edmokeski Posted March 15, 2017 Posted March 15, 2017 Hi all, Our DT department still uses the ever-popular if long-in-tooth 2D Design package in their computer suite. Trouble is, after a redesign of the exam spec, it seems the computer suite needs to go, in order to make room for a textiles area. We're already 1:1 iPad, so I'd love to find an iOS solution to replace 2D Design. Anybody doing DT/CAD on iPads? It'd need to either export to a 2D Design-friendly format, so files can be opened on the one machine left for controlling the Rayjet laser cutter, or somehow magically talk directly to the Rayjet. Bonus points if it also does 3D and talks to the MakerBot, but I expect that's going to take a second, separate piece of software. The big caveat is account maintenance -- I'm happy to have something that can authenticate against G Suite or AD/365/Azure, but maintaining a separate set of accounts just for DT software is pretty much out of the question. (Creeping precedent!) Also open to ideas involving Chromebooks. Laptops aren't under consideration, as staff always complain that boot/load/etc. times are too slow, even with SSDs, and I don't want to spend money on a load of kit just to hear people grumble about it and not use it. Anyone out there doing DT w/ iOS or Chrome devices?
PotNoodleTech Posted March 15, 2017 Posted March 15, 2017 May not be a totally helpful reply but if I suggested the DT department dump all their PCs and move to ipads they would certainly all pile on me and probably shut me in a laser cutter and set the power to 100% and the speed to 1mm per minute. I have to ask - why would you even be considering it when DT nowadays rely totally on using PCs and PC based software day in day out? It's not like the old days where you could get away with a desk, hammer and saw. Now it's 2d design, serif draw, pro desktop, a few other things, 3d printers, laser cutters, cnc routers, sticker cutters that all run on windows.... 1
edmokeski Posted March 15, 2017 Author Posted March 15, 2017 Well, they've kind of brought it on themselves. They've got a fixed amount of space, and they say they need to have a textiles area, so the ICT suite's got to go. With the best will in the world, there'll only be space for two fixed desktops in the room once they're done renovating. Definitely not my idea to replace PCs with sewing machines! But I'm supposed to recommend replacement software that'll run on iOS or Chromium, despite knowing not the first thing about CAD etc.. Whee!
PotNoodleTech Posted March 15, 2017 Posted March 15, 2017 Palm it back to the Head of Department, Head of Faculty. It's their job to identify in the departmental development plan what equioment, resources, training they need in order to teach effectively. It's your job to assist and advise, not run their department for them. I am not aware of any software like that on IOS/Android but then I am not an expert in mobile based DT software either! If you take the responsibility during this transition, you risk being pinned up if/when it all goes horribly wrong.
pcstru Posted March 15, 2017 Posted March 15, 2017 If you take the responsibility during this transition, you risk being pinned up if/when it all goes horribly wrong. Yep. It really is not our job to choose software for people based on a platform constraint (or any other constraint). It is our job to say if a piece of software will work in our environment but we cannot reasonably be experts in the subject areas themselves. (and there seem to be lots of potential options, which might take a lot of time to sort through - especially if you aren't doing this stuff yourself).
fiza Posted March 15, 2017 Posted March 15, 2017 What about using OnShape? https://www.onshape.com/cad-blog/cad-in-the-classroom-5-best-practices-for-teaching-onshape Not sure it meets all your pre-reqs but its worth a look. Free for Education. 2
edmokeski Posted March 21, 2017 Author Posted March 21, 2017 Thanks Fiza - missed this message until now. Onshape is what I think we're going to go with in the end. Seems to do everything needed, has an iOS app, runs in the browser so happy on Chromebooks, etc.. Only catch is the accounts -- legal and NM both not very happy w/ anything that makes students create new accounts that we don't manage, rather than having federated login to G Suite or AD/Azure/365. I think we're going to go with generic logins, as in testing so far it seems OK. Onshape support AD SSO, but only for Enterprise licenses... oh well. Can't have it all, I guess! 1
PotNoodleTech Posted March 21, 2017 Posted March 21, 2017 What about using OnShape? https://www.onshape.com/cad-blog/cad-in-the-classroom-5-best-practices-for-teaching-onshape Not sure it meets all your pre-reqs but its worth a look. Free for Education. That looks good thanks for that!
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