Fusion 360 sketching.

[Screwdriver]

A "sketch" operates in the same manner as a "layer" in Sketchup.

Sketcup uses "groups" to isolate individual objects and you can nest them, each with as many layers as you like.

I don't think there are any useful similarities which will help me port over. My knowledge of Sketchup is more of a hinderance.

What I look forwards to most is being able to animate mechanisms which I assume is possible in Fusion. For gawds sake don't tell me how though, I have enough on my plate as it is!

 

[mike os]

A "sketch" operates in the same manner as a "layer" in Sketchup.

Sketcup uses "groups" to isolate individual objects and you can nest them, each with as many layers as you like.

I don't think there are any useful similarities which will help me port over. My knowledge of Sketchup is more of a hinderance.

What I look forwards to most is being able to animate mechanisms which I assume is possible in Fusion. For gawds sake don't tell me how though, I have enough on my plate as it is!

Don’t know but I guess so. I use NX these days, spent a few years with inventor which is similar

 

[Ali]

I am convinced if I cant get my head round the sketching thing I might stand a chance.

That and as screwdriver says most if not all the tutorials are for older versions.


Whats Vcarve like?/

not what you’re looking for, it’s really a profiling / sign writing package + 3D post processor at a stretch

 

[BelgiqueB]

I think that tip might have just opened a whole new world...

Few more tips from someone who was in your position 2 years back, but i stuck with it and now Fusion is a pleasure to work with:

- Make sure the timeline is active, if it's not active it limits the option for most functions. (for example the mirror function, if timeline is active you have the option to mirror a body, component, face, feature when the timeline is not active you do not have this option)
- Make sure to read the popup when you activate a command, there are multiple options under each command which can have a great effect on the result of the command.
- Some commands do not work well on bodies but do work well on components.
- When moving components around us the 'align' function not the move function or joint function imho, only start using joints when all components are in their correct location and you want to animate your model.
- If you want to animate components use the 'as build joint' function (another function which is only available when the timeline is active)
- Understand the difference between bodies and components
- Forget about sketchup, I too was very frustrated when starting with Fusion, thinking sketchup is so much simpler, only when I stopped thinking in sketchup terms/ways did I start improving in Fusion.
- If you want to share the file for the mic mount and tell me what you want to do, I'll video my screen as I do it, might be helpfull?

Good luck.

 

[Screwdriver]

Thanks @BelgiqueB lots of useful tips there. I'll see what the internet says about the future for "free" Fusion before I commit but it does look like the one to port over to.

I did somehow manage to finish off the mic mount and print it in PETG some time ago, before they castrated Fusion. Printed it again yesterday in TPU flexible filament but it's way too floppy now!

For example though, you're dead right, I currently have no idea what the difference is between bodies and components in Fusion. I like to think I should be able to figure out a program without resorting to a manual, that is also an idea I need to let go of!

 

[ukracer]

Few more tips from someone who was in your position 2 years back, but i stuck with it and now Fusion is a pleasure to work with:

- Make sure the timeline is active, if it's not active it limits the option for most functions. (for example the mirror function, if timeline is active you have the option to mirror a body, component, face, feature when the timeline is not active you do not have this option)
- Make sure to read the popup when you activate a command, there are multiple options under each command which can have a great effect on the result of the command.
- Some commands do not work well on bodies but do work well on components.
- When moving components around us the 'align' function not the move function or joint function imho, only start using joints when all components are in their correct location and you want to animate your model.
- If you want to animate components use the 'as build joint' function (another function which is only available when the timeline is active)
- Understand the difference between bodies and components
- Forget about sketchup, I too was very frustrated when starting with Fusion, thinking sketchup is so much simpler, only when I stopped thinking in sketchup terms/ways did I start improving in Fusion.
- If you want to share the file for the mic mount and tell me what you want to do, I'll video my screen as I do it, might be helpfull?

Good luck.

I have been trying to encourage this on a number of fusion related groups. But I realise I am asking a lot.
I know if I am trying to do a task and can see how it's done (the part I am stuck on) it usually helps and I can find my way after that.
One thing I always used to forget is D for dimension. And once I stop using fusion I still do.

 

[ukracer]

When you create in 3D CAd, don't put too much info in your initial sketches. IT makes it more complicate and harder to work with later.

For instance, a simple pipe flange - you could sketch a circle for the outside diameter, another circle for the inside diameter then a number of circles for the bolts holes. Extrude the lot in one go, job done in one move - a circular pipe flange with some holes in for bolts.
But maybe you want a different number of bolt holes? Or different size? Or even blind holes. Or no central hole as its blank flange.

So maybe sketch the OD, extrude - so you have in effect a solid cylinder.

A new Sketch a circle for the ID, extrude to cut/subtract. Or use the "hole" command if you have one, select the centre point, put in hole size.

A new Sketch to position the bolt hole - either sketch a circle in the right place to extrude and cut/subtract, or a point to then use the hole command.

The "pattern" or "array" the bolt hole around.

So now you can make a all variations on as flange easily.

When you do more complicated components, separate sketches for separate operations makes it much much easier to understand.

No THAT is a major issue for me.
I was under the impression (I think like screwdriver) that you need to design the whole thing with the first sketch.

Probably because I can't work out how to add sketches to existing extruded components/models (you see language again)

 

[mike os]

Probably because I can't work out how to add sketches to existing extruded components/models (you see language again)

See my YouTube vid above … never thought I’d post that, ever

any questions just ask, I’ll do my best to help

 

[ukracer]

See my YouTube vid above … never thought I’d post that, ever

any questions just ask, I’ll do my best to help

I can now I have internet back.....that was one annoying thing. Whilst I could use fusion offline I did not have time to download your vids before the Rats eat through the cables on the transmitter.... (Allegedly) lol

 

[bricol]

No THAT is a major issue for me.
I was under the impression (I think like screwdriver) that you need to design the whole thing with the first sketch.

Probably because I can't work out how to add sketches to existing extruded components/models (you see language again)

I've not used what you're trying to use, but in the CAD systems I have used, when you go to create a new sketch, somewhere it allows you to create a new plane, or to infer a new plane - if you infer a new plane and select a face of the component - I also use the work part origin as the origin of each sketch - saves a lot of hassle if you remove something you had selected as the sketch origin.

With the systems I've used, you can see a history of the part - if you've named operations ("bolt holes" or "central bore" for example) you can easily find them to change. I must admit, I don't as it's usually pretty easy to find what I need.

With home working, I've finally been able to take rather a lot of thousands of pounds of work CAD system and design the rear suspension and drivetrain of my trials car at my leisure

 

[Hood]

Not sure if this will help to show the difference between one body and several bodies in a drawing.

In this vid I make a body then I sketch and extrude and join then repeat so I still have one body. The next part I sketch and extrude but choose "New Body" and it creates a separate body.

That is handy because I can then cut a hole through the whole lot as you can see, if however I do not want it to cut through the middle part I can just hide the body and the cut will only go through the visible ones.

 

[Hood]

Now here is a difference between bodies and components. If I have bodies then I can not move them about but if they are components I can. You will see me try and move the bodies by clicking and holding down the mouse button and dragging but nothing happens.
Next I convert the two bodies to components and once they are components they can be dragged about.

 

[Hood]

Oh BTW in the first vid, well both actually, I never captured the timeline in the vid so if you are wondering how I managed to edit the hole again after hiding the body it was simply by double clicking on the cut extrude in the timeline. It can be done by right clicking and choosing edit as well but double clicking is quicker.

Oh also Q is the shortcut key for extrude, that is why you will not see me clicking the extrude icon in the toolbar.

 

[Misterg]

Probably because I can't work out how to add sketches to existing extruded components/models (you see language again)

Highlight the face you want to sketch on and click ‘Sketch’.

 

[mike os]

Highlight the face you want to sketch on and click ‘Sketch’.

Other way round.? Select sketch then select the plane or face

 

[Misterg]

Other way round.? Select sketch then select the plane or face

Both work.

 

[Hood]

Other way round.? Select sketch then select the plane or face

You can do it either way. Often clicking the face first saves a mouse move as when you click sketch the rectangle, circle, whatever is right next to it.

 

[ukracer]

Highlight the face you want to sketch on and click ‘Sketch’.

Yeah I managed that last night with my box.. so I am learning.

 

[Screwdriver]

Looking at Fusion more closely now - seems they have updated the mesh editing abilit. It's pretty damned good tbh.

One thing I am really struggling with is the lack of a mouse button orbit command. I need to press ONE mouse button and temporarily orbit while holding. Middle mouse button+shift is way too slow and cumbersome.

Anyone know if there is any way to set up a mouse button to orbit?

 

[Hood]

Change the settings, I have it to Solidworks so I can use the mouse as I did in that which was what I was used to.
Also use the viewcube (top right) for specific views, clicking the edge of that will also give two edge views.