Description:

3D modeling software is used worldwide in professional settings like engineering, animation, architecture, and more. Recently, the programs used to create professional-level models have gotten cheap enough, and the required skill level to use these programs has gotten widespread enough, that 3D modeling software has started to work its way into hobby and amateur contexts. Now, free programs like Autodesk 123D are becoming available to hackers and makers to create 3D models which they can use to create professional construction plans, print models on 3D printers, and create layouts for computer-aided machining toolpaths for computerized lasercutters, routers, and milling machines.

This class will be an 8-week introduction to 3D modeling in the free Autodesk 123D environment, which will highlight sketching, part and assembly modeling based on real objects, dimensional drawing, and laying out parts for computerized manufacturing. Students will take parts and assemblies all the way to a dimensional drawing for manufacturing, will create an example 2D layout that could be transferred to computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software, and will 3D print a small model out of plastic to take home at the end of the course.

Income from this class will be used to establish a computer lab at Artisan's Asylum, loaded with 3D modeling and computer-aided manufacturing software.

Class Goals:

Students will leave this class knowing how to use most features in the free Autodesk 123D modeling package, and will start to understand how to create real parts from 3D models by drawing and laying parts out for CAM software. 

Prerequisites:

None. Students will get significantly more out of the class if they have Autodesk 123D installed on their computers at home, or on computers they bring to class. Computers will be provided for those who do not have their own.

Materials:

The cost of a small 3D printed model is included in the class. Larger models can be printed for a proportional fee.

Instructor Biography:

Gui Cavalcanti received a General Engineering degree with a Robotics concentration from the Olin College of Engineering. He has 9 years of 3D modeling experience, primarily in Solidworks and Autodesk Inventor. He worked as a robotics engineer at Boston Dynamics, working on cutting edge mechanical design and systems integration for highly dynamic legged robots like BigDog, AlphaDog, and PETMAN. Over the course of his career he has developed the mechanical systems for a robotic tuna, several robotic snakes, an ornithopter, and several other robotic animals. In his spare time he builds ridiculous things with ridiculous people, like a flotilla of SUV-sized rubber duck boats to take on the water on the 4th of July.