Fusion 360 sketching.

[Jaffman]

Yep I know that...But cant create a cube sketch. i.e I can only draw in one plane. and get totally lost doing anything else.

So you draw in 2D extrude to 3D.

then you pick a surface to sketch on in 2D again and extrude to 3D to and your part takes shape

when you extrude that’s your 3rd dimension

so if you want a box 2cm x 2cm x 3cm then you can draw a box in 2D 2x2cm, then extrude it by 3cm to make your box.

If you want to recreate from dimensions then you need to make the part, then create a new drawing document (not a part document) and reference the part in that drawing where you can make orthographic drawings and dimension from there.

if you’re in the middle of making a part then there is a measur function where you can measure specific things like holes and faces etc. But it’s there as a reminder.

 

[Screwdriver]

Those are the very basics I am struggling with...

Could we do a sort of tutorial session? I just tried to make a light switch and got as far as a rough square (which I couldn't place at the origin centre) and tried to add two holes. But I couldn't find an easy way to plop a hole somewhere and then dimension it, except by using the dimension tool and editing the text but that seems a bit nuts. Plus I added a constraint which meant I couldn't then centre it. Couldn't find an easy way to find the actual centre either!

Then I gave up...

 

[Hood]

For dimensioning a simple 3d cube like you want you can make the sketch visible and then tell it to show dimensions. Now that will only show dimensions of the sketch and not the extrude but you can get them by simply drawing a sketch on that plane, use the dimension tool to place a dimension, it will say it is already defined so do you want to add for reference (or something like that) you say yes then when you enable the dimensions on that sketch you will have all you need.

I will do a quick vid and upload to youtube to let you see what I mean.

 

[Hood]

Ok here you go.

 

[Jaffman]

Those are the very basics I am struggling with...

Could we do a sort of tutorial session? I just tried to make a light switch and got as far as a rough square (which I couldn't place at the origin centre) and tried to add two holes. But I couldn't find an easy way to plop a hole somewhere and then dimension it, except by using the dimension tool and editing the text but that seems a bit nuts. Plus I added a constraint which meant I couldn't then centre it. Couldn't find an easy way to find the actual centre either!

Then I gave up...

Create sketch, make a square using square tool, put points at locations you wish, finish sketch.
extrude 5 mm using extrude tool, using the hole tool click on the points you made and enter hole dimensions into the pop up.
use the chamfer tool for the edges

and voila you have a face plate.

to cut the hole in the face plate for the light switch, create a new sketch on the flat face, draw your rectangle with your square tool, finish sketch, extrude the new rectangle but instead of using additive extrusion use the extrusion that removes the selected sketch.

 

[ukracer]

Ok here you go.

Ok now thats perfect. (certainly for what I was trying to achieve when I started the thread) What I fail to understand is why these youtube tutorials only give half the solution. Thats another story though.

What you have shown is brilliant. Forgive me if I ask stupid questions. I keep seeing tutorials that say you need to create a sketch and constrain it designing it all at the start. And I just could not get my head round that.

Your example is so clear and concise it shows that you have to move the view to another plane and create another sketch. I have not seen one tutorial showing that yet. (It does seem logical though) I have been trying to get my head round doing it all at the start.
Like screwdriver its the very basics I am struggling with but even the complete beginner tutorials soon have the damn model orbitting like Saturn forgetting that we are still remembering to use D for dimension.
I have been trying to find a place (even paid for) (which is unlike me) that I can send a a problem to and get a video (just like Hood has done). Its clear. I can see the steps he went through to achieve what he did.
I do need to ask ..can you draw a rectangle and then another one on a different plane prior to extrusion?

 

[ukracer]

Create sketch, make a square using square tool, put points at locations you wish, finish sketch.
extrude 5 mm using extrude tool, using the hole tool click on the points you made and enter hole dimensions into the pop up.
use the chamfer tool for the edges

and voila you have a face plate.

to cut the hole in the face plate for the light switch, create a new sketch on the flat face, draw your rectangle with your square tool, finish sketch, extrude the new rectangle but instead of using additive extrusion use the extrusion that removes the selected sketch.

Most of that makes sense and is how I "thought" it was done...BUT its sketching on an existing model that is not intuitive.

 

[ukracer]

So you draw in 2D extrude to 3D.

then you pick a surface to sketch on in 2D again and extrude to 3D to and your part takes shape

when you extrude that’s your 3rd dimension

so if you want a box 2cm x 2cm x 3cm then you can draw a box in 2D 2x2cm, then extrude it by 3cm to make your box.

Now thats where its not clear..most tutorials say sketch everything at the start...your way makes more sense but fusion is not common sense. lol

If you want to recreate from dimensions then you need to make the part, then create a new drawing document (not a part document) and reference the part in that drawing where you can make orthographic drawings and dimension from there.

Now THAT I dont follow (understand).

if you’re in the middle of making a part then there is a measur function where you can measure specific things like holes and faces etc. But it’s there as a reminder.

yep I can do that...lol

 

[Hood]

...
I do need to ask ..can you draw a rectangle and then another one on a different plane prior to extrusion?

Not really sure what you mean or if I am understanding what you mean, why you would want to, but is this it?

 

[ukracer]

Not really sure what you mean or if I am understanding what you mean, why you would want to, but is this it?

well what these tutorials seem to imply is you plan you design and sketch it ALL out at the start. So your version does show the sketch on two planes . if you have extruded on the plane you had already sized does it give you sizes without adding them..

I will have a play and see if I can explain better. I think screwdriver is stuck on the same concept as me but is a whizz on sketch up..

 

[ukracer]

I have a headache..

 

[Hood]

well what these tutorials seem to imply is you plan you design and sketch it ALL out at the start. So your version does show the sketch on two planes . if you have extruded on the plane you had already sized does it give you sizes without adding them..

I will have a play and see if I can explain better. I think screwdriver is stuck on the same concept as me but is a whizz on sketch up..

I usually work differently than that because I want separate parts so that I can break up for cutting on the plasma thus each part is a component.

 

[Hood]

I have a headache..

3D sketching is the next level up, I advise you to resist the temptation of trying it until you get to grips with the basics of 2D sketching

 

[daedalusminos]

As @Hood says, forget about 3D sketching for now - very useful in limited applications.

I think the problem you're experiencing with Fusion is analagious to cutting a piece of wood. You have a piece of wood and a toolbox full of tools, unfortunately you're only 5 and have little idea what each tool does. You've seen people cut pieces of wood with a stanley knife but their piece of wood was a different shape and size to yours and you've also seen people cut wood with a drill but that didn't give the results you want. So it's going to help when you learn what each tool, or at least the basic ones, is capable of and the result, but not only that, there's a technique to using a saw to give the best resuts.

It's always good to have achievable goals...with that in mind how about having a go at modelling this...

 

[Dev]

The thing to watch out for with YouTube tutorials is fusion has had quite a few updates recently and things have moved in the menus so while the principals are probably still fine if you’re trying to go click by click you might get lost.


Forget 3D sketch exists. Unless you need it (and you don’t) it just makes things difficult.

 

[Screwdriver]

I will have a play and see if I can explain better. I think screwdriver is stuck on the same concept as me but is a whizz on sketch up..

Yup. I think it is as much to do with the language - what objects and strategies are called in the program as it is to do with the tools available.

For example, to answer my own question above; you can create a square (for my light switch) with lines, a two point or three point rectangle OR start by defining the centre of the square. It seems the shape is then permanently defined by whichever construction process was used and that carries forwards during the lifetime of the model.

Defining everything from an origin would make it easier to create the mounting holes in the right place because you place them on a grid. What I tend to do in real life is measure an existing object and define its location with a dimension from a random point or edge. While that is doable (with a lot of faff), my reference point might be on some unreachable layer or sketch. So to create a facsimile from real world measurements, my process seems cumbersome and there is quite likely an entire section in Fusion I haven't discovered yet which speeds things up.

Speed is essential because I use sketchup to design things; move a 3d object out of my head and create a model so I can see how it can be constructed. Like I am making it up as I go and seeing how it looks affects what I want to do next. Fusion seems to operate from a principle that you know exactly what you want and how it is constructed.

Stepping back from an object you have scribbled down is tricky for me because I see no easy way to establish quickly exactly what it was you did to make it. What type of square is it, how did you define its centre, what are the constraints etc. Clearly this complexity is a useful (essential) feature for parametric modelling so it's really just a steep learning curve and (for me) an equally tricky unlearning curve.

I think once you have a grasp on the full set of definable objects and their available options, it will be easier to navigate the process. At the moment each and every object is a unique instance of a thing. I'm using everything for the first time so that even if I learn a procedure, I need to learn another one to do the next thing.

Also need to get my head around the "timeline" at the bottom which is a list of what you did and the "parts list" at the side which I think is a list of what you've got. It's still an unconnected random assortment of unfathomable symbols and I'm lost without cut and paste! What gets me most is the "move" command where nothing ever seems to actually move!

 

[Dev]

Once you have your block you can go down to Drawing > From Design and make a quick dimensioned drawing which is easy to add dimensions to if you want to send it to someone to make

 

[mike os]

3d sketches are a rarely used tool at this level, stick to 2d, until you can use it and and you need 3d ... (I have spent 30 hours doing cad this week and haven't used a single 3d sketch)

 

[indy4x]

As @Hood says, forget about 3D sketching for now - very useful in limited applications.

I think the problem you're experiencing with Fusion is analagious to cutting a piece of wood. You have a piece of wood and a toolbox full of tools, unfortunately you're only 5 and have little idea what each tool does. You've seen people cut pieces of wood with a stanley knife but their piece of wood was a different shape and size to yours and you've also seen people cut wood with a drill but that didn't give the results you want. So it's going to help when you learn what each tool, or at least the basic ones, is capable of and the result, but not only that, there's a technique to using a saw to give the best resuts.

It's always good to have achievable goals...with that in mind how about having a go at modelling this...

View attachment 312076

That's a really good analogy for someone starting out, as your skills develop you soon learn other ways and use (these are Inventor terms) extrude or cut commands to achieve what you need

 

[ukracer]

Once you have your block you can go down to Drawing > From Design and make a quick dimensioned drawing which is easy to add dimensions to if you want to send it to someone to make

View attachment 312081

Interesting. I need to sort my wife out. She is struggling with her hip on the leg that does not move so not sure how much me time I will get but that's worth looking at......that said it does not deter from the fact I need to grasp the real basics and as screwdriver highlights the language.