As a newly established society, CADSoc is celebrating the amazing first term that we've had and we can't wait to keep going with all the exciting upcoming activities we have in store! Our committee was founded by nine third year Mechanical Engineering students and we’ve grown to around 30 active members already – brilliant considering we're only a few months in!
Many students are drawn in by what we have to offer, such as design challenges and bi-weekly Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software teaching sessions. We first introduced the Society to students around campus at the Guild Societies Fair and EPS Societies Fair in October, followed by a Tea and Chat Q&A, stalls at Open Days, Design Week talk to 3rd year engineers and demonstrations at Applicant Visit Days. We’ve had amazing engagement with attendees and visitors to the University!
CADSoc hosted its first ever Airgineers Design Challenge on 11th December! Participants were challenged to design individual micro class drone chassis using 3D modelling application Fusion 360 with assistance from committee members. These were then printed with CADSoc's very own 3D printer for a drone flying competition we cleverly named 'Game of Drones'. The aim was to complete an obstacle course in the quickest time possible. We had 10 competitors, received amazing responses and feedback from everyone, and they all enjoyed it! An Autodesk professional from our partner team was invited to the event so everyone could network and ask for industrial advice.
We’ve also tried our hand at material design for our own society t-shirts. We again challenged our members, but this time to design our team logo and t-shirt rather than fly anything! Our official customised 2019/20 members T-shirt was voted by our members through and announced on our Facebook page. Here it is!
We’re also about to launch our new Makerspace facility. This aims to provide students at the University with opportunities to learn about Computer-Aided Manufacture, bringing them into contact with equipment and training them to produce their creations with our own technology available for their use. The committee has been painstakingly assembling CNC machines and we are proud to announce our 3D printers are now set up and ready to use, and there's more equipment to follow in the future.
Throughout the term we’ve been very lucky to secure sponsorship from Caterpillar and the School of Engineering, plus funding from the University including the Alumni Impact Fund for Students and Student Culture Fund. These opportunities allowed us to invest in member T-shirts, free pizzas for Airgineers participants, and provide more Makerspace equipment. Another element of surprise... we are in the works of organising an end of year Industrial Design Competition for with support from our sponsors! This is an exciting opportunity for members to get involved in and put their CAD skills to the test while working to solve real world problems. Members entering this competition will also be able to network with and be mentored by industrial specialists, and learn more about what they do. So watch this space!! Thank you to all of our sponsors; we wouldn’t be able to put on these incredible opportunities without your support.
Looking ahead to next term already, we’ll be resuming our two-hour teaching lessons and are also looking into organising industrial visits and inviting guest speakers for seminars to take place during the final semester.
To follow our progress or to work with us follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, or email us on uobcadsociety@gmail.com.
CADSoc wishes everyone a Happy New Year and we look forward to see what the next decade brings.
YM Marie Law
Media and Communications Officer
CAD Society
