FTC Robotics Training — Complete Course Hub | LeapCoderz
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FTC Training Hub
FTC
Complete Training Program · FIRST Tech Challenge

Build. Code.
Engineer.
Compete.

A world-class, modular FTC robotics curriculum — covering every skill your team needs to design, manufacture, program, and document a competition-winning robot. Built for LeapCoderz students.

5
Complete Courses
120+
Hours of Content
60+
Technical Modules
6
FTC Disciplines
Explore All Courses ↓ View Learning Path →
Search Courses
🔍
Search across all 5 courses
FTC Robotics — An Overview

The Six Disciplines of FTC

FIRST Tech Challenge demands mastery across six interconnected engineering disciplines. Our curriculum addresses all of them — with deep technical detail and real competition context.

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Discipline 01
Design

Robot architecture, mechanism selection, game analysis, Pugh Matrix evaluation, and the Engineering Design Process. Great robots start with systematic design thinking, not improvisation.

SolidWorks Course · EP Manual
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Discipline 02
Manufacturing

CNC routing, speeds/feeds, tool selection, material parameters for wood/acrylic/aluminium. Precision subtractive manufacturing for structural components, gussets, and custom brackets.

CNC Manufacturing Course
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Discipline 03
COTS

Commercial Off-The-Shelf components: goBILDA, REV Robotics, AndyMark, Servocity. Understanding part catalogs, hole patterns, shaft standards, and how to combine COTS with custom parts.

SolidWorks Course · Design Module
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Discipline 04
3D Printing

Additive manufacturing with Bambu Lab P1S/P2S/HTD. Filament selection, slicing with Bambu Studio, functional part design, tolerances, and multi-material printing for FTC applications.

3D Printing Course
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Discipline 05
Assembly

Mechanical assembly, hardware standards (M3/M4/M5 fasteners, hex shafts, bearings), wiring management, and robot integration. Turning CAD models into real, competition-ready hardware.

SolidWorks BOM · Design Module
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Discipline 06
Software & Odometry

FTC SDK programming, Road Runner trajectory following, PID control, sensor integration (IMU, encoders, vision), AprilTag localization, and autonomous odometry systems for precise positioning.

EP Manual — Control Award
Module Catalog

The Complete Course Library

Five deeply detailed, modular courses — each with search, collapsible sections, data tables, code references, and workbook prompts. Built to the same professional standard throughout.

🖥️
Course 01 · CAD Design
SolidWorks for FTC Robotics

A complete engineering CAD course — from zero SolidWorks experience to competition-ready robot designs. Covers sketching, features, assemblies, BOMs, and FTC-specific mechanisms.

⏱ 50+ Lessons 📦 13 Modules 🎯 Beginner → Advanced
  • SolidWorks interface, sketching, and parametric features
  • FTC drivetrain and mechanism design in CAD
  • Assembly constraints, mates, and motion study
  • Engineering drawings, BOM export, and PDM basics
  • 18×18×18" constraint verification and competition workflow
SolidWorks goBILDA REV Robotics
→
🖨️
Course 02 · Additive Manufacturing
3D Printing Mastery

A 20-hour professional course on Bambu Lab FDM printing — hardware, filament science, Bambu Studio slicing, file formats, engineering part design, and multi-material techniques.

⏱ 20 Hours 📦 10 Sessions 🎯 Beginner → Pro
  • FDM technology deep dive: hotend, motion, bed adhesion
  • Bambu Lab P1S, P2S, HTD — hardware and setup
  • 15+ filament types: PLA, PETG, ABS, Nylon, PEEK
  • Slicing: infill, supports, layer height, wall count
  • Engineering fits, tolerances, heat-set inserts, snap fits
Bambu Lab FDM Materials
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⚙️
Course 03 · Subtractive Manufacturing
CNC Manufacturing

A 40-hour comprehensive CNC routing course — machine fundamentals, cutting tool theory, speeds and feeds, material parameters for wood/acrylic/aluminium, CAM programming, and practical sessions.

⏱ 40 Hours 📦 10 Modules 🎯 Beginner → Advanced
  • Sheapko 2×2 machine anatomy and 65mm VFD spindle theory
  • 16+ cutter types: end mills, V-bits, O-flutes, ball-nose
  • Speeds, feeds, chip load — all three materials
  • Wood, acrylic, and aluminium 6061 cutting parameters
  • G-code reference and CAM workflow with Fusion 360
Sheapko 2×2 GRBL CAM
→
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Course 04 · Engineering Portfolio
FTC EP Training Manual

Complete guide to writing a competition-winning FTC Engineering Portfolio — covering all 8 award categories, judging criteria, 50+ workbook prompts, and interview preparation strategies.

⏱ 16 Pages 📦 14 Modules 🎯 All Levels
  • Inspire, Think, Innovate, Connect, Motivate, Control awards
  • Engineering Design Process — 5-phase documentation
  • Iteration log standards and data documentation
  • Math & science calculations for EP evidence
  • Judges' interview preparation + common mistakes
All Awards Workbook Interview Prep
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📋 Coming Soon — Course 05
FTC Software & Odometry — covering FTC SDK programming in Java/Kotlin, Road Runner trajectory following, PID controller tuning, sensor integration, AprilTag localization, and full autonomous programming with EOCV vision pipelines. In development for Season 2025–2026.
At a Glance

Curriculum Overview

Full scope of all five courses — hours, modules, and key topics at a glance.

# Course Duration Modules Key Focus Areas Tools
01
SolidWorks CAD
For FTC Robotics
 50+ lessons 13 modules Sketching, Part Features, Assemblies, Drivetrains, Mechanisms, BOMs SolidWorks, goBILDA CAD, REV CAD
02
3D Printing Mastery
Bambu Lab Ecosystem
 20 hours 10 sessions FDM Physics, Filament Science, Slicing, Engineering Design, Multi-Material Bambu P1S / P2S / HTD, Bambu Studio
03
CNC Manufacturing
Theory + Practical
 40 hours 10 modules Machine Anatomy, Cutting Tools, Speeds/Feeds, Wood/Acrylic/Aluminium, G-Code Sheapko 2×2, GRBL, Fusion 360 CAM
04
EP Training Manual
Engineering Portfolio
 16 pages 14 modules All 8 Awards, EDP Documentation, Iteration Log, Math/Science, Interview Prep FIRST FTC Awards Rubrics
05
Software & Odometry
Coming Soon
 ~30 hours TBD FTC SDK, Road Runner, PID Tuning, Sensors, EOCV, AprilTag Localization Android Studio, FTC SDK, Road Runner
Recommended Sequence

The Learning Path

Courses are designed to be modular — take any in any order. This sequence provides the most logical skill progression from design through competition documentation.

01
Design in CAD

Start with SolidWorks. Learn to model robot parts, assemble mechanisms, and verify dimensional constraints before touching a single tool. This creates the blueprint for everything that follows.

02
Manufacture Parts

Take CAD designs into the physical world via 3D printing (Bambu Lab) and CNC routing (Sheapko). Learn when to print vs. machine, and how to design for each process from the start.

03
Program & Test

Bring the robot to life with FTC SDK software — autonomous paths, sensor integration, and PID control. Document every test result with data. Iterate based on evidence, not intuition.

04
Document & Win

Build your Engineering Portfolio throughout the season using the EP Manual. Data-driven iteration logs, award-specific evidence, and interview preparation turn engineering work into award recognition.

💡 Pro Tip — Documentation Starts at Kickoff
The EP Manual isn't a "last week before competition" document. Start your iteration log in Week 1. Log every test result as you go. Teams that document throughout the season produce dramatically better EPs than teams who reconstruct the season from memory in the final days.
About This Curriculum

Why LeapCoderz FTC Training

What makes this curriculum different from generic robotics content.

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Deep Technical Detail

Every module contains real engineering content — not simplified overviews. Chip load formulas, filament HDT values, PID tuning methods, and SolidWorks assembly mates are treated with full technical depth.

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FTC-Specific Throughout

Every example, parameter, and exercise is grounded in real FTC constraints — 18×18×18" starting box, goBILDA/REV parts, FIRST rules, competition scoring, and judging criteria. No generic robotics fluff.

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Modular by Design

Each course is built as independent, searchable modules. Jump to feeds/feeds without reading the whole CNC course. Search for "snap fit" and land exactly where you need. Built for how students actually learn.

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Search Everything

Every course has a live full-text search that highlights matching modules, auto-expands collapsed sections, and shows a match count. Find any concept across any course in under 2 seconds.

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Workbook Integrated

The EP Manual includes fill-in prompts throughout every module — not as a separate worksheet, but embedded in the relevant content. Students build their real EP content as they study, not after.

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Competition Outcomes

Built around what judges actually score and what teams actually need to compete. Robot performance data standards, award evidence checklists, and interview preparation are treated as first-class content.