Signing up for accounts

There are four online services that we will use regularly in this class: Canvas, WordPress, Thingiverse, and Tinkercad (need Autodesk as part of this online program). Below are instructions for each site.

Whenever you log into an account using a public computer lab (i.e. SMAD labs or the 3SPACE classroom), use an Incognito Window in Chrome to decrease the chances that you accidentally stay logged into an account. Get in the habit of logging out from ALL accounts before leaving the lab and close all browser windows.

Canvas

Canvas will be our main source of course information as well as submitting assignments and grading. When you complete any work using third-party sites (i.e. Thingiverse or Tinkercad), you will submit the assignment by submitting a URL to Canvas by the assignment deadline. Please ask if you have any questions on how to use Canvas.

WordPress

You will submit project development on our class blog by logging into WordPress. You have been given access to the blog at the Author level, which means that you can create, edit, and publish your own posts, but not modify other people’s posts or pages. The instructions below will help you log into our WordPress site, change your password, and choose a display name.

  • Go to the login page for our class website
    • Username: your first name with last initial (e.g. JanetD)
    • Password: password (you’ll change this in the next step)
  • Change your password
    • Click on Profile in the left menu column
    • Scroll down to New Password and click Generate Password
    • Type any password you like instead of the generated password
    • Make note of your password somewhere private
    • Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Update Profile
  • Set your display name for the blog
    • On the same Profile page as above…
    • If you’d like to be known by your first and last names on the blog, then do nothing
    • Otherwise change the Nickname field to what you want to be called on the blog. One suggestion is “first name plus last initial”, like “AdrienneH.” I prefer this over first initial, last name. 😉
    • Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Update Profile

Thingiverse

Thingiverse is an online 3D model repository and community where people share models that they have designed. In this class we will use Thingiverse both as a source of 3D models and inspiration. The instructions below will help you set up a Thingiverse account.

  • Get an account
    • Go to thingiverse.com and click the Sign In/Join button in the top right of the screen.
    • Thingiverse is owned and operated by the 3D printing company MakerBot, so you’ll have to create a free MakerBot account. Click the Create an Account button. Your MakerBot account will also be your Thingiverse account.
    • Use any email address, password, and username that you like. Your username is what other people on Thingiverse will see. Make a note of your password somewhere private. Click Continue after filling in the information.
  • Log in and set up your account profile
    • Log in to Thingiverse with the username and password you just created. Thingiverse will send you a verification email that you will have to open to complete the account creation process.
    • There may be other onboarding steps after you verify your account, including opportunities to follow other users or to fill out your Profile. You can do those things now or you can skip them and complete things later if you want to. My only request is that you put “James Madison University” and “JMU 3SPACE” somewhere in your Profile description, if you are willing.

Autodesk

We will used multiple programs owned and operated by the 3D software company Autodesk, so you’ll have to create a free Autodesk account. As a student, this account will give you free access to a lot of other Autodesk design programs, including ones that professionals use. Follow the steps to create a new account, and make note of your password somewhere private.

Tinkercad

The first program we will use to create our own 3D models is Tinkercad, a very easy-to-use online modeling program. The instructions below will help you set up an account and get started.

  • Log in and do stuff
    • When you first log in after creating your account, Tinkercad will start you in a Lesson that teaches you how to move shapes on the Workplane. If you want to work through some basic lessons then follow the instructions in the left sidebar and click Next and Continue as needed to move through the content.
    • When you are ready to create something of your own, click on the colorful Tinkercad icon at the top of the screen to get back to your Dashboard, then click the Create new design button. If you ever want to return to the Lessons, you can select the Learn tab from the Dashboard.