Stage 01 of 04 · Explorer
Make It Real: Tinkercad + Print
From browser to a thing in your hand.
What students learn
How to model a 3D object in a browser, export it, and print it (or send it to a library/maker-space to print). The whole pipeline: idea → CAD → STL → slicer → printer → tangible thing.
Comfort with 3D space and the digital-to-physical workflow. Students will know what a slicer does, why supports exist, and what "tolerance" means — the difference between a print that fits and one that doesn't.
Module-by-module
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01
Tinkercad orientation
Shapes, workplanes, drag and align. Keychain with your name.
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02
Holes, groups, combine
Subtract and combine. A pencil holder.
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03
Measure twice
Units, sizing, tolerances. Phone stand sized to a real phone.
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04
Codeblocks intro
Block-coded parametric shapes. A customizable name tag.
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05
Print prep
Slicer, supports, infill, layer height. First STL ready.
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06
Showcase print
Pick a useful object. Printed and held.
What they make
Three printed objects, at least one useful to a family member.
Walk away with
Comfort with 3D space. The CAD → STL → slice → print pipeline. The difference between digital design and physical reality.
Next step
C11 Engineering with CAD — real parametric CAD with Fusion or Onshape.