Creating an interlocking joint?

[Anonymous]

Hi.

I am quite new to Fusion360, but I've been learning as I go. I have an STL and I am trying to make a base mount of the model to be 3D printed.

The issue is that the base won't fit in one print, so I need to break it up into smaller parts. Basically for a point of reference, I have a rectangle, that is I want to split into smaller interlocking pieces. I've look at this tutorial, but I can do the sketch fine, I can put the joint in fine, but where this tutorial shows the one piece becoming two, well my fusion doesn't react that way (I assume it is an older version of Fusion).  I also do not have the modeling space. Just Design.

https://help.autodesk.com/view/fusion360/ENU/?caas=caas/discussion/t5/Fusion-360-Design-Validate-Doc...

Ideas? Thoughts, helpful tips?

[g-andresen]

Hi,

take a look here

günther

[laughingcreek · Accepted solution]

@Anonymous -

your on the wrong track.  the use of the word "joint" in the article you posted has nothing to do with what your trying to do.

your also starting with  a mesh file (.stl), which has a whole host of other issues.

so let's start.

you have a .stl , the worst possible type of model to start with if you want to make edits.

-let's start with a basic fact.  fusion has limited capabilities for editing mesh files.  infact it sucks at it.  But there are some things you can do.

-you can do plane cuts on a mesh (in the mesh workspace) in fusion , though mesh mixer is better at it, and worth learning.

-you can convert the stl to a brep body that fusion can directly edit.  this has many pitfalls and frequently doesn't work out.

-you can remodel from scratch in fusion, using the mesh as a reference (usually the preferred approach if your able.)

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Thanks. It wasn't really about the STL. I was using the STL as a point of reference so I could visualize my design. I went to make a quick sample of what I was thing to do, and low and behold the tutorial I watched and the steps and things that happen it is were working.

Thank you for your replies.

[laughingcreek]

oh, you just have a fusion body that you want to split up so it will fit on a build plate? I usually just sletech the shape of a dove tail (or a finger joint) and use that sketch to "split body".