Sequence for first project

[Anonymous]

I'm a new user of Fusion 360. As a simple beginner project, I'm making a Key Chain tag with some text on it. I plan to make it with a 3d printer.

I looked at numerous videos and tutorials that all refer to the "Sketch" menu, but in the version that I have (2.0.7421) the Sketch menu doesn't exist. Instead, the Sketch tools appear in the toolbar, but only when in Sketching. I think this is just the newer version does things differently, but it makes it hard to learn from tutorials and videos that are based on previous versions.

Once I figured out how to get a sketch going, I created a rectangle. Several tutorials say you should constrain the dimensions, rather than just moving them with the mouse, so that's what I did. But why are constrained dimensions better than moving with the mouse?

Next I added fillets to round the corners. That resulted in the above constraints being removed, so I had to re-enter the constraints as distances between sides, as opposed to length of sides. Then I added a hole for the key ring and constrained its location and diameter. Then I finished that sketch. Then I extruded that to a thickness of 2mm. Should the thickness be a constraint also? i.e. Should all dimensions be constrained, or just the ones in a sketch?

Next I added another sketch to hold the text on the surface of the key tag and extruded that. So now I have two sketches and one Body. Is that the right way to go about it?

My next project is a case for a Raspberry Pi. The case will have one Body consisting of the bottom and 4 sides. If I follow the above, I will end up with a sketch for the bottom and a separate sketch for each of the 3 sides that have cutouts. Then another Body and sketch for the lid. Is that the right approach?

Thanks,

Jake

[wmhazzard]

Sketch lines need to be fully constrained for parametric modeling, meaning if you change something before the sketch, the sketch will not break down, also it prevents accidental movement of the sketch lines which would change your model. 

The way you made the tag is fine but for the case, you can start at the bottom but you could do all 4 sides at one time either from the top or from the side with a sweep of a profile. It is better to make your sketches in the place that you want the body to be, don't move bodies unless absolutely necessary. The fewer sketches and operations that you have for a given model the better. 

[davebYYPCU]

Agree the tag was correct, 

Constraints are in sketches, other dimensions in the modelling area are Parameters, and won’t accidentally change, so they should not be any further concern.

There are so many ways to make the PI case.

Sketch the top down view and constrain it.

extrude the solid, fillet where required, then shell the wall thickness.  

use Split body, for cutting the lid.

A sketch for each wall, and Extrude cut the ports.

screws and bosses, snap lid fittings as desired.

is a guide of operations.

[g-andresen]

Hi,

Pictures say more than words.
Even more is achieved by a combination of both, especially when the images are embedded in the text.

günther