Help with my first project

[Anonymous]

I'm planning on getting into CNC as a hobby, but the need of a new roof has delayed my building my own CNC machine.  I'm trying to learn Fusion 360 in the meantime.  I'm completely new to this stuff, and I've found the tutorials move WAY too quick for me to catch what they are doing.  It took me about 20 minutes to create a rectangle in the size I want, then another 20 to put a cut out in it.

I want to build a harmonica comb.  Here's a picture:

Here is the design strategy I wanted to follow (but can't seem to because I don't know what I'm doing.)

1. Create a rectangle of the proper size, centered on the Y axis (so when I put the middle tooth of the comb in, its centered.)
2. Create the proper width slot, then place it on the comb.
3. Create 9 duplicates of that slot, and space them evenly along the edge of the comb
4. Edit the height of each slot
5. Place the holes in the proper position
6. Round over the corners
7. Extrude to the proper height.

I'm having problems moving something to a particular measurement.  For instance, I want the first slot to be 14.18 mm from the left edge.  I  can measure where I put the slot, and I can move the slot, but I can't figure out how to move the slot to an exact location.

Am I going about this the right way?  Any suggestions?  I'm on a Mac, if that helps.

Thanks!

Phil

[Beyondforce]

Hi @Anonymous,

Please make a screencast, it will help understand what you can't figure out.

Cheers / Ben
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[etfrench]

This video may help a little:

You can also use dimensions and/or a formula for the height of the slots. 

[Anonymous]

@etfrench  It's more preferable to use JUST the pattern operation in this case. Either in the sketch (Rectangular Pattern using direction) or in resulted body (Pattern on Path). As the result it will be unnecessary to draw multiple short horizontal lines and deal with multiple profiles.

[Anonymous]

Hi Guys, 

Thanks for the replies.  I'm traveling, with 14 hour days, so I don't have time to review the videos, but, rest assured, I will.  Thank you for taking the time to help me.

[Anonymous]

I've been playing with the shape, and have gone back and forth on trying it different ways.  However, I'm having difficulty.  I can make the slot, and have had some success in copying them, but once I've done that, I can't seem to move the pattern.  How can I move the slots so they start a certain distance from the left edge, and end the same distance from the right edge?  I'm thinking I specify the width of the slot, and the length of the longest slot.  Then I specify the line that the pattern on path will use.  After that, I want to move the slots so they start a certain distance from the left, and end a certain distance from the right.  If the slot width is held constant, I would think the program would space them evenly for me.

Thanks again,

Phil

[etfrench]

My video shows how to create the necessary parameters. @Anonymous video shows a better way to create the slots relative to the sloped line. There is no conflict between the two methods as far as using dimensions and parameters. The basic workflow is to create the first slot and constrain it with dimensions.  To set the dimensions, create the user parameters shown in the video plus two more to control the angle and start height of the angled line.  The video shows how to apply the parameters to the dimensions which will guarantee all of your criteria is met.

p.s. Actually, you'll need to compensate for the angled line being longer than the total width parameter when you're entering the formula for the pattern extent.  How's your trigonometry

[Anonymous]

One of my problems with the videos was I couldn't see what you guys were doing.  But I just saw the Maximize button, and can read the commands now!  Much better!

[etfrench]

In some ways the videos are a great way to show a technique and in other ways written words are better.

You may want to add a couple more parameters that would allow you to make tapered slots.  I'm not sure if other shapes like curved slots, either vertically or horizontally, would make a difference in the sound.