Creating an irregular trapezoid - Battery Cover

[Anonymous]

I'm new to Fusion 360 and am trying to design a replacement battery cover to be 3d printed. I was able to draw it as separate components, but couldn't get them to join together to print, so only the bottom printed.  What's the best way to go about creating a design for this irregular shape?  

[g-andresen]

Hi,

There are usually several ways to the goal.
Please share your design, then we can give more hints.

günther

file > export > save as f3d locally   >  attach to Next post

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the quick reply.  Here's a screenshot of the design - but I haven't added the spring lock, lock tabs, or battery cutouts yet.  I couldn't get these pieces to combine into one body, so only the bottom prints.  If there's a better way to share the design, let me know!

[g-andresen]

Hi,

Do it the way I described in my last post.

günther

[Anonymous]

I created the file, but I don't see a way to insert anything other than a photo.  

[TheCADWhisperer]

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

See the link below to Drag and drop here or browse files to Attach...

I would do Extrude

Extrude Intersect

Fillet

Shell

Rib

Extrude.

[Anonymous]

@TheCADWhisperer  Thanks. I was dropping the file in the body and it was telling me .f3d was an unsupported file type.  I didn't see the "attachments" box to drop into.  Much appreciated.  Here's the file.  

I must be doing something wrong - I've tried extrude - Intersect without success.  I was thinking it might have something to do with not having the correct plane?

[TheCADWhisperer]

Is there a logical reason that you did this as multiple components?

(The image looks like one plastic component.)

Are there any unresolved issues highlighted in your Timeline? 

(Hint 1: The correct answer is yes.)
(Hint 2: Resolve issues immediately as they occur, or, stop and ask questions.)

[Anonymous]

I did it as multiple components because I couldn't figure out how to sketch it as a single component.  This was my first time using Fusion360. I assumed, perhaps incorrectly, that once I had all the components created, I could join them and adjust details. 

[laughingcreek]

I think the first problem is conceptual.  This is not an "irregular shape".  approached that way it becomes easier to see how to build it.

and you definitely don't need to move to surfacing yet.

play with the attached.  go through the time line.  adjust dimensions.  comeback with questions

[TheCADWhisperer]

See Attached.

[Anonymous]

@laughingcreek This is incredibly helpful, thanks.  Rather than just adjust dimensions, I'm going to try to create this again following your example, but I'm not sure how you created the plane after Sketch 2.  Can you explain that step?

[laughingcreek · Accepted solution]

sketch 2 sets the angle of the top.  the "plane at and angle" uses the angled line in sketch 2 for it's input.  sketch 3 is placed on that plane.  adjusting the the line in sketch 2 will adjust the angle of the top.

[Anonymous]

Got it!  Thanks for the help.  I think I understand well enough to finish this one.  Much appreciated!