In a quality attempt to connect students and education together with new technologies, Autodesk is partnering up with the electronic kit manufacturers at Kitronik to expand CAD capabilities within schools. The expansion is helping to make the BBC micro:bit, a programmable device geared towards teaching kids the wonders of engineering and technology, become more accessible in the classroom. The newly designed CAD resources were developed by Kitronik using Autodesk Inventor Professional, making it possible for these students to create their own CAD model of the micro:bit device personalized for their specific needs and functions.
“We are sure these models will be useful for many applications so we are making them available completely free of charge, as we feel this maintains the spirit of what the BBC are trying to achieve with the BBC micro:bit project,” said Kitronik Co-Founder Kevin Spurr. “We are sure students and teachers will find them a fantastic starting point for projects based around the BBC micro:bit.”
The CAD resources will also help to introduce these students to 3D printing technology as well, offering the ability to design and 3D print an incasing for the BBC micro:bit, using the Robox RBX01 3D printer, distributed through Kitronik by CEL Robox. Thanks to this collaborative and free CAD extension, students can now conveniently design their own micro:bit electronic kits without costing educators a dime.
“Rapid prototyping in particular 3D printing, allows for quick confirmation of your designs and the iterative process of reaching your final design is greatly compressed by having an extremely cost-effective way of seeing the physical results,” said Chris Elsworthy, the Creative and Marketing Director at CEL Robox.
These CAD resources are completely free for both education institutions and, well, you, too. They are available for download via Kitronik’s website here, giving anyone the potential to design and print components for the BBC micro:bit electronics kit. With the goal of expanding STEM education throughout UK schools, these newly developed CAD resources can open a variety of doors for students interested in learning the trades of technology. Without any price or exclusivity, Kitronik has truly contributed a valuable resource to absolutely anyone seeking to expand their knowledge on electronics, 3D printing, and design.
