How would you model this?
- Brad Tallis
- 7 days ago
- 4 min read
Creating complex textures in Fusion can seem hard at first. Many designers think they need to use a special texture tool to get a ribbed or "toothed" look on a model. In this guide, you will learn how to build that texture directly into your 3D geometry. By using a pattern on a path and some clever fillet tricks, you can create a professional desktop organizer that is ready for 3D printing.
Starting with the Base Template
To get the right shape, you need a solid foundation. Start by creating a new part design in inches. Draw a centered rectangle that is 5 inches by 5 inches.
While still in the 2D sketch, add a 1-inch fillet to each corner. Most people wait until the 3D stage to add fillets. However, doing it now gives you a clean path for your texture to follow later. Offset this profile inward by 0.1 inches to define the inside edge of your container.
Once the sketch is ready, extrude the profile. Since this is for 3D printing, a thickness of 0.4 mm works well for the bottom. You can type "0.4 mm" directly into the distance box even if your file is set to inches. Fusion will do the conversion for you.
Designing the Texture Tooth
Now you need to create the "tooth" that will repeat around the edge. Start a new sketch and draw a small profile that pokes slightly into the base. This ensures the teeth and the base will connect later.
Use these steps to create the tooth:
Set the height to about 0.1 inches.
Set the side angles to 105 degrees.
Use a coincident constraint to center the tooth on your path.
Hold the shift key to find the midpoint of your lines easily.
Extrude this tooth as a new body. Make sure the thickness matches your base. To give it a smooth look, use the full round fillet command. This turns the sharp top of the tooth into a perfect curve.
Using Pattern on a Path
With one tooth finished, you can now wrap it around the entire organizer. Use the Pattern on a Path tool. Select the tooth body as your object and the top edge of your base as the path.
When you start dragging the pattern, it might look wrong. The teeth will stay in the same direction instead of turning with the corners. To fix this, change the orientation from "Identical" to Path Direction.
For a tight, high-quality texture, try using a quantity of 100 teeth. Adjust the distance until they wrap all the way around the shape. Once you are happy, use the Combine tool to join all 100 teeth and the base into one single body.
The Secret to Fast Filleting
Selecting every single tiny edge to add a fillet would take forever. Instead, use a Rule Fillet. This tool lets you select a "feature" from your timeline rather than individual lines.
Run the Fillet command and choose Rule Fillet from the Type.
Select the Combine feature from the timeline.
Set the radius to 0.05 inches.
Change the type to Fillets Only.
This tells Fusion to only round the inside corners where the teeth meet the base. It skips the outside edges that you already rounded. This trick saves a massive amount of time.
Revolving the Organizer Walls
To turn the flat base into a container, you need to "sweep" or "revolve" the profile upward. Create a new sketch on the top face of your base. Project the geometry from your first sketch so you have a path to follow.
Draw a vertical line some distance away from the center of your part. This will be your axis of revolution. Then, draw a simple rectangle for the "shelf" or wall of the organizer.
Use the Revolve command. Select your wall profile and use the vertical line as the axis. Instead of doing a full 360-degree circle, set the angle to 60 degrees. This creates the curved back of the organizer. Repeat this for the inside shelf, but set the angle slightly lower, like 55 degrees, so it sits inside the main wall.
Making the Design Flexible with Parameters
One of the best things about Fusion is the ability to change your mind. You can use the Change Parameters menu to make your organizer adjustable. This lets you change the size or shape without redrawing everything.
Find the dimensions in your timeline and give them names. You can create variables for:
Rotate_Angle: Controls how far the walls wrap around.
Rotate_Radius: Controls how "deep" or "wide" the curve is.
Shelf_Distance: Controls where the inside divider sits.
You can even link them together. For example, set the shelf angle to be "Rotate_Angle minus 5 degrees." Now, every time you change the main wall, the shelf moves with it automatically.
Conclusion
Creating a textured organizer is a great way to practice advanced tools like rule fillets and parameters.
Now that you know how to parameterize your designs, try making a few different versions. You can quickly go from a small pen holder to a wide desk tray just by changing a few numbers in your parameters table. Happy designing!
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