How to Import Airfoils in Fusion360 - DAT files to create Spline

This is the easiest and most accurate way I have found to create airfoils in Fusion360, and it has been working great for me!

#fusion360 #airfoil #cad

[Scorpiochannel]

Interesting to see questions to blogger instead of asking the developer. This is my add-in. By now it was upgraded several times.

[learningtocrash]

I made a flat bottom airfoil once with Inventor using numbers from a table I found online. I set "d0" to be the chord length which is the first "driving parameter" (so you change it and all other points change relative to it) on a construction line in the 1st sketch (bottom of airfoil). Then laid down 10 points roughly in an airfoil shape. Put "x", along chord, dimensions in place at 5% (d0*.05), 10% (d0*.10), 15% (d0*.15) and so on. Then the "y", height, dimensions calculated from the table as a function of the chord (fx) at that chord position. Then establish the LE point and the starting point on the bottom edge. It came out fairly smooth with a few points. I drew it tangent to the bottom line forward and up and around to the trailing edge, then tangent to an angled construction line at the TE... but don't connect the spline just put it near the points. Finally put Coincident constraints between the established points and the spline points (add or delete points as needed), and Tangent constraints on the ends. You can activate a few Spline handles and put dimensions on them too to get the curve you want.

[landen]

I can't select the construction plane. As soon as the Airfoil Parameters box opens, the construction planes visible at 3:27 on your video disappear from my program. What do I need to do differently? OK I figured out that I need to create a component, select it and turn its origin on.

[LiftoffLumberjack]

Thanks for the video. I don't have much to say but you helped me out by explaining this, so I'll help your videos get move views by dropping a comment.

[Dashone]

How do u make it a dat file so fusion 360 can read it

[TheoTHERON_SA]

Do you have a video where you use an aerofoil but 'twist' (angle of attack?) the blade? Thanks

[Jono.]

Helped a lot for a project I'm working on. Thanks!

[nimuyj]

plz help!!! I converted .txt file to .dat file, and opened .dat file at fusion360. "error unknown dat format" what does it mean

[bradley]

It does not let me select a plain, do you know why?

[AndyHibbert]

Do we need the music and full screen of 360 would help

[ronaldonaranjo]

If someone could @ me and explain how do I download the data file from the UIUC database because when I click on one of the data files it just opens like a text file how do I download that onto my computer?

[marcosdimoise]

I have a wing design and a airfoil design, how can I put the airfoil on the wing?

[cr-usch]

Where did you get the file full of airfoils to start with??

[akshaygode]

Am facing an error which says unknown dat file format

[muthukumarnp]

Thanks a lot. Helped me and saved a ton of my time.

[cr-usch]

Ok..been trying for two days.... how do you download the dat files?

[lafarms]

Seems the Mac OS has changed and I can no longer import the .dat file. Notes does not allow saving anything but pdf. Using a PC and importing the file did not work either. Thank you for the video.

[learningtocrash]

Great presentation. I've spent the last week and a half creating a 3D organic shape in Inventor and it wasn't easy but it came out very well and is modifiable & fully integrated (WPs, sketches, parameters (approaching 2500), then finally the Loft). So I know what you mean about splines.

I have a few questions regarding the spline generated.

1. Are the spline's points constrained, either by dimensions, grounded or an X Ref?

2. Can a wingtip spline be rotated and repositioned to create washout and constrained to a reference from the root chord?

3. Can a surface be created rather than a solid? These could be the outer molded lines, and inner surfaces by offsetting the original spline, to which ribs and spars can be extruded.

[cr-usch]

Never mind, add in is under the tools tab

[artashesharutyunyan]

Thanks for the info but for a beginner like me one question is left. How do you choose an airfoil for a plane??? There are so many