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Sketch the main shape of the saw trigger. We will use splines and lines, edit the splines, add dimensions, and use an attached canvas image for reference.
Type:
Tutorial
Length:
5 min.
Transcript
00:03
In Fusion, reference images can be plan view sketches or photographs that are set in the background of the workspace to model from.
00:11
You can start to learn basic parametric modeling by sketching shapes based on a reference image.
00:17
In this example, you work with a reference image of a reciprocating saw to sketch the main shape of the saw trigger using lines and splines.
00:25
You also learn how to edit splines, add dimensions, and apply constraints to sketches.
00:32
Begin by sketching the trigger for the reciprocating saw.
00:36
On the Design workspace toolbar, click Solid > Create > Create Sketch.
00:42
Click the XY plane to work on.
00:45
On the Navigation bar, click View > Zoom Window, then click and drag to create a window around the trigger area.
00:54
Because part of the trigger is obscured by the outer casing in the photograph, you need to interpret where the trigger should be positioned.
01:01
The trigger has a curved area at the front, then three straight lines around the rest of the trigger.
01:07
Start by creating a series of straight lines.
01:10
On the Sketch contextual tab, in the Create group, click Line.
01:16
Click to place the first point at the bottom of the trigger where it begins to straighten.
01:20
Following the curve, drag to create a line about halfway into the casing on the photograph, and then click to place the endpoint.
01:28
Move upwards and click to place the beginning of the next line.
01:32
Drag to the left, leaving room for the curve at the front of the trigger.
01:36
Click to place the endpoint, then press Esc to end the line.
01:41
At this stage in the design, there is no need to worry about the exact dimensions or angles of the lines—you can specify these later.
01:50
Next, sketch the curve at the front of the trigger using a spline.
01:54
On the toolbar, click the Create menu, and then select Spline > Fit Point Spline.
02:01
Click the first point of the line at the bottom of the trigger to place the first point of the spline.
02:07
Moving clockwise, place 3 more points that follow the shape of the trigger, and then a final point at the endpoint of the top line.
02:15
To complete the shape, click the green checkmark.
02:19
The inside of the sketch is shaded, indicating that you now have a closed shape in Fusion.
02:24
With an enclosed shape, you can do several things, such as extruding it to create new bodies.
02:30
Click and drag the spline points to adjust the shape of the curve.
02:34
You can also change the radius of the curves by manipulating the spline handles.
02:40
Zoom in, if needed, to help with fine curve adjustments.
02:44
Next, apply some constraints to the trigger sketch geometry.
02:48
If you do not already have a perpendicular constraint at one of the corners,
02:52
from the Constraints group of the toolbar, click Perpendicular.
02:56
Add the constraint between the lower and back lines by clicking each, then do the same for the back and top lines.
03:04
Applying the constraints may move the bottom and top lines.
03:08
Next, click the Tangent constraint.
03:12
Click the top line and the upper end of the spline, then the lower line and the bottom end of the spline.
03:20
Now, the spline flows smoothly into the top and bottom lines.
03:24
Press Esc to end the command.
03:26
Click and drag the top line to the correct location, and make any final edits to the spline curves as needed.
03:34
To sketch the rod that connects to the back of the trigger, from the Create group, click Line.
03:40
Place the first point on the right-hand side of the trigger shape.
03:44
Then draw the three sides of a long, narrow rectangle, approximately 20 mm in length, and about 5 mm in width.
03:52
The sketch needs to join to the main trigger shape.
03:56
None of this needs to be exact at this stage, as you can use constraints and dimensions to configure the geometry.
04:02
In the Constraint group, click Perpendicular.
04:06
If not already added, click to add a perpendicular constraint to three corners of the rod,
04:12
so that the two lines touching the back of the trigger are perpendicular to the back line.
04:17
With the constraints added, you are ready to specify dimensions.
04:21
Back in the Create group, click Sketch Dimension.
04:26
Select the top line, then select the bottom line.
04:30
Move the pointer to the left and click to place the dimension.
04:34
Type a value of 30, and then press Enter.
04:38
With the dimension tool still active, click the right-hand vertical line on both the main trigger shape and on the trigger rod,
04:46
then click to place the dimension.
04:49
Enter a value of 20.
04:51
Repeat this process to set the width of the rod to 5 mm.
04:57
Now, center the rod to the main shape of the trigger.
05:00
The distance between the top and bottom of the trigger shape is 30 mm, and the width of the rod is 5 mm.
05:07
Select the top line of the rod and the top line of the main shape, then place the dimension.
05:14
Enter 12.5 mm to center the rod and position it properly.
05:20
Applying the dimensions and constraints may have altered the spline on the front of the trigger.
05:25
Click and drag any fit points that need to be adjusted,
05:28
and manipulate the curvature on the front of the trigger to more accurately reflect the attached canvas photograph.
05:35
When this is done, click Finish Sketch to complete this part of the saw trigger sketch.
05:40
You now understand how to use a canvas image as the basis for creating a sketch for a part.
Video transcript
00:03
In Fusion, reference images can be plan view sketches or photographs that are set in the background of the workspace to model from.
00:11
You can start to learn basic parametric modeling by sketching shapes based on a reference image.
00:17
In this example, you work with a reference image of a reciprocating saw to sketch the main shape of the saw trigger using lines and splines.
00:25
You also learn how to edit splines, add dimensions, and apply constraints to sketches.
00:32
Begin by sketching the trigger for the reciprocating saw.
00:36
On the Design workspace toolbar, click Solid > Create > Create Sketch.
00:42
Click the XY plane to work on.
00:45
On the Navigation bar, click View > Zoom Window, then click and drag to create a window around the trigger area.
00:54
Because part of the trigger is obscured by the outer casing in the photograph, you need to interpret where the trigger should be positioned.
01:01
The trigger has a curved area at the front, then three straight lines around the rest of the trigger.
01:07
Start by creating a series of straight lines.
01:10
On the Sketch contextual tab, in the Create group, click Line.
01:16
Click to place the first point at the bottom of the trigger where it begins to straighten.
01:20
Following the curve, drag to create a line about halfway into the casing on the photograph, and then click to place the endpoint.
01:28
Move upwards and click to place the beginning of the next line.
01:32
Drag to the left, leaving room for the curve at the front of the trigger.
01:36
Click to place the endpoint, then press Esc to end the line.
01:41
At this stage in the design, there is no need to worry about the exact dimensions or angles of the lines—you can specify these later.
01:50
Next, sketch the curve at the front of the trigger using a spline.
01:54
On the toolbar, click the Create menu, and then select Spline > Fit Point Spline.
02:01
Click the first point of the line at the bottom of the trigger to place the first point of the spline.
02:07
Moving clockwise, place 3 more points that follow the shape of the trigger, and then a final point at the endpoint of the top line.
02:15
To complete the shape, click the green checkmark.
02:19
The inside of the sketch is shaded, indicating that you now have a closed shape in Fusion.
02:24
With an enclosed shape, you can do several things, such as extruding it to create new bodies.
02:30
Click and drag the spline points to adjust the shape of the curve.
02:34
You can also change the radius of the curves by manipulating the spline handles.
02:40
Zoom in, if needed, to help with fine curve adjustments.
02:44
Next, apply some constraints to the trigger sketch geometry.
02:48
If you do not already have a perpendicular constraint at one of the corners,
02:52
from the Constraints group of the toolbar, click Perpendicular.
02:56
Add the constraint between the lower and back lines by clicking each, then do the same for the back and top lines.
03:04
Applying the constraints may move the bottom and top lines.
03:08
Next, click the Tangent constraint.
03:12
Click the top line and the upper end of the spline, then the lower line and the bottom end of the spline.
03:20
Now, the spline flows smoothly into the top and bottom lines.
03:24
Press Esc to end the command.
03:26
Click and drag the top line to the correct location, and make any final edits to the spline curves as needed.
03:34
To sketch the rod that connects to the back of the trigger, from the Create group, click Line.
03:40
Place the first point on the right-hand side of the trigger shape.
03:44
Then draw the three sides of a long, narrow rectangle, approximately 20 mm in length, and about 5 mm in width.
03:52
The sketch needs to join to the main trigger shape.
03:56
None of this needs to be exact at this stage, as you can use constraints and dimensions to configure the geometry.
04:02
In the Constraint group, click Perpendicular.
04:06
If not already added, click to add a perpendicular constraint to three corners of the rod,
04:12
so that the two lines touching the back of the trigger are perpendicular to the back line.
04:17
With the constraints added, you are ready to specify dimensions.
04:21
Back in the Create group, click Sketch Dimension.
04:26
Select the top line, then select the bottom line.
04:30
Move the pointer to the left and click to place the dimension.
04:34
Type a value of 30, and then press Enter.
04:38
With the dimension tool still active, click the right-hand vertical line on both the main trigger shape and on the trigger rod,
04:46
then click to place the dimension.
04:49
Enter a value of 20.
04:51
Repeat this process to set the width of the rod to 5 mm.
04:57
Now, center the rod to the main shape of the trigger.
05:00
The distance between the top and bottom of the trigger shape is 30 mm, and the width of the rod is 5 mm.
05:07
Select the top line of the rod and the top line of the main shape, then place the dimension.
05:14
Enter 12.5 mm to center the rod and position it properly.
05:20
Applying the dimensions and constraints may have altered the spline on the front of the trigger.
05:25
Click and drag any fit points that need to be adjusted,
05:28
and manipulate the curvature on the front of the trigger to more accurately reflect the attached canvas photograph.
05:35
When this is done, click Finish Sketch to complete this part of the saw trigger sketch.
05:40
You now understand how to use a canvas image as the basis for creating a sketch for a part.
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