In this tutorial I like to show how to model a compact cassette cross section using the CAD software Onshape.
1. Get a reference picture
If possible, always try and use a reference picture to work with. I found this one using Google search.
- Import the picture into Onshpe using the little + icon at the bottom left corner and than add the picture into your sketch.
- Center the image since we are going to mirror a lot and set the dimension to 10cm.
2. Start Sketch (Top Plane)
Having the reference picture does help to draw the lines relatively quickly. Please go ahead and do this yourself. It doesn't need to be a 100% copy of the picture!At the end your sketch should look similar to the one I made below.
3. We need a few more lines for the cross section
The initial sketch we did would already be enough to create a cassette model. But in this tutorial we want to go one step further and add a few more lines to create the cassette cross section.
4. Bring it into shape
Well done! The most difficult part is done now! We can now start to extrude our model to bring it into shape.First select the faces as per below picture and Extrude it by 0.5mm. Please note that I changed the extrude direction to backwards (press the arrow key).
Next select the middle part and Extrude with 0.3mm, again changing the extrude direction to backwards.
No we do the last backwards Extrude, selecting the bottom part as highlighted in below picture and Extrude 2mm.
Very good. The fron face of the cassette is now done for the moment. We can start now on the cross section.Select everything as shown in below picture and Extrude with 3mm, normal direction.
Once the faces are extruded, select the Shell tool, click on the extruded face and use a shell thickness of 1mm.
5. Complete the design with adding a few more details.
Well done! At this point you should have a design that is 90% complete and just need a few more little tweaks before being complete.You should have all the knowledge to add these details yourself.Below is my final cassette back and front side, the model is also available to view on Onshape.
