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Fusion Airfoil Plugin

Installation

  1. Download the Airfoil DAT Importer Fusion Add-in .zip file1.
  2. Locate the downloaded .zip file with Finder. It will likely be in your Downloads folder.
  3. Double-click the .zip file. It will unpack the contents to a new folder.
  4. Start a new design in Fusion.
  5. Click UTILITIES, then Scripts and Add Ins.
  6. Click +, then Script or add-in from device.
  7. Single-click the folder that was created in step 3 to select it.
    IMPORTANT: Do not double click the folder and select any files inside it. The folder itself must be selected!
  8. Click Open.
  9. Find the name RC CAD Airfoil Dat Importer in the list. Turn the Run toggle switch ON, and check the Run on Startup box as shown below.

Usage

Import the Airfoil Data

  1. Turn on the Origin view.
  2. Select Import Airfoil from the Create menu.

Note: if you don’t see this menu item, complete the Install Plug-in section of this guide first.


3. Import the airfoil data:
1. Click Browse… and select the .dat file you downloaded.
2. Choose a Chord Length. Something in the range of about 30-60 mm is about right for the size we will build, but this is your option.
3. Select one of the Origin planes in your design to create a new sketch on.
4. Click OK.

A new sketch is created in your design with points from the airfoil data file.

  1. Locate and edit the new sketch. You might need to click the > to expand the Sketches category.

Option: No Taper

Simply extrude the profile to the blade length you want.

Option: Tapered

  1. Select the Offset Plane tool.
  2. Select the same plane on the origin that the first sketch was drawn on.
  3. Drag the plane to your desired blade length.
  4. Repeat the earlier steps to import airfoil data:
  5. Creating the new sketch on the offset plane
  6. Choose a smaller chord length
  7. Edit the new sketch to close the shape as required

You should now have two sketches with different sizes of airfoil shapes.

  1. Select the Loft tool.
  2. Click to select the first airfoil profile, then the second. The loft tool will interpolate between them.

    Because the second profile had a different chord length than the first, the final object will be tapered as seen from above, reducing the mass of the blade from root to tip.

Option: Blended Airfoil Profiles

You can use more than one airfoil design. Repeat the above steps, but use a different airfoil profile for the second sketch. The Loft tool will blend them.

Option: Twist

You can gradually twist the airfoil from root to tip to better adjust for the slower airspeed near the root to the faster airspeed near the tip.

  • Repeat the above steps, creating multiple offset planes along the length of the blade.
  • Rotate each sketch profile around a point that is approximately 25% from the front of the blade.
  • Select all the profiles for the Loft tool.

  1. Source: RC CAD LLC ↩