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Integrated BIM tools, including Revit, AutoCAD, and Civil 3D
Professional CAD/CAM tools built on Inventor and AutoCAD
Use the Snap Fit command to create cantilever snap fit features between solid bodies in your design with the Fusion Design Extension.
Type:
Tutorial
Length:
4 min.
Transcript
00:03
The Design Extension’s snap fit tool enables you to create snap fit features commonly used in the design of plastic injection molded parts.
00:12
Snap fit features offer several benefits, including a reduction in assembly steps, time, costs,
00:19
and fastening options, as well as enabling hidden fastenings to improve aesthetics.
00:25
With your project open in the Design workspace,
00:28
make sure your plastic rules are already applied to the components in your design,
00:32
and begin with your sketch points created to locate your snap fit features.
00:37
As a best practice, you may want to project existing 2D and 3D geometry onto the sketch plane
00:43
and create the sketch on the parting line between the separate bodies to help orient the snap fit features more easily.
00:50
To create cantilever snap fit features between solid bodies, select Plastic > Create > Snap Fit.
00:58
Select one or multiple sketch point geometries on the canvas.
01:02
Then, in the Snap Fit dialog, define the Type as parallel hook and groove, perpendicular hook and groove, or hook and loop.
01:12
You can also Flip the orientation of the hook, groove, or loop, change the Rotation angle,
01:20
and set the Extent Type to a specified distance or to the nearest face on a solid body.
01:26
Then, enter the dimensions for the shape and size of the hook, groove, or loop depending on the fastener type you selected.
01:34
You can edit these values any time during your design process.
01:38
With plastic rules assigned, the inherited values are automatically applied to the features of the respective component and added to the dialog.
01:47
For instance, notice the base width is twice the size of parameter T1, or the Thickness value.
01:54
You can also see this T1 reference in other dimensional values.
01:58
When you finish defining your snap fit feature, click OK.
02:02
The feature shows on the canvas and is added to the Timeline.
02:07
You can edit the Snap Fit feature at any time during your design process.
02:11
Either edit the position of the sketch points on the canvas and the feature will update parametrically,
02:18
or right-click the feature in the Timeline and select Edit Feature.
02:23
Then, in the dialog, add or remove sketch points, or adjust any of the associated settings.
02:30
To create multiple snap fit features with similar values, you can save your preferred settings as a preset.
02:37
In the dialog, click Add Preset.
02:40
To apply a preset, select it from the drop-down.
02:44
Click OK to accept your changes and the design will update.
02:49
Remember to always apply plastic rules before creating a snap fit feature.
02:54
Then, if you switch a plastic rule, the inherent plastic properties and parameters update, respectively.
03:00
Now you know how to create snap fit features in your design using the design extension.
Video transcript
00:03
The Design Extension’s snap fit tool enables you to create snap fit features commonly used in the design of plastic injection molded parts.
00:12
Snap fit features offer several benefits, including a reduction in assembly steps, time, costs,
00:19
and fastening options, as well as enabling hidden fastenings to improve aesthetics.
00:25
With your project open in the Design workspace,
00:28
make sure your plastic rules are already applied to the components in your design,
00:32
and begin with your sketch points created to locate your snap fit features.
00:37
As a best practice, you may want to project existing 2D and 3D geometry onto the sketch plane
00:43
and create the sketch on the parting line between the separate bodies to help orient the snap fit features more easily.
00:50
To create cantilever snap fit features between solid bodies, select Plastic > Create > Snap Fit.
00:58
Select one or multiple sketch point geometries on the canvas.
01:02
Then, in the Snap Fit dialog, define the Type as parallel hook and groove, perpendicular hook and groove, or hook and loop.
01:12
You can also Flip the orientation of the hook, groove, or loop, change the Rotation angle,
01:20
and set the Extent Type to a specified distance or to the nearest face on a solid body.
01:26
Then, enter the dimensions for the shape and size of the hook, groove, or loop depending on the fastener type you selected.
01:34
You can edit these values any time during your design process.
01:38
With plastic rules assigned, the inherited values are automatically applied to the features of the respective component and added to the dialog.
01:47
For instance, notice the base width is twice the size of parameter T1, or the Thickness value.
01:54
You can also see this T1 reference in other dimensional values.
01:58
When you finish defining your snap fit feature, click OK.
02:02
The feature shows on the canvas and is added to the Timeline.
02:07
You can edit the Snap Fit feature at any time during your design process.
02:11
Either edit the position of the sketch points on the canvas and the feature will update parametrically,
02:18
or right-click the feature in the Timeline and select Edit Feature.
02:23
Then, in the dialog, add or remove sketch points, or adjust any of the associated settings.
02:30
To create multiple snap fit features with similar values, you can save your preferred settings as a preset.
02:37
In the dialog, click Add Preset.
02:40
To apply a preset, select it from the drop-down.
02:44
Click OK to accept your changes and the design will update.
02:49
Remember to always apply plastic rules before creating a snap fit feature.
02:54
Then, if you switch a plastic rule, the inherent plastic properties and parameters update, respectively.
03:00
Now you know how to create snap fit features in your design using the design extension.
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