Tinkercad For Dummies

by Bryant, Shaun C.

• ISBN13: 9781119464419
• ISBN10: 1119464412
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2018-03-27
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

Create in 3D with Tinkercad!

If you can dream it, you can create it—using Tinkercad. This free tool gives everyone the power to create 3D models, regardless of your level of experience. With the help of Tinkercad For Dummies, you’ll have the knowledge you need to plan your designs, the know-how to utilize the platform’s drag-and-drop tools to create your design, and the information you need to print or export your designs to use them elsewhere.

Tinkercad is for everyone! It’s simple enough to be used by kids and students, but robust enough that an adult could use it to create a complex product prototype. With more than 4 million designs posted in the Tinkercad community, the platform is also popular with teachers around the world. Why not join in on the fun?

• Create your Tinkercad account and join the community
• Use the drag-and-drop tools to build 3D images
• Export your designs to have them 3D printed
• Learn the principles of great 3D design

Tinkercad is truly fun for all ages, and this hands-on guide makes it faster and easier to start using it right away!

Author Biography

Shaun C Bryant has 30 years of experience in the CAD/BIM field and is a consultant, manager, and trainer as well as a user. He teaches CAD and BIM courses at LinkedIn Learning (previously Lynda.com) and maintains the highly respected “Not Just CAD!” blog. An Autodesk Certified Professional, Shaun is also an Autodesk Expert Elite and an Autodesk Certified Instructor.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

About This Book 1

Foolish Assumptions 2

Icons Used in This Book 2

Beyond the Book 3

Where to Go from Here 3

Part 1: Getting Started with Tinkercad 5

Chapter 1: Exploring 3D Design 7

What Is 3D Modeling? 7

Comparing 3D to 2D Methods 9

Discovering Model Representation 10

Looking at the Modeling Process 11

Creation of a 3D model 12

Exploring different modeling techniques 14

Recognizing the 3D Model Market 16

Exploring 3D Printing 18

Using 3D Printed Models 19

Prosthetics 19

Rapid prototyping 20

Education 21

Low volume manufacturing 22

Bespoke manufacturing 22

Dentistry 23

Using Tinkercad in 3D Modeling 23

Chapter 2: Introducing Tinkercad 25

Visiting the Tinkercad Website 25

Creating a Tinkercad Account 26

Logging in to Your New Account 28

Launching a New Tinkercad Design 30

Chapter 3: Taking a Tour of Tinkercad 33

Viewing Recent Designs 33

Choosing Options and Settings 34

‘Tinkering’ with Tinkercad 36

Finding the Right Help 39

Tweeting on Twitter 39

Browsing the Gallery 40

Reading the Tinkercad Blog 41

Chapter 4: Exploring the User Interface 43

Venturing Away from the Start screen 43

Viewing the Tinkercad ViewCube 44

Using the Viewing Tools 45

Working with the Tinkercad Grid 47

Speeding Things Up by Using Keyboard Shortcuts 48

Chapter 5: Exploring 3D Tools in Tinkercad 51

Copy and Paste 51

Duplicate 52

Hide 53

Show All 53

Group 54

Ungroup 55

Align 56

Flip 56

Workplane 57

Ruler 58

Tinkercad Basic Shapes 60

Community Shapes 61

Part 2: Creating A Simple Nameplate for Your Office 63

Chapter 6: Creating the Baseplate 65

Starting and Saving a New Project 65

Setting Up Your Project 66

Creating a Blank Design 67

Choosing Public or Private Access 69

Choosing Design Properties 70

Deciding on Licensing 71

Using the Workplane 71

Setting up your dimensions 72

Editing the grid 72

Using Basic Shapes 73

Adding a box to the Workplane 73

Sizing your box 74

Chapter 7: Giving the Baseplate Depth 77

Using the ViewCube 77

Working on Different Faces 79

Choosing a Shape for the Indent 80

Checking Object Position Using the Grid 81

Picking a Face to Work 82

Setting the Depth 83

Grouping and Ungrouping 84

Chapter 8: Adding Your Name as Text 87

Getting to the Right View 87

Getting to the best view for placing text 88

Positioning the Workplane 89

Adding Your Text 90

Changing the length of your text 91

Centering your text 93

Choosing a Cool Font 94

Smoothing the Edges with Bevels and Segments 96

Bevel 96

Segments 97

Chapter 9: Cutting Holes to Mount the Nameplate 99

Choosing a Shape for the Hole 99

Getting into Position 100

Getting in the Right View 100

Moving the Nameplate to a Grid Intersection 102

Positioning the Box Accurately 103

Changing Your View to Assess Height 104

Altering the Box to Suit the Nameplate 105

Adjusting the Height 106

Adding the Hole 107

Copying the Hole 110

Grouping and Ungrouping 112

Part 3: Building Your First Skyscraper, In Miniature 115

Chapter 10: Creating the Building Footprint 117

The Basic Floor Plan: Keeping It Simple 117

Getting (Your Floor Plan) in Shape 118

Chapter 11: Developing the Ground Floor 121

Preparing to Add Your Wallls 121

Adding Walls 123

Using Hide to Your Advantage 125

Adding Windows to the Front View 128

Adding Windows to the Other Elevations 132

Adding the Ceiling 133

Grouping the Shapes 136

Chapter 12: Copying the Floors as You Build 137

Copying Floor Elements 137

Getting the Placement of the Floors Right 139

Adding More Floors 142

Chapter 13: Adding the Roof to Stop the Rain 145

Picking the Right Shape for Your Roof 145

Getting the Right Depth for Your Roof 148

Adding the Curved Roof Edge 150

Chapter 14: The Sky’s the Limit: Adding a Helipad 153

Getting to the Right View 153

Choosing Your H 155

Changing the Text Settings 155

Getting the H to Fit the Roof 156

Adding the Finishing Touches 157

Part 4: Making It Happen: 3d Printing Your Designs 159

Chapter 15: Getting Started with 3D Printing 161

Verifying That You Included Everything 161

Tidying Up Your Design 163

Knowing What Type of File to Export 164

Choosing a Printing Option 165

Chapter 16: 3D Printing Selected Shapes 167

Selecting Specific Shapes from Your Design 167

3D Printing Each Piece to Build It Later 170

Printing Your Design 171

Chapter 17: STL Files 173

What Is an STL file? 173

Downloading as an STL File 174

Chapter 18: OBJ Files 177

What Is an OBJ File? 177

Downloading as an OBJ file 179

Chapter 19: SVG Files 183

What Is an SVG File? 183

Downloading as an SVG file 185

Part 5: The Part of Tens 189

Chapter 20: Ten Great 3D Printing Materials 191

Choosing a Material 191

Nylon (Polyamide) 192

ABS (Home Printers) 193

Resin (Multiple Options) 194

Resin (Paintable) 195

Stainless Steel 196

Gold 197

Silver 198

Titanium 200

Ceramic 201

Gypsum 202

Chapter 21: Ten Great 3D Printers 205

Factors to Consider When Choosing a 3D Printer 205

Ultimaker: Ultimaker 2+ 206

Formlabs: Form 2 207

Zortrax: Zortrax M200 208

Makergear: Makergear M2 210

Aleph Objects: LulzBot TAZ 6 211

BCN3D Technologies: BCN3D Sigma 212

FlashForge: FlashForge Creator Pro 213

Prusa Research: Original Prusa i3 MK2S 214

SeeMeCNC: Rostock Max 216

PrintrBot: PrintrBot Simple Pro 217

Chapter 22: Ten 3D Applications 219

Autodesk: 3D Studio Max 220

Autodesk: Maya 221

Autodesk: Inventor 222

Autodesk: Fusion 360 223

Smith Micro Software: Poser 224

CLO Virtual Fashion: Marvelous Designer 224

CLO Virtual Fashion: CLO3D 225

EFI: Optitex 226

Trimble: SketchUp 227

Blender Foundation: Blender 228

Index 229