TinkerCad Academy #11: Codeblocks Practice and Parametric Modelling!

TinkerCAD Academy

Part 11: Codeblocks Practice and Parametric Modelling

Objectives:

Have students become more comfortable with Codeblocks by creating a tree design and a design of their own
Have students understand why Codeblocks could be a more useful way to create a component depending on how its going to be used

Video Lesson

Designing a Tree with Codeblocks

Watch the video below and create the tree design alongside him. After you have finished the tree that he created try to make your own tree or other part of nature i.e. rock, shrub, flower etc. and share it on our Facebook or Twitter.

Using Codeblocks to create “Parametric” Models

Watch the below video where he goes over how to use variables in your code to allow your model to be easily edited to changing specifications.

This type of modelling is know as parametric modelling.

What is parametric modelling? Webster defines parametric as relating to or expressed in terms of a parameter or parameters.

Combining that definition with modelling we can safely assume that it basically means “modelling that is related to the terms of a parameter”.

To simplify that even further it just means that its a model that is controlled by variables.

Why Parametric?

These variables chosen to model upon are always the variables that are most likely to change, an example of this would be if you needed to make a part that fit around a tube but the size of that tube could change in the future you would make the tube size the variable that the rest of the model is controlled by.

This way if you were to changes the size of the tube variable the rest of the model would perfectly scale to match the new dimension.

This is very important when you are making a part that might have 100+ revisions before it is complete.

Practice

After watching the video try to create your own parametric model that uses at least one variable. Some ideas for this would be a pencil grip that is based of the width of the pencil or a grip for a coffee cup that changes based on the width of the coffee cup.

Documentation

Download the Screencastify Video tool extension to your browser. Document your Autodesk TinkerCAD challenges by recording a short video of yourself showing off a creation! Save your journal’s URL for your own reference, or SHARE your video on Latino STEM Alliance’s Facebook page or @latinostem on Twitter to show us and your fellow students and community how your work with TinkerCAD has been going!

Never forget your hotkeys!

Further Resources:

Autodesk - Creators of TinkerCAD, Fusion 360, AutoCAD, Revit, Maya and many more.

TinkerCAD - Beginner Friendly 3D modelling, Electrical Simulations and Programming with Codeblocks they also have two great posters that can be printer for classroom use found here and here

Microsoft MakeCode - A similar block style programming language that skillset is shared with TinkerCAD Codeblocks