Tag: CAD-CAM

April 10, 2024

Digital Modeling Co-learning Meetup

Join the community for a digital modeling, co-learning adventure! This beginner-accessible, social event is all about figuring things out together. We’ll start by screening a video or tutorial focused on one of the many 3D modeling software programs you can use to design objects for Laser-cutting, 3D Printing, CNC Routing, Milling, and Machining. As we watch, we’ll pause for questions and comments to further our understanding of these tools. After, we’ll have an open discussion about what we’ve learned.

We’ll use the second half of the evening to show-n-tell what we’re working on, give and get peer support, and share our own ideas and techniques.

Masks are required for this event. New Guests must have a Full Guest Account before this event starts. Add the FREE account set up on check out or click here.

Class Type: Exposure
Level: Beginner to Expert
Timing: 2 hours
Location: Suite 206 Clean Fab
Certification: None
Age: 16+ with Adult

Co-learning Topic: TBD

This event welcomes everyone from curious novices who’ve never used design software and don’t know where to start to Ace’s power users. You can just hang out and watch or ask questions. Folks are encouraged to bring in one project for show-n-tell, feedback, and troubleshooting.

New Guests must sign up for a FREE Guest Account and sign their liability waiver before this event starts.
Add the FREE account on check out or sign up here → FREE Guest Account

February 13, 2024

Digital Modeling Co-Learning Meetup

We’ll use the second half of the evening to show-n-tell what we’re working on, give and get peer support, and share our own ideas and techniques.

Masks are required for this event. New Guests must have a Full Guest Account before this event starts. Add the FREE account set up on check out or click here.

Class Type: Exposure
Level: Beginner to Expert
Timing: 2 hours
Location: Clean Fabrication
Certification: None
Age: 16+ with Adult

Co-learning Topic: coming soon

January 12, 2024

Digital Modeling Co-learning Meetup

We’ll use the second half of the evening to show-n-tell what we’re working on, give and get peer support, and share our own ideas and techniques.

Masks are required for this event. New Guests must have a Full Guest Account before this event starts. Add the FREE account set up on check out or click here.

Class Type: Exposure
Level: Beginner to Expert
Timing: 2 hours
Location: Clean Fabrication
Certification: None
Age: 16+ with Adult

Co-learning Topic: Coming soon

December 19, 2023

Digital Modeling Co-learning Meetup

We’ll use the second half of the evening to show-n-tell what we’re working on, give and get peer support, and share our own ideas and techniques.

Masks are required for this event. New Guests must have a Full Guest Account before this event starts. Add the FREE account set up on check out or click here.

Class Type: Exposure
Level: Beginner to Expert
Timing: 2 hours
Location: Suite 206 Clean Fab
Certification: None
Age: 16+ with Adult

Co-learning Topic: We’ll review two videos focused on techniques that improve the success of 3D Printing, avoid using supports, and avoid common pitfalls. We’ll be up in Clean Fab so the Ace 3D Printers will be at our disposal if we’d like to try something out.

November 27, 2023

Digital Modeling for Fabrication Meetup

Join this casual gathering of folks interested in 3D modeling and designing objects for Laser-cutting, 3D Printing, CNC Routing, Milling, and Machining. This loosely structured, participatory evening begins with a beginner-accessible presentation focused on a specific program or fabrication technique (Intro to OpenSCAD, Intro to Slicing, Intro to V-Carve, etc…), followed by time for show-n-tell, questions, troubleshooting, and collaboration.

Masks are required for this event. New Guests must have a Full Guest Account before this event starts. Add the FREE account set up on check out or click here.

Class Type: Exposure
Level: Beginner to Expert
Timing: 2 hours
Location: Suite 206 Coworking/Textiles
Certification: None
Age: 16+ with Adult

Presentation Topic: Introduction to Fusion 360°

February 26, 2019

Designing a replacement tool grip in Fusion 360

This is what our filament nippers looked like in 3D printing.

The work fine, but one of the rubber grips has almost split in two.

A few weeks ago, Evan made a valiant effort at saving them:

But, alas, the patch quickly broke off.

It’s a great excuse for another Fusion 360 3D printing article!

I’ll make the replacement in PLA. It won’t be squishy like the original, but it’ll be more comfortable than the bare metal.

To model it, I took a photo; then used Fusion’s ‘attached canvas’ feature. The easy way to use this feature is to simply import the image, without entering any dimensions at all. Then, right click the attached-canvas object in the browser and select calibrate. Fusion will prompt you to select two points. I’ve chosen the little hole near the joint and the end of the tang, which measures 98.6mm

Now we can make a sketch of the profile. I fitted arcs to the shape as near as I can. I find this easier than using splines when the shape allows for it. I used the ‘Fix’ tool instead of dimensions, since the scaled photo is what really defines the size here. I did not bother modeling the business end of the tool.

Next I extruded this profile to a 2mm thickness.

This was done in a component called tang. Next I created a new component called grip and sketched the outer profile. I projected the tang outline first; then offset the lower and sketched the upper end to eyeball-match the existing grip.

This was extruded ‘downward’ to create the basic shape of the lower half of the grip.

Next, I sketched a profile and cut away a depression for the inner part. This profile was offset from the tang outline very slightly (0.2mm) to allow for a reasonable fit. In this case, I may have to adjust the dimensions for fit a few times anyway, so this step could probably be omitted. Still, I think it’s good practice to explicitly design appropriate fit clearance for mating parts.

A chamfer on the bottom completes the grip. It’s not an exact match but it’s close enough.

Finally, I mirror the body to make the top half of the grip. I’ll print in two pieces and glue them together to avoid using support material.

When I don’t know for sure that I have the size of something right, I often print an ‘abbreviated’ version to test the fit. This part’s small enough that I probably don’t need to, but just to illustrate the step, here’s what I do. Use the box tool, with the intersect operation. Drag the box until it surrounds the area of interest. Precise dimensions are not necessary here; we’re just isolating the feature to be tested.

In this case, I’ve simply shaved off the bottom few millimeters. I can cancel the print after just a few layers and see how well it fits the handle.

Once I’m done testing, I can simply disable (or delete) the box feature in the history timeline.

Let’s print it and see what we’ve got!

Hm… not quite. The inner curve seems right, but the outer is too tight. I’ll tweak the first sketch and try again.

This one’s still not perfect, but I think it’s close enough. Here are the complete parts, fresh off the printer.

The fit is okay but there are a few minor issues: The parts warped very slightly when printed, and the cavity for the tang was just a hair too shallow.

A bit of glue and clamping would probably have solved the problem but I had to knock off for the day anyway, and took a bit of time the next day to reprint at my own shop. I even had some blue filament that’s a closer match to the original grip.

Here it is, glued and clamped up. I gave the mating faces a light sanding to help the glue stick better. I used thick, gel-style cyanoacrylate glue, which gives a few seconds to line things up before it grabs. It seems to work very well with PLA.

And here’s the result. Let’s hope it lasts longer than the original!

But wait… Has this all been worth it?

Well, probably not. I found brand-new nippers from a US vendor for $3.09 on eBay. They’re even cheaper if you order directly from the Far East.

Oh well. I think the techniques are worthwhile to know. The main thing is that it made for a good blog post!

December 15, 2017

Fusion 360 Hangout at AMT

December 7th we started a new meet up for Fusion 360.

The group brainstormed on tool-path creation and resolved to develop an understanding of multi-stage CAM processes that can be used on the various mills, routers and cutters at AMT.

We had a terrific time at the hangout. Matt our 3D Printing steward and five others attended. All were quite experienced Fusion 360 users, in contrast to most of the previous Fusion meetings which tend to be weighted toward newcomers. I think everyone present was a AMT member.

We opted to pass the projector cord around and look at all of our projects as a group. Another approach might be to break off into twos or threes; maybe we’ll try it that way next time.

Bob showed us some renderings of cool guitar designs he’s been working on.
Rachel (aka Dr. Shiney) showed us a guitar body a client of hers needed cut; we struggled together for a while trying to figure out Fusion’s 3D tool-path generation. I think something like this would be a great thing to get Taylor’s input on: A multi-stage CAM process including facing, profiling, and 3D carving.
Emory gave us a quick look at his own CAM project, which involved re-mounting the workpiece to cut both sides: tricky stuff.
Chelsea showed us her silicone casting project. She’s come up with a pretty elaborate flask and core to be 3D printed. We’re all anxious to see the results, but those are going to be some long prints! I recommended smaller test pieces to get sizes and clearances right and generally experiment with the process before committing to the final design.
Matt brought along a bunch of finished projects you’ve probably seen before if you’re a regular at our Thursday meetings; nothing new, but all done in Fusion 360.