New to CAD (computer-aided design)? This quick start takes you from zero to your first 3D-printable, parametric part using Onshape, a free, browser-based CAD tool that runs on any web-connected device.

What you’ll do in this quick start

  1. Create a free education account (private projects, cloud-native CAD).
  2. Learn the layout basics and the core sketch-to-feature workflow from a short video series.
  3. Get 3D-printing basics so you can fabricate your first part.
  4. Learn variables for parametric designs: change one value and the whole model updates.

Step 1: Get started (free, education plan)

  1. Go to the Onshape Education page.
  2. Click “Create a Student Account” and complete signup.
  3. Open Onshape in your browser; there’s nothing to install.

Why this software? Onshape’s student plan is free and designed for learning at any level. It’s also cloud-native, so it runs on any web-connected device without needing a high-end computer.

Step 2: Learn the basics (UI, sketches, features)

Start with the Onshape beginner tutorials playlist on YouTube and follow along.

What to look for as you watch: navigating the workspace (pan, orbit, zoom), creating a sketch on a plane, adding constraints and dimensions, then turning sketches into 3D features (for example Extrude and Revolve).

Step 3: Prep for fabrication (3D-printing basics)

Watch this beginner overview to understand slicing, materials, bed leveling, and first-print success: 3D Printing 101: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide (YouTube).

Tips before your first print:

  • Export your part in STL (stereolithography) format from Onshape (right-click the part, then Export). Open it in your slicer and use the guide above to choose layer height, infill, and temperatures.
  • If you’re using a new or different printer model, watch a quick model-specific setup video first; minor differences matter (bed leveling, firmware, materials, and so on).

Step 4: Go parametric with variables (the “power move”)

  1. Watch: Introduction to Variables (YouTube).
  2. Then skim the official documentation: Variables in Onshape.

Why do variables matter? If you define a named value like width = 40 mm once, you can reuse it across sketches and features throughout the project, and changing the value updates the entire model wherever the variable is used.

Step 5: Where to go next?