3D modeling and Tinkercad resources
Tinkercad is made by Autodesk, large company who makes industry standard CAD software. Tinkercad offers 3 branches of software:
3D Design
Circuit Design
Codeblocks (graphical block coding for parametric 3D design)
Tinkercad is well supported, browser based, free, robust, and great for teachers and students. It also offers built in lesson plans: http://tinkercad.com/lessonplans
Helpful Tinkercad links
to have students search the gallery of existing user creations. By default, this search is set only to "staff picks" due to "safe mode" in Tinkercad classrooms. You can turn off safe mode per class by going to settings > properties in your Tinkercad classroom.
Other 3D Design tools
Bezi
Mid-level software, free and offers real time, browser-based, multi-player 3d collaboration. More complicated than Tinkercad, but more feature options including textures and materials.
Fusion 360
https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360
Advanced, industry standard, paid program from Autodesk
Blender
Advanced, industry common, free, robust 3d modeling program, not just objects but worlds too.
Shapr
Advanced 3D modeling and design program with a free for education license.
3D printing
Bambu 3D Printers
If you are looking to buy a 3D printer, we recommend Bambu labs 3D printers. They are a newer company (2 years old) and make user friendly, affordable, high quality printers.
The printer we used in the workshop is the entry level printer, the AI Mini: https://bambulab.com/en/a1-mini We used it without the optional "AMS" system, which allows up to 4 color printing, but it is compatible with this system, just an extra cost.
For larger budgets, we also recommend their bigger models, some whicih allow up to 16 color printing(!), as well as supporting higher heat plastics and carbon fiber reinforced materials which are durable and better for mechanical parts.
Bambu Labs AI Mini, shown with optional AMS system with 4 filament rolls. Total cost for everything shown here is about $450-$550. Without multicolor printing, and with only 1-2 rolls of filament, price is about $300-$350 (on sale right now the printer is only $199!)
Slicing software
Slicing software is the software that takes a 3D model file (STL) and "slices" it into horizontal layers that the 3D printer can interpret. In this software you determine the size of the print, layer density and height, type of material and more.
Slicer software we use: Bambu Studio:https://bambulab.com/en/download/studio
another common slicer: https://ultimaker.com/software/ultimaker-cura/
other/extra materials
Here are some other things to consider purchasing if you buy a 3D printer:
scraper spatula, like this one
super glue
extra micro SD card(s) for students to share files, or in case one gets corrupted from too much handling or not ejecting properly
micro SD card adapter for your computer to get files to the printer without wifi (i.e. micro SD to SD or Micro SD to USB)
Filament
PLA Plastic is the basic and most common material for 3D printing. It is versatile, and comes in many colors. It isn't fire rated and isn't as strong as ABS or carbon fiber reinforced materials.
For stamps, we used TPU, a softer plastic
Choosing the right filament: Technical details are available on the Filament Guide:
AI generated 3D models (text to model)
meshi.ai
browser software that does text to 3d models, just like text to image models.