Tinkercad is an easy-to-use computer-aided design (CAD) app that runs in a browser, but it’s not without its limitations. That’s why I was excited to hear about SketchForge, a completely open-source alternative with a few nice extra features and a lot of promise for the future.

It’s perfect for beginners and homelabbers alike.

The simplicity of Tinkercad, fewer limitations

Pick it up in minutes

Tinkercad (above) was the first piece of software I used to design a model for 3D printing. It’s incredibly easy to pick up as it’s aimed at complete beginners and children. The app takes a shape-based approach to modeling, where primitives like cubes and cones are placed, scaled, and combined in a way that feels intuitive.

SketchForge (below) has two main modes: geometry and sketch. Geometry mode takes the exact same approach as Tinkercad. Drop shapes onto the canvas, resize them to the precise size you want, rotate and drag them around the canvas, and

group them with other shapes to make solids.

The same simple techniques for making more complex shapes work in SketchForge as they do in Tinkercad. For example, you can intersect two shapes, define one of them as a “Hole,” and then merge them together to cut the one shape from the other. You can then ungroup the shapes to move the hole or revert to a solid object again.

In this mode, you also get access to some features that don’t exist in Tinkercad, including chamfer and filleting for edges. You can even group two shapes and create a clean fillet at the point where they intersect, and undo any of these changes at any point.

In sketch mode, SketchForge introduces a feature that Autodesk (which owns Tinkercad) limits to its Autodesk suite. Use the “Sketch to 3D” tool to lay down points and curves, then hit “Finish sketch” to convert your design to a 3D object. You can even import an image to trace beforehand.

When you’re done, you can export your object to STL, OBJ, and STEP files for use in a slicer or other CAD software. You can test this functionality out at the SketchForge website, though if you’re serious about SketchForge then you’ll want to host it yourself.

Self-hosting SketchForge is easy

Use Docker and keep everything on your network

Though you can test out the full suite of features in your browser on the SketchForge website, if you want to save and recover your work then you’ll need to self-host SketchForge. The whole thing works without a login, with models instead saved locally within your browser data.

You’ll need Docker Desktop (or just Docker Compose) to do this, so if you have a server already set up then that’s perfect. Otherwise, first download and install Docker Desktop for your operating system. Next, head to the GitHub page and download the project (hit the arrow next to Code then choose Download ).

Extract the ZIP file to a place of your choosing, then use your command-line tool (I used Terminal on a Mac) to navigate there. Finally, run the following command to build and deploy SketchForge:

docker compose -f deploy/docker/compose.yaml up --build -d

Once the Terminal window has done its thing, open a browser window on the same system and navigate to localhost:3000. You should see SketchForge up and running. To access the app on any computer on your network, simply use the correct IP address or hostname, for example: http://192.168.0.110:3000 or http://your-server-name.local:3000.

A strong start that’s only going to get better

Keep your eye on the project for updates

I first heard about SketchForge when the project’s creator posted about it on Reddit. In this post, he admits that there are some teething issues with the software, and that it’s very much under active development. Though the project has already achieved so much, there are some big things to come.

In addition to bug-squashing and stability improvements, there are a lot of features in the works including “better booleans/grouping, precision tools, measurement tools, editable project export/import, tutorials, and more maker-focused features.”

Some of those features will really elevate this beyond Tinkercad for the sort of casual 3D printer owner who doesn’t necessarily need the full fat weight of a professional CAD tool but who appreciates the simplicity and ease of access that browser-based solutions can offer.

It’s another tool for the arsenal, with the added benefits of self-hosting.

Build Volume

256x256x256mm

Printing Speed

600mm/s

The Bambu Labs P2S 3D printer is ready to go out of the box and can have you printing within 15 minutes. It features up to 20-color printing with the AMS unit, has an upgraded built-in camera for remote monitoring and time lapses, and has an enclosed body for printing even high-temperature filament.

SketchForge is a step above Tinkercad in terms of accessibility and overall feature set, but if you really want to level up your modeling skills, then you’re going to want to invest time (and possibly money) in a proper CAD tool.