Want a little more help with your Fusion 360 vase project this week? This project is designed to throw you into the deep end and make you struggle to figure out something foreign and difficult on your own. However, I want you to have enough breadcrumbs to succeed… so here are the breadcrumbs, which are mostly just reminders of what we discussed in class:
- DEADLINES:
Before noon on Tuesday 4/9 (next class day), your assignment is to:- Create a vase in Fusion 360 using Sketches, Offset Planes, and Loft
- Print a small demo version of the vase with “spiralize”
- Then print a very large version of your vase with “spiralize”
- Document that work as usual with WordPress and submit to Canvas (see the Homework Calendar and your portfolio section outlines for details)
- WORKING ON YOUR OWN COMPUTER:
You don’t have to get Fusion 360 on your own laptop or home computer; you can always use the computers in 3SPACE. However, if you are creating your design on your own machine, then you may have a problem with a mismatched verision of Fusion 360 that makes it impossible for you to open your files in 3SPACE. There are two possible solutions to this problem:- You can re-download a new, updated copy of Fusion 360 from Autodesk to a 3SPACE computer. This is a pain and it can take a while, and the new updated version will be wiped from the computer overnight.
- Or you can download Ultimaker Cura and/or LulzBot Cura to your own machine, so that you can slice the files yourself there. Then you can export directly to an SD/USB for a 3SPACE printer from your machine, or export the file to your computer and then email it to yourself for downloading to a 3SPACE computer and then putting onto an SD/USB for a printer.
- VASE DESIGN:
- Follow the design process in the Maker’s Muse video Crazy Vases using the Loft Feature in Fusion 360, except don’t do the “Shell” part at the very end of the video. Your finished vase design should be a solid object like a giant weird tall twisty hockey puck, with nothing hollowed out.
- Be sure to use Sketches, Offset Planes, and Loft. You can also use a Rail. Be creative and make your vase unique! Feel free to add any other types of features that you like, as long as the vase is still suitable for spiralize (so avoid handles and hanging protrusions, etc.)
- However, remember that overhangs and crazy features might not print well; be prepared to iterate if needed. You can always edit Objects, Sketches, and Features in Fusion 360 by right-clicking on the corresponding icon in the Timeline at the bottom left of the Fusion 360 screen.
- Remember that to export you have to right-click either on the top-level name of the object in the Browser menu on the left of the screen, or open up the Body menu and right-click on the object you want to export. Choose “Save to STL” and then click “OK” in the dialogue window, then save your file as .STL.
- Don’t forget to also save your Fusion 360 design file! It will save your modifications automatically, but you have to save and name your design the first time by clicking on the save icon in the top menu bar.
- SPIRALIZE:
- Your vase design is a solid object, but you’re going to ask Cura to slice the file so that the printer only draws the base of the object and then one thin line spiraling around the outside contour.
- Use the thickest possible layer height for the printer you will be using
- You’ll have to use the “Custom” settings to activate the spiralize feature. Scroll down to the bottom of the settings and see if there is a “Special Modes” menu item. If there is, then open it and activate the checkbox for “Spiralize Outer Countour”.
- If there isn’t a “Special Modes” menu item then hover over any other gray menu item and click the gear icon that should appear. Then search for “spiralize” and click the “Spiralize Outer Countour” checkbox. This will add that setting to your Custom menu. Now return to your Custom menu and do the step listed before this one.