123D DESIGN HELP HOW TO
123D DESIGN HELP FOR MAC
123D DESIGN HELP INSTALL
123D DESIGN HELP PC

On the right side of the screen, there are buttons for pan, orbit, zoom, and fit, just like in AutoCAD. If you’ve used AutoCAD before, you’ll find the UI for 123D Design is extremely similar. Do that by clicking on the Units button in the bottom right hand corner. Since our ‘thing’ was designed in fractional inches, we’ll need to change 123D’s units to inches.

123D DESIGN HELP INSTALL

Install it, and you’ll end up with the screen below:įirst things first.

123D DESIGN HELP PC

I’m using the PC version, so if you’re following along, go here and download your copy.

123D DESIGN HELP FOR MAC

It’s a full-featured piece of 3D design software that allows you to create objects for your 3D printer.ġ23D Design is available as a web app, an iDevice app, or as a free download for Mac and PC. Sculpt is an iDevice app that’s probably far less useful than it is cool. The Make app is basically a slicer that turns 3D objects into something akin to those die-cut plywood dinosaur models you built as a kid. If you head on over to the Autodesk 123D page, you’ll see a ton of related products in Autodesk’s line of freeware modeling and design softwares. Starting Up, or, Holy Crap, What’s With All These 123D Products? I’m not one to change these tutorials in mid-stream though, and the finished product will be close enough. In the graphic to the right, there’s a slight taper to the vertical flange on this switch base. Thanks to me being an idiot, we’re not making an exact copy of this switch base. Like all of these Making A Thing tutorials, we’re using this switch base, torn from the pages of an 85-year-old textbook on Engineering Drawing.

See that ‘Read more…’ link below? You might want to click that. Previously, we’ve built a ‘thing’ in a few different 3D modeling programs, including: If you’ve ever wanted to make one single object in multiple 3D design softwares, this is for you. Like I said, we all do things differently and there isn't really a correct way, there are several correct ways.In the continuing battle against 3D printers used exclusively for fabricating plastic octopodes and useless trinkets, here’s yet another installment of a Making A Thing tutorial. This is what works best for me, see how if works for you.

For other cut outs (like the 3mm holes for LEDs) I draw flat circles on top of the 3d parts and pull them down through the solid. Most of it I start off with flat shapes such as circles and squares, draw it out, delete the cut out parts and then pull it up to make it a 3d solid. I tackled each part on it's own, grouped it then moved on to the next and put all parts together as one. the base of it (the thick part with the fins), the centre part (circle with 3mm holes for LEDs and 3 spokes to attach to the base) and the top part of it (the rings with the blocks with the copper wire around them). Everyone works differently (something 15 years of professional CAD work has taught me, and something that has also caused me 15 years of stress, confusion and very often a lot of cursing around the office), just find what works best for you and stick with it, you'll get there.Īlso, last I checked the online version of 123d was better than the downloadable one, there are more tools available.įor further guidance, my ARC reactor was drawn up in 123D, the methods I used were.Įach section was drawn individually, i.e. It doesn't take too long to realise what each thing does and what the best way to tackle a design is. Add flat geometry on to 3d parts and extrude them, chamfer edges etc. Make some weird and wonderful shapes by trying out all of the tools to see what they do.

123D DESIGN HELP HOW TO

The best way to learn how to use 123d is by just playing around with it.

123d design help