Drawing a truck in 3D from a plan - where to set the origin?

[bootneck]

I am starting to draw a truck model in Fusion 360 and have placed the front, top and side plans and profiles (canvases) but I'm not sure where to place them in relation to the origin.  Would they be best aligned with the front bumper,  the centre of the front axle or on the ground level line?   Recommendations and any further advice would be most welcome.

 

cheers,
Mike

[Bozothenutter]

I don't think it matters,  as long as they are correct relative to each other?

Tip, use a drawing program to check scans for straightness. Scanners do weird things sometimes (as do folded open books/magazines)

A grid view, or some straight lines help.

[Brandy]

It depends on how you plan to design it. If you want design half then mirror it, align the drawings with the axis you will be using for the mirror!

In other words, if you have a front view drawing, I would have the centre of the drawing aligned with the axis so you can mirror around the existing axis.

 

Ian

[bootneck]

51 minutes ago, Bozothenutter said:

Tip, use a drawing program to check scans for straightness

I have drawn a reference line and fine tuned the canvas to align with that.

 

24 minutes ago, Brandy said:

It depends on how you plan to design it. If you want design half then mirror it, align the drawings with the axis you will be using for the mirror!

In other words, if you have a front view drawing, I would have the centre of the drawing aligned with the axis so you can mirror around the existing axis.

agreed and I shall be using a half model with mirror feature. As you say, to be mirrored down the centre of the front.

 

I have gone with the origin at the front bumper as the reference point.  Herewith a view of all three axis canvasses.

 

 

It's not as clear cut as I thought, so here with the three planes views.

 

 

 

This isn't my first attempt at this, I have tried many times over but the cab shape has always eluded me.  The chassis, wheels, axles and cargo body are all OK, so this time I am just concentrating on the cab.

 

cheers,
Mike

[dnl42]

FWIW, each component can have its own origin. That may be useful. 

If you right-click over a body name in the browser, the context menu will show "Create Components from Bodies." Of course, you can rename them to suit.

 

I also sometimes rename key operations in the timeline if they're going to be subject to frequent modifications.

Finally don't forget about User Parameters, see the "Change Parameters" under any Modify section. While Fusion claims they allow some single-letter parameter names, avoid them! I found out the hard way that "t" would be used in a size definition when it was part of an expression, but "t" as the dimension just used the value and forget the name.

[bootneck]

Thanks DNL, I shall look into those suggestions. 

 

I am currently watching a series of on-line tutorials about using FORMS in Fusion; although, at my age, I am having to rewind quite a few times before I seem to be able to understand what is being explained. 

I haven't got passed episode one yet!

 

cheers,
Mike

[Andreas.R]

In Fusion the FORMS are the most challenging! As Brandy stated the mirror mode is the in my opinion 

the easiest way to achieve the design of your cab. You should get the drawings also cut at mirror-axis.

It will also help you to align the levels properly. Also try to simplify the design and the drawings as much as possible.

Try to reduce the drawings just to the general shape of your cab (no windows and other details) If the general "shape" 

is satisfying you can add the missing details.

Cheers

Andreas

Edited July 10 by Andreas.R
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