topic Re: How to split complex geometries for vacuum casting in Fusion Design, Validate & Document Forum

How to split complex geometries for vacuum casting

Anonymous — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 11:41:54 GMT

I want to split a complex hollow body to fit for vacuum casting. For that I want to find a curve around my body (relative to a chosen plane) that splits it into two halfs in a way that there are no overlapping areas (to get the form out of the mold). Is there any function for that in Fusion 360?

Re: How to split complex geometries for vacuum casting

paul.clauss — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 21:00:12 GMT

Hi @Anonymous,

Welcome to the Fusion 360 Online Community! It looks like you are trying to create a mold for a cast part.

I usually approach molds by creating the model of the part that will be created in the mold, creating a new body representing the mold, and then splitting that new body with the part model and any necessary construction geometry to ensure no overlap in the mold. I have illustrated this in the screencast attached to this post.

Hopefully this answers your question. If it does not, please let me know and we can continue to troubleshoot - I'm happy to help!

Thanks,

Re: How to split complex geometries for vacuum casting

HughesTooling — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 21:25:01 GMT

Here's some more examples.

This one where a simple split will not work.

This one modifying a copy or the part so it can be used in a Boolean.

This one tearing a copy of the model apart to build a core plate.

One last tip, use components all the way though the design from the start. See this thread Rule #1.

Mark

Re: How to split complex geometries for vacuum casting

HughesTooling — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 21:32:19 GMT

One last screencast to go with the last 2 above.

Mark

Re: How to split complex geometries for vacuum casting

TrippyLighting — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 16:27:51 GMT

Awesome thread! Another one for the tips & tricks link collection!

Re: How to split complex geometries for vacuum casting

HughesTooling — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 21:51:32 GMT

Just a heads up, I've put an request on the ideastation for silhouette curves to make splitting parts and making split lines easier.

Here's the link.

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/ideastation-request-a-feature-or/3d-silhouette-curves-mould-tool-split-line/idi-p/6636009#comments

Mark

Re: How to split complex geometries for vacuum casting

Anonymous — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 03:30:17 GMT

Cool! Thanks a lot for all the information! Problem fully solved 😉

Just one more thing, I was wondering how to create a lip for the upper and lower part to fit together, is there any funcion in fusion?

Re: How to split complex geometries for vacuum casting

HughesTooling — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 08:43:00 GMT

You might be able to project a centre line path onto the split face then use Pipe. set cut one half and join the other. Some screengrabs will help if you need more help.

Mark

Re: How to split complex geometries for vacuum casting

Anonymous — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 09:51:43 GMT

Hey Mark,

the attached image shows the lower part of the model, as you can see it is a complex 3-D splitting area, I created the split line with the silouette function of alias.

Re: How to split complex geometries for vacuum casting

HughesTooling — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 17:34:52 GMT

@Anonymous Sorry lost track of this thread, are you still stuck making the location lip?

Mark