CAD & VR for Design and Building

In today’s rapidly evolving design landscape, the integration of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) with Virtual Reality (VR) is revolutionising the way we approach product design, 3D printing, and building planning. This course offers a comprehensive introduction to using leading CAD tools—SketchUp, Fusion 360, and TinkerCAD—alongside the immersive capabilities of the Quest 3 VR headset. Participants will gain hands-on experience in creating detailed CAD models, exporting them for 3D printing, and visualising these designs in a VR environment. By bridging the gap between digital design and virtual interaction, this course empowers designers to iterate, refine, and innovate with unprecedented clarity and precision.

Applicants must have:

• A basic understanding of CAD software.
• Familiarity with VR concepts and hardware.
• A laptop/desktop with SketchUp, Fusion 360, and TinkerCAD installed.
• Quest 3 VR headset with appropriate CAD-to-VR import plugins or applications installed.

Tuesday 29th October – 9:30am – 12:30pm

Free

This course aims to provide hands-on experience with CAD (Computer-Aided Design) tools such as SketchUp, Fusion 360, and TinkerCAD, and their integration with VR using the Quest 3. The course will explore how to create, visualise, and manipulate CAD designs in VR for various applications including product design, 3D printing, and building planning.

Course Outline:

Part 1: Introduction to CAD and VR Integration (30 minutes)

1.1. Overview of CAD and its Applications (10 minutes)

• Definition and purpose of CAD.
• Common CAD tools and their use cases (SketchUp, Fusion 360, TinkerCAD).
• Introduction to product design, 3D printing, and building planning.

1.2. Introduction to VR in Design (10 minutes)

• VR as a tool for design visualisation and iteration.
• Benefits of using VR for reviewing and refining CAD models.
• Overview of the Quest 3 and its capabilities.

1.3. Workflow for CAD to VR Integration (10 minutes)

• Step-by-step process: Designing in CAD → Exporting models → Importing to VR.
• Brief overview of compatible file formats (e.g., OBJ, STL, FBX).
• Introduction to CAD-to-VR import tools or software (e.g., using plugins or standalone apps).

Part 2: Hands-On with CAD Tools (1 hour 30 minutes)

2.1. Basic Design in TinkerCAD (30 minutes)

• Activity: Create a simple 3D object (e.g., a keychain) using TinkerCAD.
• Introduction to TinkerCAD interface and basic tools.
• Designing for 3D printing: Considerations and best practices.
• Exporting the design as an STL file for 3D printing and VR visualization.

2.2. Intermediate Design in SketchUp (30 minutes)

• Activity: Design a small piece of furniture (e.g., a chair) using SketchUp.
• Overview of SketchUp’s interface and toolset.
• Building components, using layers, and applying materials.
• Exporting the model for VR (focus on file formats like OBJ).

2.3. Advanced Design in Fusion 360 (30 minutes)

• Activity: Design a product prototype (e.g., a smartphone case) in Fusion 360.
• Overview of Fusion 360’s interface and advanced modeling tools.
• Parametric design and creating complex geometries.
• Preparing the model for manufacturing (exporting for 3D printing) and VR visualization.

Part 3: VR Visualisation and Interaction (1 hour)

3.1. Importing CAD Models into VR (15 minutes)

APPLICANTS MUST HAVE:

• A basic understanding of CAD software.
• Familiarity with VR concepts and hardware.
• A laptop/desktop with SketchUp, Fusion 360, and TinkerCAD installed.
• Quest 3 VR headset with appropriate CAD-to-VR import plugins or applications installed.