How to split complex geometries for vacuum casting

Anonymous · ‎10-18-2016

I want to split a complex hollow body to fit for vacuum casting. For that I want to find a curve around my body (relative to a chosen plane) that splits it into two halfs in a way that there are no overlapping areas (to get the form out of the mold). Is there any function for that in Fusion 360?

paul.clauss · ‎10-18-2016

Hi @Anonymous,

Welcome to the Fusion 360 Online Community! It looks like you are trying to create a mold for a cast part.

I usually approach molds by creating the model of the part that will be created in the mold, creating a new body representing the mold, and then splitting that new body with the part model and any necessary construction geometry to ensure no overlap in the mold. I have illustrated this in the screencast attached to this post.

Hopefully this answers your question. If it does not, please let me know and we can continue to troubleshoot - I'm happy to help!

Thanks,

Paul Clauss

Product Support Specialist

HughesTooling · ‎10-18-2016

Here's some more examples.

This one where a simple split will not work.

This one modifying a copy or the part so it can be used in a Boolean.

This one tearing a copy of the model apart to build a core plate.

One last tip, use components all the way though the design from the start. See this thread Rule #1.

Mark

Mark Hughes
Owner, Hughes Tooling
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HughesTooling · ‎10-18-2016

One last screencast to go with the last 2 above.

Mark

Mark Hughes
Owner, Hughes Tooling
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TrippyLighting · ‎10-19-2016

Awesome thread! Another one for the tips & tricks link collection!

HughesTooling · ‎10-20-2016

Just a heads up, I've put an request on the ideastation for silhouette curves to make splitting parts and making split lines easier.

Here's the link.

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/ideastation-request-a-feature-or/3d-silhouette-curves-mould-tool-split...

Mark

Mark Hughes
Owner, Hughes Tooling
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Anonymous · ‎10-24-2016

Cool! Thanks a lot for all the information! Problem fully solved 😉

Just one more thing, I was wondering how to create a lip for the upper and lower part to fit together, is there any funcion in fusion?

HughesTooling · ‎10-25-2016

You might be able to project a centre line path onto the split face then use Pipe. set cut one half and join the other. Some screengrabs will help if you need more help.

Mark

Mark Hughes
Owner, Hughes Tooling
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Anonymous · ‎10-25-2016

Hey Mark,

the attached image shows the lower part of the model, as you can see it is a complex 3-D splitting area, I created the split line with the silouette function of alias.

HughesTooling · ‎11-03-2016

@Anonymous Sorry lost track of this thread, are you still stuck making the location lip?

Mark

Mark Hughes
Owner, Hughes Tooling
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