Week 3 - Journal

This week's assignment is creating a pens holder. I wanted to create a custom-made pens' holder that is able to carry a variety selection of tools such as pens, pencils, brushes, paint knives, cutter. In addition to that, I wanted to create a space for other tools such as the flexible rule. Maybe because I struggled to find such a handy ( tools' holder) that suits all of my needs.

My sources of inspiration were basically modern designs of pens and pencils holder that had different sections in it.

1-Brainstorming:

1. I did some brainstorming and gathered the pictures attached at the top section.

2. I slowly examined the pens' holders I have and listed the problems I face while using them.

2- Fusion 360:

1. On the Back Plane, I sketched a rectangle of a 50*40 mm.

2. I EXTRUDED the rectangle to a distance of 50 mm.

3. On the Top Plane, I drew a rectangle of the same dimensions with a fillet of a R 10 mm.

4. I EXTRUDED it with a CUT operation to the same distance of a 50 mm.

5. I did a SHELL of the body with a 1 mm. (Later, increased it to 4 mm)

6. On the Front Plane, I sketched the dimensions of the outer part, semi hollow cylinder of a height of a 26 mm.

7. I REVOLVED the sketch to form a kind of open hollow half semi-cylinder.

8. On the same Front Plane, I drew a semi-circle on the top of that side of a R 3.5 mm.

9. I did a WEB FEATURE, to create a horizontal cylinder, topping the container ( to hold the french curves on it).

10. On the Right Plane, I sketched a semi circle on top of the side of a R 10 mm.

11. I EXTRUDED the semi circle with a CUT operation to a distance of 5 mm, just to cut that side only and not the opposite side.

12. Finally, on the Bottom Plane, I sketched a net consisting of several horizontal and vertical lines.

13. I THIN EXTRUDED the lines to form walls (creating separated sections to hold different groups of tools), of a distance of 45 mm.

14. Finally, I gave different appearance: material & colors to every opposite sides ( LED Blue, Metal: Gold and Bronze )

3- Cura:

1. I increased the shell feature of the pencil holder to 4mm, as I thought it was too little.

2. I right clicked on the body part in fusion 360 and clicked ( save as mesh ) to have the Stl file.

3. I opened Cura, opened the stl file saved from fusion 360.

4. I placed the object away from the screws at the middle of the printing bed.

5. I started adjusting its properties, resolution: 0.2mm, infill: 20%, no support or adhesion since I thought it didn't need either.

6. I pressed "slice now" , the duration exceeded the maximum 90 minutes.

7. I scaled it down a little bit

8. I re-sliced it, the duration was adequate, perfect!

9. I took a screenshot of the properties, and saved the file in 3mf format.

10. Finally, I exported the gcode and renamed it following this order: fileName_layerHeight_filamentColor_time_weight.gcode

Designing a 3d object from scratch:

• I simply tried to analyze what I already have at home and worked from there to adjust and upgrade the design. It might be beginner's luck, but I went on full on the fusion, without having something in my mind.

• What helped me was that I focused on creating something that just fits the technical requirements, instead of creating an awesome piece, taking the advice from Amany.

• Another thing that helped me, was how fusion is so easy to work with, I can go back in every step to adjust it. I so love the timeline feature.

• After finishing the pencil holder, the shell feature was a too narrow for it to be well composed together, so I edited the feature in fusion and increased it to 4 mm.

Thinking about my design's shape in general, working on it and tweaking it to get the best possible version of it.

Honestly, I have wanted to learn auto desk fusion 360 for a while, even before the maker diploma. I'd thought it'll be a handful-kind-of software. But this week especially, I believe I have gotten so much better in it, all thanks to the intensive videos and exercises.

I think this is the coolest thing I have gained this week, I never believed it's that achievable!!