topic Stuck with how to get something done. in Fusion Support Forum

Stuck with how to get something done.

mark33.in.oz — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 07:28:37 GMT

I don't know the terms, so I am kind of flying blind.

I have a sketch. Rectangle.

There is a construction line across the middle (vertical) from left to right.

I have a parameter called "DistanceBetween".

I want two holes on this middle (center) line. With "DistanceBetween" the distance between them.

So the blue circle is what Fusion has. The orange line and circle are what I want.
The black line is "DistanceBetween".

I get that the distance from the center point will be "DistanceBetween" / 2.

Then I mirror it.

But HOW do I set the "constraint" to move the center of the circle to be "DistanceBetween / 2"

Re: Stuck with how to get something done.

davebYYPCU — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 07:55:15 GMT

Draw 2 circles, make them equal with Equal constraint. Dimension 1 of them

Join the centre points with a line,

Dimension it with "Distancebetween"

Use Mid Point constraint on the line and snap to the Origin.

Make the line horizontal.

Order of operations as it suits.

Might help...

Re: Stuck with how to get something done.

mark33.in.oz — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 08:18:39 GMT

What kind of line?

Construction of normal?

I'm trying with construction - though yeah, you didn't say that - and it isn't working.
As soon as I enter the distance the line length changes but not the location of the second circle.

I am missing how the line "connects" the two circles.

Just tried with normal line.
Same.... Line length changes but the circle doesn't move.

Re: Stuck with how to get something done.

davebYYPCU — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 08:37:22 GMT

Join the centre points with a line,

Obviously you are not snapping to the centre point. Cursor changes to blue square when you get there, (or drag centre point to end of line)

type of line? It's your choice, 3 types to choose from all have the same effect.

Might help...

Re: Stuck with how to get something done.

mark33.in.oz — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 08:41:40 GMT

It is now sort of working.
But I am not understanding why.

Making the two circles the same size also threw me. Don't know why.

But eventually after many attempts I got that working.

So now that part is working. But I am not seeing a mid-point indicator on the line between the two circles.

Looking on youtube a lot of the videos are showing things I can't see/get/find in F360. I am suspicious that is a version problem.

Re: Stuck with how to get something done.

davebYYPCU — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 09:01:49 GMT

Nope, for this stuff, all the same in either version.

Editing a sketch, you get his toolbar,

click on the triangle (Midpoint)

click on the line

click on the origin.

Don't forget to make the line horizontal.

Might help...

Re: Stuck with how to get something done.

mark33.in.oz — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 09:14:28 GMT

This video doesn't work for me.

Copying sketches

I just (not too long ago) rang your phone and it rang, rang and rang.

Only on the hope you could talk me through some problems.

No worries.

Re: Stuck with how to get something done.

TheCADWhisperer — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 10:21:09 GMT

@mark33.in.oz wrote:
So now that part is working. But I am not seeing a mid-point indicator on the line between the two circles.

Can you File>Export your *.f3d file to your local drive and then Attach it here to a Reply?

Re: Stuck with how to get something done.

mark33.in.oz — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 01:48:36 GMT

This is it....

The things that "caught me out" are:

1 - copying the original sketch so I could then make the second part.

2 - placing the two "holes" at a certain distance between them AND be centered horizontally.

3 - as above kind of but also vertically.

If I change any of the values, will they reflect on the bigger model correctly?

What I am still stuck with:

The two "arms" that extend up:

Their width.

It is set to 4mm - I think/remember.

How do I make that a value which I can change - I know the mechanics of how to assign a value to it, but how do I use that value from the start?

Say it is .... 6mm. I want the width to be 6mm from the edge.

I don't know the "constraint name" to use.

Re: Stuck with how to get something done.

jhackney1972 — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 02:37:22 GMT

I hope I am using the correct dimension in my Screencast. At the end of the Screencast I mention that the rectangular pattern, for the holes, needed modification. I did this after I finished the video so the attached model will show this.

Re: Stuck with how to get something done.

mark33.in.oz — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 03:49:53 GMT

Hi John.

Thanks for the reply. I do appreciate it.

The "pegs" you got to need to stay where they are/were. They are alignments between the two pieces.

I haven't used Fusion 360 for about.... a year. I used to attend classes which did/do hobby design at (what we call) a public tech' (nology) place.

We would meet and use Fusion to do things and by using it I kept myself acquainted with how to use it.

Recently it has been updated and so I am even more "disadvantaged" because I may be thinking the "old" way.

Oh, the center thing. I didn't explain that as well as I should. My fault.

Dave (Brown) is helping me and talking to me about constraints of the "2 holes" in there.

I want them a distance apart, in the middle of the area both vertical and horizontal.

Not the little ones which you were saying. My fault.

I put a line between the two "holes" (center) which have become slots to the edge.

and constrain that to the distance needed.

That took some time for some reason (maybe because the second circle (both actually) were drawn on a line when I did it, it wasn't to the center of the second circle. When I constrained the line, the line would move, but not the circle.

Then, to make sure they were "centered" (between the two sides) I see that the line I just put in to "constrain" the circles center point needs to be put on the vertical construction line to make sure they are in the middle.

THOUGH.... That may not be the best way to do that. Shrug.

Also the two holes (the main ones) need to be in the middle - vertically - also.

I am also bad at designing things and I build things in my head - kind of - and so "dimensions" are not fixed. They are fluid and adapt to the needs.

This all falls over when I start using proper design programs.

What is also not helping me is I got a NEW computer!!! NEW NEW (sorry). For other reasons, not so much Fusion.

But as it has the grunt to do things faster/better, I have migrated to using it for Fusion.

The problem is the screen is so BIG, "you" can't read the menus.

I'm from the days of 800x600 was high resolution.

Maybe 1024 x 768. But this is... Way beyond that. And when I open menus.... It is like reading the fine print on a contract. 😉

Anyway, I shall go over it again and see if I can get some of the stuff to sink into the rock on top of my shoulders.

Re: Stuck with how to get something done.

mark33.in.oz — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 06:42:36 GMT

This is my latest effort.

Slight re-design.

I swapped the order of the two pieces so the "arms" that are reaching up are solid rather than how they were before.

But now I am stuck:

How do I separate the two pieces when I (eventually) need them printed?

Re: Stuck with how to get something done.

davebYYPCU — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 06:49:05 GMT

They are separate.

Save Top as Mesh ( new name for the same thing, just recent)

Save Bottom as Mesh.

Slicer will place on the bed, manual or Auto.

Might help....

Re: Stuck with how to get something done.

mark33.in.oz — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 06:53:40 GMT

Thanks.