Fusion 360 static stress simulation, step by step

Fusion 360 workshop

Fusion 360 static stress simulation, step by step

Apply a fixed support and a downward load to the cup holder, then inspect its stress, movement and safety factor. This example uses a linear elastic material model and is a design comparison, not a load rating for a printed part.

SIMULATION workspace, New Study, Static Stress

1. 1Workspace menu: Click DESIGN at the top left and pick SIMULATION from the list.
2. 2New Study: STUDY group, first icon.
3. 3Static Stress: The first tile.
4. 4Create Study: Bottom right.

On screen: The browser gains Simulations, Simulation Model 1 and Study 1 - Static Stress with Study Materials, Load Case1, Mesh and Results.

Simulation and Cloud Credits dialog

1. 1Static Stress study: 0: Check the charge and access shown for your account before solving.
2. 2Confirm: The screenshot shows an earlier credit schedule. Use the current confirmation dialog for your account.

On screen: The dialog shows once per session. Tick "show balances" if you want the count on every solve.

Study Materials: ABS Plastic

1. 1Study Materials: MATERIALS group. Or double-click Study Materials in the browser.
2. 2Study Material cell: Double-click the cell, press Down, type ABS, pick ABS Plastic from the list.
3. 3OK

On screen: Check that Study Material reads ABS Plastic. Design Material is the material assigned in the Design workspace; the study uses the selected override.

Constraint: Fixed, on the two slot faces

1. 1Constraints: CONSTRAINTS group.
2. 2Type: Fixed.
3. 3Slot back face: The face at the closed end of the slot.
4. 4Slot floor: Ctrl-click to add it. Targets reads 2 Faces. These are what the desk touches.
5. 5OK

On screen: Two blue faces with lock icons. Load Case1 in the browser now holds one constraint.

Load: 10 N downwards on the cup floor

1. 1Loads: LOADS group.
2. 2Type: Force.
3. 3Cup floor: Click the inside floor of the cup. Blue arrows point down.
4. 4Magnitude: Use 10 N as the downward load for this exercise. This static load does not simulate an impact or establish a safe working load.
5. 5OK

On screen: Arrows on the floor pointing down. If they point up, Flip Direction.

Generate the mesh

1. 1Mesh in the browser: Right-click Mesh under Study 1 > Generate Mesh. Default settings.
2. 2Pre-check: SOLVE group. A green tick means materials, constraints and loads are all present.

On screen: Tetrahedra over the whole part, smaller around the fillets and the joint.

Solve on the cloud

1. 1Solve: SOLVE group.
2. 2Solve 1 Study: Cloud Credits column reads 0. Fusion asks to save the design first: save it.

On screen: A progress bar under Study 1 in the browser, then the RESULTS tab opens by itself. One to two minutes.

Result: safety factor, minimum 27.8

1. 1Minimum Safety Factor = 27.811: Read the minimum in Guided Results, then locate it on the model and check the stress and displacement plots.
2. 24.00: Top of the colour scale. Above it everything is blue.
3. 32.00: Below it red. Nothing on this part is.

On screen: The example is blue at this legend range. Locate the minimum and check the load, constraints, material data and mesh before interpreting the result.

Result: von Mises stress, maximum 0.72 MPa

1. 1Stress > Von Mises: Results list in the browser. STUDY > Results if the guided panel is still showing.
2. 2The joint: Green patch where the cup wall meets the clamp: the highest stress on the part.
3. 30.719 MPa: Maximum. ABS yields at about 20 MPa.

On screen: Blue almost everywhere. The stress concentrates at the joint and the inside corners of the slot.

Result: displacement, maximum 0.045 mm

1. 1Displacement > Total: Results list.
2. 2Far rim: Red: the point that moves most, opposite the clamp.
3. 30.045 mm: Maximum. The animation exaggerates the shape; read the scale.

On screen: A colour gradient from the clamp (blue, fixed) to the far rim (red).

Second solve with the cup wall at 8 mm

1. 1Minimum Safety Factor = 44.127: Up from 27.8.
2. 2Cup wall: In DESIGN, Change Parameters, d33 from 70 to 64 (wall 5 to 8 mm), back to SIMULATION, Solve. The constraint and the load stayed on their faces.

On screen: Compare the new minimum with the first result. After changing the geometry, check that the load and constraint still reference the intended faces.

Printed part note