FUSION 360: How to Wrap Text Around a Double Curved Surface

This is my tutorial on how to wrap a text (or really any sketch) around a double curved surface while preserving (closely enough) the dimensions in Autodesk Fusion 360
I got inspired by Vladimir from Desktop Makes ( • Wrap Text Around a Cyl... ) who took advantage of the sheet metal workspace to wrap text around a cylinder.
I am, too, using the very powerful unwrap feature and a lot of cutting and splitting faces. I wouldn't recommend using this technique in a heavy design as it is pretty demanding on the processor, I would rather copy the part you want to edit to a separate file, edit it there and then bring it back.
It could be in theory used on really any curved surface, not just a cylinder as shown in this particular case, as long as it has reasonably shaped curves.
I know I weren't very descriptive in the commentary, so If you don't understand something, feel free to ask, I will try to explain as best as I can.

[@3dprintwiz378]

Fusion 360 should automate this process as soon as possible.

[@Auday365]

Finally someone did it, thank you for sharing. I am waiting with every Fusion new update for that straight forward method of wrapping text around a cylindrical/ spherical body. You did multiple extruded cuts to compensate for the letter deflation, nice approach.

[@Anonymouspock]

This is horrifying.

[@RyanKirk99]

Good results. Thanks for posting this. It is a ton of steps that should be a simple wrap function in Fusion 360.

[@jmanzemail]

Finally! A Reasonable Genius Who Knows How To Break It Down For Fusion 360! EXCELLENT Job Papooch! Amazing Work! Very Very Well Done Informational! Thank You!

[@bendetyomri]

Thank you buddy, It saved my day! (Also consumed a big part of it to figure it out...). It's crazy that fusion and solidworks don't offer a streamlined way to do it (they both allow cylinder wrapping but not double curved surfaces or other complex shapes). Cheers!

[@Marasadu]

This will definitely be much appreciated, should I need it... Whenever it may be.

[@okflyer777]

Nice work!

[@4funrc11]

Hey, this is an interesting approach. Thx. :)

[@emik3485]

just awesome

[@edwardfalk9997]

Executive summary: normally you would wrap text around the object by surrounding it with a cylinder ("horizontal" in this video), unwrapping the cylinder in sheet metal mode, placing the text on the unwrapped cylinder, re-folding it, and then projecting to the object. However, if the object curves in more than one direction (complex curve), this introduces distortion. Papooch compensated for that distortion by projecting in two steps. The first projection (to the object named "vertical") pre-distorted the text in the other direction. He then projected back to a flat object ("aux2" in this video) and used this pre-distorted text to project onto "horizontal" and then the final object.

[@InfiniteCraftsman]

This explanation is super helpful. I'm still not "there" yet but this got me closer. Thank you!

[@EricTViking]

Clever.

[@SupaBB]

Helpful video but seriously needed to slow down

[@vomitedthoughts]

So you counteracted the warping by using an object to hold the warping text but due to it's angle it comes out as looking normal, I might try this

[@PapoochCZ]

Exactly, but now that I think about it, the auxiliary bodies are't really needed and add unnecessary weight to the computation and can be simply replaced with sketches.

[@InfiniteCraftsman]

I am a hobbyist and I'd like to regurgitate what I just learned. So my question is, are my statements correct? The sheet metal workspace is simply a tool (in this case) to get the text projected correctly onto the model. Where it breaks down for me is the "closest point" selection. To picture it mechanically, I'm picturing a series of stings going from the letter to the curved surface. When looking at it from the side, The letter I, for example, is on the right side of the screen and the model is on the left side. If you stretch a string from the bottom edge of the I to the corresponding "closest point", the string is horizontal or at 0 degrees. when the string is stretched from the top of the I to the model, that string is at a different angle, possibly, 30-40 degrees in your example. This is because the curve moves away from the text and therefore more surface is covered in a shorter distance along the Z (UP) axis. I wish I could upload a picture to youtube. I'm going to work on this and hopefully figure it out! Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge.

[@efremtommasi1387]

SLOW DOWWWNNNNNN (even at 0.50 speed I did not understand a crap)

[@remizik]

Hi, is there a better method in december 2021 ? :) Thanks

[@AlexSwan]

This is insane. WTF fusion

[@hv1461]

Now, in late 2022, is there an easier way to do this ?

[@FCNFAST]

how would you make the extruded text a separate body? so that it can be printed in multicolor. It wont let me extrude them to make it a separate body

[@JD2jr.]

Just make 2 of the initial dome, then subtract one from the other once you've done everything in the video.

[@ajl8975]

Me, an engineer: ‘AIN’T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR DAT’

[@andyramone05]

I'm struggling to make a planet Earth model based on the same principle

[@RcWorldLive]

A little bit fast?

[@FloorViewFpv]

Hello. Can i have that excact fusion file

[@7maszi7]

Good result but pretty hard to follow...

[@unit335]

Erm. I do design for a living and this was either not streamlined enough a procedure or else presented entirely too fast for the level of detail involved.

[@mudlucky4285]

to be fair I think he starts off fast because doesnt want to annoy people by telling them how to do the basics but I agree towards the end he's a little fast paced.

[@jm4giv]

U gotta be kidding! I will walk on burning coal than do that. I liked it though.

[@fluffywarfield]

Slow down, goodness.

[@hanswurstusbrachialus5213]

YT has an option to do so :P

[@gbazil]

I see what you've done but its not clear how you've done it

[@PapoochCZ]

What exactly did you not understand?

[@DrGeta666]

I don't understand how fusion is used by so many people. it's utter garbage