Free Forming issue and trim issue

[ysnyder]

So I started using Fusion 360. But I am not sure how to use a surface to cut the part of the free form I do not want. I got stuck at this point where I have a cutting tool but no idea how to use it... I can execute the trim commands but they keep failing. Can you offer any advice? I am switching from Inventor and this is definitely a little different. 

Here is a link to the file https://a360.co/3DDOBNu

[jeff_strater · Accepted solution]

I think I understand what you are trying to do.  First, your design is a Direct Modeling design.  In a DM design, you have to manually convert Form (T-Spline) bodies to a surface or solid before you can trim or split them.  So, I converted the Form in Component1, then I could trim it.

[ysnyder]

Thank you for doing that! That made a lot of sense. 

Quick follow-up on this part... Is there a way to get these two edges to come together? The end goal is to make one solid part. I was using free from to create a bulge on the back of the part. However, when I start free-forming it causes gaps like these to form. 

[jeff_strater · Accepted solution]

I'd have to see the process you went through to build those surfaces.  But a couple of hints:

1. In the Form workspace, creation commands have a way to increase the accuracy by generating more faces
   
   
   
2. The Match command can precisely map a set of TSpline edges to a surface edge:
   

[ysnyder]

See I tried to use match but it creates weird deformations... Is there an easy way to only let the program free from up to the blue highlighted line.. and lock those boundaries so they do not move? By move, I mean when I pull on the free form mesh it will detach from the rest of the shape. Thank you so much for your help so far. 

https://a360.co/3AF3Wvl

[jeff_strater]

There are two things here:

1. you need the right set of faces to match the edge.  Your T-Spline is a rectangle, and you need something with a curve in it.  So, you need to split some of those faces.  I used Insert Point to do it, and then deleted the unneeded faces.  Then you can match.  I ignored the little shelves in the solid - you need to figure out what the surface should do there.
2. Then, once you have matched the edges, Freeze them to keep them in place.  It will limit what you can do to modify the form, but it will keep those edges in place