Introduction: Creating and Using Shapes in Tinkercad

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To create a design in Tinkercad, you need to use one of the basic fundamentals of the system; select shapes from the Basic Shape window and place them on the workplane to make a design. In March 2021, I learned if I used Codeblocks in Tinkercad to design an item, I could save it as a shape and use that shape in my 3D Design.

On July 20, 2022, I learned that I could make my 3D Designs into shapes, and I could use those shapes in other designs. Up until that day, when I wanted to reuse a shape, I would save it out as an STL file and import it into my design. For the house shown above, I created and 73 STL files for window, doors, columns, railing, and more. The problem with STL files, they are only a single color.

Why didn't I just copy a shape? Too much grouping in a design effects the performance of a design. I now try to limit how much grouping I do in my designs.

These instructions will show you how to take and existing design, save it as a shape, and use it in other design.

Supplies

Autodesk Tinkercad: You will need a basic understand of how to log on and create 3D Design using Tinkercad. Some of the basic skills you will need are editing a design; selecting, moving, rotating and changing sizes of shapes; and changing the location of the workplane. If you are unfamiliar with Tinkercad, lessons are available on their site.

Step 1: Access an Existing Design

I will be using my cow design to create a shape. It has been used several times in other designs, but as STL files.

  1. Log onto Tinkercad
  2. Locate the 3D Design that you would like to make into a shape.
  3. Click Tinker this

Step 2: Selecting the Design

Drag the cursor over the design you want to create a shape. A blue outline must appear around the design to save it as a shape. To unselect objects that you do not want to include in the new shape, hold down the Shift key and click on the unwanted items.

Step 3: Accessing Your Shapes

  1. Click on the arrows next to Basic Shapes
  2. Select Your Creations

Step 4: Creating a Shape

  1. Double-check that the design is selected, a blue outline appears around the design.
  2. Click Create Shape. The shape you are trying to create will appear in the large window that is surrounded by the blue frame.
  3. Fill out the information window for your new shape:
  4. Name: What is the name for your shape?
  5. Description: Describe the shape and possible how it can be used.
  6. Tags: Provide up to five tags to help locate the shape in the future.
  7. Click Save Shape

Note: A shape cannot be overly complicated. If the shape has not loaded in the large window by the time you filled out the information, there is a good chance that this design maybe too complicated to be used as a shape.

Step 5: Review Your Shape

While Tinkercad is processing the new shape, a cube will appear in Your Creations Shape window. Once the shape has been processed, you will see your new shape in the window. Note: If the shape is too complicated, either the cube will remain in shape's panel or there will be a blank area in the shape's panel. These shapes are too complicated and cannot be used. Example: My Train Engine is too complicated to be used as a shape.

Step 6: Watch the Video

Here is the video I created on how to create a shape using Tinkercad.

Step 7: Adding Shapes to Existing Design

In 2020, I created my Railroad Town Livery design. I used cows from the STL files I created. Notice the cows are all white. I edited the design use the new Cow shape. These are the steps I used.

  1. Click Tinker this to edit the existing design to add the new shape.
  2. Delete the plain white cows but holding down the Shift key and clicking every cow and pressing the Delete key. cows.
  3. Click the arrows next to Basic Shape
  4. Click Your Creations
  5. Click on new shape and place it on the workplane.

Step 8: Adjusting the Shape Tips

That is a big cow. I needed to change the cow size and location:

Tip 1:

Adjust the size of the shape by holding down the shift key and dragging the center square to reduce the size.

Tip 2:

You do not need to keep adding the new shape from the shape panel, if you want another copy. You can duplicate any shape in the design and move it to a new location.

Tip 3:

I wanted a cow coming down the ramp. The easiest way to accomplish this effect was to place the workplane on the ramp.

  1. Click the workplace icon then click the location to place the workplane.
  2. Click the shape in the Shape's panel and place the shape on the workplane.
  3. Change the size and location before placing the workplane into its default position.

Step 9: Congratulations

You have just learned how to create and use shapes in Tinkercad. If you have any questions, drop me a note.