Ask anything about Onshape for VRC. Mates, assemblies, the VEX parts library, drawings, BOM, version control, and more. Enter your build context and answers will be specific to what you're working on.
⚠ RECF EN4 — AI use notice
This tool is for informational and learning purposes only. Any explanation produced is a thinking prompt, not content to copy into your notebook or CAD files. RECF rule EN4 prohibits using AI to generate, organize, enhance, or alter engineering-notebook content or programming code — teams have been disqualified for copy-pasting AI output. Read the answer, understand the technique, then do the CAD work yourself.
📐 Your Build Context click to expand▼
How do I mate a gear so it spins on a shaft?
Why are my parts floating in the assembly?
How do I insert VEX V5 parts from the library?
Create a version to save my design progress
How do I make a 2D drawing for my notebook?
Check if my robot fits the 18x18x18 rule
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Hi! I'm your Onshape assistant for VRC. I can help with assemblies, mates, the VEX V5 parts library, drawings, version control, BOM export, and anything else Onshape-related.
Enter your build context above for more specific answers, or just ask away. What are you working on?
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OFFICIAL ONSHAPE DOCUMENTATION
VEX course, parts library, Learning Center, and help docs
AI CAD assistance applies retrieval-augmented generation — the model retrieves documentation patterns and generates contextually appropriate outputs. The AI has no physical awareness: it cannot verify that a dimension clears a nearby component or that a bearing placement matches your actual shaft length. Human-in-the-loop engineering means the AI accelerates generation and the engineer verifies correctness.
🎤 Interview line: “We use the Onshape Assistant to accelerate CAD work, but every suggestion goes through engineer verification before implementation. When the assistant suggested a bearing placement, we checked it against our actual shaft length and clearances. This human-in-the-loop approach cuts CAD time by 30% while maintaining engineering accuracy.”
The Onshape Assistant suggests a specific bearing placement. Before implementing it, what should you verify?
⬛ Nothing — AI suggestions from trained models are reliable for VRC applications
⬛ That the placement clears nearby components, matches your actual shaft length, and satisfies load requirements — AI suggestions are starting points, not final answers
⬛ Ask the assistant a follow-up question to confirm correctness
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Notebook entry tip:Build & Program — Orange slide — Document significant AI-assisted CAD decisions: describe the design challenge, what the assistant suggested, what you verified and changed, and the final approach. Showing the team's own engineering judgment applied to AI-generated suggestions demonstrates tool literacy — the kind of mature design process judges find impressive.