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Tinkercad For Dummies®

To view this book's Cheat Sheet, simply go to www.dummies.com and search for “Tinkercad For Dummies Cheat Sheet” in the Search box.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Welcome to Tinkercad For Dummies!

This book has been written for you to get a head start with Autodesk’s amazing entry-level 3D modeling app called Tinkercad. Tinkercad is cloud-based, so you don’t need any expensive 3D modeling software to get started — just an Internet connection and a computer, such as a desktop PC or a suitable laptop.

You find out about basic 3D modeling concepts and how to use Tinkercad to model simple 3D designs, which in turn you can then 3D print, using the information and lessons provided.

Tinkercad is a great way to get started in the world of 3D modeling and 3D design, regardless of age, experience, and expertise, and this book is a perfect way to get your first step into that 3D world. Enjoy!

About This Book

So why do you need Tinkercad For Dummies? Well, this book gives you a great insight in to Tinkercad, world-class instruction that you find in For Dummies books, and easy-access organization.

Throughout this book, I follow several conventions:

Foolish Assumptions

This book is aimed at the Tinkercad beginner who has general computer knowledge, such as the ability to use a PC/laptop/MacBook, a mouse, and a keyboard. I also use the Microsoft Windows operating system throughout this book, so you may see subtle differences when using Tinkercad on a browser when using a Mac with the Mac OSX operating system.

I also assume that you know how to use an Internet browser. (I use Google Chrome throughout this book as the host browser for Tinkercad).

As Tinkercad is browser-based, you can find a plethora of assistance available on the Tinkercad website at https://blog.tinkercad.com/, with numerous help screens and the Tinkercad blog.

Icons Used in This Book

Throughout the margins in this book are little pictures. Here’s what those icons mean:

tip The Tip icon marks tips (duh!) and shortcuts that you can use to make using Tinkercad easier.

remember The Remember icon marks the information that’s especially important to know. To siphon off the most important information in each chapter, just skim through these icons.

technicalstuff The Technical Stuff icon marks information of a highly technical nature that you can normally skip over.

warning The Warning icon tells you to watch out! It marks important information that may save you headaches when using Tinkercad.

Beyond the Book

Extra content is available beyond this book. If you go online, you can find the following:

  • Sample 3D output files that you can use in conjunction with this book: Output STL, OBJ, and SVG files from Chapters 17, 18, and 19 are available at www.dummies.com/go/tinkercadfd.
  • The Tinkercad blog and gallery: You can find a huge amount of useful information in the pages of the Tinkercad blog at https://blog.tinkercad.com/. Here, you find many uses of Tinkercad and user designs. You’re also able to converse about Tinkercad with other users. Check out numerous user designs in the Tinkercad gallery as well at www.tinkercad.com/things.
  • The Cheat Sheet for this book: At www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/tinkercad, you’ll find a roadmap to setting up your drawings and keyboard shortcuts.
  • Updates to this book: If we have any, you can find them at www.dummies.com/go/tinkercadfdupdates.