Exciting engineering challenges with great prizes

Show off your skills and solve real design problems

Build Models for Reuse with Good Design Intent

Create a model with clear design intent and a tutorial to go with it!

GrabCAD wants you to lead the way in creating content that is made for reuse and sharing. We think the best way to do this is baking your design intent into your model. For this Challenge, we ask that you include a Tutorial on your process and frame of thinking for two reasons:

1) Spread the word on best practices for showing design intent with other GrabCADrs.
2) Test out our Tutorials process so we can make some big improvements there!

This will be one of a three part series involving Tutorials. By the next Challenge in the series, we will have made some changes to Tutorials based on your past suggestions and all the feedback here! The last Challenge will start after we've made the majority of our improvements.

Picture via Fateh Merrad's Tutorial: http://grabcad.com/questions/how-to-create-a-rim-of-an-audi-r8.

Requirements

  • Ask a question as follows: "Tutorial: How to model 'model name'' in 'software' and show design intent." Answer as a tutorial (this option shows in the answer box) with your tutorial steps.

    Example...
    Tutorial: How to model Dining Table in Autodesk Inventor and show design intent

  • Link to the original model has to be included under tutorial description AND link to the tutorial must be included in the model description. They are a pair!

  • Each tutorial has to be entered in the Q&A under a new, clearly asked question: http://grabcad.com/questions/new. Leave feedback in the comments on this process!

  • Tutorials must consist of screen shots and comments in a way that is easy for someone else to follow. You can also upload a video by adding a YouTube link in your model settings -- see below for additional video-related rule.

  • Video tutorials should be uploaded directly to your model on GrabCAD as a YouTube or Vimeo link. Please add this link in the tutorial, too.

  • No tutorials in document files accepted.

  • Only public entries (including models) will be considered. (Updated May 18 2013)

Rules

  • The competition is open to everyone.

  • Models can be done in any CAD software as long as STEP or IGES files and renderings are also uploaded.

  • By entering this competition, you
    1. Warrant that the work is your original work.
    2. To the best of your knowledge, it is not, and has not been in production or otherwise previously published or exhibited.
    3. Neither the work nor its use infringes the intellectual property rights (whether a patent, utility model, functional design right, aesthetic design right, trade mark, copyright or any other intellectual property right) of any other person.

  • Applicants are not entitled to any compensation or reimbursement for any costs. The applicant’s participation shall not constitute employment, assignment or offer of employment or assignment.

  • Only models uploaded to GrabCAD library through this Challenge page will participate in the competition.

  • Winning designs will be chosen based on the rules and requirements.

  • This Challenge starts on May 6, 2013 and ends on May 28, 2013, at 11:59pm UTC.

  • Winners will be announced latest June 7, 2013.

  • All cash prizes awarded through Paypal (http://grabcad.com/faq#money). Void where prohibited.

  • The sum of the Awards is the total gross amount of the reward. The awarded participant is solely liable for the payment of all taxes, duties and other similar measures if imposed on the reward pursuant to the legislation of the country of his/her residence, domicile, citizenship, workplace, or any other criterion of similar nature.

  • Tag your model with “designintent”. Only entries with valid tag will participate!

Prizes

1st Place Winner

Choice of ONE of these prizes: Jawbone Jambox, Pebble Watch, Sphero + Blog post on your work + GrabCAD Shirt and mug

2nd - 10th Place Winners

GrabCAD Shirt and mug

About the jury?

GrabCAD, an Open Engineering platform with tools to help engineers and designers build products faster, is leading this Challenge with some of its Community Advisors. Email sara@grabcad.com if you're interested!

48 comments

  • Sara Sigel

    Sara Sigel over 12 years ago

    Thank you to Aykut and Sudhir for acting as Community advisors! Let's see what the GrabCAD Community can create to help each other build better models for reuse!

    Sara Sigel has uploaded 1 CAD models & has left 1841 comments.
  • Chester Lee Coloma

    Chester Lee Coloma over 12 years ago

    Like!

    Chester Lee Coloma has uploaded 18 CAD models & has left 75 comments.
  • Helio Zuazua

    Helio Zuazua over 12 years ago

    nice challenge and nice improvement

    Helio Zuazua has uploaded 4 CAD models & has left 7 comments.
  • EDISON PHOENIX

    EDISON PHOENIX over 12 years ago

    Nice challenge..!

    EDISON PHOENIX has uploaded 141 CAD models & has left 682 comments.
  • Stephen Nyberg

    Stephen Nyberg over 12 years ago

    Sweet! With finals and a fishing trip I may miss out on the first round of this challenge but to help out everyone else, I have noticed a flaw in the way the tutorals work vs the way they are suposed to work. I have posted my work-around here. I think this should be the first thing that GC looks into but hope this will help others untill they do

    http://grabcad.com/questions/tutorial-share-your-skills-create-a-tutorial-on-grabcad

    My tutorial is after Grabby's and tells how I have found to post a tutorial with more then three steps.

    Stephen Nyberg has uploaded 127 CAD models & has left 1228 comments.
  • Sara Sigel

    Sara Sigel over 12 years ago

    Thanks @Stephen :) It will be so much fun to see Tutorials get better as we go through this series!

    Sara Sigel has uploaded 1 CAD models & has left 1841 comments.
  • Kiran kale

    Kiran kale over 12 years ago

    Good challenge..!

    Kiran kale has uploaded 2 CAD models & has left 6 comments.
  • Sourbh

    Sourbh over 12 years ago

    Very nice challenge...............

    Sourbh has uploaded 112 CAD models & has left 3442 comments.
  • Frederik Vollbrecht

    Frederik Vollbrecht over 12 years ago

    Earlier tutorial entries are allowed?

    Frederik Vollbrecht has uploaded 1 CAD models & has left 237 comments.
  • Rupesh Kumar Gupta

    Rupesh Kumar Gupta over 12 years ago

    can i submit solidworks parts for the challenge??

    Rupesh Kumar Gupta has uploaded 16 CAD models & has left 7 comments.
  • Aykut Dana

    Aykut Dana over 12 years ago

    @Frederik earlier tutorial entries are not allowed, @Ruspesh you can sumbit Solidworks parts as long as STEP or IGES files are also uploaded.

    Aykut Dana has uploaded 26 CAD models & has left 305 comments.
  • Vladimir Palffy

    Vladimir Palffy over 12 years ago

    I like this challenge - I think that everybody want to see new tutorials - no old video from youtube :) what do you think Mr. Fahad Rafi Butt ?

    Vladimir Palffy has uploaded 124 CAD models & has left 258 comments.
  • Sara Sigel

    Sara Sigel over 12 years ago

    We're looking for new models and tutorials for this one :)

    Sara Sigel has uploaded 1 CAD models & has left 1841 comments.
  • Frederik Vollbrecht

    Frederik Vollbrecht over 12 years ago

    what I need is some kind of list to compare german and english feature-names...

    Frederik Vollbrecht has uploaded 1 CAD models & has left 237 comments.
  • Fahad Rafi Butt

    Fahad Rafi Butt over 12 years ago

    it'll be better if "submit an entry" takes you to new tutorial, instead of new model, and new tutorials shall be visible here in entries,

    and if someone uploads a youtube link as a step in a tutorial, the thumbnail should appear automatically, as it does with the parts....

    Fahad Rafi Butt has uploaded 360 CAD models & has left 643 comments.
  • Fahad Rafi Butt

    Fahad Rafi Butt over 12 years ago

    all my tutorials are new here..., used to make for youtube but now anymore...

    Fahad Rafi Butt has uploaded 360 CAD models & has left 643 comments.
  • Amine Mech

    Amine Mech over 12 years ago

    interesting challenge

    Amine Mech has uploaded 54 CAD models & has left 1071 comments.
  • Reza Allahyari

    Reza Allahyari over 12 years ago

    nice challenge ;)

    Reza Allahyari has uploaded 141 CAD models & has left 1574 comments.
  • Tomica Vukovic

    Tomica Vukovic over 12 years ago

    It is a real challlenge. but one must start first with rough sketch, defininig parameters and nesessery conitions. Then making initial model, studying it, checking a solutions in patent databases, cost calculation, health and safety requirements, to making and proving a design and so on. this is a hard work.

    Tomica Vukovic has uploaded 123 CAD models & has left 104 comments.
  • AIT OUFKIR YASSINE

    AIT OUFKIR YASSINE over 12 years ago

    Hello, Do i have to use just the software listed in grabcad,
    I Want creat a tutorial For Cinema 4D this is a gallery with it http://www.maxon.net/fr/gallery/engineering.html
    Great challenge,

    AIT OUFKIR YASSINE has uploaded 32 CAD models & has left 377 comments.
  • AIT OUFKIR YASSINE

    AIT OUFKIR YASSINE over 12 years ago

    Here is also another, http://www.maxon.net/fr/gallery/vehicles.html

    AIT OUFKIR YASSINE has uploaded 32 CAD models & has left 377 comments.
  • Sara Sigel

    Sara Sigel over 12 years ago

    @AIT You can use whatever software you want as long as the tutorial is engineering-focused. Thanks for the interest! It'd be great to see new topics and software covered in Tutorials!

    Sara Sigel has uploaded 1 CAD models & has left 1841 comments.
  • AIT OUFKIR YASSINE

    AIT OUFKIR YASSINE over 12 years ago

    Thank you Sara, I Will Creat one this week, include
    the Modeling + rendering + animation,

    AIT OUFKIR YASSINE has uploaded 32 CAD models & has left 377 comments.
  • Fahad Rafi Butt

    Fahad Rafi Butt over 12 years ago

    Private entry? really people? tutorials are meant to be for free all! at least here!!

    Fahad Rafi Butt has uploaded 360 CAD models & has left 643 comments.
  • Sara Sigel

    Sara Sigel over 12 years ago

    Private entries will not be considered. Please go to your model setting and change to public for a chance at the prize! Sorry for the confusion, I'll add this to the requirements.

    Sara Sigel has uploaded 1 CAD models & has left 1841 comments.
  • Frank Gonzalez

    Frank Gonzalez over 12 years ago

    Hi Sara, I really liked this challenge, I have two simple questions before getting my ticket.
    1. I want to upload a video tutorial. Is it valid?
    2. I do not speak English very well, if I upload my tutorial in Spanish, I'm in the same chance of winning?

    Frank Gonzalez has uploaded 4 CAD models & has left 4 comments.
  • Sara Sigel

    Sara Sigel over 12 years ago

    I am really excited by all of the entries coming in for this Challenge! Please continue to upload and share best practices on model reuse with your fellow GrabCADrs. If you have any ideas for the rest of this Tutorials series, feel free to add them in the comments.

    @Frank Please note somewhere in your descriptions that Spanish instructions are included. It will help fellow Spanish-speaking members find your work. To be considered (since our Jury is not fluent in Spanish) would you be open to adding some basic English subtitles or comments to accompany your native language? It would be very much appreciated. Thanks for participating!

    Sara Sigel has uploaded 1 CAD models & has left 1841 comments.
  • Steen Winther

    Steen Winther over 12 years ago

    Just found out that I could upload my tutorial - all 67 steps - using Internet Explorer but not using Chrome. So try MicroSoft if you're having problems....

    Steen Winther has uploaded 239 CAD models & has left 1411 comments.
  • Surajmal

    Surajmal over 12 years ago

    Couldn't upload the screenshot. Something is wrong.

    Surajmal has uploaded 133 CAD models & has left 382 comments.
  • Ravinder Saggam

    Ravinder Saggam over 12 years ago

    I have a problem with GC tutorials,
    After adding the tutorial to any question, submit your answer option was not enabling.

    Ravinder Saggam has uploaded 131 CAD models & has left 146 comments.
  • Aykut Dana

    Aykut Dana over 12 years ago

    It is ok now, right?

    Aykut Dana has uploaded 26 CAD models & has left 305 comments.
  • Sara Sigel

    Sara Sigel over 12 years ago

    @Steen Great news! Thanks for sharing it!
    @Surajmal Make sure to load a picture <7MB.
    @Ravinder Be sure to add text to or hit the space bar if you have copy and pasted it into the field.

    Sara Sigel has uploaded 1 CAD models & has left 1841 comments.
  • Lukasz Siwiec

    Lukasz Siwiec over 12 years ago

    Why deadline is 1day but in rules is write the this challange ends 28 may?

    Lukasz Siwiec has uploaded 23 CAD models & has left 36 comments.
  • f234k

    f234k over 12 years ago

    i create the tutorial here http://grabcad.com/questions/tutorial-how-to-model-soap-bar-in-autodesk-inventor-2013 I type it for long time, more than 2 hours, about 40 step, then when i submit it, too Bad it say

    "Sorry, but something went wrong

    We have been notified about this issue and we will take a look at it shortly. Try again in a minute!"

    ehm :( So Sad T_T

    f234k has uploaded 3 CAD models & has left 11 comments.
  • f234k

    f234k over 12 years ago

    @ Ravinder, Your submit button not enable because you not yet fill the top Coloumn , above the Tutorial....

    f234k has uploaded 3 CAD models & has left 11 comments.
  • f234k

    f234k over 12 years ago

    it Should be have a insert a new step and delete a step between the step that already created/ already typed, because if you forget or make mistake in the first step you must start it all over again from where you forget the step.

    f234k has uploaded 3 CAD models & has left 11 comments.
  • f234k

    f234k over 12 years ago

    failed to submit for 2nd time

    f234k has uploaded 3 CAD models & has left 11 comments.
  • f234k

    f234k over 12 years ago

    II try using IE, and whenever i try to add tutorial, its always redirect to http://grabcad.com/questions

    f234k has uploaded 3 CAD models & has left 11 comments.
  • Fahad Rafi Butt

    Fahad Rafi Butt over 12 years ago

    IE has a problem, make a video of steps, add to youtube, share the link as tutorial step, i am doing the same!

    Fahad Rafi Butt has uploaded 360 CAD models & has left 643 comments.
  • f234k

    f234k over 12 years ago

    Thanks Fahad, I Already Submitted, just one minute before deadline...

    Now Im Using Google Chrome, I create test post first, then edit it, I Upload it little by little, post then edit, add photo, post edit, and continue, until all finished.

    But still Error when I try to Add Step in edit option, so I Create All Step First then edit it....

    and this Column Comment Box, Seem have problem too with Ctrl Key board, Ctlrl+Z, CTrl+V, etc. ....

    f234k has uploaded 3 CAD models & has left 11 comments.
  • Aykut Dana

    Aykut Dana over 12 years ago

    When you uploaded too many steps, it gives error. you should reflesh the page. Check the tutorials section, if it hasn't on the tutorials section still, you must decrease the step number. Based on my experiences I can say that to create less than 20 steps at one time decreases the possibility of error.

    Aykut Dana has uploaded 26 CAD models & has left 305 comments.
  • ABarth

    ABarth over 12 years ago

    Hello dear GrabCAD-Team,
    I love these GrabCAD - tutorials and learned a lot.
    It is great, that you want to become better by asking for the experiences of the users within this challenge.
    Here my suggestions for improvement of the tutorial function:
    1.) When I upload pictures (screenshots) that do not have the aspect ratio of 3:2 they will be cut in the tutorials-preview. IMHO it would be better they fit into the preview (by keeping their own ratio)
    2.) When I click on a screenshot in the tutorial to see its full size, it will be opened in the same window (I use I-Explorer)
    Returning to the tutorial using the back-button (previous page), I will be at the beginning of the tutorial-page and have to scroll down again…
    I think it would be more comfortable when the pictures open in a new window.

    Thanks to GrabCAD and all participants …:-)

    ABarth has uploaded 4 CAD models & has left 72 comments.
  • WangPing

    WangPing over 12 years ago

    When once again held similar activities

    WangPing has uploaded 3 CAD models & has left 6 comments.
  • Sara Sigel

    Sara Sigel over 12 years ago

    Congrats to the winners and thank you to all for the great tutorials and feedback! Your comments from this Challenge and in the Q&A section will help us create a much better tutorials experience in the future.

    Sara Sigel has uploaded 1 CAD models & has left 1841 comments.
  • Vladimir Palffy

    Vladimir Palffy over 12 years ago

    Thanks for this challenge :) - the best wishes to winners

    Vladimir Palffy has uploaded 124 CAD models & has left 258 comments.
  • Ravinder Saggam

    Ravinder Saggam over 12 years ago

    Congratulations to all winners :)

    Ravinder Saggam has uploaded 131 CAD models & has left 146 comments.
  • AIT OUFKIR YASSINE

    AIT OUFKIR YASSINE over 12 years ago

    Congratulations to all winners :)
    glad to get my second Tshirt, :D

    AIT OUFKIR YASSINE has uploaded 32 CAD models & has left 377 comments.

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  • Deadline Passed
  • Total entries 46
    Private 1
  • Who’s in the jury?
  • Sara Sigel
    Community Manager
  • Blake Courter
    Product Manager
  • Aykut Dana
    Community Advisor
  • Sudhir Gill
    Community Advisor

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The Computer-Aided Design ("CAD") files and all associated content posted to this website are created, uploaded, managed and owned by third-party users. Each CAD and any associated text, image or data is in no way sponsored by or affiliated with any company, organization or real-world item, product, or good it may purport to portray.