12/29/2021
Just in case y'all want to play around (and aren't already using Sketchup or something better), we at the school use the heck out of Tinkercad. It's free, pretty robust, works on any computer (you'll want a mouse instead of a trackpad), and is pretty rational to learn.
I like it for designing for a few reasons. It works in inches or cm (but not both at the same time like Canadians usually do) which is nice for both wood and composites. The inches function is funny because you input decimal inches (like a machinist would) and it spits out fractions if it can. Yes, there are some math lessons to be done! To make it more fun, my saw's kerf is .125in, 1/8in plywood is .118in, and my spacers for making finger joints are somewhere in between. Yes, I have some sorting-out to do.
Tinkercad also has an interesting workflow that can mimic the operations one does in the shop. If you want a rectangular solid with a big bevel, you make a rectangular solid, make a triangular solid, and use the second to cut a chunk out of the first. You're just starting with simple shapes and adding and subtracting to make complexity. The 'Board-Stretcher' function is almost as problematic in software as it is in reality!
So, TLDR: It's great beginner software that anyone can try. I should probably move to Fusion 360 (a more professional program), but there are real advantages to using the same stuff that the kids know. We jump all the hurdles together.
PS: Yes, we'll also learn how to use pencil and paper. Nothing like drawing stuff up on the back of a Tru Value receipt in the CRD office while the project hangs in the balance. It's a life skill.
