What Will We Cover in This Book?

A lot! I assume no prior knowledge, so we’ll take a tour of the interface and all the different workspaces in Tinkercad. We’ll start with creating simple, and then more complex, designs. We’ll edit downloaded designs for our own needs. We’ll import sketches to model. We’ll apply materials in the Sim lab and look at physical reactions, make LEGO-like pieces in the Bricks and Blocks workspace, learn to code with codeblocks, and approach everyday problem solving. We’ll learn how to collaborate and share our designs. We’ll solve some everyday problems and even investigate how ChatGPT (artificial intelligence) might assist.

All projects are modeled with a goal of eventual 3D printing. However, 3D printing itself is only discussed as needed to explain where a design can be optimized for it, such as when making a two-color model. The book leans more toward incorporating “design thinking,” a non-linear, iterative process that helps us understand who will use our models, how those models should work, and innovate solutions to prototype and test. If you’re used to 2D drafting, such as on AutoCAD software, know that the 3D modeling mindset is different. But also know that you don’t need any 2D training to do it. 231 pages.