Just as we are now doing the visual arrangements that we have made by working on a computer program for hours in a few minutes with a mobile application that we download to our smartphone; Now, thanks to Tinkercad and similar online applications, we can perform many productions, especially 3D designs, only through our internet browser without using any software.
Especially if you are a manufacturer who has just entered the world of 3D design, coding or augmented reality, you can discover your skills free and easily with Tinkercad. Although Tinkercad provides a basic design level service, it is still an extremely useful application. It is possible to take your designs one step further by learning tips that will make your use of Tinkercad much more efficient.
What is Tinkercad?
Tinkercad is an application offered by Autodesk, which has been serving in the field of 3D design for many years. You can use this application online via the Tinkercad website here. Moreover, you do not need to download or install any programs. You can start using it for free by simply opening a user account.
With Tinkercad, you can do 3D design, electronic system design, coding and augmented reality design. Since this is also a training platform, you can join a design instructor’s class, or you can start a training yourself through the application.
Tinkercad tips all users should know:
- Create your workspace.
- Examine your designs in 3D.
- Display different view options.
- Expand your workspace.
- Make sure your objects are exactly the right size with the Tinkercad ruler.
- Turn objects with one click.
- Write objects with JavaScript.
- Discover Tinkercad shortcuts.
Create your workspace:
The designs you make with Tinkercad are 3D. In other words, you cannot make a correct design without preparing a good ground for yourself. Therefore, after opening the application, first click on Edit Grid and choose a grid suitable for the dimensions of the product you designed. Your design should stand on a similar ground in practice as it would be in real life. It is possible to change your workspace at any time.
Examine your designs in 3D:
Users who are trying to design something in 3D for the first time generally cannot help but think in one dimension. However, the product you design in Tinkercad also has front, back, right, left, top and bottom. You have the chance to examine and edit every single point of the product you have designed with the image change button that you will see in the upper left corner. Maybe you can take an effective step towards becoming a master by adding a small signature to the bottom of the product.
View different view options:
We said that the Tinkercad service appeals mostly to beginners. That’s why the app offers many ready-made skins. It is possible to view these different view options with the button just below the screen zoom button. You do not have to implement them, but the more different versions of the product you design, the more unique the features you will add will be.
Expand your workspace:
As we said, remember that you are making 3D designs with Tinkercad. Add objects that will expand your workspace and enrich the 3D effect. With the Workplane button, you can move the product and add a new object to the most unlikely point, creating a much stronger design. It is possible to perform your operations much faster by using one of the ready-made objects offered by the application during object insertion.
Ensure your objects are exactly the right size with the Tinkercad ruler:
After creating a life-size, wonderful floor for yourself, now it’s time to add life-size objects to the product you are going to design in the same way. If you’re new to 3D design, manually entering dimensions can be a bit of a challenge. Therefore, use the Tinkercad ruler. Activate the ruler by clicking the Ruler button and measure the height of your object. You can use the ruler until you create an object of the exact size you want.
Translate objects with one click:
All designers know that an efficient design process is about using what you produce efficiently. If you want to equip a space with copies of it after you’ve created a beautiful object, recreating it one by one is a huge waste of time. Instead, select the object and click the translate button. Position your translated object with the help of the arrow keys. In a few minutes, you can spread dozens of different versions of the same object on the workspace.
Write objects with JavaScript:
To give a more professional tip, let’s take those who know the JavaScript programming language like this. You will see a code button in the Tinkercad top toolbar. When you click on it, a coding area will appear. From here, you can create your own objects by writing them in JavaScript. As we said, this is a feature that real professionals can use, but if you understand a bit of JavaScript, it won’t hurt to try it.
Explore Tinkercad shortcuts:
- Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V / copy and paste
- Ctrl + Z and Ctrl + Y / undo and redo
- Ctrl + D / duplicating selected object
- Ctrl + H / hide selected objects
- Ctrl + Shift + H / show all hidden objects
- Ctrl + G / group selected objects
- Ctrl + Shift + G / split a group into objects
- L / opening the alignment tool
- M / open mirror tool
The more you use the Tinkercad application, the more you will discover, but here are some shortcuts that you should definitely know when starting out. These shortcuts, which you sometimes use in a long design process, can save hours in total and can be life-saving. Feel free to discover new shortcuts based on your user habits.
We talked about some tips that will make your work easier when using Tinkercad, which allows you to make 3D designs only through your internet browser without downloading any program. If you are using Tinkercad, you can share your thoughts in the comments.