Best TinkerCAD Tutorials to Check Out
Unlike most other CAD software, TinkerCAD is incredibly user-friendly and easy to get started. It's the first stop over for most beginners in 3D modeling as making basic 3D objects or tweaking existing ones—like those you find on Thingiverse is easier with this tool. Below, we have curated several TinkerCAD tutorials that you can use to learn the software. You will also get to know of the best alternative to TinkerCAD if you would like to create more advanced 3D models.
1. Learn Arduino with Tinkercad Circuits
If you're new to Arduino, the best place to start is the "Learn Arduino with Tinkercad Circuits" lesson playlist in Autodesk Tinkercad. The total running time of these six short films is under thirty minutes, and they each clock in at under five minutes. Beginning in this manner is simple and fast. Anyone interested in learning Arduino programming without the need to purchase actual components can find what they need in these lessons.
The lessons in the series start off easy, with basic circuits that lay the groundwork for more advanced settings. This playlist is easy to understand, even if you have no background in code-based writing or even basic technical aspects. When you watch the videos, you'll see links to Autodesk Instructables pages where you can find detailed written explanations in case you have any questions.
Tutorial Link: Autodesk TinkerCAD on YouTube.
Price: Free
2. Learn Circuits with TinkerCAD
The "Learn Circuits with Tinkercad" course is a great way to get into circuits and Arduino. Sandeep Saini and Manpreet Kaur's 4.5-hour Udemy course is an excellent resource for users of all skill levels. The first five chapters will teach you the ropes of Arduino and electronics in general. This prepares you for the sixth section, where you will find projects that utilize the Arduino platform. In the final section, you will get suggestions for building robots using physical components.
Students will learn to code using Tinkercad Circuits and another comparable tool called mBlock in this course. This includes integrated circuits, passive infrared sensors, and a lot more. Among the many projects you'll tackle in this class are an RC car controller, an LCD-screen pollution warning, and a 7-key piano. You can see Sandeep Saini's Tinkercad gallery, where you can recreate certain circuits from the course if you're interested in learning more.
Course Link: Udemy.
Price: $44.99
3. Circuits & Electronics
In "Circuits & Electronics," Remi Wauthy teaches everything you need to know about electronics and Arduino circuits through a series of nineteen instructional videos posted to his YouTube channel. Remi Wauthy, a Mechanical and Biomedical Engineer with a specialty in makerspace education and a passion for robots, designs the classes for beginners and high school students.
There are several videos and other resources in the playlist that will walk you through the fundamentals of Tinkercad Circuits with practical examples. In contrast to other courses, the author uses block-based code with Blockly@rduino. This provides a fresh perspective for beginners. As time goes on, circuits become increasingly complex. Add Bluetooth sensors, a motor shield from Adafruit, and reflecting infrared sensors to your later experiments.
Each video comes with a complimentary PDF to supplement the videos and make learning much easier. There is a thorough PDF manual to real electronic components on the channel as well, complete with pictures and brief descriptions.
Course Link: Remi Wauthy via Youtube
Price: Free
4. Let’s Learn TinkerCAD
An official TinkerCAD tutorial, "Let's Learn TinkerCAD!" is a great resource for anyone looking to learn the program and become proficient in 3D digital design. Beginners of all ages will love this Tinkercad tutorial, which walks them through five simple steps in the program's 3D creation environment. By guiding users through tasks and providing instant feedback based on their level of compliance, on-screen messages enhance the interactive learning experience.
These activities provide a systematic introduction to the fundamentals of 3D design mechanics. They encompass the ability to control moving things, identify axes, utilize forms, and navigate digital environments with ease. An exhaustive introduction to 3D modeling and Tinkercad's potent creation tools, "Let's Learn Tinkercad!" is perfect for those who have never used the program before.
Tutorial Link: Autodesk TinkerCAD.
Price: Free
5. Learning TinkerCAD
Learn all the ins and outs of Tinkercad with Kacie Hultgren's "Learning Tinkercad," set to debut on LinkedIn Learning in 2020. Beginners in the field of 3D design are the intended audience for this lecture. It explains the fundamentals and demonstrates the process of making complicated shapes. The program not only teaches instructors about Codeblocks and Circuits, but it also offers them practical tools.
The course's adaptable curriculum consists of eleven sections, with two to seven instructional videos per section. As an example, it explores the possibility of integrating with Adobe Illustrator for the creation of 2D vector graphics, with MCEditor for the modification of Minecraft environments, and with Fusion 360 for a seamless transition to a professional parametric design platform. After the two hours of the course, you will be able to show off your newfound knowledge with a certificate of accomplishment and several comprehension exams.
Tutorial Link: LinkedIn.
Price: $40
6. TinkerCAD Step by Step
M.Eng. Johannes Wild's "Tinkercad Step by Step" is an excellent primer for anyone interested in learning the ropes of Tinkercad's 3D Design, Codeblocks, and Arduino Circuits. The book's approach is ideal for those with no prior experience with computer-aided design (CAD) or electronics, and it comes with numerous screenshots to facilitate project copying. There are multiple language versions of this initial book, and it sets the stage for the more involved undertakings to follow.
Readers with and without prior familiarity with Arduino will enjoy this author's series. "Arduino | Step by Step" is a beginner-friendly guide, whereas "Arduino Projects with Tinkercad" and its sequel go into advanced Tinkercad Circuits designs. All of the books in the series are available in many languages, so this comprehensive and well-organized learning journey can help a lot of people.
Tutorial Link: Amazon
Cost: $20
7. TinkerCAD Sim Lab Tutorials
Check out the state-of-the-art Sim Lab functionality that Autodesk introduced in 2023 through the "Tinkercad Sim Lab Tutorials" on the HL ModTech YouTube channel. Using Sim Lab, 3D models can have physical behaviors added to them, allowing them to mimic real physics without actually requiring real objects. The course teaches you the fundamentals of 3D modeling, including how to add realistic textures, materials, gravity, and animations. Anyone of any age can benefit from their use when instructing in the STEM fields.
This YouTube playlist is great for youngsters, teens, and anyone who enjoys tinkering because it contains entertaining chores and games that utilize Sim Lab resources. Every class provides opportunities to experiment with virtual physics, from domino runs to basketball hoops, encouraging students to think creatively and scientifically while addressing problems.
Tutorial Link: YouTube
Price: Free
Best Alternative to TinkerCAD
There are various tools that you can use instead of TinkerCAD but we recommend using SelfCAD. SelfCAD is one of the easiest 3D modeling software that has a user-friendly interface just like that of TinkerCAD, but the difference is that SelfCAD is more powerful and you can use it to create not only simple designs but also complex 3D models, which are hard to achieve in TinkerCAD. This is made possible by the availability of advanced tools like freehand drawing and sketching, powerful 3D sculpt-ing brushes, image to 3D model, and various modification and transformation tools.
In addition to the ability to create 3D models from scratch, you can also import designs created in other programs and modify them in SelfCAD based on your requirements. For example, you can import an STL file and simplify it, as shown below.
SelfCAD also comes with 3D printing tools like the Magic Fix that allow you to fix any nonmanifold errors in the design instead of switching to mesh editing programs. Get to know how to fix meshes in SelfCAD in the video below.
There is also an in-built online slicer that you can use to slice your designs without having to look for a slicing program after 3D modeling. The slicer is easy to use and it’s compatible with most of the common FDM 3D printers. Learn how SelfCAD slicer works in the video below.
SelfCAD also comes with many resources and tutorials for learning. One of them is the famous interactive tutorials that are the favorite of many designers as they allow them to learn how to use SelfCAD by actually designing models. They are embedded in the software and they are interactive in nature, and one is guided in each step.
One can also record their own interactive tutorials and share it with others. Get to know how to record your tutorials in the video below.
There is also SelfCAD academy that contains step-by-step courses for general 3D modeling and SelfCAD. For teachers, they have access to a curriculum that they can use to teach their students 3D modeling. There are also many YouTube videos available that you can use to master SelfCAD. You can start with 3D modeling 101 series, then move to 3D modeling tutorials for beginners.
Unlock Your 3D Design Potential with TinkerCAD
If you want to learn 3D design with Tinkercad, these are the greatest free classes you can find. Because they begin with the fundamentals, including 3D modeling and the creation of customized goods, these classes are ideal for anyone thinking about getting into 3D printing. If you would like something more advanced, we recommend trying SelfCAD.
Enjoy powerful modeling, rendering, and 3D printing tools without the steep learning curve.
Need to learn 3D modeling? Get started with interactive tutorials.