Tinkercad is a free, web-based 3D design and modeling tool developed by Autodesk. It is designed to be intuitive and easy to use, making it accessible to beginners, hobbyists, educators, and students. The platform operates entirely within a web browser, requiring no downloads or installations, and is accessible to anyone with an internet connection. To use Tinkercad, users must sign up for a free account. Its block-based interface allows users to build objects by combining simple, premade shapes, which simplifies the process of learning solid modeling.
The software supports three core areas: 3D Design, Electronics, and Visual Code Blocks. In the 3D Design area, users can drag and drop premade shapes into a workspace to create solid models. These shapes can be combined and manipulated to create unique designs. The Electronics area allows users to build virtual circuits using premade wire components and control them using built-in code blocks or custom C++ code. The Visual Code Blocks feature enables users to drag and drop premade code blocks to create custom shapes.
Tinkercad is particularly popular for creating designs intended for 3D printing. It supports the export of designs in formats like STL and OBJ, which are compatible with most 3D printers and slicers. The platform is widely used in schools to teach projects involving 3D design, electronics, and visual coding. It provides step-by-step lessons and tutorials to help newcomers get acclimated. Additionally, users can browse a library of over 4 million pre-created designs to gain ideas and learn techniques from the community.
For educators, Tinkercad serves as a tool to integrate technology skills into lessons. It is used to teach foundational solid modeling practices and to bring projects into real life through 3D printing, laser cutting, or building blocks. In library or classroom settings, patrons and students can work with Tinkercad even from home. The software uses metric measurements for design sizing, which is an important consideration for 3D printing. For example, when using certain 3D printers that do not have a heated plate, sticking to flat designs can help ensure successful prints. Once a design is completed and ready for printing, the file size and print time can vary; if a print job is estimated to take over half an hour, users may need to pick up the physical object at a later time.
Tinkercad is also utilized for creating assets for 3D software, such as DAZ Studio. Experienced modelers have used Tinkercad to create models for 3D printing and for use in other digital art applications. The platform's ease of use makes it a suitable choice for those looking to create simple models without the complexity of more advanced software.
While Tinkercad is a strong option for beginners, there are other free 3D modeling software packages available. A comparison of free 3D modeling software lists Tinkercad among options such as OpenSCAD, Pixologic Sculptris, Wings 3D, PTC Creo, FreeCAD, Vectary, Daz 3D Studio, SketchUp Free, and Blender. Tinkercad is noted for its tools and tutorials that enable exploration of the 3D design process.
For those looking for structured activities, there are educational resources available that utilize Tinkercad. For instance, a "Tinkercad 3D Printed Ornament Design Activity" is available for purchase, which guides students through designing ornaments for a bulletin board. This type of activity empowers students to bring their unique designs to life in 3D. There are also free resources available, such as a student-friendly reference sheet that walks beginners through essential Tinkercad tools like basic shapes and holes, the align tool, snap grid, group/ungroup, and exporting models. These resources can be used as handouts, classroom posters, or digital references.
Other educational projects using Tinkercad include designing bugs to be 3D printed and classified using a dichotomous key, which helps students practice 3D design, creative thinking, and taxonomy. There are also "Intro to Engineering and Engineering Design Projects" for high school students, where they choose a project, research the problem, articulate the application, and design a product according to the Engineering Design Process.
In summary, Tinkercad is a versatile and accessible tool for 3D modeling, circuit design, and coding. Its free, web-based nature makes it widely available for educational and personal use, particularly for those interested in 3D printing and digital creation.
Sources
- Brittany Washburn - Tinkercad 3D Printed Ornament Design Activity
- Product Design Online - What is Tinkercad?
- MajorGeeks - Tinkercad
- Daz 3D - Tinkercad: Easy Modeling to Create Daz Studio Assets
- Teachers Pay Teachers - 3D printing Tinkercad
- Online Design Teacher - Best Free 3D Modelling Softwares
- Library Makerspace - Using Tinkercad to Build 3D Projects