3D DESIGN CLASS

14 Lessons Beginner Level

Learn 3D modeling in Fusion 360 in under an hour! Whether you are new to CAD or already using
parametric CAD software, this short video-only class includes everything you need. We'll
introduce you to valuable tools for learning and teaching Autodesk Fusion 360 essentials, and
give you great tips and tricks from industry professionals. Through a scaffolded learning
experience, you'll develop your 3D modeling skills by applying them to a real world design
challenge inspired by the Louis Kalff "Krahenfuss" table lamp.
The class includes step-by-step video instruction, a printable PDF guide, and a quiz.
Let's get started!
Enter an Instructables Contest!
If you've used the skills you learned in this class to design something awesome, write an
instructable about it and enter it in our Plastics Contest
(https://www.instructables.com/contest/plastics/) to win some great prizes! Or you could try
entering our Design for Robotics Challenge (https://www.instructables.com/contest/plastics/) with
just a 3D model!

Class Author:
Autodesk Design Academy (/member/Autodesk+Design+Academy/)
Our courses teach you to use design thinking and software skills to make innovative designs that have an impact on peoples
lives.
This class is taught by Phil Dollan. Phil is a seasoned educator and a lead Technology and Curriculum Specialist at Autodesk.
He has a Bachelors degree in Engineering Technology, a Masters degree in Education, and has worked extensively in the
engineering, forestry and mining industries. Before joining the Autodesk team, Phil worked as a member of the mechanical
engineering department at the British Columbia Institute of Technology for 28 years. At Autodesk Phil develops education
initiatives for AutoCAD, Inventor, Fusion 360 and many other software platforms.

3D Design Class: Page 1

 Lessons

Lesson 1: Introduction to Fusion 360: Design a Lamp in an

Hour
Fusion 360 is the first 3D CAD/CAM tool that connects the entire
product development process in a single cloud-based platform for Mac
and PC. In this lesson, you will download a free copy of Fusion 360
and the learning resources for this project.

Lesson 2: Intro to Fusion 360 UI

This lesson walks you through the the key areas of the Fusion 360
user interface. You explore the Fusion user interface and get hands-
on practice using core features to create a box.

Lesson 3: Sketch the Lamp

Sketches are the starting point for most designs. In this lesson, you
learn how to start a new design and import a sketch profile of the
lampshade into Fusion 360 to quickly start your design process.

Lesson 4: Model the Lamp Shade

Working with the imported sketch from the previous lesson, you easily
create a solid model of the lamp shade in Fusion 360, creating a solid
model and modifying the material and color.

Lesson 5: Model the Lamp Arm

Using the Sweep command, you create a solid model of the lamp arm,
adding a thread to the end of the arm and modifying the material and
appearance of the arm.

Lesson 6: Sculpt the Lamp Base

Fusion 360 supports freeform modeling using T-Splines. You apply
push pull modeling techniques to form the sculpted model of the lamp
base.

3D Design Class: Page 2

Lesson 7: Create & Assemble Lamp Components
Using a top down (multi-body) design approach, you create and
assemble lamp components, focusing on assembly joints.

Lesson 8: Document the Lamp Design

Technical drawings are essential to visually communicating the
functionality and construction of a design. In this lesson, you learn
how to create a new drawing, create orthographic and isometric views
of the lamp and add dimensions and text.

Lesson 9: Create a Photo Real Render

Photo real 3D renders allow you to speed concept approvals, identify
problems, and sell your design idea. Using the Fusion 360 Render
workspace, you learn how to create a photorealistic render of your
lamp using cloud rendering.

Lesson 10: Export for 3D Printing

Exporting your design for fabrication is simple. This lesson will walk
you through the export options in Fusion and how to export the lamp
stand in the STL format.

Lesson 11: Design Review & Collaboration

Built-in cloud based collaboration allows for immediate sharing of
design files for review, comment and co-authoring. This lesson guides
you through how to use Autodesk A360, share your drawing, and
invite people to review your drawing

Lesson 12: Quiz

Test your skills and showcase your knowledge by demonstrating your
actual skills, expertise or just see where you stand. Need to refresh
your knowledge? Revisit the project lessons to refresh your
knowledge.

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Lesson 13: Next Steps
Apply your new Fusion 360 software skills to your own design project
or one of many Fusion 360 projects on Design Academy.

Lesson 14: Additional Resources

Follow up this course with Fusion 360 product how-to videos and
inspirational stories to influence your own designs.

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LESSON 1: INTRODUCTION TO FUSION 360: DESIGN A LAMP IN AN HOUR
Fusion 360 is the first 3D CAD/CAM tool that connects the entire product development process in a single
cloud-based platform for Mac and PC. That means that whether youre a professional in the design
industry, or a hobbyist just picking up 3D modeling, Fusion is a great tool for taking your designs from
concept to reality. And even better, its free!

This class will get you started modeling in Fusion by diving right into a simple lamp design project that you
can complete under an hour!

In this lesson, youll download Fusion 360 and the learning resources for this project.

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 Get the Software

Fusion 360 is a great creative tool that combines industrial and mechanical 3D design, collaboration, and
machining into one integrated platform. Fusions simple user interface and cloud based platform lets you
explore design ideas quickly collaborate efficiently, and easily prepare your models for prototyping.

Best of all, it's free to download for educators, students, institutions

(https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/students-teachers-educators?
mktvar004=707231&internalc=true), hobbyists, and startups (https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-
360/overview?mktvar004=707232&internalc=true)! So to get the most out of this class, go download your
free copy!

Additional resources:
System requirements (https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/fusion-
360/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/System-requirements-for-Autodesk-Fusion-360.html)
Installation support (https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/fusion-
360/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/How-does-Fusion-360-get-installed.html)

Project Resources

Download the dataset required to complete the project. Click the Download button to get started.

Attachments cannot be downloaded on mobile devices. To download, please access the course on a
desktop device.
Download (https://cdn.instructables.com/ORIG/FBE/RX8C/J12O31ON/FBERX8CJ12O31ON.zip)
http://www.instructables.com/ORIG/FBE/RX8C/J12O31ON/FBERX8CJ12O31ON.zip

(https://cdn.instructables.com/ORIG/FBE/RX8C/J12O31ON/FBERX8CJ12O31ON.zip)

Student Guide

Download and use the student guide along with the software video tutorials for step-by-step instructions for
completing the project.

Click the Download button to get started.

Download (https://cdn.instructables.com/ORIG/FRW/99T3/J12O325B/FRW99T3J12O325B.pdf)
http://www.instructables.com/ORIG/FRW/99T3/J12O325B/FRW99T3J12O325B.pdf

(https://cdn.instructables.com/ORIG/FRW/99T3/J12O325B/FRW99T3J12O325B.pdf)

3D Design Class: Page 6

 Instructor Resources

Download and use the instructor resources to teach the project as a professional development workshop or
as a classroom or after school project. Resources include class presentation, syllabus, lesson plan and an
instructor guide.

Click the Download button to get started. Attachments cannot be downloaded on mobile devices. To
download, please access the course on a desktop device.
Download (https://cdn.instructables.com/ORIG/F30/ZAZM/J12O326I/F30ZAZMJ12O326I.zip)
http://www.instructables.com/ORIG/F30/ZAZM/J12O326I/F30ZAZMJ12O326I.zip

(https://cdn.instructables.com/ORIG/F30/ZAZM/J12O326I/F30ZAZMJ12O326I.zip)

3D Design Class: Page 7

 LESSON 2: INTRO TO FUSION 360 UI
This lesson walks you through the the key areas of the Fusion 360 user interface. You explore the Fusion
user interface and get hands-on practice using core features to create a box.

https://vimeo.com/209633258

3D Design Class: Page 8

 LESSON 3: SKETCH THE LAMP
Sketches are the starting point for most designs. In this lesson, you learn how to start a new design and
import a sketch profile of the lampshade into Fusion 360 to quickly start your design process.

https://vimeo.com/209633386

3D Design Class: Page 9

 LESSON 4: MODEL THE LAMP SHADE
Working with the imported sketch from the previous lesson, you easily create a solid model of the lamp
shade in Fusion 360, creating a solid model and modifying the material and color.

https://vimeo.com/209633466

3D Design Class: Page 10

 LESSON 5: MODEL THE LAMP ARM
Using the Sweep command, you create a solid model of the lamp arm, adding a thread to the end of the
arm and modifying the material and appearance of the arm.

https://vimeo.com/209633551

3D Design Class: Page 11

 LESSON 6: SCULPT THE LAMP BASE
Fusion 360 supports freeform modeling using T-Spines. You apply push pull modeling techniques to form
the sculpted model of the lamp base.

https://vimeo.com/209633638

3D Design Class: Page 12

 LESSON 7: CREATE & ASSEMBLE LAMP COMPONENTS
Using a top down (multi-body) design approach, you create and assemble lamp components, focusing on
assembly joints.

https://vimeo.com/209633866

3D Design Class: Page 13

 LESSON 8: DOCUMENT THE LAMP DESIGN
Technical drawings are essential to visually communicating how a design functions or is to be constructed.
In this lesson, you learn how to create a new drawing, create orthographic and isometric views of the lamp
and add dimensions and text.

https://vimeo.com/209633933

3D Design Class: Page 14

 LESSON 9: CREATE A PHOTO REAL RENDER
A picture is worth a thousand words. Photo real 3D renders allow you to speed concept approvals, identify
problems, and sell your design idea. Using the Fusion 360 Render workspace, you learn how to create a
photorealistic render of your lamp using cloud rendering.

https://vimeo.com/209633964

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 LESSON 10: EXPORT FOR 3D PRINTING
Exporting your design for fabrication is simple. This lesson will walk you through the export options in
Fusion and how to export the lamp stand in the STL format.

https://vimeo.com/209634016

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 LESSON 11: DESIGN REVIEW & COLLABORATION
Built-in cloud based collaboration allows for immediate sharing of design files for review, comment and co-
authoring. This lesson guides you through how to use Autodesk A360, share your drawing, and invite
people to review your drawing.

https://vimeo.com/209634052

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LESSON 12: QUIZ

3D Design Class: Page 18

 LESSON 13: NEXT STEPS
Apply your Fusion 360 software skills to your own designs or one of many projects Autodesk Design
Academy (https://academy.autodesk.com/explore-and-learn) has to offer.

Share Your Design Work With Your Peers

Inspire others to explore their design skills and share your design work in your portfolio.

https://academy.autodesk.com/portfolios (https://academy.autodesk.com/portfolios)

Suggested Courses

Increase your skills. Check out these related Autodesk Design Academy courses on product design.

Product Design: User-centered design (https://academy.autodesk.com/course/108141/product-design-

user-center-design)
Modeling and Prototyping for Product Designers (https://academy.autodesk.com/course/100501/modeling-
and-prototyping-industrial-design)

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 LESSON 14: ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Discover additional ways to learn Fusion 360 and get inspired to pursue your own design projects.

Fusion 360 How-to Videos

If you're looking for extra practice with Fusion 360, need to review a particular skill, or are preparing for
certification, our Product How-To (https://academy.autodesk.com/software/fusion-360) videos can help.

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 Get Inspired!

Need some design inspiration? Learn how Ari Horowitz (https://academy.autodesk.com/inspiration/ari-

horowitz), a Virginia Tech design student, approaches everyday objects with innovative human-centered
design solutions.

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