Flexible cable in Fusion 360

[Anonymous]

I have a problem with modelling flexible cable. Is there any possibility to do it in Fusion 360?
I would like to achieve something like shown in the beginning of this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uej5ZJQk-XA

After drawing a spline and sweeping the profile I added as-built joint in order to connect cable with other elements, but then the cable acts as a rigid body.
Moreover, in my case, this assembly also rotates about Z axis. I created construction plane as a midplane of a base to draw a spline on it. After drawing, I rotated my assembly and I realized that construction plane doesn't move with its reference object. Is there any way to model it in a other way?

I look forward to the feedback,

Regards,
Maciek

[Anonymous]

Hi Maciek, although somewhat tedious, you can do exactly what is shown in that video (I tried using Pipe command rather than sweep, which is a little easier), but a little differently.  You can make a user defined parameter that defines how far 'stretched out' the cable is, then go to File > Capture image, slightly modify the parameter, and repeat until get sufficient number of snapshot images.  Then by using software such as this http://sourceforge.net/projects/makeavi/ you can make a video from the images. 

Note that you can also make the spline sketch visible and click and drag in real time and the sweep/pipe will immediately update, but you can't get a good looking animation by just doing that.

Let me know if you need any more help.

Jesse

[innovatenate]

I have a sample file (see below public link) that demonstrates one way you may be able to get close to this.

http://a360.co/1LeutOx

You wont' be able to do an animation, but it should be able to help show how a routing may work for different positions. Check out the below screencast for more detail.

[neljoshua]

I tried doing this (albeit with a more complex model) and it did not work.

I have a hose that is tied to projected geometry, but when I edit the snapshot, the hose remains unchanged.  The only difference that I can discern is that I used a 3-D sketch for the hose in my design.

[innovatenate]

Hmm.. 3D spline would be a bit more tricky... Would you be willing to share the design with me? I'd be happy to review the design a little closer and see if I can develop a solution.

Feel free to private message me a link if you don't wish to share with in a post here on the forum.

[neljoshua]

Nate,

Thanks for the time.  I sent you a PM.

I am curious to know if this issue is because Fusion treats projected features in a 3D sketch differently than and a 2D sketch.

[San_Escobar]

Hey @Anonymous

I have once ask almost the same question which was how to simulate a Torsion Spring since Fusion can/could not cope with Spring Ration. So I have come up with a nice trick which works in real time.

Check it out my sample project here:

https://gallery.autodesk.com/fusion360/projects/cloth-peg-torsion-spring-knowhow

So, what I basic did for mine and I would do for yours is, produce the 2 ends of the hose and assemble them as normal, you end up having such thing like this image bellow.




Then, once it’s in place and within the Assembling environment, you create a Loft or Sweep from which end and align as continuity so that is gets nice blended, and as you move your part this features auto update accordingly 😉

So, even though, if you model is more complexed than this, feel free to share your parts and I try to assist you

Hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

Hi Nathan,

I realize that I'm replying to a very old post, but I'm trying to do something similar to what you have in your screencast - create a flexible band between two moving components. For the band I've created a 2D sketch and am using Project/Include->Include 3D Geometry to bring in points from my moving 3D geometry. Then I'm creating a shape whose points are constrained to those projected points. Then I'm extruding new 3D geometry.

Unfortunately the points I'm including from my Include 3D Geometry step aren't moving when I move the components from which I've generated them. However yours do. I've downloaded your file as well and can see it in action.

Can you explain in more detail how you got your projected points to remained constrained to their original 3D parents?

Thanks very much,

Ted

[innovatenate]

Hi Ted,

If I remember correctly, the trick was to utilize the capture position command (formerly called "snapshot") in the timeline before the you create the sketch with the projections. To update the cable geometry, I edited the capture position and then moved the components. When I finished moving components and editing the capture position, the timeline is re-computed which updates the sketch and drives the changes in 3D. 

I'm not sure if that is what is missing or not, but I would be happy to take a look at the design if you are willing to share the design with me. Feel free to private message me a share link if you would prefer to keep the design private. 

I hope that helps.

Thanks,

[Anonymous]

Actually Nathan, that was exactly the explanation I needed. I didn't realize that after creating the sketch I should go to the previously created capture position in the timeline and modify it. Everything is working great now! My projected curves update exactly the way they should.

Thank you!

Ted