Finger Joint Box for Laser Cutting Fusion 360 Tutorial

In this comprehensive Fusion 360 tutorial, you'll learn the ins and outs of using user parameters to design a precise and customizable finger jointed laser cut box. Ideal for both beginners and seasoned Fusion 360 users, this video guides you through the process of modifying parameters to tailor your design exactly to your needs.
Key Highlights:
- Step-by-step guidance on setting up and modifying user parameters.
- Detailed walkthrough on creating a finger jointed box, starting from changing parameter names to adding new dimensions.
- Techniques for sketching components, using origin planes for mirroring, and ensuring proper constraints and dimensions for accuracy.
- Advanced tips on creating equal construction lines, dimensioning for plywood thickness, and utilizing the mirror sketch command for symmetrical design.
- Practical demonstrations on extruding sketches, creating and projecting new components, and ensuring the precision of finger tabs.
- Insightful tips on parametric design adjustments, including changing box dimensions and tab sizes dynamically.
What You Will Learn:
- How to effectively use the 'Modify Change Parameters' feature in Fusion 360.
- Strategies for starting your design from the origin for easier mirroring and alignment.
- Techniques for creating and adjusting sketches, including drawing and dimensioning rectangles and lines.
- Best practices for ensuring your design is fully constrained and error-free.
- How to use the extrude function for creating the base and sides of the box.
- Tips on creating parametric designs that can be easily adjusted for different sizes and requirements.
Bonus Content:
- The video includes a segment on using the 'Inspect' tool for component color cycling, which aids in identifying and resolving any overlapping or interfering parts in your design.
- Learn how to lay your design flat using the arrange command, a crucial step for efficient laser cutting.
This tutorial is perfect for hobbyists, DIY enthusiasts, and professionals looking to enhance their skills in parametric design and laser cutting using Fusion 360. Whether you're new to user parameters or looking to refine your existing knowledge, this video offers valuable insights and practical techniques to take your designs to the next level.
Remember to subscribe for more Fusion 360 tutorials, hit the like button if you find this video helpful, and share your thoughts or questions in the comments section below. Happy designing!
#Fusion360Tutorial #LaserCutting #ParametricDesign #FingerJointBox #DIYProjects #UserParameters #DesignTutorial #CADDesign #3DModeling #Fusion360Tips #LaserCuttingDesign
Make parametric finger joints for laser cutting in this Fusion 360 tutorial video. This technique uses user parameters and sketch constraints to create equally sized finger joints that are perfectly centered on each side. The fingers update with different size boxes.

[@torymiddlebrooks]

Ugh, I do love the intersection of a good tutorial and crafting. This is excellent.

[@WhatMakeArt]

Hope your project comes out well 👍

[@RedPillSurvival]

This is great info and a great exercise but I can't see doing this more than a few times before buying the finger joint add-in for $17.50

[@WhatMakeArt]

@RedPillSurvival at least then you will appreciate the finger joint add-on that much more

[@user-qo2cp4kf9g]

Very elegant

[@WhatMakeArt]

Glad it helped 📦

[@davidlemay6402]

Thanks for the video it has helped me out

[@WhatMakeArt]

Great, happy laser cutting 👍

[@NeoQJ]

I make something like this before, but included options like finger quantity for each side and also can direct proceed to auto arrange for easy export to laser cutting.

[@WhatMakeArt]

Yes, that is a good way to do it with the option to have different amounts of fingers but it is a bit more complicated to set up. It's worth it in the long run because then you can make your box any size and it'll add the fingers. There are also some calculators online that will print out an SVG with any size box you want, but this is a simple way to mock up a box in Fusion 360.

[@maxndjiki-nya]

for some reason when I mirror the lines the boxes on the other side dont show up

[@WhatMakeArt]

Did you click everything in the mirror?

[@jakelukas2193]

Great video. Always love to learn more. What I'm trying to do are teeth/notches that can be individualy sized for depth. We usually use the thickness of material . BUT if I want them a mm or 2 deeper (so after assembly they can be sanded smooth) it becomes a bit of an issue cause when you extrude its usually done from the outer edge. Materials are never exactly same thickness foe wood between sheets and suppliers. So would be nice to create a design that you can adjust data on overall dimensions and allow for extra depth without effecting the design . Suggestions?

[@WhatMakeArt]

You could make one more extrude operation on the teeth that has a set parameter that you can change, then set a tooth parameter based on material thickness You can also make different parameters for each side of the box so you can make a box from scraps that are different thicknesses The extrude operation could also be a formula that adds the two parameters together, that way if you change either parameter, everything updated automatically

[@jakelukas2193]

That's what I've been thinking for the teeth. Will try making teeth this way then add an extra step to extrude the surfaces of each tooth . Thank you for the suggestions. More learning :)

[@WhatMakeArt]

Good luck, let us know if you have some cool results

[@jakelukas2193]

That's what I've been thinking for the teeth. Will try making teeth this way then add an extra step to extrude the surfaces of each tooth . Thank you for the suggestions. More learning :)

[@yosofya]

Great Tutorial. Any ideas how would be the approach if i want to make a pyramid with finger joints on its sides. any help will be appreciated

[@WhatMakeArt]

You could angle the offset planes that the sides are drawn on

[@ericinarcata]

Maybe someone can help. Following the tutorial after I make my constructions line equal. I try to do the same with the rectangle length and they always go wonky - like they don't evenly space in the tutorial but go all over the place. Help.

[@WhatMakeArt]

Do you have all lines constrained perpendicular before the equal constraint? Is it referenced to the origin. Generally click the shorter of two segments first when using equal constraint in fusion 360

[@ericinarcata]

Not sure what I did but got it to work. I think I need to do your tutorial a few times. Been using Adobe Illustrator for 25 years so this is a new world for me. @@WhatMakeArt

[@amberelferink]

I don't get why you don't use Create > Rectangular pattern. Then you just draw one notch, and repeat it over the whole side

[@WhatMakeArt]

You could do it that way, there are many ways to do parametric modeling in a Fusion 360 This method is to make even spaced tabs of any size on boxes with any dimensions

[@user-xu3bd5ty9t]

Is it possible that my fusion 360 version has some modified options? I try to follow the instructions very closely but stil end up with a totally messed up sketch.

[@WhatMakeArt]

Fusion 360 does update and change the UI from time to time, what exactly is messing up in your sketch?

[@VeebsRK]

Not sure whats changed or if you missed verbalizing some instruction but following the instructions directly doesnt work

[@WhatMakeArt]

I may have missed something or something might have changed in fusion 360, sometimes it's frustrated when it doesn't work out

[@roberte8466]

fantastic video thanks for sharing! I followed your tutorial and when i go to laser cut it, the DXF file shows the Finger tabs but they are blocked by the original rectangle so it would end up just cutting a square, do you know how to get around this? thanks

[@WhatMakeArt]

Did you select the sketch or the face to export the DXF file for laser cutting in the manufacturer workspace in Fusion 360?

[@roberte8466]

hi thanks for your reply! i selected the face is that correct? :-) @@WhatMakeArt

[@IronMan-yg4qw]

theres a few laser box tab making online apps that do all this an more!

[@WhatMakeArt]

Yes, those are really great 👍

[@pretenda]

For sure, however I really appreciate these videos because it teaches you so much more than just doing finger jointed boxes. Thanks for all the videos! Keep them up!

[@VengD]

There are... But this teaches a great start, for doing it yourself... For more "complex" stuff... Like adding dividers and whatnot inside the box. And still having the option for parameters.

[@gsrunion]

When cutting this does kerf need to be accounted for somehow?

[@WhatMakeArt]

Yes you need to account for kerf with the laser cutter bit Fusion 360 can do that automatically if you set up a laser cutter tool with the correct kerf settings Here is a video showing how to automatically have kerf adjustments kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHupeYCMbKZsirc

[@gsrunion]

@@WhatMakeArt thanks for the link.

[@gsrunion]

Interesting. As I have a machine with proprietary control software, I didn't expect my laser endeavors would take me to the manufacturing workspace.

[@juliegilbreath9805]

When I create a new side to the box the edges do not align, is there a setting that I am missing?

[@WhatMakeArt]

Did you use the mirror or project from the previous side?

[@juliegilbreath9805]

I have tried using project. The error occurs at 5:20, the edge of my side is off by the material thickness. @@WhatMakeArt

[@pdwinc.1077]

How would you save that or export as to cut on a laser

[@WhatMakeArt]

Here is a video showing how to export a dxf with kerf adjustment for laser cutting from fusion 360 kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHupeYCMbKZsirc

[@rbetts75]

I'm not sure what I am doing wrong. I drew a sketch for the bottom. Next I drew three random sized rectangles that are all coincident with the edge. I placed the midline construction lines between all of the rectangles. I shift selected all the construction lines and made them equal. I then shift selected all the horizontal width of each of the three rectangles. When i hit the equal constraint, it went crazy. The rectangles became all different sizes and some up and some down.

[@WhatMakeArt]

Probably missing one more equal constraint, sometimes need to click individually

[@emilellis]

@@WhatMakeArt I'm having the exact same issue and not able to correct it. I am selecting the first line, shift select each of the other 2 with the same result as above.

[@WhatMakeArt]

I will try to reproduce the issue and devise a solution

[@bughunt8076]

same here, something is missing.

[@WhatMakeArt]

Click two lines to make equal at a time. Select the equal tool, then click the shorter line, then click the longer line, this will make the longer line equal to the shorter line. Then repeat for the third line

[@SilverStef00]

why components ?

[@WhatMakeArt]

So things can be moved around easier, and the design history is then contained within that component. It also helps with using lay flat commands and making joints. If everything is a body within a component then you can't make joints between the different bodies.