Blog 3: My Fusion Project
- Xavier Lim
- Jul 12, 2024
- 5 min read
HI EVERYONE!!
Welcome back to another part of my ICPD Journey! Lately, school has been getting busy and tiring for everyone. And for those reading this, I believe you must be thinking...
CHOP CHOP I AIN'T GOT ALL DAY!!!š¤
So Today, I will be sharing a short blog on what is Fusion 360 and how I used Fusion 360 to bring designs to life.
Overview
Firstly, Fusion 360 is an application just like AUTOCAD that is used for 2D and 3D designs and the backbone for 3D printing. Just that Fusion 360 is FREE for us students! These 3D designs can then be uploaded into 3D printers like UltiMaker Cura for 3D printing and be brought to life.
Next, I was handed a task to create a 3D model of a "Wyteboard marker holder". With that, the ideation process started and I had to think of different ways to make my design unique and special without taking too much time to print.
But before that, I needed the necessary dimensions to create rough sketches which can help me better visualize how I wanted my design to look.
Finally, Fusion 360 works with 3D printers like Ultimaker Cura which uses Fused Deposition Modelling to create three dimensional objects from a digital file using heated printing filaments. The object will be constructed using many successive layers of heated printing filament until the design is completely printed out. Some most commonly used melted thermoplastic filaments that include plastics, resins, polylactic acid and many more. When cooled, the printed object forms a solidified shape that is strong and sturdy.
ALSO fun fact, Fused Deposition Modelling (FDS) is a form of 3D printing just like Multi Jet Fusion (MJS), Stereolithography (SLA), and etc. However, today's main focus will be about the FDS.
Another fun fact is that FDS is also a 3D printing technology that is currently very popular among industries as it is accessible, affordable and versatile.
Hence, I might not got any jobs in the future šøš„²(Jokes)
Designs and Sketches
The ideation process was relatively easy at first as a wyteboard marker holder design was already shown to us as a reference and I was thinking of using that as my main design in creating my marker holder. However, that was too basic and boring and I wanted to make something that was a little less dull and special. So this was when I decided to entrust the fate of this project to google (Google was defintely cooking)
Inspirations taken from Google
After gathering many searches and ideas I got from google I got to work and began sketching.
After the ideation process I began creating the sketch that matched my considerations on Fusion 360 and I might have began losing my mind as my design was still looking TOO BASICš
Basic looking marker holder
There were many considerations that had to be made such as the amount of material I need for my design, the size and thickness of the design, whether the design can hold my marker and if I wanted to make any materials print in air which required the support function. This also made me question myself on whether I should protrude the magnet from its casing, if I should be more unique and make my marker holder hold not one but TWO markersš¤Æ.
Thinking about these considerations and trying to meet all of them were very mentally draining and time consuming so I decided to take a break like any sane human being would doš«” and resign myself to the endless instagram reel scrolling (HEEHEEHEEHAW) I might be cooked
This was when I was saved by THIS MASTERPIECE! (Dont question what I watch PLS!)
This baby lego figurine might not look like much but he was my hero for the dayš„³. Lil bro managed to save me from the depths on insanity testing out on my designs on fusion and sketching. After seeing lil bro, I began thinking about his cute and funny hands that forms a C-shape that kinda reminds me of a holder that hold cylindrical pieces just like the marker.
Hence, this was where the creation of my legendary marker holder design began. It may have took a lot of time due to sketching, searching for more inspirations and maybe A LITTLE BIT of procrastination ok maybe not a little but what matters is the design is finally DONE!
My legendary marker holder is BORN!
Design considerations:
The C-shaped marker holder has an inner diameter of 22mm, and the pilot wyteboard marker has a maximum diameter of 23mm-24mm. Hence, the marker holder can hold onto the pilot wyteboard marker with the marker being suspended in the air. The design also allows markers to be clipped onto the marker holder when the pilot wyteboard marker is pushed against the C-shape holder.
The height of the holder and the magnet is the same so that the C-shape holder of the design will not print in air and require supporting parts which take more printing filament and time to print.
The 2 C-shaped marker holder has a relative thickness of 2mm which is the same thickness as the magnet holder as it helps to keep the structure stable while printing.
2 C-shape holders of the same height and inner diameter are made so that the marker holder can hold more than 1 marker.
The size of the magnet holder was made with measurements of 34.0mmx24.00mmx2mm. This allows the magnet will be sitting inside the rectangle on the holder with a slight protrusion so that it can better stick on a flat metal surface.
The C-shape design marker holder was also made in a vertical position so that no parts will print in air and no support will be needed during the printing process. Hence, reducing time and thermoplastic printing filament needed.
In conclusion, my marker holder was made with these considerations in mind. There were many other considerations however, I believe that these parameters for my design was the most important and will play the most important roles during the printing process. Hence, I chose them as the base line in creating my marker holder.
If you are interested in my design you can use this link below to access the instructions on how to create the C-shape marker holder.
Instruction link:
This process was pretty fun and interesting as it allowed me to bring what ideas I had in my head into reality. (I really hope I don't do this again)
This was truly a very enriching practical in my ICPD journey even though I might have lost my mind, dropped some hair, maybe grew some white hair and started questioning my life choices
BUT!
I still do think this was a unique lesson as we have a better understand on how easy we can make our own items using 3D design just by losing a little bit off brain cells and hair.
Also I realised that my legendary marker holder design may not be so legendary anymore and it might be atrociousš Then again its AIGHT!!! Whats done is done š
As promised, this is the end of my 3rd blog of this series. YAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY!!
Thankyou for reading this! I hope everyone is doing fine and I wish everyone all the best with juggling between your daily lives and studies! STAY STRONG EVERYONE!
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