3D Design

Oh CAD, how I have missed thee…

Completing this tutorial brought me back quite a few years to when I did CAD more often.  I’ve used a number of CAD programs but never TinkerCAD before.  The basics are the same across the lot though.  I completed the steps for Key Ring, Letters! as laid out by TinkerCAD and then went back and did it using the drag and drop text for my own name.  All in all, it was pretty simple.  The devil is always in the details for CAD so the less variation you’ve got, the better – ie. use the text instead of individual letters to be sure they are all the same relative size and position.  Unless, of course, variation is what you’re after.  I would consider that personalization or artistic licence, not lack of skills!  Regardless, I think TinkerCAD is great for students to gain the basic skills needed to understand what would be required to actually make a product, even if they don’t plan to CAD it out themselves.  It can also allow for a quick design and make cycle if our library has a 3D printer in house.  The lessons involved in creating something tangible make a greater impact.  Lastly, as each student has their own account, they can move along at their own pace following a set tutorial or working on a personalized project.  The fun is endless!  As is the inspiration available through the search function.  🙂