Autodesk Tinkercad

You want to start in 3D but the interfaces loaded with dozens of commands from software like Maya or 3DS MAX, which are the heavyweights of the sector, seem too complex to you. You’re looking for a simpler way to get started without breaking your piggy bank. Or you want a tool to design models to get you started in 3D printing. Look no further and try Tinkercad…

Tinkercad is a free Computer Aided Design (CAD) software, adapted for beginners and offered by the American software publisher Autodesk. It is particularly aimed at students, teachers and amateurs in order to create personal objects, interior decoration or toys. The site offers tutorials to learn the basics of designing 3D objects. Among them, you will be able to discover how to create a basic geometrical object, move it, modify its size and change its angle of view. Once you have mastered the basics, you can practice designing simple and then relatively complex objects. The goal is to provide you with all the necessary knowledge so that you can imagine and design your own creations, especially in order to create them using a 3D printer.  

In order to benefit from these tutorials and start giving free rein to your imagination, you just have to create an account on the website which you will find the link at the bottom of the page. If you already have an Autodesk account, you will be able to log in directly. It is also possible for those who wish to connect through a Facebook, Google or Microsoft account. To start using Tinkercad, no download is necessary, it is a completely online module. The software runs in your browser and the necessary hardware resources to make it work are not provided by the user’s computer. On the other hand, an internet connection with the correct speed is of course essential. The tool also stores all your design files, allowing you to access and make changes to them from any workstation connected to the internet and equipped with a browser. Once your work is finished, all you have to do is download the corresponding file.

Let’s finish anyway with a slight caveat. If the interface of the application is in French, the training tools that are proposed to you are unfortunately entirely in English. So if this would be a real obstacle for you and you would not be able to take advantage of the tutorials offered directly by Tinkercad, don’t worry. Indeed, it is nevertheless very easy to find tutorials in French to help you learn how it works. Below are a few of these tutorials to help you in your search…