Difference between revisions of "Fusion 360"

Revision as of 22:40, 17 February 2019

Intro

Fusion 360 is a cloud-based 3D CAD, CAM & CAE design tool from Autodesk. It is available on many platforms including Windows, Mac & In-Browser. It is functionally similar to other 3D software like Solidworks, Siemens NX, Inventor or Catia. It is a very full featured program and is available to hobbyists and start-up businesses for no cost.

Highlight features include:

Parametric Modelling
Program tool paths for CNC machines
3D Rendering
Export STL models for the 3D Printer.

Installation

To get your Free copy go to the AutoDesk Web site

Axis Configuration

Default Axis orientation

The default coordinate system in Fusion has the Y-Axis pointing upwards. This is different to many other pieces of software and can be a source of mild annoyance if you regularly move models between programs. Cura is an example of a widely used program with the Z-axis pointing up.

If you do find it to be an issue, It is possible to change this setting by:

Navigate to the preferences by clicking on your username in the top right of the screen.
In the general tab, change default modelling orientation to "Z-up"

Before
After

Fuctions

Modelling

You can model fully parametrically in fusion using simple sketches, extrudes, revolves, etc. There is a very large community of makers using this software and providing excellent tutorials for all of its functionality on youtube so if you don't have any experience at all with CAD, start there.

Technical Drawings

Fusion has the ability to produce engineering drawings to both ASME & ISO standards; very useful functionality to have for free.

Computer Aided Manufacture

A number of the Hackspace CNC machines (Denford Lathe and the CNC Mill) will accept G-Code generated in Fusion 360. Use the Manufacture/ CAM workspace to generate tool paths.

CAM Workspace

CNC Milling

Using the CAM tools it is possible to generate toolpaths for the CNC Mill. Once your toolpaths have been defined, export the G-Code by post processing using the built in Enhanced Machine Controller settings.

CNC Milling toolpaths

CNC Lathe

Chris Cain wrote up a bit of a how to guide back in 2016 over on the Denford Lathe page. There are some handy youtube videos documenting his spinning top Manufacture too.

Tutorials

There are a number of youtube tutorial videos, the NYCCNC ones are rather good. The intro one is HERE do a google search for "NYCCNC fusion 360" to find lots more.

Fusion for Other Tools

3D Printer

The 3D Printer will also print parts from Fusion360 if they are exported in STL format. This menu can be accessed through File -> 3D Print.

3D Print Dialogue

Laser Cutter

You can export any sketch by right clicking it in the feature tree and pressing "Export DXF". This makes it possible to generate laser cutting paths in DXF format from 3D geometry. These can then be imported into Inkscape or directly into LaserCut 5.3.

For an example of how this can be used see the Les Plywood project.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ==Intro==
-Fusion 360 is a 3D design tool for windows from Autodesk.
+Fusion 360 is a cloud-based 3D CAD, CAM & CAE design tool from Autodesk. It is available on many platforms including Windows, Mac & In-Browser. It is functionally similar to other 3D software like Solidworks, Siemens NX, Inventor or Catia. It is a very full featured program and is available to hobbyists and start-up businesses for no cost.
-It is a very full featured program and also has the ability to convert modeled parts to
-gcode which can be run on a CNC machine or to STL parts that can be printed on the 3d
+Highlight features include:
-printer.
+*Parametric Modelling
+*Program tool paths for CNC machines
+*3D Rendering
+*Export STL models for the 3D Printer.
 ==Installation==
 To get your Free copy go to the [http://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/overview?mktvar002=685209&mkwid=sV3AFxPXf|pcrid|148576636796|pkw|fusion%20360|pmt|e|pdv|c|&gclid=Cj0KEQiAhNnCBRCqkP6bvOjz_IwBEiQAMn_TMfnHrzIaofTm7fnSiNcBGjuu6_BuXdIHA7y5S43HSSEaAnxT8P8HAQ AutoDesk Web site]
-==Modelling==
+===Axis Configuration===
+[[File:Fusion360-Default Orientation.PNG|100px|thumbnail|right|Default Axis orientation]]
+The default coordinate system in Fusion has the Y-Axis pointing upwards. This is different to many other pieces of software and can be a source of mild annoyance if you regularly move models between programs. [[Cura]] is an example of a widely used program with the Z-axis pointing up.
+If you do find it to be an issue, It is possible to change this setting by:
+#Navigate to the preferences by clicking on your username in the top right of the screen.
+#In the general tab, change default modelling orientation to "Z-up"
+<gallery>
+File:Fusion360-Y-Up.PNG|Before
+File:Fusion360-Z-Up.PNG|After
+</gallery>
+==Fuctions==
+===Modelling===
 You can model fully [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid_modeling parametrically] in fusion using simple sketches, extrudes, revolves, etc.
-There is a very large community of makers using this software and providing excellent tutorials for all of its functionality on youtube so if you don't have any experience at all with CAD I would start there.
+There is a very large community of makers using this software and providing excellent tutorials for all of its functionality on youtube so if you don't have any experience at all with CAD, start there.
-==Technical Drawings==
+===Technical Drawings===
 Fusion has the ability to produce engineering drawings to both ASME & ISO standards; very useful functionality to have for free.
-==CAM==
+===Computer Aided Manufacture===
 A number of the Hackspace CNC machines ([[Denford Lathe]] and the [[CNC Mill]]) will accept G-Code generated in Fusion 360. Use the Manufacture/ CAM workspace to generate tool paths.
@@ Line 25: / Line 44: @@
 [[File:CAM Workspace Fusion360.PNG|thumbnail|none|CAM Workspace]]
-===CNC Mill===
+====CNC Milling====
+Using the CAM tools it is possible to generate toolpaths for the [[CNC Mill]]. Once your toolpaths have been defined, export the G-Code by post processing using the built in Enhanced Machine Controller settings.
-Using the milling tools it is possible to program the [[CNC Mill]] from Fusion. Once your toolpaths have been defined, export the G-Code by post processing using the built in Enhanced Machine Controller settings.
+[[File:Han Solo Toolpath Simulation.gif|thumbnail|none|CNC Milling toolpaths]]
-[[File:Han Solo Toolpath Simulation.gif|none]]
+====CNC Lathe====
+[[User:chriscain|Chris Cain]] wrote up a bit of a how to guide back in 2016 over on the [[Denford Lathe]] page. There are some handy youtube videos documenting his spinning top Manufacture too.
 ====Tutorials====
@@ Line 36: / Line 59: @@
 do a google search for "NYCCNC fusion 360" to find lots more.
+==Fusion for Other Tools==
-===CNC Lathe===
+====3D Printer====
-[[User:chriscain|Chris Cain]] wrote up a bit of a how to guide back in 2016 over on the [[Denford Lathe]] page. There are some handy youtube videos documenting his spinning top Manufacture too.
-===3D Printer===
 The [[3D Printer]] will also print parts from Fusion360 if they are exported in STL format. This menu can be accessed through File -> 3D Print.
@@ Line 48: / Line 67: @@
 [[File:3D Print output from Fusion.PNG|400px|thumbnail|none|3D Print Dialogue]]
-===Laser Cutter===
+====Laser Cutter====
 You can export any sketch by right clicking it in the feature tree and pressing "Export DXF". This makes it possible to generate laser cutting paths in DXF format from 3D geometry. These can then be imported into [[Laser_cutter#Inkscape|Inkscape]] or directly into [[Laser cutter/LaserCut|LaserCut 5.3]].
 For an example of how this can be used see the [[Les Plywood]] project.
-==Recommendations==
-The best part is that Fusion 360 is available for FREE to students/Makers/hobbiests
-this is great value :-)
-There is a lot of information at autodesk, and unusually most of the marketing hype about the capabilities of the program are all true !!.
-If you want to make 3d parts this is probably the best software available at a reasonable price you will find!!
 [[Category:Computer aided manufacture]]
 [[Category:Design and graphics]]
 [[Category:Software]]