Master Sketches: Top-Down Assembly Design

Rookie CAD: Make a part. Make another part. Mate them together. Pro CAD: Design the interaction first.

The Strategy

1. Create a Part Studio called “Master Architecture”.
2. Sketch 1 (Side View): Draw the floor, the wall, the robot start height, the robot max extension.
3. Sketch 2 (Top View): Draw the chassis perimeter, the intake width, the shooter width.

Deriving

Now, create a new Part Studio for the “Intake”.

• “Derive” the Master Sketch into it.
• Build your intake referencing the Master Sketch lines.

The Magic

If you change the “Shooter Height” in the Master Sketch… The Shooter moves up. The Intake angle adjusts. The Chassis mounting holes move. Everything updates automatically.

Conclusion

Top-Down design prevents “Integration Hell” where parts don’t fit together at the end. Define the space constraints first. Build second.