topic Re: 3D Elephant Tusk in Fusion Design, Validate & Document Forum

3D Elephant Tusk

3D_Ken — Sun, 23 Feb 2025 21:25:23 GMT

I'm trying to make a 3D Elephant tusk. I started out with a rough shape and figured I would refine it later, but I can't seem to get from sketch to solid. I think I need a Loft or Sweep, but not sure which options to use.

I have attached my file.

Thanks for any help.

Ken

===

Re: 3D Elephant Tusk

jhackney1972 — Sun, 23 Feb 2025 23:22:46 GMT

To do a Loft, you need a profile on each end of your Rails. I used the general format of your original sketch but this is a bit sharp on the edges. Modify your profiles to give the model a more rounded look. Watch out for Rail intersection with the Profiles. Model is attached.

Re: 3D Elephant Tusk

Drewpan — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 00:53:52 GMT

Hi,

I would strongly recommend that you do the embedded tutorials in the Fusion Documentation and also some of the

Self-Paced Learning to help you to learn fusion faster and better. They can be found here:

It is also much easier for the forum to help you if you attach your file AND a screenshot of what you want to achieve

and what the problem is. You can create a file to export like this:

Time spent on the tutorials and self paced learning will not be wasted. Also check out the three RULES that are pinned to the forum for further guidance.

Cheers

Andrew

Re: 3D Elephant Tusk

3D_Ken — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 17:28:01 GMT

I have spent uncountable hours reading the documentation. I do not learn things the same way most others do. I mostly learn by experimentation. Sometimes I run into a situation where I need just a little guidance to get by a roadblock. Hopefully this guidance increases my knowledge base. I posted my file in hopes that a short push in the right direction would get me back on track. @jhackney1972 provided just what I needed. If I wanted someone else to design my project, I would have shown what I was looking to do. This is NOT what I wanted. I never post a question without first spending considerable time trying to solve the problem on my own. I now have everything I need to complete my project.

If you wanted to be helpful, you could have pointed me to the documentation that would have solved my problem. Just telling me to read all the documentation and tutorials was not at all helpful.

Re: 3D Elephant Tusk

TheCADWhisperer — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 17:53:10 GMT

@3D_Ken

In my opinion you have not received good guidance in this forum.

Would you really like to learn how to do this correctly?

Re: 3D Elephant Tusk

Drewpan — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 00:44:52 GMT

Hi,

I am sorry if you found my post unhelpful but please understand that more than half

of the issues posted on this forum can be solved by reading the documentation AND

DOING THE EMBEDDED TUTORIALS. I also recommended to do the Self Paced Learning

provided by AutoDesk. Both of these suggestions are learn by doing, which you state

is your preferred method of learning.

You say you wanted help but then stated

I think I need a Loft or Sweep, but not sure which options to use.

Which says that you do not understand these commands well enough to use them

correctly or with confidence. A very good way to learn what these commands actually do

is to read the documentation. The Loft reference in the documentation:

https://help.autodesk.com/view/fusion360/ENU/?guid=GUID-EC6CECCD-55C1-4B08-95E4-5B1EEDE78D07

found simply by searching the documentation for Loft, which actually SHOWS almost exactly

what you are asking assistance for. The diagram below is a screenshot from the documentation

that looks very Elephant Tusk like to me.

The embedded tutorial about Sweep, found here:

https://help.autodesk.com/view/fusion360/ENU/?guid=SLD-TUT-2-SWEEP-EXTRUDE-REVOLVE-SKETCH

gives you a very good idea about what the sweep command does and allows you to

LEARN by DOING - your stated learning preference.

A short search using the key word Loft revealed this Self Paced Learning tutorial here:

https://www.autodesk.com/learn/ondemand/course/learn-fusion-for-cad-in-90-minutes

I located all of these resources doing a simple search with the key words Loft and Sweep.

You accused me of being unhelpful so I have provided them to you as you obviously

also need to be spoon fed information.

Another resource I pointed to you were the three RULES. Rule #0 found here:

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-design-validate-document/fusion-rule-0-how-to-effectively-learn-fusion/td-p/12365389

has some excellent advice. I draw your attention to this:

Requirements for asking for help in the Forum.

1. If you have a problem then ask a question.
2. Attach your File and a picture or screenshot of the behaviour or what you want to achieve.
3. If your File is proprietary, create an example of the behaviour to share and upload that. Re-creating
the behaviour may either solve your own problem or prove it may be a genuine Bug.
4. Gurus and Developers lurk in the Forum. Be nice to everyone but especially them!
5. Be humble if someone is pointing out things you have not seen or be aware of. They are NOT aiming a
personal attack at you they are trying to help you learn.
6. Never stop learning.

I get a little tired of people who ask for help and then complain that the help they are offered

is not good enough or up to their standards. Many of these also ask vague questions and do

not spell out what they are actually wanting.

There are only about a dozen people on this forum with varying degrees of experience who actually

take the time to answer the questions posted by people just like yourself. None of us are paid and

we do it because we want to help others and learn some stuff ourselves.

I regularly point people to the Documentation and Self Paced Learning because it actually works.

I am no Guru, but I learned everything I know about fusion, and I am still learning, by actually

practicing what I preached. I HAVE read the documentation. I HAVE done the embedded tutorials.

I HAVE done the Self Paced learning. I continue to learn through posts on this forum.

I would also question @TheCADWhisperer with his comment that you have not received good

guidance from this forum. The Documentation, Tutorials and Self Paced Learning are all excellent

tools provided by AutoDesk. I have demonstrated that three simple searches using key words

would have assisted you. Yes, you asked for help, but you also need to help yourself sometimes.

Cheers

Andrew

Re: 3D Elephant Tusk

3D_Ken — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 19:27:57 GMT

I am never going to be a Fusion expert, or even highly competent. However, I am always looking to increase my knowledge. Many times, I have searched the documentation and past forum posts. Sometimes, I find the answer, but more often I do not find the information comprehensible or meaningful to me. The information provided by @jhackney1972 was EXACTLY what I needed at that moment in time, and it allowed me to complete my project. I posted my original question in a way that I hoped would allow someone to respond using the minimum amount of their valuable time, while giving me enough information to move onto the next step of my project.

Now that I have a basic understanding of how Loft works in relation to my project, I feel that I am ready to adsorb additional knowledge. You (@TheCADWhisperer) asked: "Would you really like to learn how to do this correctly?". The answer is "Yes" if you feel that my solution was less than perfect.

I hope people realize that Fusion is a really powerful tool with more options than people like me can keep track of. Without this forum to point me in the right direction from time to time, I would not be able to use Fusion at all. My thanks goes out to those who spend time helping others.

Re: 3D Elephant Tusk

TheCADWhisperer — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 19:59:00 GMT

@3D_Ken

You will be a pro in a few minutes.

Blue lines, arcs and white dots should keep you awake at night...

Add a Horizontal Constraint between these two points.

Add the two radius dimensions to the arcs (just accept the default for the R34.47).

What do you notice about the color of the arcs?

Re: 3D Elephant Tusk

TheCADWhisperer — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 20:08:21 GMT

@3D_Ken

Delete this blue arc..

Replace the arc with this 3-Point Arc.

Add Tangent Constraints (if needed - Fusion might automatically add one or both of them for you)..

Click on the vertical line and push x key on the keyboard to change to Construction linetype.

Now add these to lines to the arc as shown below.

Then Attach your progress file here for next set of steps.

Re: 3D Elephant Tusk

3D_Ken — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 22:49:09 GMT

Here is my progress file so far. I'm not sure why one arc is blue and one is black.

Re: 3D Elephant Tusk

TheCADWhisperer — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 00:47:14 GMT

@3D_Ken

The number one tip in parametric CAD sketching - when geometry doesn't constraint - click, drag and observe.

When I drag this "vertical" line at the Origin - I observe that it is missing a Vertical Constraint. Well, let's add that.

Then at the other end I observe a brown arc isn't constrained and wasn't in the original, let's delete that brown arc.

Now that I have deleted it I observe that I have lost the Tangent and have a white dot...

Re: 3D Elephant Tusk

TheCADWhisperer — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 00:55:43 GMT

(view in My Videos)

@3D_Ken

Turn on your sound.

Re: 3D Elephant Tusk

TheCADWhisperer — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 14:53:12 GMT

Fully Define your Sketches.

Insist on aesthetically pleasing geometry - do not accept "good enough" (and was it really good enough).

(view in My Videos)

I didn't think my original video was good enough, so I added additional information in a second video.

Re: 3D Elephant Tusk

3D_Ken — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 15:01:42 GMT

"Now that I have deleted it I observe that I have lost the Tangent and have a white dot..."

What is the significance of the dot being white? This may be a key point that I have been missing.

Re: 3D Elephant Tusk

TrippyLighting — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 15:07:16 GMT

A white point in a sketch indicates that the end point of the sketch object isn't fully constrained.

Re: 3D Elephant Tusk

TheCADWhisperer — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 15:21:48 GMT

@3D_Ken wrote:
"Now that I have deleted it I observe that I have lost the Tangent and have a white dot..."

What is the significance of the dot being white? This may be a key point that I have been missing.

Missing Coincident Constraint.

Re: 3D Elephant Tusk

3D_Ken — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 15:55:39 GMT

I have been following along with your video. At this point, my project looks just like yours, but there is no lock symbol on the sketch, so I am missing something. The construction line toward the large end (that you deleted) defines where the final tusk needs to be cut off so that the tusk aligns at the correct angle to the elephant.

Re: 3D Elephant Tusk

TheCADWhisperer — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 17:07:31 GMT

@3D_Ken

Dashed line is not black.

Click and drag - what do you observe?

White dot. Click and drag.

What do you observe?

Did you watch the second video?

Re: 3D Elephant Tusk

3D_Ken — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 17:29:53 GMT

It has taken me way too long to understand white dots and black lines, but I think it has finally sunk in. I fixed the two points and the lock symbol has appeared.

I did look at the 2nd video, but I did not want to proceed until I cleared the lock problem. I will now go on to the next step.

Your tutorage has vastly increased my understanding of the design process. I am extremely grateful.

Re: 3D Elephant Tusk

3D_Ken — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 19:28:28 GMT

"Did you watch the second video?"

Yes, I followed along and ended up in the same place as your video. The original shape I posted was not intended to be the actual tusk shape, it was just a proof of concept for me to learn how to do a Loft. I might have to fine tune the size and shape some more, but thanks to you, I have a great starting point.

It looks like I will have to use Spline Fit Points if I want to refine the arc shapes.