3D Exercise 77

Exercise 77

In this CAD tutorial we'll use the features: 

1. Sheet Metal Rule

Definition: The "DNA" of your part. It defines the material properties before you even start drawing. How it works: You do not type the thickness manually when creating a sheet metal part. Instead, you select a Rule (e.g., "Aluminum 2mm"). This rule controls:

• Thickness: (e.g., 2mm).

• K-Factor: How much the metal stretches when bent (crucial for accurate manufacturing).

• Bend Radius: How tight the corners are. Best for: Ensuring that what you model can actually be bent in the real world without breaking.

2. Flange

Definition: The "Swiss Army Knife" of sheet metal. It creates both the flat base plate and the bent walls. How it works:

• Base Flange: Select a closed sketch profile to create the initial flat sheet.

• Edge Flange: Select an edge of that sheet and drag it up. Fusion automatically adds the material, the bend radius, and the bend relief (the cut in the corner) based on your Sheet Metal Rule. Best for: Building 90% of your sheet metal chassis, brackets, or boxes.

3. Hole

Definition: Creates standard drill holes or screw clearance holes. How it works: While you could sketch a circle and extrude-cut it, the Hole tool is better because it updates if your Sheet Metal Rule changes.

• Example: If you change your Sheet Metal Rule from 2mm to 5mm thickness, the Hole tool ensures the hole goes all the way through the new thickness automatically. Best for: Mounting points for screws, LEDs, or switches on the flange walls.

4. Fillet

Definition: Rounds off sharp corners. How it works: In Sheet Metal, you typically apply this to the sharp outer corners of a flange. Best for:

• Safety: Sheet metal edges are razor sharp after cutting. You always fillet the corners so users don't cut their hands.

• Aesthetics: Making the bracket look finished and professional.

5. Mirror

   Definition: Creates a symmetrical copy of selected faces, bodies, features, or components across a plane.

   How it works: You need two things:

   1. The Object: What you want to copy.

   2. The Mirror Plane: The reflection line (this can be an origin plane like "Right" or a flat face on your object).

   Crucial Distinction (The 3 Modes): When using Mirror, you must select the correct "Object Type" in the dialog box, or it will fail:

   • Mirror Bodies: Copies the entire solid block. Use this when you modeled the left half of a car and want the right half.

   • Mirror Features: Copies a specific action (like a "Hole" or an "Extrude"). Use this if you have a completed block and just want to copy a specific hole to the other side without duplicating the whole block.

   • Mirror Components: Used in assemblies to create a left-hand version of a part (like a left car door vs. right car door).

   Best for:

   • Symmetry: Ensuring the left and right sides are mathematically identical.

   • Efficiency: Reducing your work by 50% or 75%.

   • Updates: If you change the original feature later (e.g., make the hole smaller), the mirrored copy updates automatically.

   Pro Tip: The "Compute Option"

   If your Mirror fails, check the "Compute Option" setting:

   • Optimized: Fastest, but sometimes fails on complex geometry.

   • Identical: Copies the geometry exactly.

   • Adjust: Recalculates the feature at the new location (smartest option). Use this if you are mirroring a "Cut" that needs to adapt to a changing surface.

   
   

   All dimensions are in mm/g/s/ISO  

   #Fusion360 #Solidworks #Inventor #Autocad #FreeCAD

3D Sketch

Sketch 77

Exercise 77 - 3D practice drawing for all CAD software ( AutoCAD, SolidWorks, 3DS Max, Autodesk Inventor, Fusion 360, CATIA, Creo Parametric, SolidEdge etc.)

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Tutorial In Autodesk Fusion: https://youtu.be/EswUY6bAjow