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Autodesk® 123D® Design is an application that runs in a Web-GL enabled web browser, an iPad and on a computer. It allows you to drag, drop and combine primitive shapes, and also has pre-defined models that can be combined together or with the primitive shapes.

PC Version Intro

On a computer

1. Download and install 123D Design
   
   

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2. Open the application
   
   

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3. In the upper left corner you will find the dropdown menu. Roll your cursor over the down arrow and select New to create a new document.
   
   

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4. Here are the tools to help you construct your models:
   
   
   

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5. Here are the navigation tools to help you move around:
   
   
   

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6. You can also use the view cube to change the camera:
   
   
   

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7. Click on the kits arrow to browse pre-build parts:
   
   
   

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8. Click on Primitives and select Box
   
   
   

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9. Drag and drop the box on the grid. Adjust the dimensions
   
   
   

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10. You can modify (move, scale or hide) the entire form by clicking on the box and then clicking on the gear in the box:
    
    
    

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11. You can select a face. Select the primitive then roll over the face you want to edit. When the face is highlighted click on it to accept the selection. Then click on the gear in the box:
    
    
    

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12. Modifications you can make to the face are:
    • Tweak:
        
      
      

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    • Push/Pull
       
      
      

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    • Shell
        
    
    
    

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13. When editing, you can always enter exact measurements or use the mouse to manipulate the form.
    
    

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14. Design provides selection specific editing options for entire form, face and edge. To select an edge, rollover it until it highlights, then click
    
    
    

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15. Clicking on the gear will bring up the three options:
    
    
    

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16. Tweak
    
    
    

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17. Fillet
    
    
    

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18. Chamfer
    
    
    

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19. Selecting a 2D circle provides the following options:
    
    
    
    

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20. Selecting a 2D curve provides the following options:
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

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21. Experiment adding the Kit parts to your model. Create your model entirely out of kit parts or combine parts and Primitives.
    
    

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22. Before exporting, group the different objects together.
    
    

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23. Export as an stl and print
    
    

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Boolean Modifiers

Intersect

1. Start with objects that you want to combine and find the intersection
   
   
   

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2. Click on Combine:
   
   
   

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3. Select the first object:
   
   
   

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4. Select the second object:
   
   
   

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5. Select the next object:
   
   
   

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6. Select Intersect:
   
   
   

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7. Click anywhere in the workspace
   
   
   

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Join

1. Start with objects that you want to combine and find the intersection
   
   
   

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2. Click on Combine:
   
   
   

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3. Select the first object:
   
   
   

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4. Select the second object:
   
   
   

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5. Select the next object:
   
   
   

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6. Select Intersect:
   
   
   

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7. Click anywhere in the workspace
   
   
   

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Subtract

Approach 1 Approach 2

Snapping withAutodesk® 123D® Design on the computer

1. Open the application
   
   

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2. Click on Primitives and select Box
   
   
   

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3. Drag and drop the box on the grid. Adjust the dimensions
   
   
   

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4. Add a cylinder:
   
   
   

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5. Click on the Snap Tool
   
   
   

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6. Click on the top face of the cylinder. By selecting this first, the cylinder will move to the next object and align this face to the next face you select:
     
   
   

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7. Click on a face of the destination object:
   
   
   

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8. After you select the destination the first object will align to the destination:
   
   
   

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9. If you click on this object, you will notice that it is now a single entity:
   
   
   

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10. You can still edit the different shapes by double clicking on the desired shape
    
    
    To move a part of the group independently, double-click it and move it. Click in empty space to confirm the transformation.
      
    

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11. You can click and drag an object around in the workspace. This is called Cruising
    
    Primitive shapes get automatically grouped when using the cruising or snap methods.
    
    Selecting another object and cruising near a second object will allow you to combine the objects and form a single entity
    
    
    

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12. You can also select a face of an object and cruise. The face selected will align with the second object:
      
    
    

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13. You can ungroup objects by selecting the group and clicking on ungroup:
    
    
    

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14. To select all your ungrouped objects you can box select, drag a box with your cursor around your objects.
    
    

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15. Before exporting, group the different objects together.
    
    

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16. Export as an stl and print!
    
    

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In addition to a web-gl enabled browser and downloading the application to your computer, 123D Design also has a simple to use iPad version.

123D Design on an iPad

1. Install 123D Design onto your iPad.
   
   

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2. Open the Application:
   
   
   

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3. To create your models you can select Primitives, Robots, Model Houses or Browse Online:
   
   
   

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4. There are two types of Primitives:
   1. Basic
   2. Extended
   
   
   

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5. To add a shape, open the Primitives>Basic menu:
   
   
   

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6. Tap on the Cube
   
   
   

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7. Tap on the work area then tap on the Cylinder from the menu:
   
   
   

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8. Tap on the work area to place the cylinder:
   
   
   

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9. Tap on the Snap tool
   
   
   

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10. Tap on the top face of the cylinder:
    
    

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11. Tap on the top face of the cube:
    
    

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12. Tap Scale and resize the cylinder
    
    
    

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13. Tap on the Move tool and adjust the position of the cylinder:
    
    
    

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14. To move an object by a specific amount, tap the white Move arrows to open a numpad. You can then type in the specific amount to move the object:
    
    
    

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15. Press the Second option on the Main Menu and select Subtract. Then select the object that you would like to cut a hole out of:
    
    
    

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16. Select the second object, the object that will become the hole:
    
    
    

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17. Select the Third Option on the Main Menu. The first option in the sub-menu is push and pull. Click on the icon
    
    
    

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18. Tap your shape and drag to push or pull:
    
    
    

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19. The second option of the sub-menu is Shell. Tap on the option
    
    
    

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20. Tap on the shape to shell and drag to adjust wall thickness:
    
    
    

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21. The fourth option of the Main Menu gives you two options. The first is Fillet. Tap it to select it
    
    
    

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22. Tap on the edge and drag to adjust size of fillet:
    
    
    

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23. The second option of the sub-menu is Chamfer. Tap to select it
    
    
    

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24. Tap the edge and drag to adjust the size of the chamfer
    
    
    

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25. Click the icon in the upper right corner to reset the camera view
    
    
    

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26. Tap the First Option of the Menu on the Right.
    
    This menu allows you to go to the Gallery, Save your model or create a new document.
    
    

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27. Saving allows you to save to the cloud or to the device:
    
    
    

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28. The Second Option on the Right Menu also allows you to Save to the cloud or save on the device. Saving to the cloud will prompt you to sign into your Autodesk account. To download an STL file, you upload to the cloud, wait, navigate to the website and download the STL from the Project.
    
    
    

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29. The Camera option allows you to take a picture of your model.
    
    

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30. The Information option provides:
    • Help
    • News
    • Support
    • A way to Contact Autodesk
    • Get information about the application
    
    
    

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31. Play around with combining forms, upload project to the cloud, download STL from the cloud via the 123dapp.com site
    
    

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In addition to downloadable and iPad applications, 123D Design can run in a web-gl enabled browser.

123Dapp.com

1. Navigate to 123Dapp.com and select 123D Design
   
   

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2. You want to launch the 123D Design online app
   
   

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3. If this is the first time you have used the app, you'll need to download and install a plugin
   
   
   

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4. You will have to wait a few minutes
   
   
   

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5. Start a new project:
   
   
   

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6. Here is the interface:
   
   
   

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7. To create a new document, click here:
   
   
   

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8. Change to units to mm:
   
   
   
   

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9. To navigate around the space, use the View Cube
   
   
   

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10. To create your models you can select from the following list of shapes:
    
    
    

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11. To start select Primitives
    
    

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12. Drag a Cube from the menu to the work area
    
    
    

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13. You can adjust the dimensions of your cube:
    
14. Drag a Cylinder from the menu to the work area
    
    
    

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15. Use the Move tool and align the two shapes
    
    
    

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16. You can adjust the length, width and height using the manipulators
    
    
    

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17. You can adjust the z position of a shape by clicking and dragging the cone manipulator:
    
    
    

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18. Select both the cube and the cylinder (use SHIFT+click). Select Combine to Make part:
    
    
    
    

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19. Double click on the cylinder
    
    
    

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20. Select Void to convert the cylinder:
    
    
    
    

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21. Click in the work area:
    
    
    

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Fillet and Chamfer Tool

Chamfers and fillets are types of edges. A chamfer is a beveled edge connecting two surfaces. A fillet is the rounding off of an interior corner.

Chamfer Tool

1. Select the Chamfer option
   
   
   

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2. Select an edge or multiple edges:
   
   
   

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3. Adjust the offset for the chamfer:
   
   
   

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Fillet Tool

1. Select the Fillet option
   
   
   

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2. Select an edge or multiple edges
   
   
   

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3. Adjust the fillet value:
   
   
   

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Shell Tool

1. Select the Shell tool and select edges:
   
   
   

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2. Specify the thickness:
   
   
   

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Text Tool

1. Selet the Text tool:
   
   
   

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2. Modify your text:
   
   
   

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3. Rotate your text appropriately:
   
   
   

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4. Use the move tool to adjust placement
   
   
   

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5. Change the font if you want to:
   
   
   

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6. Select the text and your shape and click on the Combine Tool to make the selection a part:
   
   
   
   

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7. Select just the text and convert it to a void
   
   
   
   

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8. Click in the work area:
   
   
   

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Exporting as STL

1. Play around with combining forms
   
   

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2. Save your work
   
   
   

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3. Login to your account:
   
   
   

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4. Upload project to the cloud, wait, download STL from the cloud via the 123dapp.com site
   
   
   

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5. Open in Makerware, slice and print!
   
   

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Lofting

1. Select Circle from Sketch menu:
   
   
   

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2. Click to specify the plane you want to draw on:
   
   
   

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3. Click to specify where you want to place the center of the circle:
   
   
   

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4. Click to specify the diameter of the circle:
   
   
   

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5. Press Return to complete sketching:
   
   
   

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6. Seelct the circle and press CMD+V to copy:
   
   
   

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7. Press CMD+V to paste and then select move and drag upwards:
   
   
   

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8. Copy the second circle
   
   
   

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9. Paste and move the copied circle:
   
   
   

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10. Copy, paste and move:
    
    
    

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11. Select a circle and SCALE option and drag or enter a number in the box at the bottom to scale:
    
    
    

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12. Select another circle and then the SCALE option. Drag or enter a number in the box at the bottom to scale:
    
    
    

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13. Continue scaling different circles:
    
    
    

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14. Select the first circle, then SHIFT+click on the next circle to add to the selection:
    
    
    
    
    

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15. Continue to add to the selection:
    
    
    
    
    

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16. Select Loft from the enu at the top:
    
    
    

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17. This is the lofted sketches:
    
    
    

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18. Hide the sketches (option on right). Then seelct the top face and select SHELL option:
    
    
    

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19. This is the shape shelled:
    
    
    

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Order matters

Here is another way to use the loft tool:

1. Seelct circles 1 and 2:
   
   
   

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2. Select loft:
   
   
   

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3. Select circles 2 and 3:
   
   
   

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4. Loft:
   
   
   

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5. Select circles 3 and 4:
   
   
   

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6. Loft:
   
   
   

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7. This is the sketches lofted in pieces:
   
   
   

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8. Hide the sketches, select the face, then select SHELL
   
   
   

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9. This is form shelled:
   
   
   

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