Changes

===Splash Page (Designs & Projects)===

===Splash Page (Designs & Projects)===

The TinkerCAD splash page is very simple. On the left, you may switch design categories. This is necessary because TinkerCAD allows design of electronics circuitry and code as well as 3D modeling! For this wiki page, the relevant mode is 3D Design. On the centre of your page, you will find all your designs. It is recommended that you do not forget altogether about the navigation on the left, since chances are that you will want to create a project at some point, that will include all three design categories, for which we recommend you create a project in TinkerCAD, which can hold all design categories. This will help with keeping your workspace organised.

The TinkerCAD splash page is very simple. On the left, you may switch design categories. This is necessary because TinkerCAD allows design of electronics circuitry and code as well as 3D modeling! For this wiki page, the relevant mode is 3D Design. On the centre of your page, you will find all your designs. It is recommended that you do not forget altogether about the navigation on the left, since chances are that you will want to create a project at some point, that will include all three design categories, for which we recommend you create a project in TinkerCAD, which can hold all design categories. This will help with keeping your workspace organised. The following buttons are useful

If you want to create a new 3D model, click 'Create New Design' in the main section of the page. If you wish to modify a 3D model, click on the model on the main section, and then click 'Tinker this' to access the CAD Modeling page.

*LEARN: The LEARN is where you can find tutorials to help you navigate the software a little easier. There are also lessons walking you through basic projects to inspire different ideas and to practice with the software.

*Create a new design: To create a new design in Tinkercad, sign in and it will lead you to the desktop. Select the '''Create new design''' button and this will bring you to a blank workspace.

 

If you wish to modify a 3D model, click on the model on the main section, and then click 'Tinker this' to access the CAD Modeling page.

===CAD Modeling===

===CAD Modeling===

The design page has quite a few sections and buttons, but it all remains quite straightforward.  

The design page has quite a few sections and buttons, but it all remains quite straightforward. Refer to the following image for a list of buttons and their description.  

 

#Tinkercad logo: Clicking on the Tinkercad logo with bring you back to the splash page

#FEATURES: This button takes you to a page that gives you an overview of Tinkercad’s features

#LEARN: The LEARN is where you can find tutorials to help you navigate the software a little easier. There are also lessons walking you through basic projects to inspire different ideas and to practice with the software.

#Create a new design: To create a new design in Tinkercad, sign in and it will lead you to the desktop. Select the '''Create new design''' button and this will bring you to a blank workspace.

 

==[[Digital technologies/3D printing/3D modeling- Beginner/Create a New Design|Create a New Design]]==

==[[Digital technologies/3D printing/3D modeling- Beginner/Create a New Design|Create a New Design]]==

When you click “Create a new design", you are brought to a new window with a blue, gridded, base workplane. Think of the base workplane as a floor or the base of the 3D printer. You want to make sure that the part you are building is sitting on the this surface. This is where you will do your designing. There are several tools which you can use to help you design.

When you click “Create a new design", you are brought to a new window with a blue, gridded, base workplane. Think of the base workplane as a floor or the base of the 3D printer. You want to make sure that the part you are building is sitting on the this surface. This is where you will do your designing. There are several tools which you can use to help you design.

[[File:Changeview.png|frameless|363x363px]]

[[File:Changeview.png|frameless|363x363px]]

When you have a shape selected, the '''Shape''' window will no longer be greyed-out. This tool lets you choose if this shape is solid (coloured in the workspace) or a hole (hashed and translucent in the workspace). If you want your shape to be a hole, select the hole button and the shape should become semi-transparent. It will not actually take into affect until you group those two objects. The group button, found on the top right hand side, will only be available when there is more than one shape selected. You also want to group all your shapes before downloading (exporting) a model for 3D printing.

When you have a shape selected, the '''Shape''' window will open on the top right part of your workspace. This tool lets you choose if this shape is solid (coloured in the workspace) or a hole (hashed and translucent in the workspace). If you want your shape to be a hole, select the hole button and the shape should become translucent. Mind you, it will not actually take into affect until you group those two objects. The group button, found on the top right hand side of your workspace (on the top ribbon), will only be available when there is more than one shape selected. You also want to group all your shapes before downloading (exporting) a model for 3D printing (unless you are working with 2 extruder heads and you want shapes to print independently from one-another).

[[File:Tinkercadgroup.png|frameless|358x358px]]

[[File:Tinkercadgroup.png|frameless|358x358px]]

Other useful tools can be found above the Tinkercad shapes menus.<br />

Other useful tools can be found above the Tinkercad shapes menus.<br />

[[File:Workplane.png|left|frameless]]

[[File:Workplane.png|left|frameless]]

'''Workplane''' tool allows you to change the base plane. Drag it onto the edge of another shape, to create a new workplane. An orange workplane will appear. If you drag a shape onto the plane, it will already appear perpendicular to that plane. To get rid of the new orange plane, drag a new plane back to the original blue one.

'''Workplane (W)''' tool allows you to change the work plane to an alternate workplane. Drag it onto the edge of another shape, to set a new work plane. An orange work plane will appear. If you drag a shape onto the plane, it will already appear perpendicular to that plane. You can copy/cut shapes from one plane and paste them to other planes. To get rid of the new orange plane, drag a new plane back to the original blue one.

 

 

 

[[File:Tinkercadruler.png|left|frameless]]

[[File:Tinkercadruler.png|left|frameless]]

'''Ruler''' allows for you to easily change the dimensions of the shape. Just place it anywhere on the workplane and the dimensions will appear. Just click on the dimensions and you can change their value

'''Ruler (R)''' allows for you to easily change the dimensions of the shape. Just place it anywhere on the workplane and the dimensions will appear. Just click on the dimensions and you can change their value.  Highlighted in blue are the overall dimensions, in green are the offsets between the shape's endpoint and that of the ruler. The ruler mode can be changed to illustrate the distance to the shape's midplanes as well.

Next to the group button, there are another set of useful tools, '''Align (L)''' and '''Flip (M)'''. To use these, you need to select more than one shape.

[[File:Ruler.png|alt=Illustration of the ruler tool.|left|frameless|600x600px]]

<br />

Next to the group button, there are another set of useful tools, '''Align (L)''' and '''Flip (M)'''.<br />

==[[Digital technologies/3D printing/3D modeling- Beginner/Printing your Design|Printing your Design]]==

==[[Digital technologies/3D printing/3D modeling- Beginner/Printing your Design|Printing your Design]]==

When you are done, and you want to print your new design, click '''Export''' at the top right corner.

When you are done, and you want to print your new design, click '''Export''' at the top right corner.