problems with patterning properly

[Pearsonh001]

Okay guys and gals I'm stumped. 

I just struggled through my first model that I designed to be laser cut and some things still are not clear.  I'm now designing another product with similar features and the process I used to make the first model  and they are not working in this second one. 

  So here is the issue:

 In the first model (attached ) I designed parts that have tabs and clips that lock into other parts. I also attached an image of what these tabs and clips look like. In this first model I tried different ways to pattern these tabs and clips around the rectangular bodies and found success by first modeling the rectangular body, then sketching the tabs and clips and patterning them around the rectangular body using patterning faces, as I could not get pattern bodies to work like I was encouraged to do. 

 I m now trying to do the exact same process in my new model and when I try to pattern faces I get an invalid input and nothing shows up after the command,  and I am doing everything the exact same.

 What I would like is for someone to explain the proper way to add all these tabs and clips to my parts as I am going to be making a lot of products that use the same construction.

 I've attached an image also of the back piece that Im trying to add all these tabs to with arrows where i would like them

 I'm someone could show me how they would to this properly I would greatly appreciated .

Regards, Pearson 

[etfrench]

Simply copy the first divider and use a joint to place it in its correct position. First, I would join all of the clips to the Body1.

You can only pattern faces on a single body. 

If all of your clips will have two tabs, then save both tabs in one component.  Once you place the tab component on a new part, the mirror command would probably be a better choice most of the time to create the other tabs.

[davebYYPCU]

A little confusing, looks to me that the file is the first attempt, that you managed to get there in the end, with some things working and others holding you back.

Not critical of the attempt, we do try to get you back to things that work well....

top extrude should have worked the first time, you have started duplicating the modelling before it was finished as one complete component to be copied and jointed.

Then you added a Second Try Component, and is this the one you are mainly asking about?  I am thinking so.

This Last component - unfortunately perpetuates the problem from the rest of the file.  

Most of the problems stem from file planning, accuracy, symmetry, and not so much the Patterns.

Sketch1, in the last component, few things I would fix, (in the sketch that was projected.)

1.  Use the origin for symmetry, 

2. Not the same as the other side, including the lower right cut, 

3. Outside dimensions.

An example, how to make it simpler, your divider Component would look like this as a template, one extrude, with two mirrors, for the first body.  Built on the Origin, with Full dimensions for half width and half height added, that are variable, but the top corner remains the same.

So to Summarise,

You draw 5 components, Base, Side, Front and 1 divider for each direction. 

Assemble with duplicates with Copy Paste or patterns with or without joints.

I would start with the base, yours was last, 

I have more questions than answers at the moment.... 

[Pearsonh001]

Ok guys I still have not got this to work. 

 I have attached a image of that shows the shapes I am trying to pattern around a body (screenshot 19) . In this first image I was able to sketch this shape, extrude it joined to the body, and then pattern the faces and it worked fine. 

I have attached the second image from another design that I am trying to do the EXACT same thing. Draw the tabs and pattern them around the rectangular body. I have tried extruding the the sketch joined with the body and then pattern the faces, this did not work, I got a invalid selection warning and none of the tabs showed up after the command. I then extruded the tabs as new bodies and was able to pattern them down one side. This is where the screencast  begins. 

  The screencast shows another problem I am having. If you watch I select the features I want to pattern, the preview seems correct, but as you see they do not end up anywhere close to where the preview shows. 

 I also would like to add that ANY way I try to pattern the tabs, by patterning faces, new bodies, features, I get a invalid input selection. 

 This is extremely frustrating specially after I spent so long getting this process down in another design, and now nothing is working the same way. 

 Would someone please demonstrate how they would add all these tabs around this rectangular shape. I have attached the model I am trying to get this to work in. 

Thank you, 

Pearson 

Screencast will be displayed here after you click Post.

baa6de3a-d76e-4fe2-83ae-ace32c3d3377

[Pearsonh001]

Screencast will be displayed here after you click Post.

 Can anyone see my screen cast? Its not showing up on the forum? It just says screencast with show up after you click post. But ti have already posted it

[etfrench]

When you edit a post, the screencast goes missing.  You'll need to repost it.

Here's one way to create the tabs:

[Pearsonh001]

There must be something wrong with my system because that is exactly what I was doing but it does not work. It gives me a Invalid input warning and the tabs do not show up, only the 2 little cut outs in between them. thanks for the demonstration.

regards,

Pearson  

[davebYYPCU]

Similar to Ed's but don't need the midplane, 

In your file the small cuts pattern into body 1, were in error because you were using Pattern on a Path, not Rectangular Pattern.

If you plan your modelling better, make one composite set of tab features, 

Extrude half the plate, cut the slots extrude the tabs as join, then pattern the 4 features in one go, mirror the half plate and combine.

Read my timeline, 

Might help....

[Pearsonh001]

Hey Dave, 

  Thansk for the reply, Im new to fusion and it was kinda of a ah-ha moment for me.  I'm still having a problem though. 

 Ive simplified your demonstration to make sure I can get it to work before I do a more elaborate design using the work flow. I sketched and extruded the plate, and then sketched and extruded the tab as join, but then I try to pattern the tab as a feature and it wants to use the top and bottom of the plate as well. I know it will work if I extrude the tab as a new body, but you said to do it as a join feature, and that is what I would like to do because I will be laser cutting these parts and sometimes there is a line between two bodies when I go to my lasercut software even after I combine the 2 bodies. I also know it would work If I patterned the faces, not features, but I would like to figure out the pattern feature command as it make things much simpler.  

can you explain this? 

regards, 

Pearson 

[lichtzeichenanlage]

In this thread I've shown a feature based method. In general I would first mirror and than pattern both sides. This ends in a more stable result if you want to change e.g. the number of joints. 

[davebYYPCU]

How do you get Fusion data to the cutter?

Sounds like you are selecting the Extrude for the plate, as part of the pattern.

The 4 features I mention, now looks misleading, 

Extrude cut slots

Extrude join tabs

Fillet x 2

Select these clicking icon in the timeline in order first to last feature.

Might help....