Modeling challenge for anyone interested

[gsaDO]

I'm trying to model a continuously down-sloping chute which does a 180 at both ends and after hours of making myself nuts, I'm calling in reinforcements.  Maybe it's something super easy that I've been unable to imagine.  I've tried using 3 point arcs which I can't get to continue the slope, and I've messed with splines and can't master controlling point movements enough.

Love to hear what approaches anyone can suggest.

 

[Fully_Defined]

Have you already tried the pipe command? You could create a single path, rather than the parallel paths, and then do a pipe. Then, put a plane where you want the rails to be and do an intersection curve or I think they call it a projection curve here in Fusion, and voilà.

I have modified your model, however the numbers I used are arbitrary.

[TheCADWhisperer]

@gsaDO 

Are there any unresolved issues highlighted in your Timeline?

Are you familiar with all of these Project options?

Are you familiar with Surface modeling?

Do you really want to go Up before going down the slope, or do you want a constant Down slope?

Tip:  From my interpretation the ends are Helical with a slope section in between the two.

I tend to fully define my sketches... ...and from my interpretation this is the same component just two instances of it in different locations.  I tend to use Joints rather than Move (except in specific instances).  I tend to use Midpoint rather than Mirror (or Symmetry) constraints.

[davebYYPCU]

A continuously down-sloping chute - not many clues for the actual chute profile, 

Construction of the sweep rails is not an easy job but can be done.

Sweep, Path and Guide Rail, the profile of the chute along this body.

Might help...

[etfrench]

Two coils and a loft should fulfill the requirements:

[TrippyLighting]

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@davebYYPCU wrote:

- not many clues for the actual chute profile, 

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True, but I think this will be 4 individual circular profiles, which, as @Fully_Defined has already mentioned, lends itself to the pipe tool.

[TheCADWhisperer]

Too bad Fusion doesn't have Flat Ends in Coil tool (Transition from Helix to flat).

[gsaDO]

Oh, this seems like a super easy and elegant solution.

Thanks.

[gsaDO]

Unfortunately, this doesn't create the continuous downward slope.

[gsaDO]

Very interesting. I haven't used surface tools. Your process is all understandable except for how surfacetrim4 results in the two continuously sloping top edges on the right side. I see how the side view sketch contains the lines being following, but don't know how the operation follows them. Can you explain?
Thanks.

[davebYYPCU]

Not with my file now.  Don’t quote me.

The path turns back on itself, so I split the body, vertically by origin plane.  May not be related to the trim.

The trim of the 2 open side bodies, had to be done separately from the half side body.

I still select the full path (cutter) in the vertical sketch, but I am only selecting the parts to remove.

Trippy, I saw the four buttons, a horizontal surface might accommodate all four as a Sweep, but not for Pipes, but pretty sure the coils involved with those will have different diameters.  

If that is the design intent, simple to offset the first surface body, and Ruled surface to widen, both directions would be my option.
As supplied, gives enough of a process to accommodate any profile.

Might help….

[matthewrjacobs]

There was a thread where someone made a marble chute similar to this using sheetmetal.   I can't find the thread, but I think @wersy was the one who came up with the workflow.  

[wersy]

Do you mean this?

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-design-validate-document/sweep-on-two-different-planes/td-p/11...

That came from @laughingcreek 

[matthewrjacobs]

That's the one.  Credit to @laughingcreek 

[gsaDO]

Thanks for sharing that.

[davebYYPCU]

If that is the design intent, simple to offset the first surface body, and Ruled surface to widen, both directions would be my option.

Works as expected.

Might help...

[MichaelT_123]

... double post ... deleted

[MichaelT_123]

Hi Mr GsaDO,

• “a continuously down-sloping chute” ?????

Let’s filter the phrase using some AI abstraction reasoning.

• “a continuously down-sloping path”
• “a constant gradient path”
• “a function in 3D space with δz/δx + δz/δy = const”

Once our AI abstraction is ready, immerse ourselves in the F360 Design Space.

In order to stay at the sensible abstraction level, draw any 2D curve/path. A fitted spline should give us reasonable flexibility, universality and manoeuvrability, as it can approximate any path.

Hence, how do we make our 2D curve sloppy?

1. Think about it as a parametric function L(t) = L(x(t),y(t),z(t))
2. We know x(t), y(t) functions; this is 2D curve
3. We also know that δz/δs = const where δs = √ (1+δy²/ δx²)
4. Thus transforming a 2D curve to a 3D one with a constant slope
5. Requires integration of L(t) with condition δs(t) = const
6. Scarryyyy, … yes, it is.
7. In a real/professional design scenario, quite serious number crunching is necessary.
8. However, there is a piece of good news for ‘marble’ hobbyists
9. Represent the path/curve as an equal segment polygon
10. Change the z-coordinate of the successive point nodes by the constant slope value
11. The number of segments will determine the precision of the operation
12. … hundreds??? … some people might find such a challenge … relaxing!
13. For more ambitious … calculate forces acting on a hypothetical marble/car ball rolling along the path and translate z-nodes along respective vectors.
14. For lazy&rich ones … buy professional software for road construction … from Autodesk.
15. For optimists… ask TF360 to add such a feature to the Fusion suit.

Below, I am attaching the file showing the hobbyist part of the process.

Regards

MichaelT

[gsaDO]

Can you share the file?
Thanks

[davebYYPCU]

Yes and no, I kept the file, I am not back to the computer hard drive, till Monday week.

Use my old file.  If having a go yourself, 1st step is written below, nearly forgot it.

Hide everything except the surface body.

This is step 2 - Surface > Create > Offset, select the ramp body from the Browser, drag the arrow up, enter the distance 0.275

Surface > Create > Ruled surface, select just the outside edges inside and outside, but not across the ends, (was fiddly to get it right). Set distance 0.286, and direction perpendicular.

Solid > Create > Pipe, select the same edges of each body, size 0.125.

I have not adjusted yet, because the pipe paths are slightly too short, go back to the first body,

Before anything else.

Surface > Create > Ruled surface, select the end short edges, and set them into the fixtures that exist

it’s not much, will allow the pipes to run into the buttons (to eliminate the slight birdsmouth.)

Set the direction Tangent

Might help…..