Guides

Short, practical guides to sketching things you’ll build, on paper or on iPad, and to cutting them out.

Drawing

• 2D CAD on iPad

  What 2D CAD needs, how a Pencil workflow differs from a mouse, and when you still want a desktop.

• How to dimension an isometric drawing

  Extension lines, dimension lines, aligned or level text, and a worked example.

• Isometric paper on iPad

  What the lattice is for, how to sketch a part on it, and which size to pick.

• Drawing to scale on iPad

  Pick a scale, count squares, work out slanted lines, and keep every line on the grid.

• Sketching a floor plan to scale on iPad

  Measure the room, draw walls at their real lengths, add doors and dimensions, and print at 1/4″ = 1′.

• Parametric sketching with Apple Pencil

  Dimensions and constraints, degrees of freedom, and how to fully define a sketch.

• Tracing a photo to scale on iPad

  Shoot it square, pick a reference length, set the scale, and check it before you trust it.

Making

• Make Cricut cut files on iPad (SVG, to scale)

  Pick a mat preset, nest copies, set cut, score or draw, add single-line text, and hand the SVG to Cricut Design Space at true size.

• Sketch to G-code for a CNC router on iPad

  Profile, pocket and V-carve toolpaths with tabs and ramps, a preview to scrub through, one G-code file per tool, and upload over Wi-Fi.

• Sheet metal flat patterns on iPad (bends, K-factor, DXF)

  Bends with angle, radius and K-factor, flanges and bend checks, then a flat DXF with a BEND layer for the shop.

• Laser cutting on iPad

  Bed presets, cut, score and engrave per layer, preflight and a kerf test, a power and speed test grid, and files for laser software.

• From iPad sketch to DXF

  Draw at true size, keep outlines clean, pick units and layers, and open it in Fusion or a laser cutter.

• Sketching woodworking plans on iPad

  Overall sizes, a page per part, joints in detail, and a cut list before you cut.

• Sketch it first: planning a 3D print on paper

  Must-fit sizes, clearances, print orientation and wall thickness before you open CAD.