Modeling a Complex Part in Fusion 360 | Langmuir Crossfire Plasma Torch Anchor

[@azenginerd9498]

A few suggestions for general modeling approach: Don't intermingle your features - the fillets and holes in your base sketch should be in separate features. Different constraint types require different amounts of computing horsepower: leveraging symmetry is lowest, next are geometric constraints (coincident, parallel, concentric, equal, etc), with dimensions imposing the largest penalty. Instead of adding dimensions to the second side of your base and setting them equal, just constrain the line segments to be equal. Use the power of the hole feature to create your holes. Fillets and chamfer should be added last from largest to smallest. Why??? For a part as simple as yours you won't notice the difference. But as part/assembly complexity increases the computational burden skyrockets. Not mixing your feature types makes subsequent editing much easier - particularly if someone else needs to modify your file. Holes as a hole feature are much more intuitive than guessing which extrusion sketch they are buried in. Additionally, at least with SolidWorks, calling out a hole feature on a drawing is far superior to calling out a round cut extrude that mimics a hole. Finally, fillets and chamfers come with substantial computational overhead and often "break" your model. Having them at the end of the feature string allows for simply dragging the timeline back to suppress them without affecting any of the core geometry. All of these suggestions are to develop good habits so that they become second nature regardless if your model is complex enough to notice the inefficiencies. Consider a simple screw model that has a two millisecond rebuild penalty... and now put 1000 of those in your assembly.

[@Clough42]

Great tips. Thanks for sharing. I often run into trouble when adding fillets too early--both because of lost useful geometry, and because they start to interfere with each other and others features. Leaving them all to the end is a great tip.

[@joell439]

Thank you for this detailed set of tips. 🙏🙏

[@irritantno9]

Could you post a video outlining this alternate (better?) method? Of his part

[@David_Best]

I totally agree with using the hole tool, and separating features so that they appear as separate alterations to the model in the time line. It makes it much simpler to come back to the model in 6 months and have an intuitive pointer to who each feature was conceived and created in the time line. It helps reduce questions like “where did this feature originate” for modification or sharing with someone else who doesn’t have the benefit of your workflow process.

[@BIBIwood]

As the hole feature need a reference to be placed in the sketch for positioning, what is the proper way to do it ? Do you just place a point in your sketch or do you put a circle with the future size of your hole ?

[@LabRatJason]

Man... you could make hours of Fusion 360 modeling tips and I'd watch every second of it. This is such good information!

[@TheGnthreman]

I agree.

[@AmateurRedneckWorkshop]

You are very skilled with confusion360. Thanks for the video.

[@ericsandberg3167]

I knew this would make for a great F360 session when you mentioned it last week....and you didn't disappoint, thanks for taking the time to make this educational vid.

[@jhawker2895]

If I wasn't 3/4 of a century old I probably would have learned more, but what an amazing teaching video ... I know I am saving this "Tutorial Video" for the times I am stuck in fusion. Your presentation of Fusion is nothing short of awesome. I wish I could give it 5 stars so people who are new " like me " to Fusion could fine easier. Thanks so much for sharing... Stay Safe...

[@reddcube]

I’m surprised you didn’t use the pipe tool. Instead of sketching a circle and then sweeping, The pipe tool can do it all in one go.

[@Rollie396]

I’m new to fusion360 and like you say,watching someone else work through a project is great way to pick up useful tips. I learnt a surprising amount from this one. Thanks!

[@David_Best]

James, as always, I commend you for your outstanding grasp of such diverse knowledge. I always learn from your videos. In this particular case, I wonder if you aren't just a bit too clever. My first couple of years transitioning to F360, I found myself trying to be so clever in employing the vast complexities of F360, that a year later when I came back to the model to make changes, I was perplexed by my own creativity at exploiting the power of all the tools. It was a great ego satisfaction to see my grasp of F360 expressed in such a compact and clever manner. A year later, when I needed to revise the model, I was kicking myself for being too clever. So I have resorted to being as verbose as possible in the timeline sequence - adding as many timeline entries as possible to convey the sequence of the workflow that lead to a particular design. Yes, this clutters the timeline with lots of entries, but once a particular feature, element, component, etc. has been constructed in the model, it's simple enough to collapse the timeline into groupings that are specifically titled to give you (or someone else) a clue as to what a particular sequence in the timeline is related to. For instance, I avoid putting fillets or chamfers in the sketch, and instead add them as model feature modifications later - that way they will show up as distinct entries in the timeline. Same with holes - place a point in the sketch, then use the hole command to form the hole - this way the hole is in the timeline, and a separate editable item, related to the sketch, but still separate from it. Same with specifying an odd-ball joint origin - make those specifications purposeful in a sketch rather than using an "offset" in the joint placement - you'll thank yourself later for doing so. Hope this is constructive. Keep doing more F360 stuff.

[@hippie-io7225]

Thank you for demonstrating some very useful approaches for compound features. My Fusion game went up a few notches!

[@iannorfolk3288]

Very useful video thanks.

[@iancoulston6452]

Thanks. I learned quite a few things.

[@outsidescrewball]

enjoyed…when you look at “anything” your brain must immediately go through the modeling steps even if you are not going to build…as I said fusion skills envy…

[@plan9203]

I have been using fusion for years and always have wondered how some people are able to control the camera in the way you do.

[@Clough42]

3DConnexion SpaceMouse.

[@avitolourenco]

how did you deal with the material shrinkage issue? what tolerances do you give? one standard value? or multiple for different fits, if yes what are those values?

[@Clough42]

It didn't shrink much, if any, due to the carbon fiber. I used a -0.25mm wall adjustment and everything came out pretty much on size with my printer.

[@ExplodingWaffle101]

20:50 I'm rather experienced in fusion- had no clue about that one :D they put so much stuff in the deepest of menus.... that made this video worth my 30mins for sure

[@orange-micro-fiber9740]

For 3d printing, I almost exclusively use chamfer, not fillet, in my designs. Fillets can lead to weird and u supported overhangs in off places and aren't always obvious or intuitive. Chamfers are tge same overhang angle the whole time and usually are 45 degrees, since most parts are vertical or horizontal. In short, it's usually simpler.

[@BIBIwood]

You use fillets when you have a vertical edge (parallel to the z axis), this way your print head will face less acceleration taking a curve than a sharp corner, leading to better result and faster printing speed.

[@DonSmith-z3w]

It's really great to find fresh / logical approaches to modeling solutions, especially with more complex models. I just finished modeling some woodworking hand tools like my various types of planes that introduced me to "sweep", "loft" and beginning surface modeling etc. I think I would have made this one more complicated than it needed to be. This was great! and thank you for eliminating all of the musical distractions. Looking forward to going through more of your tutorials, especially 2d plans. thanks again

[@glenntrewitt]

Absolutely wonderful. I'd never imagined the things that Fusion can do. This isn't any more your day job than it's mine. I'd be really interested in you talking (occasionally) about how you learned some of your tricks. Way back in the day, you could read or at least skim an entire manual. These days, there often _isn't_ a manual.

[@MechanicalAdvantage]

Hi. Would you have any objection if I posted a video on some different techniques you could use for drawing this part in Fusion on my Channel with a card to your video as well as a link to your video in the description?

[@Clough42]

Go for it! I'm always up for learning new techniques.

[@TimDawson67]

Great watching the process you follow, and the methods you use, for this Fusion360 newbie. I'll be replicating this as an exercise tomorrow...

[@ryandeweese363]

Another quality video and build!! Glad I found your channel!! Looking to get some training and Certification in fusion 360.

[@mkegadgets4380]

I have watched his video over and over again total of four times. Each time I learned something new in fusion 360. Thanks for taking the time and going in depth.

[@Neeboopsh]

i havent used any cad software for....almost 30 years? ;) and that was all 2d drafting cad as a teenager. i have modeled a few brackets and useful parts by sheer brute force with zero experience but this is super useful. thanks. youtube's algorithm worked...and i had never searched for designing anything in fusion3d ;)

[@makosharkcnc7730]

i wish i knew fusion 360, i know gibbscam petty good but fusion has nice 3D features

[@heywardadams2279]

Fantastic content and I always learn new tips and tricks by watching your videos. Keep them coming! I printed the cable bracket this morning on my Qidi X-Plus with CFPC filament. Some slight droop on the top of the recess of the vertical support (I believe you called that out in the video for a redesign to have a 45-degree fillet there). Fitted perfectly on my crossfire pro and makes a huge difference in the force applied to the torch. Definitely worth the print time. Check out Stuff Made Here's video for a 3d printed bracket for a sharpie pen to draw bend lines. I made a manual version (no air solenoid) and love it for sheet metal parts. Saves tons of time by not having to print out drawings and scribe lines. I have the Eastwood brand electromagnetic brake which is probably the same as your model but with a different paint scheme.

[@astonishing-a]

This was fantastic!! your explaining and workflow was perfect and showed me a lot and a lot of what can be done and plenty of bits to get me to look more into and learn about. I have a Bambu X1C on the way so trying to speed learn some Fusion skills. Was a tad dissipated to not see the new part all mounted up as the 'cherry on top' moment for the video.. Still, great vid, Thanks!

[@74MST74]

Wish I could use fusion 360. I'm just starting out as a hobby. But would love and try this out

[@offroadrepairman]

I’m in my mid 40’s, and have decided to learn cad modeling. I plan to buy a 3d printer and router table for hobby and hopefully our kids take interest. I believe these skills will benefit them. Very happy I found your channel. I’m leaning and staying entertained. Been using Fusion 360 and following several training tutorials Iv found. Also have inventor and have practiced modeling all the same practice parts on that software.

[@jpytvid]

Learned new stuff. Good teaching style. More fusion 360 videos please.

[@44mod]

Great job and nice video. I know you said you are done and you are. (but) An idea for a future video would be to CNC a small bock to mount your tip and wire liner with a 3D printed handle and bam, two moor great Cloug 42 videos.

[@davidewing9088]

Brilliant!

[@TrustJesus100]

Great video! ...just starting to learn Fusion 360, looks like ive got a looong way to go, you make it look so easy. question..how long did it take you to get comfortable using it?

[@EverettsWorkshop]

I'm bookmarking this video. Even with the basic messing with Fusion 360 that I have done, and learned a few tricks, this video has shown me many more ways of using the functions in ways I hadn't thought of. Thanks for sharing your thought processes in what you build, I for one learn a lot.

[@grantdavies6081]

great tutorial, I love the side notes you make on how to do things more efficiently like the functional design for the torch cable path, and the extending lines to allow perpendicular constraints.. very helpful.

[@Diidyist]

Thank you for this video! I learned fusion year ago, and got kinda stuck on the beginner level. Most of the time it is all I need. You showed so many nice techniques in this! Definitely feel like using some of them on the next project

[@renaultmegane1968]

the best

[@MachiningandMicrowaves]

I picked up at least three tips that are going to be time-savers. I never knew about the select left and up being inclusive instead of exclusive for select right and down. I'm a rank beginner with Fusion360, mostly I use it to produce drawings for manual machining, but I'll be making casting patterns with my Prusa MK3S+ soon.

[@willpeeler8547]

How do you move around so smoothly like that? That's amazing.

[@CCCfeinman55]

Mikes ahead of me, I found it very helpful. Thanks!

[@janjansen1897]

I like that you are mentioning keyboard shortcuts!

[@carl160269]

I know this nearly a year old. And I have not read all the comments, but you can make a line perpendicular to a curve by making the line co-incident with the curve's centre point.

[@jasonmorgan75]

Please do more of these. I am just learning Fusion 360 but your walk throughs of complex parts are really informative.

[@joell439]

Fantastic demo - thank you for taking along. 👍👍😎👍👍

[@sabatotroncone8802]

Hi, what a great project to learn from, I actual followed and print it, and it come out perfect on my Elegoo Neptune 2.

[@RixtronixLAB]

Nice video clip, keep it up, thank you for sharing :)

[@rodneykiemele4721]

Damn you’re good at fusion 360, Thanks

[@shanetfraser6747]

Great video! I'm new with Fusion, so thank you for the tutorial! I would love to see more.

[@Andy-rq9ni]

I love watching you use fusion, I have been using it almost 2 years now and every time I watch a video where you play with fusion I always end up learning new way to design my parts, keep it up love this type of content

[@yngndrw.]

Can you select both mirror lines in the same operation where you have drawn a quarter like in this example?

[@NabilTouchie]

Thank you so much! I didn't know about the pattern on path function and its sooo useful!

[@TheGnthreman]

Dang, every time I think I know something, 😂 you do this.

[@bertveldhuizen8699]

Awesome tutorial, definitely learned some new tricks!

[@timbirkenbach5092]

Would it make sense to print desolvent material into holes to prevent shrinking?

[@mightamin]

Great video, very informative. Thanks

[@MrHipilopzicopolis]

How is it that he is moving the model around? He doesnt seem to be using the middle mouse function.

[@onicknacko]

This video taught me a lot! Thank you. Liked and sub!

[@suzysheer66]

The rubberbanding and dimensioning are worth the watch alone.

[@kingsidorak]

Someone please count all and all the times this man say all and all

[@dannielrolfe8079]

I really enjoyed the video. I have learned a ton from you James.

[@zeeebrenn]

Nice video! I picked up two new things. Firstly, intersecting a plane with a curved surface was an eye opener for me :) Secondly, dimensioning distance between tangent of circles was another great tip. Cheers!

[@blalor76]

Yep, these were both new to me, as well!

[@TheGnthreman]

Thanks, i really got some good ideas for a part i need to make.

[@koenvanderrijt5244]

omg.. that orientation option.. been looking for that for soooo long

[@Diyandmindfulness]

Very usefull and easy to understand, thanks! 😊

[@charleswooters]

I so glad i found this video thank you so much

[@SteveMoore71]

I love watching your Fusion 360 videos, but with my nearly zero experience I have a HELL of a time keeping up! I completely understand both sides of this "teaching" though because I spent years teaching MS Office to retired people that were coming from WebTV! Unfortunately, understanding the struggle doesnt reduce said struggle. As for material choice... PETG in itself should do better with dealing with heat. A stepper can get pretty warm at times! And PLA just gets brittle with age. And.... CarbonX simply ROCKS!

[@EZ_shop]

Definitely enjoyed how you measured the distance between the two screw holes, I think I'll use that tip. Ciao, Marco.

[@tommays56]

Interesting part that can be printed BUT almost impossible to machine from solid

[@Clough42]

Yeah. For sure It's definitely designed around the intended manufacturing process.

[@valveman12]

Cloigh42 I see you purchased the Z motor mount for your plasma cutter. I have the same Langmuir Plasma Cutter. What are your impressions of the Z-Axis, and is it worth getting for this plasma cutter? What benefits have you found using the Z-Axis vs locked Z-Axis?

[@Clough42]

I have the torch height control, and I'm not sure how you would cut large parts without it. For my plasma, the cutting height is .035", and there's no way to maintain that over the whole table on real material without it.

[@valveman12]

@@Clough42 Thank you for the reply.

[@lomoDaniel]

Awesome tutorial! Learned a ton.

[@tomislavkukic1395]

You're showing some prety slick tricks in F360. Thanks man.

[@billmaguire6216]

James that was very informative. I like that you state what key you use for an application. I just started using 360 for hobbyists but years ago I used SolidWorks and am refamiliarizing myself with the commands used. Both programs are fairly similar, thankfully. Thank you for sharing.

[@andersbergmanbontouch]

I learn so so much fusion 360 much from these videos, and in this one I actually followed along in Fusion, even though I have zero user for the finished part :) . I don't think I would have even known where to start, modeling this type of part. Thank you very much James.

[@unklemike5012]

I am just beginning to learn F360 and this was really cool to watch your design process and where you used sketches to define your geometry. Thank you.

[@gregfeneis609]

I enjoyed it. Very helpful

[@samvoelkel2046]

Thanks for sharing this design process.

[@tdfguy2002]

This video is awesome! Very nice.

[@godamkeras4144]

this tutorial make me appreciate Autodesk Fusion 360 team providing these beautiful features, they are bunch geniuses!

[@sam_millen]

Do you have any recommendations for Fusion 360 tutorials?, I'm looking to get back involved with some 3D modelling after a few years away.

[@Clough42]

John Saunders did a bunch of good stuff on NYCCNC back in the day, though I think he was mostly focused on CAM.

[@sam_millen]

@@Clough42 Thanks, I'll take a look.

[@johnfellers5691]

Learned a great deal as a new Fusion 360 user. Thanks for walking through this methodically!

[@urbancarvers8974]

It’s always great to see other people’s work flow and OOO. I always know there’s a better way and seeing it is very helpful. You taught me so much over the years. Thanks for all you do. More Fusion tutorials is always good. Especially since they change everything as soon as I get a handle on it.

[@SaltCityFab]

I love watching these 3D modeling videos you produce. It helps me with utilizing more the Fusion 360's tools and features I otherwise would have no Idea how they would be applicable. Thanks James, keep up the good work. :)

[@SVMistry]

I wanted to understand the fusion 360. And you always come with a good and intresting things. Thank you. Keep it coming.

[@ytlimdivad1874]

Hello Sir, I would like to thank you for your design that is simplified. I know if I were to design that I would have done it much different. I'm going to be using the tips that you had done on my projects. I appreciate your time to make this video. I know I'll have some questions so be ready. Thank you.

[@bloodyt7464]

It's really fun to watch you design in Fusion. I'm new to CAD and videos like this help me a lot! Well explained. wonderful insight into your thoughts while designing. Love it!

[@MatthewSmithx]

That hole spacing caliper trick is so obvious once you know and infuriating that I never thought of it before. I love your videos. I used to be a middle school STEM teacher and I love how you you take those little 10 second asides to explain little tips that open up whole new areas to think about. On paper it’s obvious that D = 2r of Ø + x but translating that to working knowledge with a measurement instrument is not so obvious. Thank you

[@mikechafin7351]

Thank you James for another great video. Between your content and the comments, I picked up at least five completely new (to me) ways of approaching these design tasks. As a hobby guy, I can model something like this in F360 but my workflow is much less efficient and often unstable when making revisions. You do an excellent job of demonstrating and explaining what and why you are doing something and this comes though especially well on CAD, CAM and other software topics. Thanks for taking the time to make an additional video of a part you already made just for our benefit.

[@Cenedd]

The intersected project was helpful to know - I can't remember what it was exactly but I KNOW there was something knowing this would have made trivial. Similarly the pattern along path is something I'm going to take away - you could do it as multiple sketches and extrudes but your way is much quicker and easier to modify afterwards. Thanks for those.

[@MikeRussell-g9y]

Great job, you explain the 360 "how to" perfectly! more please.

[@piconano]

You can decrease your history footprint, by doing all your fillets in one operation. There is a + sign in the fillets menu that you can create new fillets. I love your zip-tie technique.

[@alistairfurnell126]

A Master Class of F360 thank you James,New Zealand

[@JimPudar]

Thanks so much for these type of videos. I have watched this one a bunch of times and pick up new tricks every rewatch!

[@benzam6218]

This video was a gem! I learned at least three or four techniques that I have never tried or even thought of. This will be a practical part and a skill builder as well. We tend to design our parts based on our skill level in CAD and this video really helped me up my CAD game.

[@greener121]

Nice, seeing these types of videos makes me want to try to add features and more complex models that I didn't think I could do before. Just gotta keep on playing and experimenting. Thanks!

[@dougj8186]

Nice tutorial and workflow, especially appreciate the hole spacing measuring tip. I normally measure corresponding hole walls as it is more accurate than guessing centers, but with calipers that still requires locating one side by eye.

[@WillemvanLonden]

You embody the wonders of KZbin.

[@jasonh3109]

Great!!! Great!!! Thank you!!

[@heartsky]

More Fusion360 stuff, exactly what I need, and you explain the tools and their use so well!

[@chevyfahrer]

when i watch videos like this not rly knowing the programm my brain starts to boil over time but despite this pretty interesting ,great walkthrough,thx

[@photorealm]

Great tutorial, the pace was perfect and I learned a lot of very cool time saving steps. I was wondering how you were going to get the curved zip tie channels in.

[@DougsMessyGarage]

I can usually beat on Fusion to get it to do what I need but the techniques you use will allow me to use a bit more finesse next time I try to design something. Thanks .