deSIGN 3D Prints

ENROLLED MSU STUDENTS & FACULTY ONLY: Do you have an amazing idea that you want to 3D Print? The MIX Lab at Montclair State University can help.

If you want to design an idea for 3D Printing, below are the resources the MIX Lab recommends to get you started. You will find links to software along with screencasts and tutorials for beginners to advanced designers. The tutorials are designed to help you begin no matter your skill level.

The MIX Lab philosophy is to teach a person to fish, or in this case - design. We will not design for you, but we will show you how.

Have questions? Check out our FAQ for frequently asked questions or send us an email.

Get Started Designing Your 3D Print

Software

In order to design your creative innovation to 3D Print you will need to use CAD software. We recommend the following free software:

• TinkerCad - free and basic

• AutoDesk Fusion 360 - free and required for any student enrolled in any innovation class

  • When downloading Fusion, be sure to select the student edition, which is free.

TUTORIALS TO DESIGN YOUR 1st PRINT

Fusion 360

WATCH these Screencasts to design your 1st print in Fusion 360

• 1. An introduction to Fusion 360: This is an overview of the software and how to navigate the interface. start here if you are new to Fusion 360.

• 2. Making an object: How to make and manipulate a simple object. An introduction to making, transforming and navigating around an object while learning the ethos of Fusion 360.

• 3. Adding and subtracting: Making an object involves adding and subtracting forms. This screencast builds upon #2.

• 4. Modify an object: After a basic form is made smaller modifications help finalize the shape. Learn some simple modifying techniques.

• 5. Saving and sending an object to print: An introduction to saving files and exporting files to begin the printing process.

  
  

• 6. See Sending 3D Prints to the MIX Lab for the next steps in printing your object.

Tinkercad

WATCH these Screencasts to design your 1st print - a birdhouse in TinkerCad

1. Welcome to Tinkercad - Logging in and getting started.

2. An introduction to Tinkercad: This is an overview of the software and how to navigate the interface. start here if you are new to Tinkercad.

3. Making an object: How to make and manipulate a simple object. An introduction to making, transforming and navigating around an object while learning the ethos of Tinkercad.

4. Making an object part 2: More on creating and manipulating objects in Tinkercad. This screencast builds upon the previous screencast, Making an object.

5. Grouping objects in Tinkercad: If you are working with more than one object, you need to group them together, this video shows you how. This screencast builds upon the previous screencast.

6. How to Subtract an Object: The focus of this video is subtracting as making an object involves adding and subtracting forms. This screencast builds upon the previous screencast.

7. How to Add an Object: The focus of this video is adding as making an object involves adding and subtracting forms. This screencast builds upon the previous screencast.

8. Exporting an object to print: An introduction to exporting your design file to begin the printing process.

9. See Sending 3D Prints to the MIX Lab for the next steps in printing your object.

For additional and more advanced TinkerCad tutorials, visit our friend Eddi Khaytman’s from Promo Ambitions