Wisconsin Makers in Whitewater is offering a course on Autodesk’s Fusion 360, a software program for 3-D modeling.
The two-hour class will take place on four consecutive Thursdays, starting on Oct. 26, at the makerspace, located at 200 E. Clay St. Hours are 7 to 9 p.m.
Instructing the class will be Nick Stratton, owner of Hotends.com in Whitewater. The company makes innovative J-Head hotends, the portion of the 3-D printer that extrudes the filament.
Hotends.com customers range from end-users running their own 3-D printers at home to companies like Lockheed Martin and Made In Space, which has the 3-D printer on the International Space Station.
The class is limited to 10 students. Cost is $40, with payment on the first night. To register, contact Al Jewer at (630) 430-9498 or lafcat@lafcat.com.
Fusion 360 is an integrated Cloud computer-aided design (CAD) software that also provides computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), computer-aided engineering (CAE) and printed circuit board (PCB) solutions. It is user-friendly and provides internet training materials for beginners.
Each class participant will need to bring either a Windows or Mac laptop, onto which Fusion 360 will be installed. Free licenses for members and participants will be available.
At the first class Oct. 26, Stratton will assist participants in downloading and installing Fusion 360 and obtaining their licenses. There also will be an introduction to Fusion 360 and its capabilities.
Week 2 will focus on basic 3-D design concepts. Participants will begin designing a simple project with the intent to 3-D print it. This will include an introduction to downloading existing designs to be able to modify them.
In Week 3, students will continue designing their 3-D printable project with an introduction to more advanced techniques. They will be shown how to overcome various issues in 3-D printed models such as supports, overhangs, etc.
Week 4 will focus on finalizing designs for 3-D printing and creating output files to print on Wisconsin Makers’ Taz-6 and Formlabs 3-D printers.
It is anticipated that a future course will be offered to address issues and techniques for creating designs on Wisconsin Makers’ CNC router.
Wisconsin Makers is a nonprofit regional makerspace (community workshop) offering an affordable, collaborative and educational environment that inspires people of all ages to become innovators by unlocking their skills through continual experimentation and training. Work areas/equipment include: 3-D printing, laser engraving, machining, welding/fabrication, electronics, blacksmithing, woodworking, ceramics/pottery, jewelry making, arts/crafts, quilting/fabric arts, matting/framing and more.
For more information about the makerspace or memberships, visit Wisconsin Makers’ Facebook page at @wisconsinmakers or call President Al Jewer at (630) 430-9498.
