Nibbling pattern on path

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I'm new to fusion 360 and still figuring out the software.

I've been trying to make a 2D sketch which then can be exported as a DWG/DXF to a different software for further production.

I made a Spline according to the needs of my client and its all good and working until i have to create a pattern on path. Apparently i cant use pattern on path unless its in 3D mode. So i made a cylinder on the outer edge at the beginning of the Spline. Problems start after this really.

The distance between the holes needs to be certain to maintain the "tooth" that is left between the holes and a line.

It always has to be 0.40mm in height. Now then using the distance between the bodies and the pattern on path seems to be on the only viable way to get there.

Using the settings as displayed i am fairly sure its right.

I haven't been able to figure out a way to bring this pattern back to 2D so i could make rest of the sketch. I'm also lacking the methods to measure and ensure that the "tooth" size has not changed at all.

Any tips or ideas how to resolve this or make the whole progress a lot easier than how i made it?

There could be variations in the Spline or the shape could be totally different in the future as well.

I'm essentially searching for a method to place certain sized holes to follow a path so that the "tooth" wont change.

a big plus would be to find a method that is easy to produce with different variables.

Thanks in advance!

[HughesTooling · Accepted solution]

A couple of thoughts. One, try offsetting the spline to the side you need the tooth and use the offset spline as the path. Second, use components not bodies. 

Create a component, then sketch a circle.

Pattern the component and you'll get a pattern with the sketch circle and body.

To check the distance create another sketch and project the circles from the pattern.

Mark

[Anonymous]

Hi,

Thanks for a solution.

Got puzzled at the projecting the circles again. Though i have not had a change to have a look at the project tool at all.

As of what i understood with a quick look was that i cant project all of the circles at the same time? 

If so its gonna be rather slow process to project over 600 holes or so.

Exporting directly after making pattern on path seems to work for my purposes expect for the fact that the scale goes down from 1240mm to 124mm for what ever reason. I suspect its a problem with the receiving software.

Anyway my problem was resolved so thanks!

[HughesTooling]

I only meant to project a couple of circles so you could measure the distance you need for the nibs. And the export from the data panel will be in CM, if the program opening the design reads the unit info it will scale correctly.

Mark

[Anonymous]

Oh alright that clarified it quite well thanks again!

[chrisplyler]

I'm so confused.

If you define the distance along the path from circle CENTER to circle CENTER...then the "tooth" distance along the edges is going to change around inside and outside curves of the path.

I got very close by patterning a cut along the outside at the distance I wanted, but the actual distance between points still varies a tiny bit. (Did it for both sides here....)

Geometrically speaking...You've got the distance between points, you've got the depth of cut, and you've got the radius of the cut. At least ONE of those MUST change along any path that varies in curvature. There's no way around it.

The ONLY way to get this right is to lay out and dimension every single cut in the sketch. A pattern isn't going to do it.

[Anonymous]

Hi @chrisplyler,

Yes geometrically speaking you are right there will be a slight distortion. 

As for my purposes if the height of the tooth varies between 0.37 to 0.42 or close to that it does not change anything.

The pattern will be used in punch / shearing system in metal industry. Therefore a slight variation is okay.

As for the outside and inside of the curve of course it will be different. But yet again it's not what i'm after here so its alright. 

Thanks for pointing it out though!

[chrisplyler]

Well...if you don't mind the variations...I've made a video to show you how I did it.

Please note that both the height/depth of the cut changes, and so does the distance between points. If you want to, you could shrink the pattern distance slightly to eliminate those little flats on the outside curves.

But if this is something that you're going to run through a nibbler and accept whatever results come out the other side...why are you even modeling it? Just for looks on your computer screen?

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/community/screencast/313a2942-9940-4562-9d05-65ff1e56a8d7

[Anonymous]

Interesting take on the subject.

However my coal is not to produce the tooth but the whole cut on the edge. The tooth height value is only there to preserve the tool used in the process.

What i need fusion for in this case are the 20mm holes.

The software i transfer this to cannot read curves with any kind of variations. So essentially only arches.

I need the positions of the 20mm holes in relation to the Spline. 

The Spline it self is attached to the rest of the product in flat view.

Something like this (rest is confidental):

The software which i use after this can now find the "Spline" which is not there but the 20mm holes for the tool placement are. As well as defining the rest of the part.

The model it self is not important. The DWG / DXF exported out is.

Hope this clarified my needs.