WEEK 7

For week 7, it was yet again another synchronous online tutorial session, whereby we were introduced to a CADD software called Fusion 360.  Most of us are fresh beginners to this software and some of us never imagined ourselves drawing virtually via a software. Initially we were highly intrigued by its features, functions, and layout and intimidated even to start something so foreign to us. However, we were excited to find out what we would be doing using this software for the tutorial session and how we can apply the skills learnt for future projects.

What is computer-aided drafting and design(CADD)? 💻

It is using softwares to draw and design physical components of a product or to layout processes. CADD can be used to draw lines and shapes easily while saving time and effort. Content can also be copied, edited, saved and shared extensively. Additionally, this software allows us to accurately calculate dimensions and measurements when designing a product. More advanced softwares can even estimate the types and amount of materials required, and how much manufacturing time needed to facilitate budget planning easily.

Fusion 360 📂

For the lesson, we had to use Fusion 360 by Autodesk to draw objects using its features. Essentially, Fusion 360 is an all-in-one tool that connects the entire product development process comprising many areas such as design to manufacturing.

Activity 1 - Keychain 🔑

The first object we were tasked to draw was a keychain. The purpose of the activity was to introduce us to the basics of Fusion 360 and to familiarise ourselves with its features. We had to follow a video or the pdf made by the lecturers step-by-step to create the final product. 

 

Here were some of the features we had to make use of to create the keychain:

Function	Description
Sketch Function	To create a basic shape from afresh. One of the first steps we did where we created a basic rectangle as the base shape for our keychain on which eventually our names would be embossed.
Extrude Function - Cutting	This was a step done as a function of extruding whereby we learnt how to create a hole in our keychains.
Extrude Function	This was a step done multiple times which allowed us to alter the thickness of the different faces of the keychain and create dents for a 3-D look. We applied this step to adjust the thickness of the letters of our names as well.
Filleting	This was a step we used to round out the corners of the sharp rectangle and the hole we created initially to make it smoother and make our eventual keychain more attractive.
"Eye" function	We used this to make certain parts of our sketch disappear or reappear wherever needed.

 

These were the sketches we created :

 

Kairong’s Keychain😄

 

Jerome’s Keychain😎

Serena’s Keychain😅

 

Kenny’s Keychain😜

 

Image of 3D Printed KeyChain!!! 😁💥🙌😱💥🌈

 

Reflections 🧠:

Initially, some of us were very confused 😖about the sketching and extruding process to form the product despite following the video and pdf. However, after sharing screen and clarifying with Dr Noel, we started to slowly get the hang of how the different functions work and we managed to create the final product🌈.

 

Activity 2 - Sketch Constraints 📐

Next, Dr Noel introduced us to sketch constraints📐.  Essentially they are limitations on a design such as imposed limitations that we cannot control and limitations that we will impose ourselves for the purpose of improving a particular design. 

 

Some of the sketch constraints and functions and functions we learnt from the lesson include:

 

Constraints	Description
Vertical/Horizontal Constraint	This is used for making a line horizontal or vertical. The user may choose whichever depending on preference or the design. We used this function in one of the earlier steps to make a line we drew earlier horizontal.
Coincident Constraint	This was used to set the middle of the circle to an endpoint of a line in one of the steps.
Tangent Constraint	This is used to make a line a tangent to a circle. For us, we used this feature to make a line a tangent to two circles.
Mirror Function	This is used to mirror a particular object. This was used by us to mirror the line we made a tangent to two circles using the Tangent constraint earlier, as a duplicate to be another tangent line on the opposite side of the circles.
Concentric constraint	We used this to make a circle share the same center point with another circle.
Trim Function	We used this to remove any unwanted parts of our sketch and some constraints.
"Eye" function	We used this to make certain parts of our sketch disappear or reappear wherever needed.

 

These were the sketches we created:

Jerome's Sketch Constraint

Kai rong's Sketch constraint

Kenny's Sketch Constraint

Serena's Sketch Constraint

 

 Post Tutorial Assignment - Photoframe 🖼

And lastly, for our post tutorial work, we had to design and draw the various components to form a photo frame 🖼 for a 4R photograph of size 102mm x 152mm. After discussing, we came up with these dimensions for the parts of the photo frame:

Part 1: 112mm x 162mm x 2mm

Part 2(transparent): 102mm x 152mm x 2mm

Part 3: 112mm x 162mm x 2mm

Part 4:122mm x 172mm x 2mm

The sketches for the individual parts and assembled parts are as follows:

 

Part 1: Serena

Part 2 (Transparent Glass): Jerome

Part 3: Kai Rong

Part 4: Kenny

Overall Assembly of Components

Our Drawing Plan

💭 Summary of what we learnt

We have learnt many different functions we can use in Fusion 360 to construct a 3D model of a product as documented in tables 1 and 2 above. The beauty of these functions lie in the fact of how we can change a simple 2D sketch into a detailed 3D model which is an actual representation of how a finished 3D product should look like .

Moreover, learning how to use such a software will allow us to create blueprints for our product, when designing. In terms of deciding dimensions, this software allows us to have an accurate 3D view of how different dimensions would look like on the product from which we can decide the best dimensions, while saving time and effort.