Design It Yourself: Online 3D CAD for Absolute Beginners

Design It Yourself: Online 3D CAD for Absolute Beginners

Turn your ideas into reality with our hands-on, online 3D CAD workshop. Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to develop your digital design skills, this course will give you the confidence to create functional 3D models for printing, prototyping, or personal projects – all from the comfort of your own home.

What You’ll Learn and Do

• Software, Hardware & Materials Overview (30 mins): Understand 3D printing technologies, materials, and the tools you’ll use.
• TinkerCAD Demonstration (1 hr): See how easy it is to design with this beginner-friendly, browser-based tool.
• TinkerCAD Practice (1 hr): Create and edit your own 3D models with guided support.
• Ultimaker Cura Overview (30 mins): Learn how to simulate your print, and explore key concepts like overhangs, supports, and bed adhesion to ensure successful printing.
• Fusion 360 Demonstration (1 hr): Explore more advanced design tools for complex projects.
• Fusion 360 Practice (1 hr): Apply what you’ve learned to create functional designs and assemblies.
• Design Considerations (20 mins): Gain practical tips for fixings, magnets, and preparing models for real-world use.

Why Join Us?

• Beginner-Friendly: No experience required – we start from scratch.
• Small Classes: Get plenty of one-to-one support from experienced instructors.
• Hands-On Learning: Follow along in real time and build practical skills.
• Real-World Tools: Learn industry-standard software for personal projects or employability.

Prerequisites

Before the course, please ensure you:

• Create a free TinkerCAD account: www.tinkercad.com
• Download Fusion 360 (free for personal use): www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/personal and register for an Autodesk account

How It Works

• The course will be hosted via Jitsi, a free, browser-based video conferencing platform. It runs entirely in your web browser – no downloads or sign-ups required.
• Invitations will be emailed nearer the date of the event – please check your spam folder.
• You will need a computer with internet access.
• A microphone is recommended so you can ask questions during the session.

Accessibility

This is a fully online course – join from anywhere with a computer and internet access.

Book your place today and start turning your ideas into 3D printable designs!

What’s Covered

To give you a clear idea of what you’ll learn, we’ve outlined the core parts of the course below, complete with example screenshots. These demonstrations showcase the tools and techniques you’ll use – from simple TinkerCAD projects to advanced Fusion 360 designs – so you can see exactly how we’ll help you develop your skills step by step.

TinkerCAD Basics

Start with the fundamentals of 3D design in TinkerCAD, a simple browser-based tool perfect for beginners.

• Learn how to navigate and orient yourself in 3D space.
• Create models using basic shapes and combine them with the align, hole, and group tools.
• Design fun example projects like a dog or cat to understand scaling, rotation, and shape subtraction.
• Import SVG graphics to add custom logos or text.
• Export your finished design as an STL file, ready for 3D printing.

Ultimaker Cura – Preparing for Print

Understand how to turn your designs into printable objects using Ultimaker Cura.

• Simulate 3D prints and preview the layer-by-layer process.
• Learn about overhangs, supports, and bed adhesion to avoid failed prints.

Fusion 360 – Taking Your Designs Further

Move from simple models to more advanced parametric design in Fusion 360.

• Master the sketch, extrude, and fillet tools to create precision models.
• Design functional parts like enclosures and screw mounts with accurate wall thickness.
• Learn constraints to perfectly align components.
• Add graphics and fine details to create polished designs ready for export.