Any unique ideas for something I should design?

I recently upgraded to fusion 360 and it is soooo much better but I need help, I am starting to run out of ideas. I want to use fusion to its max so pls help. Thank you.

Think something that you would like to use or play with. Something for another hobby that you have. Or something you are passionate about.

BTW, everyone is struggling with finding unique ideas :).

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No offense, but questions like this are stupid.

Design what you want to print. We do not know you on a personal level, all you would get is generic answers.

If you are looking for practice, head over to McMasterCarr, download a part, recreate it, then use mass and geometry analysis to compare the two.

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I think I might be asking the wrong question.

If you want to practice CAD, I suggest heading over to https://www.tootalltoby.com/. Ultimately they do live speed modeling competitions, but there are lots of practice parts that train different skills and features. Included are also sample solutions and there are lots of tutorials for smarter modelling.

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When I first started learning CAD I found the best way to learn and push your skills is to model common things around you. Measure and model a toy car, your coffee maker, a bottle of dish soap or the chair you’re sitting on. Model them as close as possible to the actual object. These objects often have features, surfaces and draft angles that will really push your cad skills. The skills you get from learning to model these things will carry over to when you are designing things in the future.

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I have a drawing for you, I tried but failed. The project is a tray for the center console of a car. Sent pictures of drawing and cardboard template.

Not letting me send pictures.

You should be able to now. I increased your user level.

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Take a blank piece of paper and a pencil.

  • Start off by thinking about stuff that is almost right in your home and what would be needed to make it perfectly right.
  • Next, think about your family and upcoming b-days or festivities. Any thoughts yet?
  • Subsequently, browse through past contest themes. Anything?
  • Or just go through a few CAD tutorials

Do not overthink stuff at this stage. Brainstorming is all about making a few lists for yourself. The reality check comes later :wink:

:crossed_fingers: & :four_leaf_clover:

Oh wow that is such a good idea making it out of cardboard first

CAD - Cardboard Aided Design

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Recreating a real world thing in cad is often the first step in making a container/holder/fixture for stuff. So model everything in your room on your desk. Then make an organizer for them.

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Back then, I learned by improving everything I could find around the house and solving problems. This included products that manufacturers charge a lot of money for, which I designed myself. Example: Toothbrush and razor holders shaped exactly like the actual products - in other words, organic round shapes. To do this, I had to learn how to import photos into CAD at the correct scale.

Later, I switched to creating proper replacement parts, for which precise dimensions and print orientation for maximum stability are important. Therefore, orientation and design must be considered simultaneously in CAD.

That way, you can always improve step by step. Have you ever imported photos into CAD from all sides, precisely to scale?

Or something designed in CAD where the weight-bearing properties are extremely important, so the print orientation is crucial? Like a coat hook, for example.

I believe that trying out different workflows that force you to do something new is beneficial, such as using a logo (SVG file). If you want to take it a step further, try using it on a round object.

Ever done something like this before? You learn a lot, it’s a fun project.

The channel has other interesting projects too, such as gears.

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That’s how prototyping was done before the age of computer-aided design and 3D printing. It can stlll work. Scan that cardboard model with a good 3D scanner and one can bypass any modern CAD to get a model for uploading to MakerWorld (and still better than some of the models already in :slight_smile: ).

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If you have paid for a Fusion subscription (hopefully not), now you know you can cancel it and buy some cardboard and tape instead :slight_smile:

Wander around your house, inside and out.

There are things throughout the home you could create.

Look in the kitchen, everything with a knob (cooker, mixers etc) could be designed.

This is simple at first glance, but you will find how they attach to the device will be useful experience in resolving. The shape, taper, notches (if applicable), texture and negatives for grip.

Switches, drawer handles.

I have fixed slipping taps by creating a ring that I inserted in the tap housing to grip far better.

You should start with simple things like the knobs as they introduce multiple skills and iterative designs.

Work your way up to more complex models. More complex models are often many smaller design achievements merged into a single form.

Simple things that improve lives are great to start as the recipients value them.

I once made a drain cover so a friend’s blind cat stopped falling down it. Do NOT blind a friend’s cat, look for your own version.

Vent covers are also great starting points. Anything related to decorative plumbing can be interesting to solve, pipe covers that sit on the floor.

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Can someone please do a 3d scan of the Steelseries Rival 310 gaming mouse? I need a new shell but I don’t want to buy one and I don’t have the resources to do it right now so if anyone could do that for me that would be greatly appreciated.

3D scanning is really a lot of work. Including preparation and post processing, you can calculate several hours until you have a good, printable model. If that shell can be bought for money, scanning and printing certainly isn’t worth the effort.