Modelling a Windscreen

[NotTheBeaz]

How would I model a windscreen accurately - as in; how would a CAD guy at a car company go about it on fusion? Basically, I am a hobbyist who models things for 3D printing in my spare time. I could easily model a rudimentary windscreen in the sculpt environment by creating a surface and modifying the shape and then thickening it. But, I want to know the procedure I would do to model a complex shape such as a windscreen accurately, i.e. a Ferrari Daytona's windscreen. I want to improve. Cheers.

[davebYYPCU]

Without a File, Pics or Screencast, you are asking us to guess what you have got available to you.  Line drawing, photos?

Search of Daytona’s Internet images, 

I would use a 2 sketch Loft.  Bonnet curve and roof curve, (Splines) offset by the A pillar angle.

Sculpting is fine too.

Might help....

[NotTheBeaz]

The daytona is just an example of a car that could be used i wanted to know the most practical way i could go about modelling a windshield that curves along its x and z axis. say i wanted you to model a windshield of a VW beetle how would you go about it

[davebYYPCU]

40 years ago I took no notice of the shape I was looking through.

If it is not a flat plate, you need detail of the cross section, Extrude it, top to bottom, and from the front, Extrude > Intersect the front view.

Like all modelling, Break it down to small steps, 

Might help....

[Beyondforce]

Hey @NotTheBeaz ,

Like @davebYYPCU said, if you attach the .f3d file, we could show you several techniques on how to do it.

Cheers / Ben
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[NotTheBeaz]

What 3D file? @Beyondforce I haven't created a model, I just want to know how you would create a complex shape such as windscreen accurately. pick a car, any car that has a windscreen that curves on 2 axes and then model it and screencast it.

[Beyondforce]

Here is one technique you can use: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfapz0ZC1Vg&feature=youtu.be
There are more techniques, but I'll save them to after you model the car and give us something to work with!

[TheCADWhisperer]

I would use Sweep or Loft, maybe Boundary Patch.

Before anything though, I would have fully defined sketches.

You have to start somewhere.

If you haven't already completed 6 mths of easier projects and had them evaluated here by the experts - I recommend you start there...

[Beyondforce]

Nice work my friend 👍

[TheCADWhisperer]

Back in the early days of Fusion 360 (June 2014)  - I posted a step-by-step tutorial for modeling the seat (from sketches rather than Form) for that toy car. 

This was before constrained sketches...

But, if I edit my sketches from 2014, they show as fully constrained.

[NotTheBeaz]

@TheCADWhisperer I have a little over 1 year experience on Fusion although I have a background in SolidWorks XD, check this video out pause it at the end and tell me how you would have done the windscreen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpYljse-KJA

[Johnc911 · Accepted solution]

Hi,

Here is one approach using surfaces.

This is probably not how a car company does it for production, since there are manufacturing concerns involved such as bending laminated glass. But this approach could be used for visualization.

 

[NotTheBeaz]

@Johnc911 You are a genius, this is what I was looking for, been using Fusion for a year now and did SolidWorks for a bout 5-6 years and on SW I would have used a tool called project curve but it frustrated the hell out of me on Fusion because I didn't know what to do, cheers, really helpful. Also, what CAD mouse are you using? The scrolling and orbiting on the model was extremely smooth.

[Johnc911]

I'm glad it helped!

Fusion 360 is like "Solidworks Lite" as far as 3D sketch and surfacing is concerned. I think improvements are on the way.

I'm using the 3D Connexion Space Mouse. Highly recommended for CAD and works with all CAD software. I think I've had it for eight years and it's going strong.

https://www.3dconnexion.com/spacemouse_compact/en/