SketchUp was created by Google and had a huge following with 30 million activations in the last year alone, and the idea behind it, and Tinkercad alike, was to create a 3D modelling software that’s accessible to the general public without the need of a prior education in the field.
This gives users a leg up on the basic understanding of design without first going through a rigorous learning process. Tinkercad vs SketchUpīoth Tinkercad and SketchUp are suited to beginners with little to no background knowledge on 3D design programs. The two main alternatives are SketchUp and Fusion360, so let’s see how Tinkercad compares to them. Popular Tinkercad alternativesĪs mentioned, there are alternatives to Tinkercad, and each has its own set of pros and cons. Tinkercad even includes a feature to export 3D models to Minecraft Java Edition, and also offers the ability to design structures using Lego bricks. In addition to this, you can create custom shape generators using a built-in JavaScript editor which can then be imported in three different formats: STL and OBJ for 3D, and 2-dimensional SVG shapes for extruding into 3D shapes. Tinkercad uses rather simple geometric shapes that can be either “solid” or “hole”, and when combining the two you can create new shapes. Tinkercad tutorial by PromoAmbitions (best video tutorial available).Learn Tinkercad in 5 Steps (all3dp tutorial)įor those of you who prefer watching video tutorials as opposed to reading, YouTube has got you covered.Learn Tinkercad (official Tinkercad Tutorial).Here are some of the most useful tutorials/guides available: There are plenty of tutorials available online, be it on YouTube, Websites, Forums, you name it, and performing a quick Google search for “Tinkercad Tutorial” will yield dozens of useful results. To give you an idea of what Tinkercad is capable of, below are some designs created by a few advanced users. However, the more you use and experience the software with all its different tools, the more you realize just how versatile and user-friendly Tinkercad actually is.Īs far as general everyday designs go, the sky is the limit, so Tinkercad will be more than adequate to meet the average design requirements for most users. However, for most people who need to design more conventional models, Tinkercad is more than enough. While you can certainly design almost any kind of 3D model on Tinkercad, there are a few limitations when it comes to complex and extremely precise moving parts, such as the ones designed by industrial designers and engineers, and this is where other CAD software might be better. Tinkercad is the easiest way for beginners to get started with 3D modelling since it’s designed from the ground up to be as simple and intuitive to use as possible without limiting you too much, since once you get the hand of it you should be able to design fairly complex models. The best part is that there is no cost in learning through being part of the Tinkercad community and there is always someone, or perhaps even a group of designers, that will offer their guidance and support. A big bonus with Tinkercad is its growing community of designers which is always very welcoming to new and aspiring tinkerers, and the number of resources available to help you on your way is astounding.