topic Flat shapes on a cylindrical surface in Fusion Design, Validate & Document Forum

Flat shapes on a cylindrical surface

t_smith5 — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 15:19:24 GMT

This might be a tricky one. I'm not sure if any of the methods/workflows I've been shown so far would work, but I can't think of how I could do this. I'm hoping there's some neat trickery that can be done in Fusion I'm unaware of. 😬

Essentially, I'm after the best of both worlds. For these jet packs, I much prefer them to be cylindrical, but some secondary shapes don't look great once they're extruded and joined to the surface. Offset kinda works, but they still don't look great to me.

However, if I make them more rectangular/box-like, the surface is flatter to work with and the shapes extrude and join better.

...but I'm not a fan of how the jet packs look being rectangular. 😕 So my question is: is there any way of getting the secondary shapes extruded and joined to a cylindrical surface as though they were on a flat one?

I've attached my file. One is enabled (the cylindrical one I think), but the parts for the other version are there, too.

Thanks

Re: Flat shapes on a cylindrical surface

etfrench — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 16:58:51 GMT

No one can answer that. Looks are subjective.

Re: Flat shapes on a cylindrical surface

Warmingup1953 — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 20:26:15 GMT

Perhaps use an Emboss to create the link?

Re: Flat shapes on a cylindrical surface

t_smith5 — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 21:19:35 GMT

Thanks for the suggestion. I didn't think of that. I guess that works though it acts similar as if I were extruding it from the face. But it does produce a somewhat better result. The shape's better anyway.

Emboss does only allow me to add it on the other side from where I want. I had to create the shape from scratch and just have the side I wanted before I could extrude it in the right direction. However, if I try to mirror the other side, it'll add it there as well. 😕

EDIT: Never mind. I can sort it out with a mirror and join the other side. 🙂

Re: Flat shapes on a cylindrical surface

t_smith5 — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 21:43:40 GMT

That does seem to work pretty well, I think. 🙂 Of course, I'm happy if others have any other (better) methods to suggest. :3

Re: Flat shapes on a cylindrical surface

bartparker — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 23:32:35 GMT

Another option would be to extrude like you did previously, then draw two circles on either the top or bottom plane of the pack - on to set your diameter of the outer face of your feature, one that covers everything - and extrude cut all the bits hanging off the side down to size

Re: Flat shapes on a cylindrical surface

t_smith5 — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 10:29:26 GMT

Sorry, I'm not quite sure what you mean with this one. I may need a visual representation. 😅

Re: Flat shapes on a cylindrical surface

Bunga777 — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 11:24:11 GMT

What about using the Replace Face command?

(view in My Videos)

Re: Flat shapes on a cylindrical surface

t_smith5 — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 11:43:17 GMT

Cool. Thanks for pointing this one out. I've not used the Replace Face tool before, so this should come in handy as well. 🙂

Re: Flat shapes on a cylindrical surface

bartparker — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 19:33:16 GMT

https://autode.sk/3mlYZXl

@t_smith5 Link is a screencast demonstrating what I was trying to explain

Re: Flat shapes on a cylindrical surface

t_smith5 — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 19:28:09 GMT

Ah-haa. I see what you mean. Useful to know. It's a bit similar to the Emboss suggestion, but you're trimming them down after extruding. Thanks. 🙂