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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
3D Printing Software
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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

3D Printing Software

This course is part of 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing Specialization

Jeffrey Smith

Instructor: Jeffrey Smith

46,479 already enrolled

Included with Coursera Plus

•Learn more
7 modules
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.6

(544 reviews)

Beginner level
No prior experience required
Flexible schedule
2 weeks at 10 hours a week
Learn at your own pace
95%
Most learners liked this course

7 modules
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.6

(544 reviews)

Beginner level
No prior experience required
Flexible schedule
2 weeks at 10 hours a week
Learn at your own pace
95%
Most learners liked this course
  • About
  • Outcomes
  • Modules
  • Recommendations
  • Testimonials
  • Reviews

What you'll learn

  • Sketch out idea that can be turned into 3D designs

  • Model ideas in 3D and convert to 3D printable designs

  • Scan people and objects for 3D printing

Skills you'll gain

  • Design Software
  • Computer Graphics
  • Visualization (Computer Graphics)
  • Technical Design
  • 3D Modeling
  • Technical Communication
  • Graphical Tools

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

6 assignments

Taught in English

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Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
  • Learn new concepts from industry experts
  • Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
  • Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
  • Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 7 modules in this course

This course will demonstrate how to use 3D printing software to create digital designs that can be turned into physical objects. It will also demonstrate how 3D scanners work to turn physical objects into digital designs. This course is hands-on in nature and will provide step-by-step instructions to guide you through two popular 3D modeling programs, Tinkercad and Fusion 360. Learners who complete this course will be able to use 3D software to design a wide variety of objects for both personal and professional use. In addition, learners who enroll in the course certificate will receive extended free access to Fusion 360 (provided by Autodesk).

Please copy/paste the following links to your browser's search bar to view the requirements for each of the following software elements used in this course: Sketchbook: https://support.sketchbook.com/hc/en-us/articles/209671938-SketchBook-Desktop-System-Requirements Tinkercad: https://support.tinkercad.com/hc/en-us/articles/205849108-What-are-Tinkercad-s-Browser-and-Platform-requirements- Autodesk Fusion 360: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/fusion-360/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/System-requirements-for-Autodesk-Fusion-360.html Sketchfab: https://help.sketchfab.com/hc/en-us/articles/203059088-Compatibility 123D Catch: Same as Tinkercad

You will become familiar with the course, your classmates, and our learning environment. The orientation will also help you obtain the technical skills required for the course.

What's included

1 video5 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt1 plugin

1 video•Total 3 minutes
  • Welcome to 3D Printing Software!•3 minutes•Preview module
5 readings•Total 50 minutes
  • Syllabus•10 minutes
  • About the Discussion Forums•10 minutes
  • Glossary•10 minutes
  • Updating Your Profile•10 minutes
  • Social Media•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
  • Orientation Quiz•30 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
  • Getting to Know Your Classmates•10 minutes
1 plugin•Total 15 minutes
  • Welcome! Please tell us about yourself.•15 minutes

Design starts with capturing our ideas and a great starting point is to draw. In this module, you will learn how to draw and communicate your ideas. This will set you up with the foundation to express yourself in three dimensions in the subsequent modules.

What's included

3 videos1 reading1 assignment1 peer review

3 videos•Total 42 minutes
  • Introduction to Sketching•3 minutes•Preview module
  • Why We Sketch•16 minutes
  • Sketchbook Basics•22 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
  • Module 1 Overview•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
  • Module 1•30 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
  • Module 1: Shapes•60 minutes

Let’s move from expressing our ideas in two dimensions (sketching) to expressing them in three dimensions. You will learn how to use Tinkercad, which is a great software for beginners, before we learn more advanced modeling software (Fusion 360) in module 3.

What's included

1 video2 readings1 assignment1 peer review

1 video•Total 1 minute
  • Tinkercad•1 minute•Preview module
2 readings•Total 20 minutes
  • Module 2 Overview•10 minutes
  • Lesson Links•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
  • Module 2 Quiz•30 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
  • Tinkercad Assignment•60 minutes

From TinkerCAD, we are moving on to Fusion 360. This is a very powerful tool to turn your ideas into reality. You will learn the Basic user interface, to make sure you understand how to move in a 3D environment. You will learn how to build some primitive shapes and some sketch based shapes.

What's included

9 videos1 reading1 assignment1 peer review

9 videos•Total 69 minutes
  • Introduction to Fusion 360•1 minute•Preview module
  • Navigating the User Interface•11 minutes
  • Managing Files in Data Panel and A360•3 minutes
  • Working with Primitives•8 minutes
  • Sketch-Based Construction•9 minutes
  • Additional Help with Sketch-based Tools•6 minutes
  • Using Bodies and Components•2 minutes
  • Creating Bodies 1•14 minutes
  • Creating Bodies 2•12 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
  • Module 3 Overview•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
  • Module 3 Quiz•30 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
  • Fusion (Basic)•60 minutes

From the basics, we move on to some advaned concepts. You will learn about the sculpt tool in Fusion 360. The sculpt tool gives you a lot of power, and allows everyone to build complex forms with a short learning curve.

What's included

7 videos1 reading1 assignment1 peer review

7 videos•Total 55 minutes
  • Pushing the Purple Button•1 minute•Preview module
  • Using the Sculpt Tool 1•15 minutes
  • Using the Sculpt Tool 2•8 minutes
  • Using the Sculpt Tool 3•5 minutes
  • Using the Sculpt Tool 4•6 minutes
  • Why to Render•1 minute
  • How to Render•15 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
  • Module 4 Overview•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
  • Module 4 Quiz•30 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
  • Fusion (Advanced)•60 minutes

In this module we will cover different technologies for turning objects into 3d models. The devices we will demonstrate are the next engine 3d scanner, Microsoft Kinect, structure sensor, as well as any camera you have (including your phone).

What's included

9 videos1 reading1 assignment1 peer review1 discussion prompt

9 videos•Total 86 minutes
  • Introduction to 3D Scanning•4 minutes•Preview module
  • Examples of 3D Scanning from CUC Fab Lab•6 minutes
  • Microsoft Kinect and Structure Sensor for iPad•12 minutes
  • Next Engine•6 minutes
  • Your Smartphone and 123D Catch•9 minutes
  • Post-processing Your 3D Scans•17 minutes
  • What Will You Scan?•2 minutes
  • Visualization Lab at the Beckman Institute•14 minutes
  • Photogrammetry: An Artist’s Perspective•12 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
  • Module 5 Overview•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
  • Module 5 Quiz•30 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
  • Scanning•60 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
  • 3D Scanning as a disruptor•10 minutes

What's included

2 videos1 reading1 discussion prompt1 plugin

2 videos•Total 6 minutes
  • 3D Printing Software Wrap-Up•2 minutes•Preview module
  • Gies Online Programs•3 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
  • Congratulations on completing the course!•10 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
  • Final Reflections•10 minutes
1 plugin•Total 15 minutes
  • How was the course?•15 minutes

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructor

Instructor ratings

Instructor ratings

We asked all learners to give feedback on our instructors based on the quality of their teaching style.

4.8 (91 ratings)
Jeffrey Smith
Jeffrey Smith
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
1 Course•46,479 learners

Offered by

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Offered by

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a world leader in research, teaching and public engagement, distinguished by the breadth of its programs, broad academic excellence, and internationally renowned faculty and alumni. Illinois serves the world by creating knowledge, preparing students for lives of impact, and finding solutions to critical societal needs.

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    Specialization

Why people choose Coursera for their career

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Learner reviews

4.6

544 reviews

  • 5 stars

    75.55%

  • 4 stars

    17.09%

  • 3 stars

    3.49%

  • 2 stars

    2.20%

  • 1 star

    1.65%

Showing 3 of 544

R
RG
5

Reviewed on May 18, 2020

Great course. The way the instructors explain step by step is very good. I learned new ways on how to take my ideas and turn them into something.

S
SL
5

Reviewed on Sep 18, 2018

Great course. I enjoyed learning new skills. I learned allot about 3D computer modeling. I applied what I learned at my job and created a number of tools and assembly fixtures.

S
SK
4

Reviewed on Jun 3, 2020

There should have been more explanation or more videos on fusion 360 (advanced) week. Overall good experience.

View more reviews
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Frequently asked questions

Please select the following links to copy and paste into your browser's search bar to view the technological requirements for each of the following software elements used in this course:

Sketchbook: https://support.sketchbook.com/hc/en-us/articles/209671938-SketchBook-Desktop-System-Requirements

Tinkercad: https://support.tinkercad.com/hc/en-us/articles/205849108-What-are-Tinkercad-s-Browser-and-Platform-requirements-

Autodesk Fusion 360: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/fusion-360/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/System-requirements-for-Autodesk-Fusion-360.html

Sketchfab: https://help.sketchfab.com/hc/en-us/articles/203059088-Compatibility

123D Catch: Same as Tinkercad

Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.

You will be eligible for a full refund until 2 weeks after your payment date. You cannot receive a refund once you’ve earned a Course Certificate, even if you complete the course within the 2-week refund period. View our full refund policy.

Yes! Coursera provides financial aid to learners who would like to complete a course but cannot afford the course fee. To apply for aid, select "Learn more and apply" in the Financial Aid section below the "Enroll" button. You'll be prompted to complete a simple application; no other paperwork is required.

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.

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