Design A Kinetic Sculpture Using Fusion 360
 

Kinetic Sculpture Project: Orbital Rings

Design a desktop kinetic sculpture consisting of three concentric rings that rotate independently around different axes, creating a mesmerizing orbital motion similar to a gyroscope.

Design Concept

The sculpture consists of:

A circular base
Three nested rings of decreasing diameter
A central sphere suspended inside the rings
Revolute joints allowing each ring to rotate on a different axis
Suggested Dimensions
Component Size
Base Diameter 180 mm
Base Thickness 20 mm
Outer Ring Ø140 mm x 6 mm
Middle Ring Ø110 mm x 6 mm
Inner Ring Ø80 mm x 6 mm
Center Sphere Ø35 mm
Shaft Pins Ø6 mm
Step 1: Create Parameters

In Modify → Change Parameters, define:

Parameter Value
baseDia 180 mm
ringThickness 6 mm
outerRingDia 140 mm
middleRingDia 110 mm
innerRingDia 80 mm
sphereDia 35 mm
pinDia 6 mm

Using parameters makes resizing the sculpture easy later.

Step 2: Create the Base
Start a sketch on the XY plane.
Draw a circle with diameter baseDia.
Extrude 20 mm.
Add a central support arm rising approximately 100 mm.
Step 3: Create the Outer Ring
Sketch two concentric circles:
Outside: outerRingDia
Inside: outerRingDia - 12 mm
Extrude by ringThickness.
Create pin holes on opposite sides.

Convert it into a component named Outer Ring.

Step 4: Create the Middle Ring

Repeat the process:

Diameter: middleRingDia
Thickness: ringThickness

Rotate this ring's axis by 90° relative to the outer ring.

Step 5: Create the Inner Ring

Create the third ring:

Diameter: innerRingDia
Thickness: ringThickness

Again, orient its rotational axis perpendicular to the middle ring.

Step 6: Create the Center Sphere
Sketch a semicircle.
Use Create → Revolve around its center axis.
Add a small mounting pin if desired.
Step 7: Assemble

Use As-Built Joint → Revolute:

Base ↔ Outer Ring
Outer Ring ↔ Middle Ring
Middle Ring ↔ Inner Ring
Inner Ring ↔ Sphere

Each joint should rotate freely.

Step 8: Add Motion

Open Animation Workspace and assign:

Outer Ring: 15 RPM
Middle Ring: 25 RPM
Inner Ring: 40 RPM

Because each ring rotates on a different axis, the sphere appears to follow complex orbital paths.

Materials

Try assigning:

Polished aluminum rings
Brushed steel base
Brass center sphere

The contrasting materials make the motion easier to perceive during rendering.

Optional Enhancements
Add gears between rings for synchronized motion.
Include an LED beneath the sphere.
Export components as STL files for 3D printing.
Render an exploded view showing how the rings and joints fit together.

This project exercises key Fusion 360 skills-parametric modeling, components, joints, assembly constraints, and motion studies-while producing a visually striking kinetic sculpture that can be both animated digitally and fabricated physically.