Designing for 3D printers with web-based software
In this tutorial we will be creating a Phone Holder using a web-based CAD (Computer Aided Design) software called Onshape. In this tutorial you will learn:
- How to navigate Onshape
- Use sketch and extrude to create the rough shape
- Finish the design using the fillet tool
ONSHAPE
Step 1: Go to https://onshape.com, create a free account and click “Create” in the top left of the browser and choose “Document” in the drop down menu to open a new project. Choose a name for your project.
Step 2: Using middle and left click get a feel for navigating through the environment. To zoom scroll in and out. To return to your initial view, click on the cube in the top right to orient your view with a specific plane.
Step 3: At the top of the browser is the tool bar, here you will find tools such as sketch, extrude, fillet, chamfer and the like. To the left of the screen you will find your workspace. This is where you will see every step in your design process and will be able to go back to them to modify your design.
Ready to create? Lets do this.
Sketch and Extrude
The base of 3D CAD is making a sketch and then giving that sketch a thickness, extruding the sketch. To do this follow these steps:
Step 1: Choose a plane to sketch on. select it, and change your view to be looking directly down on to that plane.
Step 2: Create your sketch using the tools at the top of your browser. Once complete, click the green check mark next to the sketch to finish your sketch.
Step 3: Select your sketch and click the “extrude” tool. Here you will determine the thickness of your shape, the depth of your extrusion. You will also have the option to make your extrusion remove material by selecting the remove tab under the extrude drop down menu.
Congratulations! You have just learned the basics of CAD. With practice you will be able to make insanely complicated objects. The only limitation is the time you put in.
Finishing Up
Alright, we have your final design. Now lets go to all the jagged edges and clean them up by rounding them.
Step 1: Select the edges you want to round.
Step 2: Navigate to the “Fillet” tool and choose what radius you want in your design. The larger the our fillet, the more rounded our edge will be.
Step 3: Repeat for all edges you want rounded.
Good going. We have made our first object. Now its time to export!
Export
Step 1: Go to the bottom left of your workspace, right click on the part you want to export, and click “export.”
Step 2: Choose a name for your design, STL, inches, fine and download.
Step 3: Click “Okay”
We did it! We made our first 3D object. Now the sky is the limit! … well figuratively anyway.
Video Reference
Follow this video for design reference if you have any questions!
MR ROBERTS MAKES 