The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

CP11304

Mike Aubry – Evangelist

Autodesk

Mike Prom – Product Manager

Autodesk

Learning Objectives

 Explore how modeling workflows impact design aesthetics

 Discover a methodology to deliberately craft the perception of a design

 Discover Fusion 360’s software approach to different advanced modeling techniques

 Challenge the way you approach design exploration

Description

“Why does design so often struggle to communicate its value to the world when it's something we all

recognize?” This was the question posed by Gray Holland, renowned founder of Alchemy Labs, 6 years

ago when he developed the now famous Periodic Table of Forms, a table that explains how surface

curves change the perception of a design. Designs have a feel. The sharp edges of a B-52 Bomber look

menacing, while the curves of the VW Bug look friendly. In this hands-on workshop we will explore how

Fusion 360 software unlocks these formative design types. We will explore the structure of Holland’s

table and discover how to create different curvature setups. Whether you’re a new student of design

and have no idea what a G0 curve is or you’re a veteran designer looking to learn new ways to adapt

your portfolio, this class sets out to inspire you to push the boundaries of design and provide you with

tangible Fusion 360 software tactics to do it.

Special thanks to Gray for letting us showcase his compelling and useful article!

Article Source: http://www.core77.com/posts/12752/a-periodic-table-of-form-the-secret-language-of-surface-and-meaning-in-product-design-by-gray-holland-12752

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

Your AU Experts

Mike Aubry is always pursuing better, faster and exciting ways to design. During the ten years he’s

worked in the computer aided design field, he’s been privileged to work with 100s of customers who do

everything from craftsman eyewear to giant fighting robots. He has professional experience in the bio-

medical, wind energy, and computational fluid dynamics simulation industries. Mike is passionate about

hackathons, and he loves working with anyone and everyone inspired to solve interesting problems. He

proudly works as an Evangelist for Autodesk Fusion 360 – a 3D CAD/CAM tool that strives to aggregate

the product development process into a single cloud based tool. He has a mechanical engineering degree

from the University of Portland.

Mike Prom is the modeling Product Manager for the Fusion 360 team. Over the years he has worked for

industrial equipment companies like Case New Holland, Bobcat and Arctic Cat. He also designed medical

beds for Tri W-G and was one of the first employees of a startup making motorized ice fishing houses.

Mike enjoys designing custom furniture, working on cars and mountain biking. He received his degree for

mechanical engineering from North Dakota State University.

Introduction

Great Design Matters Now More Than Ever

Too often we settle in our designs, focusing instead on things like cost and manufacturability. It boxes

us into design compromises and commits us to long design cycles that stagnate our brands.

What if we told you that all of this is rapidly changing?

Today’s manufacturing environment is in the midst of a dramatic transition. Additive manufacturing

techniques (aka 3D printing) continue to improve and decrease in cost. Subtractive fabrication processes

(aka CNC machining) continue to become more cost effective and readily available. We are quickly

moving towards a world where products that previously required overseas fabrication runs of several

units will be more cost effective and more desirable if they are manufactured locally and on-demand.

How will this affect “great design”? This manufacturing renaissance will be the catalyst to spur

vocational innovation. In the zero limits, on-demand manufacturing societies of the future, designers

who provide profound insight into the usage and form requirements of their customers will be

profoundly rewarded. Those who do not will atrophy, much like the paper draftsmen of the 90s, and be

relegated to tasks not yet automated.

It is critical to make sure we as designers provide to our customers the exact functionality and form they

specify. Never before has the need to apply and move quickly between different modeling techniques

been so imperative. Too often a modeling technique available to a designer is the one they are chained

to. No more. The future demands a product design platform built to evolve and adapt quickly as these

macro disruptive changes unfold.

This is where Fusion 360 comes in. Fusion 360 has a broad set of modeling tools that allow us to create

every single one of the shapes in the periodic table of forms. In this class we will go through three step-

by-step exercises that increase in modeling complexity and will allow us to utilize three different

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

modeling environments available within Fusion 360: Solid modeling, sculpting, and patch (“surface”)

modeling. Employing these techniques with an attention to the design impact they have will help us as

designers prepare for this next industrial revolution and capitalize upon all of the exciting changes

ahead.

Gray Holland’s “Periodic Table of Forms”

Six years ago Gray Holland, renowned founder of Alchemy Labs, published a paper that sought to

communicate more explicitly how surface curves change the perception of a design. Designs have a feel.

The sharp edges of the 15ft tall Megabot in Figure 1 look menacing, while the curves of the new Star

Wars BB8 droid in Figure 2 look friendly:

FIGURE 1 MEGABOT FIGURE 2 BB8 DROID

FIGURE 1 IMAGE CREDIT: https://www.instagram.com/p/2ywIVYnX2g/

FIGURE 2 IMAGE CREDIT: https://fusion360.autodesk.com/projects/bb-8

These curves and edges are called “transitions,” and they are described by their continuity designation:

“Positional,” “Tangential,” or “Curvature.” Positional continuity (Referenced as “C0,” “Curvature 0,”

“G0,” or “Gaussian 0”) describes the hard edge formed when two surfaces intersect. Tangential

continuity (Referenced as “C1” or “G1”) is defined by creating a circular arc transition between the two

surfaces where the arc aligns with classic geometric tangency at both ends. C1 surfaces are smooth but

have visible break where the transitional curve ends and the attached surfaces begin. Curvature

continuity (“C2” or “G2”) is achieved when this rate of curvature transition is controlled such that it is

not discernable where one surface ends and the other begins.

The differences in each transition can be well shown using the curvature analysis tools within Fusion

360. In Figure 3, a Curvature Comb is used to show the rate of curvature transition on equal sized cubes

where one uses a chamfer, one uses a C1 fillet, and one uses a C2 fillet. Notice how the C1 example has

an abrupt curvature transition whereas the C2 transition is more gradual.

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

FIGURE 3 - TRANSITION EXAMPLES SHOWN USING A CURVATURE COMB

This transition affects how light refracts off the object and how the observer experiences it. In Figure 4,

a set of Zebra Stripes (straight black and white lines) are projected onto the cubes:

FIGURE 4 - TRANSITION EXAMPLES SHOWN USING ZEBRA STRIPES

Notice how the different curvature examples reflect the stripes. The stripes transition abruptly in the C1

and the stripes transition smoothly in the C2 example.

When we blend these curves, complex layers and tones start to emerge. Take a look at the full Table of

Forms in Figure 4. Observe how simply changing edges and rounds changes how a design impacts the

viewer:

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

FIGURE 4: GRAY HOLLAND’S PERIODIC TABLE OF FORMS

IMAGE CREDIT: HTTP://WWW.CORE77.COM/POSTS/12752/A-PERIODIC-TABLE-OF-FORM-THE-SECRET-LANGUAGE-OF-SURFACE-AND-MEANING-IN-PRODUCT-

DESIGN-BY-GRAY-HOLLAND-12752

Some of these models, like the C0 form in Figure 5, are fairly straight forward to create. Others such as

the C1~2~0 shown in Figure 6 require more attention and technique:

FIGURE 5: C0 FIGURE 6: C~1~2~0

Most physical designs provide clear parameters to build around. Generous rounds must be added to

areas that experience structural loading. Tight edges must be maintained in areas of critical fit. Sharp

edges are to be avoided where handling is involved.

Interestingly, nowhere in the Table of Forms is there any reference to what the form actually does!

Without explicitly knowing what this form is used for, the value (aka its purpose) is left to the viewer to

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

infer. Certain forms just “look” stronger, rougher, softer, sleeker, or more elegant. As designers we can

use the assumptions people make based on form shapes to take functional designs and turn them into

great designs. Great design is achieved when a product not only accomplishes its engineered function

but also fully communicates its purpose and sets an emotional tone befitting of its brand.

In the next three exercises you will go step by step through creating a C1 form, C2~0 form, and a C1~2~0

as shown in Figure 7.

FIGURE 7: EXERCISE EXAMPLES PREVIEW – C1, C2~0, & C1~2~0

These three forms were chosen because they showcase a variety of modeling techniques that achieve a

variety of different design tones and emotions. Learning and applying these different foundational

techniques to your designs will allow you to capture exactly the functionality and character you are

looking for in your designs.

Let’s get started.

Exercise 1 – Creating a C1 Form

Dependable. Familiar. Strong.

The C1 form is perhaps the most common of forms applied today. It is a very functional form that

employs simple to machine edges and rounds that remove sharpness. In typical cases it is easy to model

in CAD. The C1’s attainability has made it a staple of traditional mechanical CAD tools like Autodesk

Inventor and SolidWorks for years. As shown in Figure 8, designs that deliberately employ it evoke tones

of familiarly and dependability. For example, most power tools like the Dewalt drill shown in Figure 9

opt to use the well-defined lines found in the C1:

FIGURE 8: C1 FORM FIGURE 9: DEWALT COMPACT HAMMER DRILL

Image Credit: http://www.dewalt.com/tools/cordless-drills-hammerdrills-dcd785c2.aspx

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

In this exercise you will explore how Autodesk Fusion 360 employs the C1 technique using parametric

modeling functionality:

Exercise 1 – C1 Form Creation

1. Open the file “AU Start C1.f3d”

2. In the browser, make sure the visibility for Sketch1 and Sketch2 is on:

3. Press “E” to open the Extrude dialogue box. Select the profiles contained in Sketch1 as

shown. Change the Extrude Direction to be Symmetric. Enter an extrusion distance of

0.25:

4. Select the profiles as shown in Sketch 2. Choose a distance of 0.25. Make certain

Operation is set to “Join” and Direction is “Symmetric.”

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

5. Press the F key to open the Fillet dialogue box. Select the four edges where the round

cylinders connect to the square cylinder. Chose a radius of 0.25

6. Create a fillet around the edge boarder that has a radius of 0.0625

7. End of Exercise 1.

Exercise 2 – Creating a C2~0 Form

Precise. Sleek. Aggressive.

The C2~0 form represents a blending of refinement with pragmatism. A pure C2 form maintains

complete smoothness throughout but can dull a design’s impact by glossing over key definitions. A

purely C0 form is very exact, but its oblong edges often finish crude and unrefined.

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

The C2~0, as shown in Figure 10, combines these two forms so it maintains its rigidity while providing

sleek refinement through areas of transition. The F22, shown in Figure 11, is a great example of the

C2~0:

FIGURE 10: C2~0 FORM FIGURE 11: F22 RAPTOR

FIGURE 11 IMAGE CREDIT: 7-themes.com/data_images/out/61/6980090-f22-raptor.jpg

In this exercise you will explore how Autodesk Fusion 360 employs the C2~0 technique using sculpting

combined with solid modeling functionality:

Exercise 2 – Creating a C2~0 Form

1. Open the file “AU Start C2-0.f3d” In the Browser, make sure Sketch1 and Sketch2 are

visible:

2. Select Create Form

3. Select Create/Sphere. Create two spheres of diameter 1, longitude 6, and latitude 6.

Choose the starting points to be at the center points of both circles. Make one sphere

oriented vertically and one sphere oriented horizontally:

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

4. Double click on the sphere body to select:

5. Right Click to select Move. Rotate the body 30 degrees to align the misaligned sphere’s

faces with the blue origin’s axis:

The final spheres should be aligned like this:

6. Use the shift key and left click to select the top faces of the sphere. Right click and

select edit form:

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

7. Use the manipulator to slightly shrink the faces as shown:

8. Select Create/Flatten. Choose the Points on top of the sphere as shown and complete

the flattening operation. Tip-go to a side view and drag select:

9. Make sure the sketches are still on and edit the selected faces one more time, dragging

them until they are parallel with the line in the sketch:

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

10. Repeat the prior two steps on the remaining sphere:

11. From the side view select the bottom halves of the two spheres:

12. Right click and Delete the faces as shown:

13. Repeat steps 10 and 11 from the top view so that you are left with a quarter of each

sphere. The result should look like what you see in step 13.

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

14. Select Create/Bridge. Choose the faces on the left as Side 1 and the faces to the right as

Side 2.

15. Select Mirror Duplicate. Choose the shown plane to mirror and create symettry on the

body:

16. Repeat the prior step and use the plane as shown:

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

17. Use shift and the left mouse button to select the faces shown. Right click and select

Delete:

18. Repeat the above deletion step on the remaining unjoined faces as well:

19. Double click the edge of the open profile. Right Click and select Fill Hole:

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

20. Use Fill Hole on the remaining hole:

21. Select Modify/Crease. Crease the edges as shown:

22. Repeat the crease command and crease the edges shown below as well:

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

23. Use Edit form to modify the geometry to resemble the shape as shown. Moving the

inner circle so that it looks concentric with the outside edge:

24. Select Finish Form

25. The next thing to do is create the holes. Expand the bodies folder in the browser and

turn off the visibility of the body:

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

26. Under the create pull down select extrude, enter .175 for the distance:

27. Create a sketch on the top of the new cylinder that was created, under sketch select

Project Geometry and select the top circle:

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

28. Turn on the visibility for all solid bodies.

29. Select Offset Plane. Choose the plane as shown. Create an offset plane of distance 0.3

30. Hold down the left mouse button over the newly created plane. A list of selectiable

options will appear. Select the workplane:

31. Right click and choose New Sketch.

32. Turn on the visibilty of Sketch1:

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

33. Project the Skecth Circle and Geometric Point onto the sketch.

34. Add arcs to complete the profile as shown below. These are found under Sketch/Arc/3

Point Arc. Use the natrual edge boarders to align the arcs:

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

35. Select Create/Loft. Select the shown profiles. Set the Operation to New Body:

36. Turn off the visibility of main body again, leaving just the bodies in the image below:

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

37. Select Pattern/Mirror. Mirror the the visible body. Set pattern type to Body. Choose the

Body 14 as the Object. Choose the shown face as the Mirror Plane:

38. Repeat the mirror selection. Mirror both bodies on the shown mirror plane:

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

39. Select the Move command. Select the two newly mirrored bodies. Set Pivot to the

Origin. Check done.

40. Rotate the bodies 90 degrees as shown:

41. Turn back on the visiblity of the main body.

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

42. Select Combine. Choose Body 13 as the Target. Choose all other remaining bodies as

the Tool Bodies. Set the operation to Cut.

43. Select Fillet. Create 0.05 G2 fillets on the edges as shown:

44. End of Exercise 2

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

Exercise 3 – Creating a C1~2~0 Form

Robust. Balanced. Expensive.

The C1~2~0 form often represents the next level in high end design. The intricacy and varied nature of

how its curves blend require attuned eyes and attention to structural necessity. The difference between

an exceptional design and one that overreaches is subtle. The addition of a well-placed smooth element

or sharp transition can make the difference between a $40k car shown in Figure 12 and a $70k car

shown in Figure 13:

FIGURE 12: 2012 VOLVO XC90 FIGURE 13: 2016 VOLVO XC90

Figure 13 Image Credit: http://media.caranddriver.com/images/media/601419/2016-volvo-xc90-interior-photo-601421-s-986x603.jpg

The C1~2~0 form is elegant and crisp. As shown in Figure 14, it uses the soft, organic shapes of C2, sharp

cuts from C0 and rounded edges from C1. This form communicates that the design is expensive while

showing that it is refined. When looking at this form it is inviting to touch. Notice the 2014 Apple

Macbook Pro in Figure 15. There is a “feeling” that you get when you pick it up and hold it in your hands

that comes from the subtle curvature and attention to finishing details which makes it stand out:

FIGURE 14: C1~2~0 FORM FIGURE 15: MACBOOK PRO

Figure 15 Image Credit: http://www.apple.com/macbook-air/

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

In this exercise you will explore how Autodesk Fusion 360 employs the C1~2~0 technique using sculpting

combined with patch (surface) modeling functionality:

Exercise 3 – Creating a C1~2~0 Form

1. Open the file “AU Start C1-2-0.f3d.” In the Browser make sure Sketch1 and Sketch2 are

visible:

2. Select create Form:

3. Select Create/Quadball. Pick the top origin plane.

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

4. Use the sketch point Center. Use a Diameter of 1. Span Faces of 2.

5. Repeat on the other circle.

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

6. Use Symmetry/Mirror-Internal to create symmetry on the two quadballs by clicking on

the faces as shown:

7. Repeat for the second sphere.

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

8. Apply the symmetry to the top and bottom, along with the right and left side.

9. Repeat for the other sphere.

10. Select Modify/Edit Form. Use Command (Mac) / CTRL (PC) to select the top four sections

of the left quad as shown. Use the manipulator to move -0.1 downward:

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

11. Repeat Edit Form as shown for the other sphere:

12. Select Modify/Bridge the bridge command from the modify pull down. For Side One

choose the 4 faces on the left sphere as shown. For Side Two choose the four faces on

the right sphere:

13. The Bridge should look like this:

14. Use Edit Form to modify the center of the body. As shown, select two edges on each

side of the center. Drag the manipulator towards the center a distance of 0.08. This will

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

produce a pinched effect and make the form look more like the original sketch profile:

15. Use Edit Form to flatten the center of what previously was the left quadball. Select the

point shown below and move the vertical arrow down towards the center -0.3:

16. Use Edit Form to move the point shown below down -0.05:

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

17. Select Inspect/Zebra Analysis. Choose the body to activate the zebra stripes. Change

the Direction to Horizontal.

18. In the next few steps these stripes will assist in creating consistent continuity across the

part. The wavy zebra stripes shown below need to be horizontal such that cuts done in

later steps will be constantly applied across the surface and will not result in irregular

waves:

19. Select Edit Form. Choose the edge as shown below. Alter the Planar Scale to 0.6 as

shown:

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

20. Use Edit Form to alter the Planar Scale of the edge shown below to 1.133:

21. Repeat Edit Form to alter the Planar Scale of the edge to 1.133 shown below:

Note the change in the stripe continuity.

22. Turn off Zebra Analysis by clicking the light bulb in the browser and select Finish Form:

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

23. Activate the Patch Environment. This is the environment that will be used to create the

C0 edges:

24. Turn off the visibility of Bodies and turn on the visibility of all Sketches:

25. As shown, extrude the selected profiles a distance of 1 and set Direction to Symmetric:

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

26. To see the extruded surfaces turn on the visibility of the Bodies folder, Body4 and

Body5. Turn off Visibility of Body3:

27. As shown, extrude the selected profiles a distance of 1 and set Direction to Symmetric:

28. Turn on the visibility of Body3.

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

29. Select the Create/Boundary Fill. For Select Tools choose the five bodies available in the

Bodies Folder:

30. For Select Cells choose the box shown and set Operation to New Component:

31. Turn off the visibility of the Bodies Folder. Component1 will remain shown:

The Periodic Table of Forms with Fusion 360

32. Change Workspace to Model:

33. Add a 0.025 G2 fillet to the top and bottom edge of the circle that was cut in the image

as shown:

34. End of Exercise.