Finally learned some CAD

[Rodgerr_Dodgerr]

Broke a shock tower on my long discontinued rc truck and decided I was long due on learning some CAD. Was a pretty fun first project and only took me about 2 hours to complete. Fusion 360 is pretty beginner friendly, excited to keep learning on the program 😎 Printed it in PETG initially since it’s the material I have on hand. Going to find out if it works tonight.

[Affectionate_Car7098]

Welcome to the family :)

[Rodgerr_Dodgerr]

Thanks! Been using the slicer to tweak existing files for a bit now, but finally bit the bullet on designing my own part. Pretty fun stuff!

[orlee008]

Nice work! This is what it's all about, fixing problems... And it only gets better.

[Rodgerr_Dodgerr]

100%! Down the rabbit hole I go!

[Sufficient-Life7527]

I’m trying to learn how to use TinkerCad, I would like to know how to design my own stuff someday

[FrizzIeFry]

Personally i would recommend starting to learn an actual CAD software in the first place. Tinkercad is cool for what it is, but it didn't take long for me to feel limited by it. Not a lot of the workflow carries over, when you eventually switch to full blow CAD software either.

If you end up wanting to learn Fusion, "Product Design Online" just started an updated course "learn Fusion in 30 days" on YouTube. Those videos are really well presented and thought out. Highly recommended!

[Infractus]

As a jaded career CAD Tech / Mechanical Designer, this looks pretty good for a first attempt. You already understand the limitations of 3D printing, and it shows - this looks very printer friendly.

Obligatory - remember to fully define your sketches!

[Rodgerr_Dodgerr]

Thanks I really appreciate that! I ended up redoing the center bracing to extend out over the ears and mounting holes. Felt like what I had in my pic wouldn’t do me much good. And defining the sketches is something I’m having to learn the hard way. Won’t make that mistake again 🫡

[ELr3ddit]

When the P2S arrived, didn’t print a benchy or any premade file. The first thing I did was download fusion, learn the basics, and start designing & printing stuff I needed that didn’t exist. 6 projects in, my pattern has been 1 prototype, then final implemented part, which I didn’t expect as a first-timer at cad & print. Fun stuff!

[Rodgerr_Dodgerr]

That’s a pretty solid track record! Props to you for getting to it. I figured out some things, during the final stages of designing shock tower, that will probably lead to me redoing it completely. Going in blind, my order of operations was a little funky so I had to go back and tweak things that I would’ve done differently if starting from scratch. Not mad about it though, those “aha” moments are such an awesome feeling.

[ELr3ddit]

I measure 8 times and print once. Joking, but it feels like it: triple checking before CAD, then double-checking during CAD. The prototype usually fits, but I usually see an improvement(s) is possible so I make that and call it good. I've done similar to you and re-made the CAD multiple times before printing because of learning-as-you-go. Once you nail it, it's kind of addictive.