How to Design a Portable Side Table using 3D CAD Software
Designing functional furniture in 3D is a great way to develop practical modeling skills while bringing everyday ideas to life. A portable side table is an excellent project because it combines simplicity with functionality, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced designers. In this tutorial, you'll learn how to create a portable side table from scratch using SelfCAD's intuitive 3D modeling tools. Along the way, you'll explore techniques for creating precise shapes, assembling components, and refining the design into a clean, practical model that can be visualized, rendered, or prepared for 3D printing.
Follow along with the interactive tutorial at; https://www.selfcad.com/tutorials/6w5w4f736e1e614z1u221u381k5r4v6nb2b3
Once you launch the editor;
From the 3D Shapes category on the toolbar choose cylinder; Set top radius to 25, Bottom radius to 25, height to 75, horizontal segments to 50.
Tick the checkmark to finalize cylinder
Click to activate polygon selection; Click on highlighted region to select it
From the modify category on the toolbar choose inset; Set inset amount to 2.
Tick the checkmark to finalize inset
From the modify category on the toolbar choose extrusion; Set extrusion amount to 10.
From the 3D Shapes category on the toolbar choose L shape; Set front width to 5, front length to 75, side width to 5, side length to 200, position x to -30, rotation x to 90
Click on highlighted region to select it
From the modify category on the toolbar choose fillet; Set intensity to 3.5,, level to 10.
Tick the checkmark to finalize fillet
From the 3D Shapes category on the toolbar choose cylinder; Set height to 5, horizontal segments to 50, arc to 180, position x to 97, position y to 75
Click on mesh 8 to select it
Click Boolean on the toolbar; From the tool panel choose union.
Click on mesh 4 to select it
Click Boolean on the toolbar; from the tool panel choose difference, Choose mesh 4 to subtract and set keepsubtractedobject to true.
Click on mesh 4 to deselect
Click copy button to copy selected objects; Click move on the toolbar; Set y to 5.
Click rotate on the toolbar; Click manual origin position button to set origin position, Set y to 90.
Click ‘x’ to close transformation panel
Click on highlighted region to select it; From the modify category on the toolbar choose extrusion.
Tick the checkmark to finalize extrusion
Click cube selection on the toolbar; Set back to 225
Tick the checkmark to finalize cube selection
Click move on the toolbar; Set z to 135
Click ‘x’ to close transformation panel
As you continue honing your design skills, remember that SelfCAD offers a wealth of resources to support your learning journey. To deepen your understanding and explore more advanced features, consider checking out the interactive tutorials (https://www.selfcad.com/tutorials) available on the SelfCAD website. The tutorials page provides a treasure trove of guides, tips, and tricks that cater to designers of all levels.
More structured learning experience can also be accessed at the SelfCAD Academy (https://www.selfcad.com/academy/curriculum/), https://www.youtube.com/@3dmodeling101, and 3D Modeling 101 series (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL74nFNT8yS9DcE1UlUUdiR1wFGv9DDfTB). This comprehensive resource offers in-depth courses taught by industry experts, allowing you to master the intricacies of SelfCAD at your own pace
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