Sometimes even a relatively simple object can present challenges when modeling in the 3D environment. I came across one such issue with this 40MM Clip that I’ve recreated to mimic actual metal clips used on Navy ships during WWII. These clips held 4 rounds of 40MM ammunition, and while you can certainly find actual metal ones online, we wanted to use 3D printed versions to match our 3D printed 40MM ammunition on the USS Cassin Young.
The video below illustrates the complexity involved in modeling this object due to the slight curvature that is part of its design. The curve makes it difficult to draw geometry on a flat surface accurately. The solution is to use the Sheet Metal option within Autodesk Fusion. This allowed me to create a curved ‘shell’ of the object, and then bend that shell flat so that I could sketch out the geometry I needed on a flat plane. Once finished with my sketches, I was then able to refold the object back to it’s curved design with all the features I used when it was flat. Check out the video and let me know if you have any questions or comments.
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