Computer Aided-Design(Handphone holder)

For week 2, we needed to design a handphone holder using Fusion 360 with the parametric. 

The parametric is something new that was not introduced in the previous semester. What the parametric does is basically allow us to get the measurements pre-done then let us use the exact measurement when we need it in the design. Not only that, it is very easy to change the measurement as and when we need to fit our design. The usage of parametric in designing something simple like a handphone holder was honestly just added work, but for more complex design like a PC case design where there is much more small and intricate design, the parametric is something that will be very useful and much needed.

Firstly, I set up my parametric with the measurement I will be using in the design later on.

The 3 main units I will use will be the length, width, and thickness so L, W, and T.

I made 2 parts of the handphone holder as this will be done through laser cutting and not 3D printing as informed by my lecturer. The 2nd part will be slotted into the hole created in the base of the 1st piece. 

To compensate for kerf, I reduce the hole size by 0.50mm so that after the laser cutter have made the cut. The joint can be inserted tightly without it coming out. We learn that kerf is a new concept that is very important when using the laser cutter as it determines whether you have done well in your design.

Finally, I extrude the entire model by 5mm which replicates the handphone holder. This allows other users to view the model having to imagine what it would look like.

Below is the embedded file of my personal handphone holder

So, the key takeaways I got from this week's lesson would be using parametric to aid me in designing and making my model in Fusion 360. I decided to make a simple model after having to redo it from scratch after finding out that the model is to be laser cut and not 3D printed. As I have said it and I will say it again, using parametric for something so minor as a handphone holder is just spending more effort on something unneeded, but it will be very useful when using Fusion 360 to make more complex designs like a PC case for example. Having the knowledge of how to use parametric will be great in the future.