Ep 1: Creating a fully parametric mortising template in Fusion 360

If you like to geek out in your woodshop and want to bring Fusion 360 into your workflow, this is the place to start!


Parameters used in this tutorial:

  • Height = 36
  • Width = 30
  • Depth = 12
  • CaseThickness = 3/4
  • StyleWidth = 2
  • BottomStyle = (StyleWidth)*2

Key commands used in this tutorial

  • Extrude = ‘E’
  • Dimension = ‘D’
  • Rectangle = ‘R’

Click here to go to the file downloads


Step by step:

If I have known measurements, I prefer to make them into parameters before beginning the modeling. It keeps you from having to go into and out of the Change Parameters menu and allows for a more efficient workflow.

Setting parameters

1. Click “Modify”

2. Click “Change Parameters”.

3. Click the “Add User Parameter” button.

4. Fill in the name (no spaces!) and expression and click ‘ok’.
fusion 360 screen

5. Repeat for the rest of the parameters

The parameters used in the example are as follows:
• MortiseWidth – 3/8
• MortiseLength – 2
• Bit – 1/4
• Bushing – 3/4
• Meat – 2
• SideOffset – 3/16
• EndOffset – 1
• BitOffset – (Bushing – Bit) / 2

6. Finished parameters

Fusion 360 screen

Create the sketch

7. Create a new sketch.

Fusion 360 screen

8. Select a plane to draw the sketch on.

Fusion 360 screen

9. Type “r” to select the rectangle tool.

10 Place the first corner on the origin in the center. Draw out a rectangle and type MortiseWidth and MortiseLength in for the sizes. Use the ‘tab’ key to switch between selections.

Fusion 360 screen

11. Double-click the side of the rectangle to select the entire rectangle.

12. Change the line type to construction lines in the Sketch Palette.

Offset a rectangle to guide the router bushing

13. With the rectangle still selected, click on offset to create a new rectangle offset

Fusion 360 screen

Add the base of the template

14. Use the rectangle tool (key command R) to create a new rectangle around the previous two.

15. Add dimensions using the dimension tool (key command “D”) to all four edges to the outside of the second rectangle. Set the dimensions to “Meat”.

Fusion 360 screen

Adding fences stops to the base

16. Select the rectangle tool and click on the edge of the base.

Fusion 360 screen

17. Draw out a rectangle to the far edge of the base.

Fusion 360 Screen

18. Dimension the side fence to .25 inches.

Fusion 360 screen

19. Add a second rectangle for the end fence.

20. Dimension it and select the dimension from the side fence.

Fusion 360 screen

22. Referencing off of the mortise, set the dimension of the side fence to “SideOffset”.

Fusion 360 screen

23. Set the dimension of the end fence to “EndOffset”.

Fusion 360 screen

24. Your finished sketch should look something like this.

Fusion 360 screen

25. Click “Finish Sketch”.

Extruding out the template

26. Use the orbiter to move the view.

Fusion 360 screen

27. Holding down “shift”, select all of the segments to extrude.

Fusion 360 screen

28. Using the extrude tool (key command “E”), extrude the selection 3/8 of an inch.

Fusion 360 screen

29. Orbit until you can see the bottom of the body you just created.

30. Show the sketch again in the browser and extrude the two fences out -1 inch.

Fusion 360 screen

31. You have created a parametric mortising template!

Fusion 360 mortising template

 

 

File Downloads:

1 Comment

  1. Joe Leonetti

    Ben, thanks for doing this. Wanted to learn Fusion 360 but as a woodworker. This is very helpfu.

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