I'm in the process of rebuilding my workshop (just finishing the demolition of the old one) but I'm really looking forward to making new workbenches, tools etc. once I'm done.

To this end, I'm currently recreating Suso's modular workbench (Paoson Woodworking) as a parametric model in Fusion.


The construction/assembly is quite simple but the part count is pretty high so I thought it would be a good opportunity to play with OpenBOM to generate something I could use as a cut list.

I don't know if I'm approaching this the right way but it seems that everything needs to be a component, grouped into more components as subassemblies, so the minimum requirement is "Multi-level BOM". However, there doesn't appear to be a way to count multiple identical items especially if they're in separate components.

For example, there are six identical drawers in the design, so my brain says that's 6 components, containing fronts, backs sides etc. each of which is also a component in its own right. The BOM lists these as 30 individual components rather than 6 x fronts, 6 x backs etc. which seems counterintuitive. It's probably me doing something silly in the component structure, but at the moment I'm having to search manually for identical items...

As I said, "Am I missing something?"

Cheers,

Andy B.


modular workbench.f3d 880 KB



I have an STL file (attached) of a power supply mount for my Ender 3 which I printed a while ago when my original power supply went to meet its maker.

I imported it into Fusion 360 and created a BREP in an attempt to modify the design so I could mount a relay in the free space for OctoPrint to control the power (the attached Fusion Archive explains better).

I've modified many STL files this way in the past but for some unknown reason, this one won't let me change anything, I can't merge (delete) the relevant faces so I can create the M3 threaded mounts for the board, I just keep seeing a selection of terse Fusion errors.

 It feels like there's some sort of lock on the file that stops it being modified.

Ideas anyone?

Ta!

Andy B.



TH3D A10 Ender 3 PSU Cover.STL 92.9 KB



psu cover with relay v1.f3z 1.47 MB



OK, so I'm working on a case for the "Micro Panel", an OctoPrint plugin/hardware combination that displays a small amount of printing information and provides limited printer control directly from the Pi (Fusion 360 export attached).
 
Before I release the design "into the wild" I have a small "niggle" I'd like to resolve.

The design includes a parametric 4040 V Slot Cover component which may have a slot at one end for cable access. The "slot" is actually a sub-component of the cover which cuts through its parent.

I'm trying to figure out a one-click solution to turn the "slot" on and off, but I think I'm overthinking the problem...

Bright ideas anyone?

Ta!

Andy B.


oled case.f3z 1.45 MB



I seem to recall a while ago seeing an STL tracing technique involving slicing the mesh (or it might have been a brep) and creating a sketch from the sliced boundary. Unfortunately, my poor old brain can't remember how it worked or where I saw it...

Could some kind soul put me out of my mystery - or at least tell me where to find the video,

Many thanks,

Andy B.

Ok, I know this isn't strictly Fusion related and it's definitely NOT my idea, but I created the design in Fusion. (The final result was sliced with Cura.) It should work with any slicer that supports Z Hopping and can position files so they overlay using the model origin from design tools such as Fusion, but I thought it might be of use to those of us who cannot afford dual extruder printers. 😎



The case is a mere 40mm wide and 20mm deep and was printed for an OctoPrint Plugin on my poor old secondhand Ender 3 at 0.12mm. For a first attempt, I was really impressed with the result.

The technique is simple if a little fiddly. the only pre-requisite is knowing the resolution you're going to print at.

Sketch and extrude the text FACE DOWN. In my case, I knew I was going to print at 0.12mm so I extruded the text to 0.36mm (3 layers).  Lay the item you want the text on over the top and "Combine/Cut" the two together with the text as a cutting tool and making sure "Keep Tools" is checked.

You should now have two bodies, one for the text and one for the item with the text cut-out - a perfect fit in the other body. Slice them both making sure that the main body has Z Hop enabled at a height of at least 0.36mm (from above).

Print the text and then without moving anything (but remove the purge lines and the skirt) and then change the filament and print the main item over the top.

The main print should skip over the text as it prints and the result should be as smooth as the printer bed!

The title says it all really... 😎

Not much going on today so... I completed my first Fusion 360 Schematic (PCB still to do when my brain's cooled down).

Took a while but a good working knowledge of Fusion and some vague memories of Eagle from umpty-dump years ago when it was still an independent product helped.

Its a shame there doesn't appear to be a "Kevin" for the electronics side of Fusion...

I keep a number of test meters in my "electrical"  tool bag, all of which use AA or AAA batteries. I don't like leaving them in the meters because I forget (I'm at that age!) and they eventually leak. You can't keep them in a tin (thought about that - bad idea) so what to do?
How about this?


Safely holds 6 x AAA and 7 x AA (or 6 x AA and a screwdriver)...

I had an old "Chinese" Phillips head screwdriver knocking about which I broke up, printed a new handle for, and made a screwdriver the size of an AA battery - now I've always got a small screwdriver to change the batteries when I need it...


battery holder.f3d 159 KB



battery holder screwdriver handle.f3d 92.3 KB



I'm a retired engineer and have been playing with Fusion for around 18 months, initially as a distraction after losing my wife to heart failure... 

I love the way I can use Fusion and my 3D printer to fix things and make things that can't be bought for the house and garden.

I need to get my head around the electronics side of Fusion at some point - I think things have moved on a little since my apprenticeship days with drafting film and tape!

Good luck with this Kevin! I think it's a great idea, I hope it pans out the way you imagine...