Tinker cad

[JKnightandKARR]

Well here are 3 videos I did for Tinker Cad, I can always redo them to make better videos.

[granz]

Nice, Joe. Thanks.

These videos make me want to get my printer set up, and working again.

The first video is pretty good, showing the basics, but the second one is a little weak - it would be better (if/when you redo it) if you give a better explanation of the bracket for the chair (what is the need, what broke on the chair, how does this fix it.) the rest of the examples should have more background on the items, what they are (mentioned before each example, and then again at the end of the example,) and why they are needed.

The third one is really good. Maybe I related to the design because I have one of those Z-Stars.   But, showing the hard drive, and explaining that the drive didn't work, and how you decided to use the SD card adapter, and then going through the design process was great. I would also love to see the holder printed out, and the adapter placed in it, along with you inserting it into the Z-Star. And, of course, the computer booting up with the SD adapter in place.

Thanks again.

[JKnightandKARR]

Nice, Joe. Thanks.

These videos make me want to get my printer set up, and working again.

The first video is pretty good, showing the basics, but the second one is a little weak - it would be better (if/when you redo it) if you give a better explanation of the bracket for the chair (what is the need, what broke on the chair, how does this fix it.) the rest of the examples should have more background on the items, what they are (mentioned before each example, and then again at the end of the example,) and why they are needed.

The third one is really good. Maybe I related to the design because I have one of those Z-Stars.   But, showing the hard drive, and explaining that the drive didn't work, and how you decided to use the SD card adapter, and then going through the design process was great. I would also love to see the holder printed out, and the adapter placed in it, along with you inserting it into the Z-Star. And, of course, the computer booting up with the SD adapter in place.

Thanks again.

Thanks for the feedback, can do. NO idea what the 2nd one was for though... lol

Edit: Had to watch my own video lol.

[Chris Savage]

I did start watching the first video last night. I was doing great until I fell asleep.    I assure you, it had nothing to do with your video and everything to do with working a 10-hour day yesterday. With the hour drive each way, it was essentially a 12-hour day. However, I am going to pick up where I left off today. Now it shows up in my history. 

[JKnightandKARR]

I did start watching the first video last night. I was doing great until I fell asleep.    I assure you, it had nothing to do with your video and everything to do with working a 10-hour day yesterday. With the hour drive each way, it was essentially a 12-hour day. However, I am going to pick up where I left off today. Now it shows up in my history. 

Lol no that was Rob Louisell's How to build a KITT car. 6 hours or MAJOR boring.. lol but for me VERY informative!!

[Chris Savage]

After starting experimenting in TinkerCAD with the mounting posts, I am frustrated and therefore going back to these videos to see if I can get some answers to things. 

[JKnightandKARR]

After starting experimenting in TinkerCAD with the mounting posts, I am frustrated and therefore going back to these videos to see if I can get some answers to things. 

It can be alittle frustrating, but once you get the hang of it, it gets easier.

[Chris Savage]

It can be alittle frustrating, but once you get the hang of it, it gets easier.

My biggest problem is that, while I can fairly easily adjust the parameters of a select object, there doesn't seem to be any parameters for its location (position) on the grid. For the recent mounting post example I dropped a cube on the grid. It's default was 20mm³. I then placed a cone on top of it. As soon as I made the cone 5mm in diameter, it was at the corner of the cube. Getting it into the exact center was tricky. I could only eyeball it, and then I had to set the grid snap to 0.5mm (default is 1mm) just to get it in the middle.

Even Bambu Studio, which is a slicer, has the ability to position objects by exact or relative coordinates. I think I just need to focus on re-learning FreeCAD at this point. I'm not confident TinkerCAD is worth putting any more effort into it. In your first video, you demonstrate making a propeller. In FreeCAD I could group the two opposing blades, duplicate them and then rotate them 90° and go from two to four blades, instantly. I could then group the four blades, rotate those 45° and have eight blades.

As a parametric CAD program, you could easily ensure that the blades were perfectly symmetric, just by specifying that in the properties. Same for their distance from the center, pitch, etc. This way if you changed the pitch of one blade, they would all be affected. Just need to spend some time learning the ins and outs.

[JKnightandKARR]

It can be alittle frustrating, but once you get the hang of it, it gets easier.

My biggest problem is that, while I can fairly easily adjust the parameters of a select object, there doesn't seem to be any parameters for its location (position) on the grid.

There is, I can make a video of it when I get home.

[Chris Savage]

There is, I can make a video of it when I get home.

I saw your video about the ruler tool. I assume that's not what you're referring to? Most CAD software shows you the x, y and z coordinates of the object and you can specify those coordinates directly.

[JKnightandKARR]

There is, I can make a video of it when I get home.

I saw your video about the ruler tool. I assume that's not what you're referring to? Most CAD software shows you the x, y and z coordinates of the object and you can specify those coordinates directly.

It's in with that tool set, close to each axis, theres X, Y, and Z length and also X, Y, and Z location from the ruler in both end-point and mid-point, the dot where the rulers meet is the control for the mode, as well as 0,0,0 location, if it says end-point, its actually in mid-point mode, kinda dumb that way, but it works.

[JKnightandKARR]

There is, I can make a video of it when I get home.

I saw your video about the ruler tool. I assume that's not what you're referring to? Most CAD software shows you the x, y and z coordinates of the object and you can specify those coordinates directly.

Chris, and others,
Quick one, the object circled in yellow is the Mid/End-pointselection, as I said  if it says one  mode when over it, it's  in the opposite mode, like  I said, kinda stupid but I didn't make it, lol. The Black circle is the 0,0,0 location.  The blue bars, should already know, modifies the length of that axis, where the green bars, modify distance from 0,0,0.  In my screen shot, this was for my Green 753 monitor repair. I have the larger transparent object selected, the smaller diameter and taller one is just a screw pass through hole, and I'll act like it's not there in this.  it's 7mm x 7mm x 4mm, and I have it set for Mid-Point use.  Since the base object, orange, is 10mm 10mm x 4mm tall.  The larger transparent object is only supposed to be 1/2 way into the base object, so using the green bars, the transparent object is set to 5mm, 5mm, 2mm, which set it centered on X & Y and up 2 mm from the bottom, giving me the desired location to create a recess opening for the screw head to sit into. Back to the other transparent for a moment, I know I said wasn't going to talk about, but for transparent objects, I like to have them sticking out of the object(s), which make for very easy selecting for future adjustments.  On this 2nd transparent, its both above and below the top and bottom of the base object, can't see but kinda irrelevant info, but that's how you move objects to a specific location in TinkerCAD.  Hope this helps.

[Chris Savage]

Quick one, the object circled in yellow is the Mid/End-pointselection, as I said  if it says one  mode when over it, it's  in the opposite mode, like  I said, kinda stupid but I didn't make it, lol.

So, thinking about the end-point / mid-point issue, I think perhaps that we're overthinking the issue. I think by default TinkerCAD uses end-point mode. When you hover over the button, it says, "use mid-point". I think it's telling you to click to get that mode. Somewhat of a reverse logic, if you're literal, like I am. But I have run into this before.

For example, I have seen an on / off button that has a display built into it. At startup, the button says, "ON", though nothing is on. When you press the button, the system turns on and the button reads, "OFF", indicating that if you push it, this is what will happen.

You cannot view this attachment.

Anyway, I put down the ruler tool to see how things looked and it does help some. But this is where TinkerCAD has some weird idiosyncrasies, for example, when using round objects, mid-point would seem to be a better choice for placing objects, however, looking at the mid-point of the z-axis seems dumb. Without tilting the grid, I first thought the cylinder was 5mm above the grid. 

You cannot view this attachment.

I also noticed they have a "tube" object, which at a glance would seem to simplify making mounting posts, however, the hole in the center is not sized by radius like the outside, but rather, "wall thickness". 

I'm not trying to nit-pick. I'm just trying to decide if TinkerCAD is indeed a good way to build quick parts. I will play with it a bit more, but going back to my original mention of coordinates, everything is in relation to the center-point of the ruler, which isn't totally bad, but I have seen in CAD software coordinates relative to the overall object.

For example, if you're making an enclosure and you want to add mounting holes, you have to do some math instead of relative to the edge of the enclosure. In a parametric design, the mounting holes would normally be relative to each other by some measurement, but here it would always be from that 0, 0, 0 location. I guess I have to decide if I can force myself to think like that.

[Chris Savage]

By the way, I do appreciate your taking the time to put up the extra information. It does help. I suppose if I go back to the way I used to do things (using graph paper), I could transfer those measurements to TinkerCAD and it would make things easier going from graph paper, since the coordinate system is the same.

[JKnightandKARR]

Quick one, the object circled in yellow is the Mid/End-pointselection, as I said  if it says one  mode when over it, it's  in the opposite mode, like  I said, kinda stupid but I didn't make it, lol.

So, thinking about the end-point / mid-point issue, I think perhaps that we're overthinking the issue. I think by default TinkerCAD uses end-point mode. When you hover over the button, it says, "use mid-point". I think it's telling you to click to get that mode. Somewhat of a reverse logic, if you're literal, like I am. But I have run into this before.

For example, I have seen an on / off button that has a display built into it. At startup, the button says, "ON", though nothing is on. When you press the button, the system turns on and the button reads, "OFF", indicating that if you push it, this is what will happen.

You cannot view this attachment.

Anyway, I put down the ruler tool to see how things looked and it does help some. But this is where TinkerCAD has some weird idiosyncrasies, for example, when using round objects, mid-point would seem to be a better choice for placing objects, however, looking at the mid-point of the z-axis seems dumb. Without tilting the grid, I first thought the cylinder was 5mm above the grid. 

You cannot view this attachment.

I also noticed they have a "tube" object, which at a glance would seem to simplify making mounting posts, however, the hole in the center is not sized by radius like the outside, but rather, "wall thickness". 

I'm not trying to nit-pick. I'm just trying to decide if TinkerCAD is indeed a good way to build quick parts. I will play with it a bit more, but going back to my original mention of coordinates, everything is in relation to the center-point of the ruler, which isn't totally bad, but I have seen in CAD software coordinates relative to the overall object.

For example, if you're making an enclosure and you want to add mounting holes, you have to do some math instead of relative to the edge of the enclosure. In a parametric design, the mounting holes would normally be relative to each other by some measurement, but here it would always be from that 0, 0, 0 location. I guess I have to decide if I can force myself to think like that.

I have a tendancy to switch between the 2 when designing. Both have benefits. I know you can nove the ruler around, so maybe could use that on something like an enclosure? To aid, that or little math like you say. The program can make things tricky sometimes. I always liked Sketchup but sadly there are no built in epxporting for 3d printers, which normally causes issues with models