Head office, Rana Pratap Bagh, Delhi011 2721 1512+91 97116 99511

Design & Digital Skills

3D design with Tinkercad

Designing objects in three dimensions in a web browser: shapes, holes, alignment, measurements, text, and preparing a model for 3D printing.

Suits: Students from class 6 onwards and beginners

Ask about fees and batchesCall 011 2721 1512

Duration, fees and batch timings are quoted by the head office or your centre.

Two engineering students discussing a robotics prototype with sensors in an electronics lab

The study book of this course

  • 3D Design with Tinkercad
Lessons
10
Practice questions
40
Free ebooks
0

About the course

What the Tinkercad course is about

Tinkercad is a free 3D design tool that runs in a web browser, and it teaches the thinking behind all 3D design: everything is built from solid shapes and holes, placed, rotated, measured and grouped. The course moves from a first keychain to useful objects designed to real measurements.

The study book then prepares a model for 3D printing, with the ideas of STL files, orientation, supports and infill, and opens Tinkercad’s circuits side to wire an Arduino and an LED on screen. It suits anyone who wants to design for a school project, a 3D printer at a makerspace, or robotics.

All design & digital skills courses

What you will practise

Drawn from the lessons of the study books below.

  1. 01

    Move around the workplane, read the axes and work in millimetres

  2. 02

    Build objects from shapes and holes, group them and use the ruler

  3. 03

    Align, mirror, rotate and scale parts precisely

  4. 04

    Add text and design a name keychain, a phone stand and a box with a lid

  5. 05

    Measure a real object and allow clearance and wall thickness

  6. 06

    Export an STL, understand orientation, supports and infill, and wire a circuit in Tinkercad Circuits

What you will learn

10 lessons, 20 exercises

Every lesson of the study book that comes with this course in the student portal, with the key points of each lesson and exercises to try. Your centre gives you the syllabus, the duration and the fee.

Study book

3D Design with Tinkercad

Learn 3D design in the free Tinkercad browser tool: the workspace, basic shapes, moving, scaling and rotating, align and group, hole shapes, small projects such as a keychain, a pencil holder and a house, text, measuring in millimetres, import and export of STL, 3D printing concepts and fixing mistakes.

  • 10 lessons
  • About 51 min of reading
  • 40 practice questions
  • 36 key terms
  1. 1The Tinkercad workspace and navigation4 min read · 4 key points · 2 exercises

    Key points

    • Tinkercad is a free, browser-based 3D design tool made of simple shapes.
    • The workplane is the blue grid; the shapes panel is on the right.
    • The ViewCube and the mouse orbit, pan and zoom the view without changing the design.
    • Always check a model from more than one side.

    Try this

    1. Open a new design, rename it, and use the ViewCube to look at an empty workplane from Top, Front and Right.
    2. Drag a box onto the workplane and practise orbit, pan and zoom until you can return to the home view without help.
  2. 2Basic shapes: the building blocks4 min read · 4 key points · 2 exercises

    Key points

    • Models are built from primitives such as Box, Cylinder, Sphere, Roof and Wedge.
    • The shape inspector controls radius, sides, steps and bevel.
    • Break an object into simple shapes before building (decomposition).
    • On-screen colour does not decide the printed colour.

    Try this

    1. List the basic shapes you would use to build a table, a rocket and a lamp, then build the table.
    2. Place a cylinder and change its number of sides to 6. What shape does the top view show?
  3. 3Moving, scaling and rotating5 min read · 4 key points · 2 exercises

    Key points

    • The black arrow lifts a shape; the Drop command puts it back on the workplane.
    • White square handles scale; Shift keeps the proportions.
    • Curved arrows rotate, with default steps of 22.5 degrees.
    • Typing values and changing the snap grid give precise placement.

    Try this

    1. Build a box 40 mm by 20 mm by 10 mm by typing the size values, then rotate it by 90 degrees.
    2. Raise a cylinder in the air and bring it back with the Drop command. Change the snap grid and see how dragging feels different.
  4. 4Align, group, duplicate and mirror5 min read · 4 key points · 2 exercises

    Key points

    • Align lines shapes up exactly; click the middle circle to centre.
    • Group (Ctrl+G) joins shapes into one; Ungroup returns the parts.
    • Duplicate (Ctrl+D) repeats the last move, which builds rows quickly.
    • Flip makes a mirror image for symmetrical objects.

    Try this

    1. Place a cylinder on a box and use Align to centre it on both axes.
    2. Build a row of five equal pegs using one duplicate and repeated Ctrl+D.
  5. 5Hole shapes and subtracting5 min read · 4 key points · 2 exercises

    Key points

    • Setting a shape to Hole and grouping it with a solid removes that volume.
    • Make a hole longer than the solid so it cuts all the way through.
    • Any shape can be a hole, including text.
    • If a cut fails, ungroup and check overlap and the Hole setting.

    Try this

    1. Make a box with a round hole through the middle, then change the hole to a square slot.
    2. Make a hollow cup from a cylinder and a smaller cylinder hole inside it, leaving a floor at the bottom.
  6. 6Project: a keychain and a pencil holder6 min read · 4 key points · 2 exercises

    Key points

    • A keychain is a thin box with a hole cylinder and text, grouped together.
    • Leave enough material around the keyring hole so it does not snap.
    • A pencil holder is a big cylinder minus a smaller hole cylinder raised above the floor.
    • Very thin walls do not print well; plan wall thickness on purpose.

    Try this

    1. Design a keychain with your initials and a 5 mm hole. Check the material around the hole.
    2. Design a pencil holder with a 3 mm wall and a 3 mm floor. Say the size of each cylinder.
  7. 7A simple house and gear-free mechanisms6 min read · 4 key points · 2 exercises

    Key points

    • A house is walls (box), roof (roof shape), and door and windows (holes).
    • Roofs should overhang and sit on the top face of the walls.
    • Pins, sliders, snap lids and chain links make motion without gears.
    • Moving parts need a clearance gap; test it on a small print.

    Try this

    1. Build a house with a door and two windows cut as holes and a roof that overhangs.
    2. Sketch on paper a box with a sliding lid. Say where the clearance gap should be.
  8. 8Text, numbers and measuring in millimetres5 min read · 4 key points · 2 exercises

    Key points

    • Text can be raised (solid) or engraved (hole); keep the details simple.
    • Tinkercad uses millimetres by default.
    • The Ruler tool measures and places shapes at exact positions.
    • Measure the real object and add a tolerance before designing.

    Try this

    1. Make a name plate 80 mm by 25 mm with raised text and a mounting hole at each end.
    2. Measure a pen, then design a holder hole with a tolerance of 0.5 mm.
  9. 9Import, export and preparing for 3D printing6 min read · 4 key points · 2 exercises

    Key points

    • Import accepts files such as STL, OBJ and SVG; export gives STL for printing.
    • An STL is a triangle mesh without colour or stored units.
    • A slicer turns the STL into layers for the printer.
    • Plan a flat base, limited overhangs, enough wall thickness and clearance.

    Try this

    1. Export a finished design as STL and list the printing checks you made before exporting.
    2. Take a model with a steep overhang and redesign it so that it needs less support.
  10. 10Design thinking and fixing mistakes5 min read · 4 key points · 2 exercises

    Key points

    • Design thinking: empathise, define, ideate, prototype, test, then repeat.
    • Sketch with sizes in millimetres before building.
    • Undo, ungroup, Drop, overlap and exact numbers fix most problems.
    • Save a copy before big changes and review the result honestly.

    Try this

    1. Pick a small problem at home, sketch three solutions and build the best one in Tinkercad.
    2. Write a short test note on your design: one thing that works, one that fails and one change you will make.
Glossary: 36 key terms of 3D Design with Tinkercad
Tinkercad
A free browser-based 3D design tool built from simple shapes.
Design
A project in Tinkercad that holds all your shapes and settings.
Workplane
The blue grid on which shapes are placed and measured.
ViewCube
The small cube at the top left used to look at the model from different sides.
Orbit
Turning the view around the model without changing the model.
Pan
Sliding the view sideways or up and down.
Primitive
A ready-made basic shape such as a box, cylinder or sphere.
Solid
A shape type that adds material to the model.
Hole
A shape type that removes material from solids when grouped.
Group
A command that joins shapes into one; holes cut the solids they overlap.
Ungroup
A command that splits a grouped shape back into its parts.
Align
A tool that lines shapes up exactly along an axis.
Duplicate
A command that copies a shape and repeats the last move.
Flip
A tool that mirrors a shape along an axis.
Scale
To change the size of a shape.
Uniform scaling
Scaling so that the proportions stay the same, done by holding Shift.
Rotate
To turn a shape around an axis by an angle.
Snap grid
The step size by which shapes jump when dragged.
Drop
A command that brings a floating shape down onto the workplane.
Ruler tool
A tool that shows distances from a chosen point and helps place shapes exactly.
Millimetre
A unit of length; 10 mm make 1 cm. Tinkercad uses it by default.
Tolerance
A small extra space added so that real parts fit together.
Clearance
The gap between two moving parts so that they do not stick.
Wall thickness
How thick the sides of a hollow object are.
STL
A common 3D file format that stores the outer surface as triangles, without colour.
Mesh
A surface made of many small flat faces, usually triangles.
Import
To bring an outside file into a design.
Export
To save a design as a file for another program or a printer.
3D printing
Making an object by adding material layer by layer.
Slicer
Software that cuts a 3D model into layers and creates printer instructions.
Infill
The amount of material inside a printed object.
Overhang
A part of the model that hangs in the air with nothing under it.
Support
Extra temporary material printed to hold up an overhang.
Prototype
A first test version of a design.
Decomposition
Breaking an object into simple shapes or steps.
Design thinking
A cycle of empathise, define, ideate, prototype and test.

Practice and study material

Study books and timed practice tests in the student portal

Students sign in to read the study books lesson by lesson, print them, mark lessons as done and test themselves with timed practice tests, every answer explained.

  • 1study book
  • 10lessons
  • 40practice questions
  • 36glossary terms

How the practice tests work

  • Fresh questions each time

    Up to 20 questions are picked at random from the subject’s question bank.

  • One minute per question

    A timer counts down. When it reaches zero, your answers are sent automatically.

  • Move around freely

    Skip a question, flag it, and come back to change your answer before you submit.

  • Learn from every answer

    At the end you see the right answer and an explanation for each question.

  • Read, print and keep track

    Each study book has its lessons, key points, exercises and a glossary. Print a lesson, or mark it as done.

Try 3 practice questions

Real questions from this course’s question banks. Pick an answer to see the explanation.

  1. 3D Design with Tinkercad · Question 1

    What does the black arrow above a selected shape do?

    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Lifts it up or down

    The black cone arrow changes the height of the shape off the workplane.

  2. 3D Design with Tinkercad · Question 2

    Which is a gear-free mechanism?

    Show the answer

    Answer: B. A pin hinge

    A pin through two plates makes a hinge without gears.

  3. 3D Design with Tinkercad · Question 3

    What should you do if a cut was wrong?

    Show the answer

    Answer: C. Ungroup and move the hole

    Ungroup returns the parts so they can be adjusted.

Careers

Careers this course leads towards

The kind of work these skills are used for. Each guide explains what the job involves, the skills it asks for and how to get started.

  • Robotics and electronics

    Designing and building circuits, sensors and robots, and programming microcontrollers such as the Arduino.

  • Graphic designer and DTP operator

    Laying out visiting cards, posters, pamphlets and banners, and preparing files that print correctly.

Free calculators

Useful calculators

Free tools that go with this course. They work in your browser, on a phone or a computer.

How admission works

From your first question to your certificate.

The usual steps, at the head office in Delhi or at an authorised member centre.

Who can join
Students above 12 years of age.
Where
The Delhi head office and authorised member centres.
Fees and timings
On WhatsApp at +91 97116 99511, or by phone on 011 2721 1512.
Start with a question
  1. 1

    Ask about the course

    Call or WhatsApp the head office, or visit your nearest member centre. Ask for the duration, the fee and the batch timings in writing.

  2. 2

    Fill the admission form

    Admission forms are supplied by the head office to every centre.

  3. 3

    Learn in class

    Attend your batch at the centre, with the course material and study notes, and sign in to the student portal for the study books and practice tests.

  4. 4

    Take the exam

    The institute prefers written exams, taken in front of a teacher.

  5. 5

    Receive your certificate

    Students who pass get a Gurukul Technicals Institute certificate and marksheet. Employers can verify it with the head office.

Questions

Questions about the Tinkercad course

Still have a question?

Chat on WhatsApp
Who can join the Tinkercad course?

Students above 12 years of age can take admission, at the Delhi head office or at an authorised member centre. The course suits students from class 6 onwards and beginners. Tell the head office or your centre what you already know, and they will suggest where to start.

Do I need a 3D printer?

No. Designing in Tinkercad needs only a browser, and the study book’s printing lesson explains what to check in a file so it prints well when you do have access to a printer at a school, makerspace or print shop.

How long is the course and what is the fee?

Duration, fees and batch timings depend on the course and the centre. Ask the head office or your nearest member centre, and get the details in writing before you pay.

Where are the classes?

At the head office in Delhi (A-10, Chief Commissioner Colony, opposite Rana Pratap Bagh) and at authorised member centres. Call or WhatsApp the head office to find the nearest centre.

What do I need to use the study books and practice tests?

A phone or a computer with an internet connection, and the login your centre gives you at enrolment. The student portal opens in an ordinary web browser, so there is nothing to install. Student login.

How do the practice tests work?

Sign in to the student portal and choose a subject. Each test picks up to 20 questions at random from that subject’s question bank and gives you one minute per question, with a timer that sends your answers automatically when it reaches zero. You can skip a question, flag it and come back before you submit, and at the end you see the right answer and an explanation for every question. This course has 40 practice questions across 1 subject, and you can take the tests as often as you like.

Is there an exam and a certificate?

Yes. The institute prefers written exams, taken in front of a teacher. Students who pass receive a Gurukul Technicals Institute certificate and marksheet.

How is a Gurukul Technicals Institute certificate verified?

On the verify certificate page, anyone can enter a certificate number and check it against the institute’s online register, which covers certificates issued through the portal. For older certificates, or if there is any doubt, send a copy to the head office by email or WhatsApp; the reply comes within 2 working days.

Ready to start the Tinkercad course?

Ask the head office for the duration, the fee, the batch timings and your nearest member centre.

WhatsApp +91 97116 99511Call 011 2721 1512
WhatsApp us