03. Computer Aided design¶
Being an Interior designer, I’ve been using softwares like Adobe Photoshop, Indesign, AutoCAD 2d and 3d, Sketchup for the past few years.
Hence I decided to explore softwares that I have never used in the past.
For 2d raster, I chose GIMP, Inkscape for 2d vector, Onshape and Fusion 360 for 3d, and Blender for Rendering. Also, I’ve used Grasshopper for Rhino on a couple of occasions before and thus I also chose antimony which has a similar interface to grasshopper.
Installation¶
I started the week by first downloading the above softwares which I didn’t face any issue with except Antimony. I discovered that Antimony works only with Linux and Mac!
But I was keen on exploring Antimony, hence I installed Linux subsystem on my Windows 10(which was much simpler than I expected). But the software still failed to run. So, I tried installing a VirtualBox and then installing Linux in that Virtual Box. After hours of hair pulling(and a little help from a fellow FabAcademy Student, Samuel Hoque), I was finally able get it up and running.
Here is a helpful link to install antimony
Fusion 360¶
As a designer, I’ve heard about how good and flexible Fusion 360 can be and hence I was really excited to explore that. So that is where I started.
I started looking at online videos about the basics of the software and how it is different from the other CAD softwares that I’ve been using in the past.
-Surface Modelling in Fusion 360
-How Joints work
-Making a Scissor Joint
While watching these videos, I felt that it was the perfect software to present my ‘Automated Folding Furniture’ and thus I decided to make and animate the Furniture using this software. Since I had a conceptual drawing ready in sketchup, I already had my basic sizes and proportions in place. So I started making that in Fusion 360.
I started by making a wall which would anchor my furniture piece using rectangle command and then extruding using the Extrude command.
Next thing I had to do was making the anchor. Hence I created a rectangle on the wall and used the presspull command to extrude the anchor.
Now I had to give this anchor a pivot hole and give it shape. So, I first created a circle using circle, using presspull to remove that part from the anchor, and finally filleting the edges using Fillet.
After this, I started modelling other moving parts of the folding chair. Again, I created the cuboidal member using rectangle and extruding it using the Extrude command.
Then drawing rectangle on its face and using presspull to extrude it out.
Next, use the Fillet command to fillet the edges of the member.
And then adding the pivot holes by drawing circle on the surface and using presspull to ceate voids.
Use the same commands to add details on the other side of the member.
Now, make the second member and use similar command to add details.
Once the two member are made, we can use *mirror command to make the other two members.
It’s time to start assembling. Go to Joint command under Assemble menu, and select the pivot points.(Note: The member you select first will move to the member you select second)
The small cyan coloured thing will indicate the joint. We can select that to move the joint.
Do the same process for the second member.
And the other two.
Once, all this is done, we can select one joint and rotate all of them should rotate.(This didnt work for me somehow even after multiple trials).
Fusion 360 model¶
Pros and Cons of Fusion 360¶
The Interface of the Fusion 360 is really clean. Though it takes time to get used to, the possibilities it offers are wide. But inspite of all this, since it is a cloud based software, exporting and importing files is a real hassle.
Inkscape for 2d Vector¶
Having a little experience with Illustrator, getting used to inkscape was not a very difficult task. After exploring commands a little, and looking at online tutorials, I decided to make a logo using the software.
Here, I’ve explained step by step how I made it.
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I started by making a circle using the circle command on the left.
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Next I reduced the opacity of the circle from the Fill and Stroke toolbar on the right.
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Then I duplicated the circle using right click>duplicate
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Next, change the proportions of the duplicate circle as shown in the image below using the eight control points that appear by clicking on the circle. Clicking oin the circle second will give options for rotation.
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Duplicate the ellipse as shown using right click>duplicate
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Select both the ellipses using shift key, and from path>union make a union of the two ellipses.
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Next, using the align and distribute toolbar on the right, arrange the circle and ellipses in perfect symmetry as shown.
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Select the grey circle, then the red ellipses and go to Path>difference to get a ‘s’ like shape as shown.
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Using right click>duplicate make a copy of the shape and reduce its size by pressing ctrl and shift so it doesnt lose it proportions or symmetry.
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Using Bezier Curve tool on the left toolbar, select the white areas as shown below.
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Next, Using Path>Union make a union of all the four curves and the smaller ‘s’ form.
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This is how the vector graphic should look like at this stage.
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Now, change the opacity of the shapes to zero using the slider on Fill and Stroke toolbar to make it opaque.
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Create another circle on the vector as shown.
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Now, send this circle below the ‘s’ graphic by pressing on Lower Selection to bottom on the toolbar at the top. Also, align this circle with the corners of the red shape as shown below.
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Select the outer circle, go to Gradient Tool on the left toolbar and from Fill and stroke select Radial.
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Increase the opacity of this Gradient to zero using Alpha Opacity in Fill and Stroke Toolbar.
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Left click on the x-y axis lines on the graphic to add control points.
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Change the colours of each of these control points using the sliders in Fill and Stroke toolbar.
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Do the same process with the blue circle under the ‘s’ graphic.
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Again create a duplicate of the ‘s’ graphic.
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Flip this duplicate using Flip selected oblect vertically on the top Toolbar.
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Place it below out graphic and add a linear gradient to create a drop shadow effect
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And we now have our final Graphic!
Pros and Cons of Inkscape¶
The biggest advantage of Inkscape is that it free and still almost as powerful as Illustrator. Once you get used to the interface, you can pretty much create any 2d artwork.
OnShape¶
On discussing with Local Guide at FabLabCEPT, he suggested me to try Onshape since my project is assembly based. Hence I decided to give that a try. Due to lack of time I was not able to make complete model of my furniture in onshape but I made a working pivot joint like the one I’m using for my Final Project.
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Start by going to sketch option and selecting the plane you want to sketch in.
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I then drew the cross sectional rectangle using corner rectangle command under sketch.
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Use the extrude command to make the member of the assembly.
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Now, draw another rectangle for the area to be projected out for the joint.
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Again use the extrude command to make that part of the solid.
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Also fillet the edges of this extruded part as required using Fillet Edges.
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Now draw a circle from sketch menu on the plane where the pivot needs to be inserted.
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Use the hole command to create the void.
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Duplicate the member from copy option that appears on right clicking the part name in parts.
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Rotate the copy 180 on z-axis from the rotate option in the transform menu.
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Now mate connecters need to be added for the software to know which points to connect in the assembly. For this, select Mate Connectors and select the pivot points of both the parts.
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Once all this is done, go to Assembly studio option from parts studio and insert the parts that needs to be assembled.
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Go to revolute and select both the parts. The parts will come together and form the Assembly.
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When you click on the mate connector, you can see a curved slider to rotate the Joint.
Onshape Model¶
Pros and cons of Onshape¶
The good thing about this software is it works really well for assemblies. You can create simple machine parts, and assemble it with the motion. But other than that, the interface of other CAD softwares is better and easier to understand. Also, Importing and exporting is an issue since it works on an online platform.
Original Files¶
Fusion 360
Inkscape
Onshape
Update - Fusion 360
Even though I wasnt able to make a working model of my final design in week 3, I made one during week 13(applications and implications). Below is a video of it in motion and the Fusion File.