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03. Computer Aided Design

Model (raster, vector, 2D, 3D, render, animate, simulate, …) a possible final project, compress your images and videos, and post a description with your design files on your class page

Fusion 360 ‘DRAWER’

Fusion 360 is the 1st CAD software I was introduced to (approx 10yrs ago) & its still the one I go back to. The integration of sketching, modelling & manufacturing into a single free software has allowed them to dominate the hobbyist market. Whilst it doesn’t have as many features as ‘big sibling’ Inventor, i find it the best space to develop ideas in 3D as you can easily go back in the workflow, split of versions & link parts between assemblies.

New sketch on top plane

  • centre point rectangle @ origin (600x400mm), offset outside 5mm
  • midpoint line 650mm along origin, 10mm from outer rectangle, offset line +10mm
  • connected lines to create closed shape with 2x 10mm lines
  • finish sketch & rename drawer- plan

Create, extrude

  • select inside of original rectangle & its offset
  • extrude by -5mm *make sketch visible again
  • select only rectangle offset
  • extrude by +75mm, set as new body

Extrude variable

  • select front rectangle
  • 2 side extrusion (unsymmetrical) as new solid
  • side 1 +95mm, side 2 -10mm
  • side 2 = 10mm (not minus) this extrusion mode recognizes down as positive direction rename bodies Body 1 = drawer btm . Body 2 = drawer sides . Body 3 = drawer front

single tool drawer - fusion 360

New Sketch

  • on YZ plane relating to drawer front
  • constructed from lines & a 30mm circle
  • sketch named front detailing

Create, extrude

  • select upper & lower lip
  • symmetrical extrude join (distance all)
  • select 30mm circle
  • symmetrical extrude cut: distance of 1 half = 320mm

drawer detailing - fusion 360

Solidworks

I was taught solidworks as apart of my university course, it has spent years as the industry standard but it doesn’t have the same hold as it once did. Whilst a powerful software, I find it less intuitive & more click heavy than fusion, but with very similar outputs

“Grip 1”

  • New Sketch Front plane
  • Rectangle from mid point, for construction
  • 30mm oval in bottom half, oval in upper half defined D1x3
  • Upper 0val width dimensioned as 40mm, lower oval defined as half this
  • Converted 3 horizontal lines from construction to sketch entities
  • lines tangent from smaller oval, meeting along centre line
  • Mirror line as copy
  • Ovals trimmed to nearest to form new shapes
  • 2 arcs related coradially to link the 2 ovals, mirrored as copy around centre line
  • 20mm line drawn from midline
  • 3 point arc from end point to end point, then mirrored. saved the design off as several versions

Grip 1a

  • extruded 15mm in both directions
  • draft tapering set at 15 degrees
  • create new plane, defined by top plane & bottom edge
  • sketched the base on new plane, then copy rotated 90 degrees
  • 3point arc connecting points of base & rotated base
  • repeated curve usi9ng circular sketch pattern to create 4 instances
  • draw a centre point rectangle & extruding down 30mm
  • using the shapes drawn on the new sketch use extrude cut twice to create a overhang
  • To finish the grip I used fillet on the corners etc to allow for material tolerance

grip 1a - solid works

Grip 1c

  • continued working on the same sketch, draw lines to extend from the base of grip
  • flare out to create a flange, connect across the bottom with 3 point arc
  • offset from flange aprox 0.5mm to create a rail recess
  • use arc to create pocket for easier removal.
  • mirror new sketch components, trim & connect to make closed shapes
  • extrude rail 500mm & grip 50mm
  • isolated grip for a cleaner work environment, then used linear pattern
  • rail now has 2 instances of grip component

grip 1c - solid works

Tinker CAD - Circuit

I searched in the basic components for a pressure sensor, this brough up a force sensor starter component with the sensor pre-wired to an LED activated under force. Using this mock up as a guide I added another sensor, matching placement on the breadboard & resistors. By clicking between points on the breadboard I can add wiring, double clicking along the line adds a node point which can be manipulated for neat wiring. I repeated this process with the block coding but made the additional sensor (A1) activate an LED (7) when no pressure is applied

Inkscape

Whilst familiar with adobe (illustrator/indesign) & various 2D drafting software I have never used inkscape, my initial impression is that it doesn’t sacrifice artistic tools for technical input or vis versa. However you are greeted by a slightly overwhelming amount of icons. I thought the best place to start was to play around with the tools available & see how they can be manipulated. A lot of the tools were standard or familiar to me e.g. drawing shapes, layers, Boolean. The tools I found handy or fiddly I took notes of below.

Pen Tool: Bezier path - polyline that acts as straight when clicking between plot points & a curve when holding between points. ctrl(snap angle for precise placement) shift(place curve control handle & continue tagent) shift+enter(end & auto-close chain) BSpline - place points to bend/define curves between to create a mathematically defined path. shift(to create a line between points) alt(hold to drag move last placed point) Straight line - continuous lines between points. shift(controlled snap placement)

Clone: copy paste that maintains link that updates all when you edit one

Measure: click or drag between end points, includes dims between overlapping entities. hover for object summery. shift to escape selection

3D Box tool: drag whilst creating. shift(locks what axis you extrude along) ctrl(unlocks direction). Click on corner points to distort. Use coloured nodes to change perspective angle. Ungroup to split into individual faces

the out come of playing around - Inkscape

Procreate - 2D Raster

Initial idea - iPad sketching app