If you are new to working with 3D, TinkerCAD is a great place to start. You can run through basic tutorial that introduce you to the 3D workplane, tools, and creating your own designs to print or load into VR environments.
Autodesk Inventor is a computer-aided design application for 3D mechanical design. It is available on all computers in the MakerSpace and is considered one of the industry standard programs for CAD (computer-aided design).
Autodesk offerers free access to Autodesk Academy for students of NUI Galway. Just set up a free account at https://academy.autodesk.com/ and start working your way through the video tutorials. It only takes about an hour and a half to learn the basics of 3D design. Additionally, the online knowledge network will help you with any issues you may encounter while working with the software.
If CAD isn't for you, give VR a try. You can check out the Oculus Quest from the MakerSpace and use the installed apps like Gravity Sketch to design your own creations which can then be exported for print. There are a number of useful learning resources available on the Gravity Sketch YouTube channel.
SketchUp Pro is an easy to learn and use basic design program. Visit their website for a series of self-paced tutorials.
SolidWorks is a design program used by over two million engineers and 3D designers worldwide. It is available on the MakerSpace PCs. Take a look at SolidWorks' online learning resources.
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