topic Re: Splitting a sheet so it fits on the printer bed in Fusion Design, Validate & Document Forum

Splitting a sheet so it fits on the printer bed

kevinrobson — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 14:31:42 GMT

I'm trying to print a design containing a couple of PC fans. Its actually going to be a flat sheet type design similar to the attached (I'm just playing for now), but unfortunately its too big for my 3d printer.

So I need to print it in two halves.

I'm lucky that I'll be bolting PC fans to it, so if I stagger the split as per the blue line I can use the bolts for the fans to hold it together. I appreciate I'll also need some length ways support once I've split the two halves.

I messed around a bit with split face/split body but couldn't quite seem to make it work. Is anyone aware of a tutorial covering this scenario of something resembling a flat sheet? Or if not, can you point me (an inexperienced user) at the methods I ought to be using.

Thanks in advance

Re: Splitting a sheet so it fits on the printer bed

g-andresen — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 14:37:57 GMT

Hi,

1. create a sketch with the blue line

2. MODIFY > split body > select body and and tool (blue line) > ok

günther

Re: Splitting a sheet so it fits on the printer bed

kevinrobson — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 15:08:38 GMT

Thanks. I will try later.
If I wanted to create a U slot and edge along that joint, whats the easiest way to do that?
I realise I can create the male/female slots on the edge of each piece manually using push/pull, but is there a way to do it automatically when they are split?

Re: Splitting a sheet so it fits on the printer bed

laughingcreek — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 15:25:48 GMT

you could sweep a surface and split with that-

Re: Splitting a sheet so it fits on the printer bed

g-andresen — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 15:28:15 GMT

Hi,

1. Create the sketch on vertical midplane

2. Split body

3. Create 2 pipes on same path

One side: pipe > option „join“

Other side: pipe > same diameter > option „cut“

add a clearance (Modify > offset face) (for gluing ) on one side

günther

Re: Splitting a sheet so it fits on the printer bed

kevinrobson — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 15:54:48 GMT

That looks exactly what I'm after. Are you able to describe in slightly more detail, or better still link to a youtube video on something similar?

Thanks

Re: Splitting a sheet so it fits on the printer bed

kevinrobson — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 15:55:20 GMT

Thanks. I will try to have a play when I get a moment. Thanks for your help.

Re: Splitting a sheet so it fits on the printer bed

laughingcreek — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 16:09:25 GMT

@kevinrobson wrote:

That looks exactly what I'm after. Are you able to describe in slightly more detail, or better still link to a youtube video on something similar?

try going thru the timeline of the file I attached to the post first, then we can go over questions that arise from that.

Re: Splitting a sheet so it fits on the printer bed

g-andresen — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 16:24:19 GMT

Hi,

Please note that there are overhangs due to the U-profile, which can lead to problems with 3D printing.

günther

Re: Splitting a sheet so it fits on the printer bed

etfrench — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 19:50:16 GMT

Print in ABS and use acetone to glue the two sides together. A simple lap joint instead of the tongue and groove will work better for 3d printing.

Re: Splitting a sheet so it fits on the printer bed

kevinrobson — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 16:37:48 GMT

Apologies it has taken me so long to getting around to trying this.

I've gone back on yours and looked at the timeline.

Then gone back and tried to apply on mine.

I can draw the line on my initial sketch that it should follow.

Then I got back in the timeline and try to add the vertical 'wall' and pattern.

I'm just adding that new sketch to the axis that it should be on.

But that means I then cannot click to use the corner points on my original sketch to use as the corner points for my wall, as it looks like you have done.

Have you used a special axis to add the 'wall' sketch to, so you can reference the points on your original sketch?

Thanks

Re: Splitting a sheet so it fits on the printer bed

laughingcreek — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 16:55:24 GMT

@kevinrobson wrote:...Have you used a special axis to add the 'wall' sketch to, so you can reference the points on your original sketch?

not entirely sure what your asking. by "axis" I think you mean "plane". the second sketch is on the YZ origin plane (circled in green). There are 2 points that are "intersect projected" from the first sketch (circled in red). is this what your asking about?

Re: Splitting a sheet so it fits on the printer bed

kevinrobson — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 18:49:37 GMT

Yes, that's correct. Apologies for my lack of terminology.

I've tried to add to that plane. But I can't use points from the other plane to start it (where your red points are) presumably as it's on a different plane?

I'd assumed you must have used a special plane, but sounds like you haven't.

Thanks

Re: Splitting a sheet so it fits on the printer bed

laughingcreek — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 21:59:16 GMT

Anything you want to reference in a sketch has to be projected into the sketch (there is a setting for "auto project on reference" in the preferences, but generally a good idea to leave this off to avoid errors. manually project just what you need instead. there's also an "auto project geometry on active sketch plane" in the preferences which I would also leave off)

projected geometry is purple (red). I projected the 2 points indicated above using the "project/intersect" tool, which created the purple points where the lines from the previous sketch crossed the plane of the active sketch.

the first 2 projection types are the ones most used/needed. the others come in handy when needed, but that is less often.

the purple geometry is associative to what ever they where projected from.

Re: Splitting a sheet so it fits on the printer bed

kevinrobson — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 15:10:18 GMT

Not sure what I'm doing wrong, but cannot get the sweep to work.

First time I had to project/interesct the points in order to reference the points.

2nd time I didn't have to do that, and could reference the points on the other plane.

But dont seem to be able to make the sweep.

Any ideas?

TIA

Re: Splitting a sheet so it fits on the printer bed

laughingcreek — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 15:52:28 GMT

@kevinrobson wrote:...
First time I had to project/interesct the points in order to reference the points.

2nd time I didn't have to do that, and could reference the points on the other plane.

you haven't referenced anything in the file you posted. (no purple lines or points).

(view in My Videos)

Re: Splitting a sheet so it fits on the printer bed

kevinrobson — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 09:18:47 GMT

I have to say I'm truly impressed with you patience.

However, I'm still struggling to create those reference points.

I've gone back to the first sketch, I've deleted my 3 points, Selected the Horizontal/Vertical tool.

But I cannot select points that intersect with the axis in the way you have. I can only select the whole line. And that then fails with the attached error.

Having said that, if I could add those references I can see what you've done for the rest of it.

Apologies, I've created quite a bit of stuff in Fusion now, but I'm very self-taught, and this all seems on another level to me now.

Thank You very much for your help.

Re: Splitting a sheet so it fits on the printer bed

kevinrobson — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 12:10:35 GMT

Doh!

OK, so I missed the SHIFT in huge great letters.
So I think I've done what I need to.

But I can't select that single line for my sweep. It either wants the left half, or the right half.

I've also had to hide my body in the first place to even select the line, which you didn't have to.

So near, but so far ...

Re: Splitting a sheet so it fits on the printer bed

g-andresen — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 12:57:24 GMT

Hi,

I would go this way. I have also added an offset for gluing.

(view in My Videos)

günther

Re: Splitting a sheet so it fits on the printer bed

kevinrobson — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 13:19:32 GMT

Thanks, I'll have a go with this later also.