How to Design a Best-Selling 3D Printed Vase in Fusion
Updated November 24, 2025
Twisted vases are consistent bestsellers in the 3D printing world. With the right workflow in Fusion, you can build one quickly, keep it fully parametric, and get a clean, printable surface without fighting the timeline. This guide shows the exact method I use to combine solid modeling and surface modeling to create a smooth, curved pattern.
Before we dive in, here’s what we’ll cover.
What You’ll Learn
- How to shape a clean vase profile with a minimal Fit Point Spline
- How to build a twisted pattern using a combination of surface loft + thicken + revolve intersect
- Why certain tools (Revolve, Chamfer, Fillet, Circular Pattern) make this workflow faster and cleaner
- How to apply HEX/RGB colors for professional renders
- How to design in a way that prints reliably on FDM machines
Watch the Workflow — or Read It Step by Step
You can follow this guide in two ways:
- Read the steps below if you want quick written instructions, reference images, and modeling notes.
- Watch the full video at the end of this post to see the workflow in real time — including extra tips, camera angles, and shortcuts that don’t fit neatly into text.
Both formats build on each other.
Reading helps you understand why each step matters, while watching shows how to move faster in Fusion.
Step 1 — Create the Guiding Rectangle
Start by sketching a rectangle just to the side of the origin.
- Make it wider than the vase
- The height becomes the vase height
Positioning it beside the origin keeps the Z-axis free, which is essential when we later apply a circular pattern.
A base sketch defines a 100×100 mm square centered on the origin. This sets the bounding box for the vase profile and locks proportions early. Fully constraining the square ensures predictable results when editing via the timeline later.
Step 2 — Shape the Vase With a Three-Point Fit Point Spline
Use only three spline points to define the curve.
This keeps the design predictable, easy to edit, and avoids messy curvature changes. Dimension the top and bottom, then drag the control handles to shape the silhouette.
Less complexity here pays off later when you adjust the pattern.
A Fit Point Spline is added inside the square to define the outer contour of the vase. Key dimensions include a 20 mm dimension at the top and 25 mm at the base. These anchor points control curvature during the Revolve operation and make later adjustments more precise.
Step 3 — Add an Offset Line for Pattern Depth
Offset your profile line outward.
This offset distance defines the depth of the twisted pattern that will wrap around the vase.
It’s easier to define this early than to force the thickness later.
The spline is offset by 2 mm to create a parallel curve. This offset defines the wall thickness of the patterned feature used later in the Revolve-Intersect workflow. Keeping the offset curve parametric allows fast iteration on thickness without rebuilding the sketch.
Step 4 — Revolve the Base Shape
Select the inside profile and revolve it around the Z-axis (or the rectangle edge).
Revolve works perfectly for vases because it produces:
- smooth surfaces
- predictable thickness
- easy slicing with no artifacts
The Revolve tool is prepared using the spline profile and a vertical axis. The preview indicates a full 360-degree revolve. This operation generates the smooth vase body used as the base surface for cutting and patterning.
Step 5 — Choose a Wall Thickness
Wall thickness depends on:
- material
- nozzle size
- whether the vase must be watertight
- print time
A benefit of this workflow is that thickness changes are easy to adjust later through the timeline.
The Shell tool hollows the vase to a 3 mm wall thickness. Using “Inside” maintains the original exterior shape while ensuring consistent printability and structural strength. A tangent chain is enabled to include the entire inner cavity.
Step 6 — Create an Offset Plane and Sketch the Upper Guide Line
Add an offset plane above the vase. On this plane, sketch a line with an angle.
This angled line defines the direction of the curved, twisted pattern.
Make the line extend past the vase so the loft has room to form cleanly.
A construction plane is lifted 5 mm above the top edge to prepare a guide sketch for twisting the pattern. Offset planes provide precise control over where guide rails begin and end during surface modeling.
An arc is sketched from the center with a radius of 100 mm and a 50-degree sweep. This arc functions as a guide for controlling how much the pattern twists from top to bottom. Angular values directly influence the final symmetry of the design.
Step 7 — Add the Lower Guide Line
Sketch a second line at the bottom of the vase.
Same length, no angle.
These two lines—angled on top, straight on the bottom—become the backbone of the twist.
A horizontal construction line is sketched at the bottom of the vase with a length of 100 mm. This line connects to the angled guide sketch created on the top offset plane. Together, these two guide rails define the twist direction for the lofted surface. Matching the endpoints ensures that the loft transitions smoothly from the base orientation to the rotated top angle, creating a controlled twist along the height of the vase.
Step 8 — Connect the Lines With a Surface Loft
Switch to the Surface workspace.
Use Loft between the top and bottom lines.
Surface Loft gives cleaner curvature than solid loft and avoids bulging or pinching. It's the best option whenever you want controlled organic shapes.
A surface Loft is created between the top and bottom profiles without using guide rails. This produces a clean transitional surface that forms the base of the twisted pattern body. This workflow keeps the loft flexible and makes it easy to adjust the twist later using only the angular difference between the top and bottom sketches. The result is a smooth, continuous surface ideal for thickening and patterning.
Step 9 — Thicken the Surface Into a Solid
Use Thicken to turn the surface into a solid body.
Make it a new body to keep full control during trimming.
The lofted surface is thickened symmetrically by 2 mm to form a solid body. Symmetric thickening keeps the patterned piece centered and simplifies later operations like Circular Pattern.
Step 10 — Use Revolve Intersect to Cut the Pattern
Return to your offset sketch.
Use Revolve, but set Operation = Intersect.
This trims the thickened lofted body automatically, forcing it to follow the curved shape defined earlier.
It’s one of the cleanest ways to generate twisted profiles in Fusion.
The offset spline from step 3 is used as the revolve profile and turned around the central axis with the Intersect option. This operation keeps only the portion of the thickened surface that lies inside the revolved volume. Using the offset spline as the cutting profile ensures the twisted body matches the vase’s curvature and aligns cleanly with the final circular pattern.
Step 11 — Refine the Transition at the Top
Inspect how the pattern meets the vase.
- Chamfer works well for sharp transitions
- Fillet softens the edge
- Full Round Fillet gives an organic, premium look
These small adjustments matter for both aesthetics and print quality.
The chamfer tool fails (see the error message in bottom right corner) because of small, tightly curved geometry near the cutout. When the chamfer distance exceeds the available space, Fusion cannot solve the edge transition. Reducing the value or adjusting the selection resolves this.
Step 12 — Add a Chamfer on the Rim
Add a chamfer to the top rim.
It becomes a visual highlight and allows you to introduce a third color:
- vase body
- twisted pattern
- inside rim
This subtle design detail dramatically improves final appearance.
A 3.5 mm chamfer smooths the top rim of the vase, improving both aesthetics and printability. The equal-distance method keeps the rim uniform and prevents sharp edges.
Step 13 — Apply Custom Colors With HEX or RGB Codes
Search for “popular color palettes” to find cohesive combinations.
Use the color tools strategically:
Color Picker: quick for rough selections but hard to match exact tones.
RGB: useful for controlled adjustments, though consistency can vary between platforms.
HTML/HEX: the most precise and repeatable option, ideal for maintaining a consistent visual style.
Duplicate and adjust your colors to build a clean three-color scheme.
A pastel surface color is applied by entering a precise HTML color value. This ensures consistent visual style across thumbnails and keeps project visuals aligned with your brand’s palette.
Step 14 — Create the Final Pattern With Circular Pattern
Use Circular Pattern → Bodies.
Select the Z-axis and increase the quantity until the pattern feels balanced.
Everything remains parametric, so you can adjust splines or angles, and the entire vase updates automatically.
The twisted body is duplicated 18 times around the main axis using the Circular Pattern tool. Body-based patterning allows variation in spacing, density, and overall complexity of the final vase design.
Key Takeaways
- Fewer spline points = cleaner, easier edits
- Surface Loft + Thicken + Intersect is a powerful combo for curved patterns
- Revolve gives the smoothest base body for vases
- Chamfer and Fillet aren’t just cosmetic—they influence printability
- Circular Pattern on the Z-axis is the most stable way to distribute repeating geometry
- Using HEX/RGB palettes makes your renders and product photos instantly more professional
This workflow gives you a fast, predictable way to create visually striking vases that print cleanly and look premium—perfect for Etsy, your own shop, or your next tutorial.
⏱ Chapters
- 00:23 How to create a rectangle sketch in Autodesk Fusion
- 00:36 How to create a fit point spline in Autodesk Fusion
- 01:08 How to offset a line in Autodesk Fusion
- 01:27 How to revolve a sketch in Autodesk Fusion
- 01:49 How to make a solid body empty in Autodesk Fusion
- 02:00 How to create an offset sketch plan in Autodesk Fusion
- 02:12 How to create a line at an angle in Autodesk Fusion
- 03:01 How to connect sketch lines with a solid body in Autodesk Fusion
- 03:22 How to make a surface thick in Autodesk Fusion
- 03:52 How to cut out an intersection in Autodesk Fusion
- 04:44 How to edit an edge in Autodesk Fusion
- 05:06 How to make an edge round in Autodesk Fusion
- 05:57 How to apply a Hex Color Code in Autodesk Fusion
- 07:13 How to make a circular pattern in Autodesk Fusion
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If you enjoyed this Fusion tutorial, here are three more projects that dive deeper into curved patterns, vase workflows, and advanced surface techniques — perfect if you're exploring printable decorative designs.
These tutorials each show a different approach — from surface-driven curves to solid-body precision — helping you master the tools you need for professional-quality 3D-printable designs.