boolean or combine from hollow shape

[qkarmark]

suppose you have a ping pong ball and a marble, and you push both of them down into a piece of clay: both will result in a spherical void in the clay surface when you remove them. In Fusion 360, I can clearly understand how to achieve such a void feature on the surface using the marble example, but I don't understand how to do it if the sphere were a pingpong ball... to me it needs to be a project feature, but I cannot solve the shape I need. any help would be greatly appreciated 🙂

[jeff_strater]

there are a couple of ways to do it.  You can use Combine, but the shell of the ping-pong ball will leave a free-floating body in the middle.  You can just Remove that body.  You can also use Boundary Fill, but it is a bit more complex.

Note, however, that Combine is not the "push" operation you describe.  You can do a pseudo-push, depending on the shape - a ping-pong ball would be relatively easy, more complex shapes are not.

[qkarmark]

Thanks, Jeff… I should have explained that the ping pong ball is a huge generalization… in the application I’m using, the ping pong ball reference is potentially not manifold but merely not a solid - suppose the ping ball concept was actually replaced with a cylinder for example…. Punch that ‘cylinder’ into the proverbial clay, and you will get the expected void… but Fusion requires a different operation than Combine will allow. Hoping you follow, or I could simply share my model instead. 

[jhackney1972]

Yes, do share your model.

[jeff_strater]

no, sorry, I don't follow.  I don't know what "not manifold but merely not a solid" means.  References to "non manifold" surfaces worry me - Fusion will not work well with non manifold geometry.  A hollow cylinder will work the same as a hollow sphere, as in my example, assuming it is a shelled cylinder.

I'm not clear whether you want a "Push" operation (e.g. creating packaging for a complex shape), or to just subtract the volume of one hollow solid from another.  The second is possible, while a true "Push" is a lot of work, and can only sometimes be done in Fusion.

In addition to sharing the model, some clarification about what you expect the results to be would be helpful.  Thanks.

[qkarmark]

Thanks again Jeff...

here is the public link to the file.

https://a360.co/3BRkrVF

I have built a roof panel using metal material. I wish to create a cold press die for the top and the bottom sides of this panel so I can produce many copies this aluminum part in my shop - the die would be milled from steel etc, and the roof panel is aluminum sheet. 

I am trying to use Fusion 360 to create the dies, as mentioned top and bottom sides. There are two concerns for me: one is the ribbing that radiates from the centre point, and the other is the flange on the right side attached to one of the panel edges. 

I need to figure out how to create the 'negative' shape/body of the roof panel in order to create the die that will form the positive on the press.

any help would be appreciated.

Quentin 

[TrippyLighting]

The model of the roof panel is not of a consistent thickness and has a few other problem areas.

I have a hard time imagining how you can create that shape from a single die.

I am assuming you intend to place a single pre-cut aluminium blank into the die. The die will then create the depressions?

[jeff_strater · Accepted solution]

thanks.  Yes, this is the "push" that I referred to.  Here is the basic idea:  Put the target into the middle of the block, then do the Combine, and also project the silhouette of the panel, and use Extrude to remove material that is in-between the top of the block and the removed area.

Here is the silhouette projection:

here is after the Combine/cut:

this is the extrude:

the file is attached.

[qkarmark]

You are correct, I have blank aluminum sheet 0.015in thickness, I am aware of the small inconsistencies in my model and am not terribly concerned, but will take that into consideration if the the press cannot complete the shape as expected. 

if I can achieve the dies, I can make the part no problem. 

[qkarmark]

OMG that's precisely what I needed. You, my sir, are granted my blessings and salutations!

thanks so much!

I did not know you can work with solid features while having an active sketch of the profile... this is perfect! 

[TrippyLighting]

If your material thickness is .015" and the model is thinner in the areas with the red lines, then you won't be able to close the mold.