Autodesk Fusion free version - does it do anything beyond viewing?

[langwadt]

I think the "cloud" feature stops when the 30 days expire.

afaiu (I have paid version) it still works the same (or might only be cloud storage) but there's a limit to how many designs you can have active at a time

[peter-h]

Seems to be 10 max open projects, and it isn't an issue.

Funny thing is their emails come From: <lourdes.v.vasque@autodesk.com> but when I reply to it I get

    (reason: 550 5.4.1 Recipient address rejected: Access denied.

[langwadt]

Seems to be 10 max open projects, and it isn't an issue.

yeh it seems to me that most of the limitations in the free version isn't really that limiting, it just makes things a bit more cumbersome and some thing slower so that people who use it to make money won't abuse it

[peter-h]

I need to find out how to work offline, obviously...

[tszaboo]

tried some of the Chinese online services where you just upload a step file, choose material, and get an instant quote?

Sure, but I almost never just need a STEP file made into a part.
I need a part, which has reference distances, tolerances. Threaded holes that supposed to interface with other parts.
And surface finish. Often times the parts need to form an enclosure that's IP rated.

[peter-h]

Am I right that for the above you need

- IGES or similar for the overall shape
- DXF or DWG for the specs e.g. tolerances, thread specs etc

I guess IGES or STEP alone is OK for shapes like most injection mouldings are.

But I've seen 3D printed stuff containing a thread like M3. It wasn't really usable (well not in 3D printed plastic!) but the thread was there. Was that just a hi res STEP/IGES file?

Fusion can directly drive a 3D printer so maybe it "just does it"?

I have just finally received the .f3d file...

[m98]

In Fusions thread creation tool, you can specify if you want a fully modeled thread, which can then be 3D printed.

[peter-h]

Fusion is very complex. I've successfully managed to view the product from various angles, choose which parts to show/hide, export STEP, upload to PCBWAY, and now waiting for them to review it. 2 3D printed samples for $55. Not bad!

It says "under review" so presumably some human there needs to look at it.

$100 each for aluminium, CNC. Rather more impressive pricing for titanium

For metal versions I want threads tapped and for that I need to generate drawing(s) from Fusion...



I've just realised they well might 3D print it with the lid in place so I can't get inside, so I messaged them about it

you can specify if you want a fully modeled thread, which can then be 3D printed.

I think that is if I have my own 3D printer. AFAICT if I export STEP, to a printing/CNC firm, they can't do threads unless they get a drawing.

[m98]

I think that is if I have my own 3D printer. AFAICT if I export STEP, to a printing/CNC firm, they can't do threads unless they get a drawing.

If you want to send a file to be 3D-printed, just directly export the surface geometry with modeled threads as an STL. You can easily do that in Fusion by right-clicking on the body you want to export and selecting "Save as mesh".

[peter-h]

I tried to get a CNC price but if I want tapped holes they want a drawing e.g. DXF or DWG. But to get either of these you need "cloud translation". AIUI this stops working on the free/trial version after 30 days.

This probably explains why it is often said the free Fusion is popular with the 3D printing community. They don't need drawings.

[m98]

You can still print / use print to PDF to export the 2D drawings. Btw, Solidworks is also available very cheap for private use.

[langwadt]

I tried to get a CNC price but if I want tapped holes they want a drawing e.g. DXF or DWG. But to get either of these you need "cloud translation". AIUI this stops working on the free/trial version after 30 days.

afaiu you can still make DXF you just need to make a sketch first

This probably explains why it is often said the free Fusion is popular with the 3D printing community. They don't need drawings.

it is also really convenient for making cam if you have a CNC machine

[peter-h]

I would like to thank all you people for all your help!

I've placed a couple of orders with PCBWAY.

I will still need to find somebody to do actual edits to the part but probably there are loads on freelancer.com. Not looking for a freebie

Interestingly DWG and DXF looked very similar (I used an online viewer; curiously Fusion won't view these files) and don't have dimensions as such. I guess producing a dimensioned drawing is a lot more "AI"

[peter-h]

Fusion gets 10/10 for opaqueness. Just spent a couple of hours watching tutorials etc trying to work out how to change the diameter of a hole. Yes, a hole!



I can add a hole somewhere, add fillets, etc but cannot edit an existing hole. I wonder if there is a locked mode, or perhaps somebody created a hole as a "negative" so there isn't actually a hole there?

[thm_w]

The normal process to edit a hole is right click on the hole and -> edit profile sketch. If that hole was created by a pattern feature or something else you might have to find its origin, and edit that one.

Its also likely the file was imported as STEP and it does not have any feature data embedded in it. Look at the bottom timeline and you'll see timeline history, if there is nothing then you can't edit feature data that doesn't exist.

In that case you start a new sketch on top of the hole and draw a larger hole to cut it bigger.

[peter-h]

Thank you.

I tried it but cannot find an editable hole Clearly it is more subtle... but this is an extremely complex program, with loads of "selection" modes.

The drawing was definitely done in Fusion. I have the .f3d file. If you import IGES then AIUI you get no "objects" that can be edited. No doubt that's why designers only give IGES to their customers, forcing them to go back to the designer for any mods

[jc101]

If you need the .f3d editing, and it's a simple change, happy to take a look. Even if it's to look for where the editable element is so you can edit it yourself. If you're not used to Fusion, it can take a while to get your head around.

[thm_w]

The drawing was definitely done in Fusion. I have the .f3d file. If you import IGES then AIUI you get no "objects" that can be edited. No doubt that's why designers only give IGES to their customers, forcing them to go back to the designer for any mods

Just because you have a f3d file does not mean it was made in fusion, or contains any feature data.

You can import a step file and then save it as .f3d.

[peter-h]

OK; sure. In this case I know who did it.

I still cannot edit the hole I can measure its diameter using the Measure feature. I can also add new holes elsewhere. But jc101 above can edit the hole OK.

It's a weird program...

Many years ago I used AutoCAD and that one could work out without too much trouble.

Currently I am waiting for some 3D printed boxes to come back from PCBWAY and then I will see what needs to be done.

[m98]

You can just close the hole using direct modeling tools. Or create a sketch on the surface with a circle covering the hole and then extrude.

[Jerrery]

Fusion's free version is too limited - try Onshape's edu plan (register with school email). FreeCAD's STEP import works decently, but you'll need to export from Fusion as IGES first.

[themadhippy]

- try Onshape's edu plan (register with school email).

no need to fiddle an education email,onshape offers a perfectly usable free version

[langwadt]

- try Onshape's edu plan (register with school email).

no need to fiddle an education email,onshape offers a perfectly usable free version

what does it do that the free fusion doesn't?

[peter-h]

If I was starting again myself I would obviously not use Fusion, or anything from Autodesk.

But in this case I have a design done by someone and don't want to do it again, despite a few people saying to me they could re-create it in an hour. Well, they sure could but this design had a fair bit of detail work put into it, fitting various items into it properly, etc.

In a couple of weeks I will find out what happens when my 30 day trial ends I reckon I will end up with what Autodesk calls the Personal Version. I say this because the downloader stub for all these versions is exactly the same executable, byte for byte. I might lose the "cloud" access which is needed for e.g. DWG or DXF export... but probably not.

There is no object-level portability between any of the 3D programs AFAICT. Only via STEP or IGES which is much less usable - no wonder product designers send you only these formats even after you paid their hefty fees

[peter-h]

I have 12 days to go before the 30 days is up and then I will find out how much of it is still working I will update this thread.

In the meantime I am getting loads of emails from

Autodesk Fusion <lourdes.v.vasquez@autodeskcommunications.com>

but any replies to it bounce back

Other emails from them don't bounce but nobody replies.

What a stupid company.

I got the 3D prints back from PCBWAY. Very impressive!