Tinkercad Tutorial | How to Design Gears in Tinkercad: A Step-by-Step Guide
- xlcakb
- 3月20日
- 讀畢需時 3 分鐘
Tinkercad is a user-friendly, browser-based 3D modeling tool ideal for beginners. While it lacks a dedicated gear generator, you can manually create functional gears using basic shapes and tools. This guide will walk you through designing a simple spur gear, perfect for 3D printing or mechanical projects.
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1. Setting Up Your Workspace
1. Create a New Project:
- Go to [Tinkercad](https://www.tinkercad.com/) and sign in. Click **Create New Design** to start.
- Rename your project (e.g., “Spur Gear”) using the **Design Properties** menu.
2. **Adjust the Grid** (Optional):
- Use the **Edit Grid** button (bottom-right) to set units to millimeters for precision.
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2. Creating the Gear Body
1. **Add a Cylinder**:
- Drag a **Cylinder** from the *Basic Shapes* menu onto the workplane.
- Adjust its dimensions:
- **Diameter**: Determines the gear size (e.g., 40mm for a 20mm radius).
- **Height**: Represents gear thickness (e.g., 5mm).
2. **Center the Cylinder**:
- Use the **Align Tool** (hotkey `L`) to center the cylinder on the workplane.
3. Designing a Single Gear Tooth
1. **Choose a Tooth Shape**:
- A cube or **Roof Tile** (wedge-shaped) works well. For simplicity, start with a cube.
2. **Shape the Tooth**:
- Drag a **Cube** onto the workplane. Resize it to:
- **Width** (thickness): 4mm.
- **Length** (depth): 10mm.
- **Height**: Match the gear body (5mm).
3. **Position the Tooth**:
- Rotate the cube 90° around the Z-axis to align its length radially.
- Move the tooth to the edge of the gear:
- Select the tooth, open the **Move Tool**, and set the **X-coordinate** to half the gear’s diameter (e.g., 20mm for a 40mm gear).
4. Duplicating Teeth Around the Gear
1. **Duplicate the First Tooth**:
- Select the tooth and press `Ctrl+D` (Duplicate).
- Rotate the duplicate by **360° / Number of Teeth** (e.g., 30° for 12 teeth).
2. **Repeat the Process**:
- Press `Ctrl+D` repeatedly to create evenly spaced teeth. Tinkercad remembers the last transformation (rotation + duplication).
3. **Group All Components**:
- Select all teeth and the gear body. Click **Group** (`Ctrl+G`) to merge them into a single object.
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5. Adding an Axle Hole
1. **Create a Hole**:
- Drag a **Cylinder** onto the workplane. Resize it to your axle’s diameter (e.g., 8mm).
- Set its height to exceed the gear’s thickness (e.g., 10mm).
2. **Position the Hole**:
- Use the **Align Tool** to center the hole on the gear.
3. **Subtract the Hole**:
- Select the hole, click the **Hole** button (transparent shape), then group it with the gear.
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6. Testing Gear Meshing (Optional)
To ensure gears interlock properly:
1. **Duplicate the Gear**:
- Copy your gear (`Ctrl+C`/`Ctrl+V`) to create a second one.
- Adjust the new gear’s diameter and tooth count if needed (see **Tips** below).
2. **Position the Gears**:
- Place the gears so their teeth align. The distance between centers should equal the sum of their pitch radii.
3. **Refine as Needed**:
- Adjust tooth length or spacing if teeth overlap or don’t mesh.
Key Tips for Success
- **Tooth Spacing**: Use the formula **Angle = 360° / Number of Teeth** for duplication.
- **Symmetry**: Check alignment in **Orthographic View** (top toolbar) to avoid skewed teeth.
- **Tooth Profile**: Experiment with the **Roof Tile** shape for triangular teeth or combine shapes for complex profiles.
- **Pitch Diameter**: For meshing gears, ensure both have the same **module** (pitch diameter ÷ tooth count).
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### **Advanced Techniques**
1. **Parametric Design**:
- Use **Shape Generators** (e.g., *Community* shapes) for advanced curves or involute gears.
2. **Bevel or Helical Gears**:
- Tilt teeth using the **Rotation Tool** or create angled duplicates.
3. **3D Printing**:
- Export as an STL file and check for overhangs requiring supports.
Though Tinkercad requires manual effort, it’s a great way to learn gear mechanics. Start with simple spur gears, then experiment with tooth profiles and configurations. Once mastered, you can design custom gears for clocks, robots, or other mechanical projects. Happy tinkering!