Digital technologies/3D printing/3D modeling- Intermediate

TinkerCAD is nice for smaller parts with very little complexity. However, since it is not NURBS based nor parametric, it lacks major functionality. It is strongly suggested at this stage that TinkerCAD, Blender, Cinema 4D or other polygonal modelling (non-NURBS) applications be set aside for parametric CAD software, such as Autodesk Fusion 360 (free for students. teachers, and educators), Dassault Systèmes Solidworks (available through Remote Apps) or PTC OnShape (completely online, free for students and educators) be used for mechanical design, as models made with such software contain much richer data that allows going from CAD models to manufacturing data. Polygonal modelling remains, however, an important tool for Scan to CAD, and such the intermediate CAD user should have a complete understanding of polygonal modelling software such as TinkerCAD.

CAD Extensions

The following are extensions for common polygonal and NURBS formats.

Polygonal Formats

• Standard Triangle Language (*.STL)
• Wavefront OBJ (*.OBJ)
• 3D Manufacturing Format (*.3MF)

NURBS Formats

Standard

• ISO10303 - Standard for the Exchange of Product model data (*.STP, *.STEP)
• AutoCAD Drawing Exchange Format (*.DXF/*.DWG)
• Initial Graphics Exchange Specification (*.IGES) (standard last updated 1996)

Software-Specific

• DS Solidworks Parts (*.SLDPRT)
• DS Solidworks Assemblies (*.SLDASM)
• DS CATIA V5 Parts (*.CGR/*.CATPart)
• DS CATIA V5 Assemblies (*.CGR/*.CATProduct)
• PTC Creo Parts (*.PRT)
• PTC Creo Assemblies (*.ASM)

• Fusion 360 (*.F3D)

It should be noted that Fusion360 stores files on the cloud, such that locally saved .f3d files are not commonly encountered. It should also be noted that OnShape does not have a file format given it is hosted entirely on the cloud.