Trying to figure out how to model this (seemingly) simple design?

[jyawschoolpsych]

All,

Fairly new to fusion! Looking for any ideas or guidance on how I might model this catch all tray - wood -

I have an attachment file that I tried working up - it's ok and it does look like it will cut on my CNC but it's not exactly like the design I found - I honestly just don't know the software well enough yet, maybe someone can see what I've done with my file and give me some corrective feedback?

[etfrench]

Surface loft between two straight lines at the corners and one arc at the middle:

[davebYYPCU]

Solid Loft the walls with 3 profiles.  Edit sketches to change the shapes required.

We both have a flat floor, but photo looks a little bulged, not sure.

You should make use of the design Origin and fully define sketches after the appearance is correct.

Might help....

[jyawschoolpsych]

Dave,

Yes I know the tray looks bulged I don't actually think it is but that photo does look that way. Man your design looks really great. Is there any way you would share that file with me. I'm new to fusion and I feel like I'm at like 1.0 with my designs - I understand some of the way to go about designing a piece but I learn best when I can see what other's have done. If I could see your history like in a real file to see what you did it would help me so much! I understand if that would be too much. Maybe you could send me this file? If you can't post it here could you send it to jyawschoolpsych@gmail.com? I just want to see like in your file how you did this cause that's definitely better than what I came up with.

-jyaw

[jyawschoolpsych]

ET French,

So appreciate the reply. There is no way that you could somehow model this for me and send to me? I really don't understand how to do what you're telling me - I'm sure you're correct as I am very new with the software - I feel like I can do some basic things but don't understand all the functions but if I could see it in someone's design timeline that would help me connect maybe what you're talking about. If not, no worries. Maybe you could point me to a class or paid way to learn how to do these sorts of design tasks?

-jyaw

[davebYYPCU]

Sorry, normally do send files, for teaching, got distracted with seasons activities before the send button.

Used most of your basic dimensions and then some licence.

Might help....

[etfrench]

There isn't much to see.  It's just two sketches and a loft😀

1. Draw two vertical lines in a sketch on the XZ plane (or one parallel to it) at the corners.
2. Draw an arc or spline in a sketch on the YZ plane (or one parallel to it) located at the center of the two lines.
3. Surface loft between them. 

It will probably be much easier to use a solid loft.

[wersy]

[wersy]

Oh yes, the bottom should be curved.

[TrippyLighting]

@wersy's model is the only one I would consider spot on!

Edit: That applies to the overall modeling results. He's losing points for bad form 😉

The first sketch is not properly constrained (centered) around the sketch origin. 

 

[user015M86Y]

Hi,

see attached my proposal

[davebYYPCU]

I'll defend Wersy here, it's where the OP put it.  

[jyawschoolpsych]

@wersy

Again, I just can't thank you enough for replying and spending the time I know it must have taken to help model that tray I was inquiring about. I'm going to run it this week and will send you a picture if/when I get it milled!

I have another question for you, and again, if it's too complicated no worries at all. I want to attach a file I downloaded online of another little catch all tray. I'm also attaching a picture of how it cuts on the CNC. It cuts very nice and looks great, but I'm trying to figure out how to model this for myself to change the overall dimensions (e.g., make it bigger than 4 x 9 7/8). I connected with another guy who modeled it almost exactly as it was and his file is attached as well (the "from Dave file"). I spend a few hours today trying to reconstruct his timeline and am also attaching my attempt at his remodel but with an overall footprint of 6.5 x 14 (the size really doesn't matter I just wanted to see if I could make it bigger). Anyway, I feel like I did learn some new skills with the sweep function and the loft (had not even used those before), but I'm stuck! I cannot figure out how to trim the excess off the model and then when I try and run the two basic toolpaths I'm just not having any luck. The part I cut (picture attached) has only the 2D Pocket and then a final 2D Contour path - but I can't get it to recognize my model in CAM or can't figure out how to make it cut the way this original file cuts. I'm so lost, I'm wondering if you could take a look.

Also, do you ever do like private lessons? I feel like it would so help to like speak to someone as I watch how they model these. I do feel like with some time I am able to somewhat recreate the timeline in my own modeling but it's not the same. Or, alternatively, do you know of anywhere or anyone who does this. I'd love to figure out, for example, how to model this one little tray in different sizes. I feel like I'm somewhat there but can't get it to cut like this original file I have and have now run a few times. Anyway, any help would be much appreciated.

[davebYYPCU]

Quite a mouthful.

The difference between your model not being recognised for Manufacture and his that does work, is 

your model has a surface body contour, his is solid 

The size changes by parameters will be complicated, by the actual construction of those sketches.

Mostly blue articles, nowhere near the Origin.  Splines have too many points.  All making it more complicated than it has to be.

Edit:  Good example of the Too Many Spline points - optimally the red curve lines should be as smooth as possible. Centre line curve has least points, rear curve has most spline points, and the quality of each curve is shown.

Now had time to review your mate's file, he has imported the original model and then reverse engineered it into Fusion sketches and then features to rebuild it.  Changing size of the original model would not be complicated.

Might help...

[jyawschoolpsych]

Dave, thank you so much for your reply. I'm so new to Fusion, really only having spent a bit of time in Google Sketchup before this - I'm just a hobbyest woodworker. So yes, another Dave had attempted to recreate the original file I posted, and to me, it looks pretty good! Are you saying there is simply an easy way to resize the whole model? How might I go about doing that, for example? Can you just proportionately like drag the model bigger?

That's kind of what I was trying to do. I was just trying to figure out how in the world this thing was modeled. I mean, is this an insanely complicated model?

How did the original modeler make his a solid body and not a surface body? Like how far away from my model that I made (the 6.5 x 14 one) from being able to run it on manufacture? Am I just missing some key steps to make the curvature solid? Instead of surface?

[davebYYPCU]

Ok, depends - 

There was an Original model attached.  There were 2 other files where that original was either Inserted or copied at a larger size.

Changing the size of the Original is / was done with Modify > Scale tool.  Can be uniform or non uniform. 

Simple change to do with a little math.  (Zero engineering)

The other Dave inserted the model, and probably scaled it at the time of insert, as I can't find that operation in his timeline.  As said he then reverse engineered it, by copying the model into Fusion sketches with Projections - (purple articles) and associated features.

Then you have taken his sketches and copied those as new (mostly blue sketch articles).  

Now sort of what you started with, making this model from scratch, is easily done, but I see a lot of easier ways to do it, than you have done it.  To make it changeable with parameters, will take some better preparation.  Changing dimensions - needs dimensions in the sketches, there were none.

Due to the organic nature of the floor surface definition, it is easy to replicate it with a surface body.

A solid Loft will need more profiles but can be done.  Just a different order of operations.

How did the original modeler make his a solid body and not a surface body.  Usually, Surface bodies are used in a construction / preceding mode and are used for the shaping of the end result - a solid body. 

Some Modify Tools are used when appropriate.  

So in a nutshell, is best to take a good look at the model, break it down into manageable steps to construct it.  

This one has a Slot shaped extruded wall, and a filled floor cavity with wavy top.  

You would need Length, Height, Width, and Wall thickness as parameters, so use those to get started.

Am I just missing some key steps to make the curvature solid, just one more step,

Extrude to Object, the appropriate floor sketch profile, and select the surface body as the extruded height.  Hide the surface body, and making sure it was a Join, will have one body to cut in Manufacture.

Mine is not your size, change parameters to bring it to your size.

Might help....