Intro to 3D Modeling and Printing Using Fusion 360

IEEE Concordia

Oct 2024 — Oct 2024

A hands-on workshop teaching CAD fundamentals, 3D printing workflow, and print-in-place design — culminating in participants designing their own functional wire holder.

Overview

As VP Projects at IEEE Concordia, I volunteered to lead one of the bi-weekly technical workshops. This session introduced students with zero CAD experience to the full 3D modeling and printing workflow — from Fusion 360 basics to holding a finished print in their hands.

Workshop Details

What I Taught

Fusion 360 Fundamentals

Getting a student account set up
Navigating the interface and workspace
Sketching, constraints, and parametric modeling
Extrusions, cuts, and basic operations

Design for 3D Printing

Understanding tolerances and overhangs
Print orientation considerations
Support structures and when to avoid them

Slicer Software

Introduction to slicing workflow
Layer height, infill, and print settings
Generating G-code for printers

3D Printer Basics

How FDM printers work
Common printer types and their tradeoffs
Troubleshooting basics

Hands-On Project: Print-in-Place Wire Holder

The workshop culminated in a guided CAD session where every participant designed a functional wire holder with print-in-place hinges — an intermediate-level technique that demonstrates the unique capabilities of 3D printing.

By the end:

Every student had a complete CAD file ready to print
I came prepared with pre-printed examples so they could see the finished product
Students learned that 3D printing enables designs impossible with traditional manufacturing

Why Print-in-Place?

I specifically chose this project because it showcases something you can't do with machining or injection molding. A hinge that prints as a single piece and works immediately off the bed — that's the kind of "aha moment" that gets people excited about additive manufacturing.