate, publish, and manage your data. SolidWorks products are easy to learn and use, and work together to help you design products better, faster, and more cost-effectively. The SolidWorks focus on ease-of-use allows more engineers, designers and other technology professionals than ever before to take advantage of 3D in bringing their designs to life.
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