5 Tips to start designing your own 3D printed parts - Tinkercad

Some people have a 3D printer but never make their own designs. This video will try and convince you to dip your toe in the water, with 5 tips to get you started with TinkerCAD. You will be able to design parts that have a much higher chance of succeeding at your intended purpose, which makes for a very satisfying result.

This video is meant to be beginner friendly, but eventually you will probably outgrow Tinkercad, and be looking for something more powerful. Most of the parametric 3D modelling apps are very similar. Fusion 360 is the most popular and I use Onshape, which like TinkerCAD is cloud based and has you designing in minutes. I made a series of beginner friendly tutorials on this a while ago, check out the playlist.

Take a look around and if you like what you see, please subscribe.

#3dprinting #tinkercad #design

[KnowBuddiesLP]

Fully agreed! Printing a toy is fun, printing a part to fix something feels good, seeing a problem and creating your own solution and making it a reality is game changing! Thanks for the tips!

[PiefacePete]

I wonder if there are many others like me, who came to 3D printing from a different angle... with only hobby-grade engineering experience, I fell in love with CAD software. I experimented with every application I could get my hands on, and designed everything I could think of, knowing I had no way of turning my designs into real objects. 3D printing was a game changer; now I could see my ideas in the flesh. I have never printed the test that came with my printer. I have admired peoples work in Thingiverse, and used it for inspiration, but almost all my prints are of my own designs... and that is immensely satisfying.
Thanks for another helpful video.

[mrclown]

9:29 You can also use "hole" boxes (grouped with the main object) to delete the majority of the design, leaving only the area want to test, export the STL to test print, then step backwards to undo and get your hard work back. Very handy for more complex designs.
Alternatively, if it's simply just a matter of reducing height to make a test piece, you can also just lower it beneath the floor in Cura, as anything below the floor won't be printed.

[ricardovega]

Using the block to demonstrate is such a good idea. Great job!

[SimplyDudeFace]

The double click in TinkerCad was new to me. Thanks! :-)

[matthewtilkens]

I've NEVER designed anything and have horrible drawing skills, but with your video I've just created my first part in TinkerCad and it's prototyping in the 3d printer now!! THANK

[iantaylor]

Excellent channel and great video ! Three other useful tips for real world parts:
1. Buy a digital micrometer to measure the real world part you are interfacing with.
2. Before starting the CAD, draw a picture with a pencil and paper, preferably in an isometric view. Add critical dimensions, the interfacing part and other key features. Will greatly help with the CAD since you can already ‘see’ the part in your mind
3. Check if someone has already made something similar on thingiverse or myminifactory. You may be able to remix this design for your application rather than designing from scratch.

Well done on the channel !

[chriswesley]

Another cracking video Michael. I don't need to learnt the basics anymore, but you strike a perfect balance. There is nothing that's not needed. You've addressed the essential concepts and said what's important completely yet concisely. No ego, no hype, no nonsense - just high quality content. Thanks!

[Meblin]

The dimensioning tool (looks like an L in the top right) allows you to position things very accurately. Also changing the sensitivity in the bottom right can help when using the keyboard to position objects.

[JeffLunglhofer]

This is one of the best YouTube instructionals ever. Clear, concise, great demonstration pieces. . . .really amazing.

[hxcginger]

I'm very new to designing my own prints and this was extremely helpful, I know it's an old video but it's still helping us new guys!

[dleland]

If I have learned anything in this 'hobby', it's that I haven't learned ANYTHING. There is always so much more to learn and you make it interesting and informative, thanks, Michael. (Who says you can't teach an old dog [me] new tricks!)

[abarasabwehttam]

Great video Mike! One additional tip I always give my students is FILLETS when ever possible. Like on that magnet mount you made, where the round piece and the square piece come together will be one of the weakest points of that print, a fillet in the corners will double the strength of the part.

[caleliebig]

ah mate you're literally the reason I'm still enjoying my Ender 3. Appreciate the effort you put into this - I wouldnt've figured out most of this stuff without your videos. Cheers!

[BlazinPhoenix]

I’ve only started printing for about 5 months now and some of my most rewarding moments have been jumping into tinkercad for a few minutes and printing a part I made to use for various situations.

[KiR_d]

3rd tip is very good not even for beginners! The last about test prints is the most important. I've used this method as well - saves time, nerves and plastic :)
My own tip (for DIY fans and makers mostly): be careful with improving (or replacing) everything. Sometimes you can't save money but make it worse. It's not often but can happen with everybody.
The example: yesterday I've decided to design a replacement of a silicon cap for my Vidima's water tap box. I've had a completely new piece in a stash and I've used it to measure the part to be replaced. On the 2nd designing attempt I've got a good (less height) part probably and tested it on the fresh tap box. It's "kind of" worked :) Maybe it didn't leaked. Then I've tested it on the old tap box: the height was not enough (leaked a lot). So I've decided to try the 1st design (just 0.5mm higher) on the old tap box. I've almost tighten the tap box to it's working position (almost touching or touching the fauset body) and I've thought "well, it's not enough... let me try to tighten it further"... Guess what did happened next? ;) The tap box is a brass metal, the cap is PETG plastic...
Write here if you've didn't guessed right :)

[plasticfood]

Thank you very much. My family could never afford a 3D printer but my uncle works overseas so he bought us a 3D printer. It's an Ender 3. I want to learn how to make my own designs and want to learn the basics. I am currently using TinkerCAD. I hope I can successfully make a print. I will update this comment once I have made one already. Wish me luck!

[TheSkyHive]

This was Extremely helpful, thanks so very much!

[captainmort]

Thanks for the great tips, Michael. I didn't know about the double click to modify a part in Tinkercad so you have made my job a lot easier. Cheers :)

[BenjaminK]

i did not know you could double click a grouped item and it ungroups them like that all this time i been manually ungrouping my stuff just to regroup after a small change, super handy tip thank you