Design Phase
Before the Oshkosh West mini chopper build team could begin work on their bike, they needed to design the parts. The team used two drafting programs to design their parts, Inventor and AutoCAD2007. The programs are very similar, but Mr. Benson (instructor) thought AutoCAD2007 was easier because he was familar with it. Every member of the team worked with the drafting programs.
To design and make the parts, the team did a number of different things. First they would draw the parts using the drafting program. It sounds easy, but the measurements have to be accurate and that can be tedious work. Then the team makes a prototype out of cardboard, wood, or plastic to see if the part would actually fit their needs.
If the prototype works, they have two options. First option is to cut the piece manually. Using the machines, the team would cut the piece from a paper copy.
Second option is to send the computer file to a CNC (computer numeric control) machine, such as a CNC lathe or water jet machine. These machines automatically cut out the parts. It is important to double or triple check the measurements so materials are wasted.