Struggling with making some specific cuts

[t_smith5]

Hey

I'm probably being incredibly thick with this, but I've been struggling the past few hours with trying to make some very specific cuts, and it's getting me frustrated. 😖 I feel like I'm unable to make any progress until I can get these areas sorted out. I've tried adding the lines/cuts to a side sketch/profile and one from the front, and neither one are getting the desired result. I've even tried extruding from the lines as Patches and splitting the faces from that. The ideal solution would be to uncheck the Extend Splitting Tool because checking it is adding the cut all the way around. But usually, every time I uncheck it, I just keep getting an error. 😞

It always says 'no intersection between targets and split tool' and I'm not entirely sure why or what I'm doing wrong. So if I can't use that method, I'm not sure what the best approach is for achieving the desired result.

Splitting this line from the side just looks too wonky from the front, so figured it would need to be done from the front sketch.

But then... the line is too far forward compared to the side sketch. Not to mention the cut around the back, which I don't want. 😫

I mean, I can try adding the lines/cuts a bit further to the side in the front sketch, but I imagine that'll only help so much. I dunno... I'm probably overthinking this as usual, but my mind is drawing a complete blank. 😕 I mean, I might think of a solution once I come away from it, or before someone else responds, but I'll attach the file. I'm always open to new approaches/workflows to solve an issue like this. 🙂

Thanks

[jhackney1972]

I think you will get a better response if you clarify where the exact cut is in your model, what surface or sketch you are wanting to use.  I myself cannot make sense of what you are asking.

[t_smith5]

Okay. Well, in the reference images used, it would be these areas I've painted over in light blue... This first one is from the original concept art:

This is from the updated sprite, where the line(s) running down the side(s) are rounder:

Or there's the original sprite where the line is a bit more at an angle, but it's a bit straighter:

I think any of these would be fine; I'm kinda just experimenting to see what works and looks best.

And from the sketches, these lines highlighted in blue are the ones I've been working with.

Front:

Side:

[etfrench]

Offset the face.

Project the cut line from Torso front sketch to a new sketch on the same plane.

Draw a boundary around the right side of the body starting from the projected line.

Extrude cut the right side of the offset face.

Use the remaining offset face to perform a sweep or whatever else you needed for the blue lines.

The bottom rectangle can be done easily with split bodies.

[t_smith5]

Sorry, I'm a bit confused with being able to process what you mean. This is where I find videos and video explanations easier to understand when it comes to Fusion. A written explanation takes me a while to figure out exactly what and where someone means. 😅

Also, the bottom split that runs around is what I want to avoid. Based on the references I uploaded previously, it's only at the front of the torso and I can't seem to figure out how to avoid it cutting all the way around. Similarly for the vertical line at the front - I mentioned previously that it looks too far forward.

[t_smith5]

I've even tried positioning the line at the front more to the left, but still can't make a split in the area I want without it cutting the back, too. 😕

Unchecking the extension just gives me an error every time, no matter what mesh...

And I've tried extruding a plane from the line, but get the same problem.

[etfrench · Accepted solution]

Start with the Offset face at 0 distance:

Project the line:

Create the boundary:

Extrude it:

Offset face overlaid the main body:

Repeat the process for rectangle.  Note that you can use constraints on the rectangle to points on the main body or the offset face:

[t_smith5]

Is there a regular Offset option...? I've only seen Offset Face and that doesn't give the same options as in your screenshot.

[etfrench · Accepted solution]

Use Offset in the Surface workspace.

[t_smith5]

Okay, I think I get your approach with this. And it does prevent the lines from going all the way around. 🙂

Can you combine them parts together afterwards though? Is that recommended? Because that line is a part of a separate body instead of being part of the main one. Will that cause some weird overlapping meshes? I did try stitching the two together, but the lines remain red. And when I did try to Combine, I'm not able to select the Surface Body as the Tool Bodies.

Thanks

[etfrench]

It is a surface, so combining won't work.  Use the edges of the surface as paths for sweeps to create details on the main body.

[t_smith5]

I might need some help with that too. 😅 I've tried using Sweeps before, but haven't had much luck. It needs a Profile, but would that need to be the entire Body sketch or part of it? I'm not sure how much or what would be needed in this case.

Thanks

[etfrench]

Start with Plane Along Path. Select the edge (turn Tangent Chain off). Set Distance to 0.  Create a sketch on the plane.  Draw a profile to sweep.  Sweep the profile, cutting the main body.

[t_smith5]

Is this the bottom edge of the original Body mesh? The two new Surface meshes? All three together? 😵

[t_smith5]

Draw a profile...? Draw what exactly? I'm really confused with all of this. 😖

[etfrench]

You currently have a solid main body.  This needs to have a shallow groove cut in it to simulate the different sections. The profile needed is the shape of the shallow groove.

[t_smith5]

I'm afraid you'll have to show me a demonstration either via a video or screenshots. 😕 

[etfrench]

Have you been able to create a Plane Along Path using the edge of the offset face as the path.  If so, create a sketch on that plane.  Add a profile at the origin of that sketch either U or V shaped. Sweep that profile along that path and cut the main body with that sweep.

[t_smith5]

I've seriously no idea if I'm even doing it right... 😕

[jhackney1972]

Have you attached your latest model, I do not see it.