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3D Modeling in Fusion 360

About Fusion 360

Fusion 360 is a powerful and intuitive 3D modeling program from Autodesk. It allows for quick modeling for production whether that is 3D printing, milling, or plasma cutting. It is more beginner-friendly than other programs like Solidworks.

If you're looking for something specific, click one of the links to jump directly to that type of equipment.

Signing Into Fusion 360

When you open Fusion 360 you will be asked to log in with an Autodesk account. If you don’t have one, click the "Create Account" link under the "Next" button on the sign-in page (left). You should be redirected to a new form to create your account (right). Your UTC email is preferable to use as Autodesk has an option to submit information and obtain an educational license for your account. Once you have an account you are ready to get started.

Image of the AutoDesk sign-in formImage of the AutoDesk form to create an account 

 

 

Navigating the Fusion 360 Interface

image of the Fusion 360 main interface

 

Tool Bar:

This contains a series of drop-down menus that house most of the tools that you will use. The tools under these menus will change depending on what workspace is selected.

image of the Fusion 360 main toolbar for the Solid Design workspace

 

Workspace:

In this drop-down window, you will find different workspaces you can use depending on the type of project you are creating. For 3D modeling, you will probably use the Design workspace for most of your projects, but there are also other workspaces for rendering, animation, and more. The interface and options will change based on the workplace that is selected. 

image of the Fusion 360 workspace dropdown selection menu

 

Browser:

All of the components in the scene are displayed in this series of drop-down folders. From here you can select individual components that you would like to modify.

image of the Fusion 360 project file browser

 

Timeline:

The timeline contains all of the major changes you have made in your project. If you want to go back and edit one of those changes, select it on the timeline and you can tweak it.

image of the Fusion 360 project timeline

 

Navigation and Display:

These tools are located at the bottom of the screen. They will allow you to zoom, pan, and rotate around the scene as well as change some of the display aspects.

image of the Fusion 360 model navigation toolbar

Touring the Solid Design Toolbar

Overview of the Solid Design Toolbar

In this section of the guide, we will look at some of the tools found under the Solid Design menu and how these tools can be used to create your 3D models.

While the icons in the toolbar below are great for creating basic objects, more tools can be found by clicking the drop-down menus in each section of the toolbar.

*In the Fusion 360 software, you can hover over each item to view a full explanation of the tool and a visual example.

Toolbar for general solid material designs under the design workspace setting.

 

The Create Tools

 

 

Image of the Create section of the Solid Design toolbar numbered one through six from left to right

 

** For a full description, hover over the icon in the Fusion 360 software. **
 
  1. Create Sketch: Enters Sketch mode, where you can choose a plane (X, Y, Z) to work in and begin creating your model.
  2. Extrude: Adds depth to open or closed sketch profiles or faces.
  3. Revolve: Revolve a sketch profile or planar face around a selected axis.
  4. Hole: This creates a hole in your model based on user-specified values.
  5. Rectangular Pattern: Creates duplicate faces, features, bodies, or components and arranges them in rows and columns, like a rectangle.
  6. Create Form: Enters Form mode, which can be used to create more organic, free-form shapes by pushing and pulling on vertices, edges, and faces. *Please note that the Form mode will not be covered in this guide.

 

The Modify Tools

 

 

Image of the Fusion 360 Solid Modify toolbar icons numbered from one to six from left to right.

 

** For a full description, hover over the icon in the Fusion 360 software. **

 

  1. Press Pull: Gives depth to the sketch.
  2. Fillet: Rounds the edges of the model by removing material from the exterior edges.
  3. Shell: Removes material from the interior to create a hollow space with walls, similar to the shelves of a bookshelf.
  4. Combine: Combines two or more shapes to create a single object.
  5. Split Body: Splits an object into two separate objects using a profile, face, or plane.
  6. Move/Copy: Moves the selected face, body, sketch, or construction geometry a specified distance or angle.

 

The Assemble Tools

 

 

Image of Assemble icons numbered from one to two from left to right from the Solid Design toolbar

 

** For a full description, hover over the icon in the Fusion 360 software. **

  1. New Component: Creates a new internal or external component in the assembly. 
  2. Joint: Positions components relative to one another and defines the relative motion.

 

The Construct, Inspect, Insert and Select Tools

 

 

Image of the Fusion 360 tool icons numbered one to four from left to right.

 

** For a full description, hover over the icon in the Fusion 360 software. **

 

  1. Construct: Creates a construction plane that is offset from the selected face or plane.
  2. Inspect: Measures a distance, angle, area, or position data of the selected object.
  3. Insert: Place an image on a planar face or sketch plant to use as a reference.
  4. Select: Shows the type of selection process that is currently active.  

Creating a Sketch

 

 

Image showing the X, Y, and Z planes with X, Y, and Z axisTo begin creating the sketch for your object, click the "Create Sketch" icon on the top toolbar (the first icon on the "Create" toolbar). Next, choose the plane where you would like to create your sketch. The default options are along the X, Y, and Z axes, though the face of an object can also be used (see image to the right).

 

Once you choose a plane, a new toolbar named "Sketch" will appear showing the following:

Image of the entire Sketch toolbar, which appears when a user has begun the sketching sequence.

 

In this menu, you can create sketch objects by using a line, rectangle, circle, or spline tool, which will create a curved line. Once you choose a shape, select a point on the grid and drag the shape out to begin your sketch. As you drag the object out, text boxes with measurements will appear. You can expand the object to the size you want or you can manually enter the measurements in the boxes provided around the shape (in millimeters) if exact measurements are needed.

The image on the left shows the measurement boxes based on the width and height of the rectangle when it is dragged out. The image on the right shows the rectangle sketch once the measurements have been entered into the measurement boxes.

Image of rectangle sketch with options to change measurements.       Image of a rectangle sketch with measurements.

 

When you are finished creating the sketch of your object and ready to begin adding more depth to it, click the "Finish Sketch" icon at the end of the top toolbar. The Finish Sketch icon to be clicked once a user is finished with their sketch.

Modifying a Sketch

The Extrude Tool

the Create Sketch and Extrude icon win the Create toolbar with the Extrude tool icon highlighted

Once a sketch is done, go back to the Create menu. Under the Create menu, you will find options to turn your sketch into a 3D form or body and tools to edit existing forms. The most basic tool in this menu is Extrude, as shown in the image above. This allows you to give thickness to your sketch and make it a 3D object. 

Click the sketch you want to use the Extrude tool on and then click the Extrude icon in the Create menu. From there, something similar to the first image below. 

Sketch after the Extrude tool was selected. Click and pull up on the arrow to make the sketch into a 3D object.

Next, click the arrow and drag it up or down. This will extend the 2D sketch into a 3D object, as shown in the image below. Click the "OK" button in the Extrude pop-up window to finish

Image showing the Extrusion Tool turning a sketch into a 3D object. Extrude window with the extrude icon and one profile selected.

The Press/Pull Tool

The Press Pull tool in the Modify toolbar allows you to add another sketch to the face of your object and use the new parameters to either add more material or remove material from your model.

Once you have created and extruded your sketch into a 3D object, create a new sketch on the surface of the object you would like to create a new extrusion/extension or remove some of the material in the current object.

 

Image of small cylinder        Image showing a new sketch created on the top surface of the 3D cylinder.

 

Once you have created the new sketch, select the face of the new sketch. It should turn blue, as shown below. Once it is selected, click the Press Pull icon in the Modify toolbar. When you have your selection and click the icon, a blue arrow should appear in the center of your selection.

Image of new sketch on the 3D model selected and turning blue to show selection.     Image showing blue selection and arrow after selecting the new sketch on the 3D model.

 

 

Adding Material Using Press Pull

To extrude your new sketch and add material to the model, simply move the arrow in the direction that gives you positive numbers in the measurement box. When doing this, the selection should remain blue.

Image showing blue selection and arrow after selecting the new sketch on the 3D model.    Image of  Press Pull extrusion to add material to model   Image of model with added extruded material using the Press Pull tool

 

 

Removing Material Using Press Pull

If you want to create a shape within the model, such as a hole or an indent for a shelf, we will still use the Push Pull tool, but a different method than the above will be used. When removing material from a solid model, we will move the blue arrow in the reverse direction and negative numbers will appear in the measurement box. When doing this, the selection should turn red to indicate that the material is being removed from the model.

Image showing blue selection and arrow after selecting the new sketch on the 3D model.     Image showing the Press Pull material removal process    Image of a cylinder with a hole through it as a result of removing material with the Press Pull tool

 

 

The Fillet Tool

       

 

 

The Modify menu set gives several options for editing and combining solid bodies that have been created. One frequently used tool in the Modify menu is Fillet. Fillet rounds off straight edges on a body helping it to be less boxy and more ergonomic.

Combining Objects


     

Through the Modify menu, you can combine different models to generate more complex forms. To do this go to "Modify and Combine." A menu will appear on the screen and you will be prompted to select a Target body and Tool body as well as the type of operation. You can choose between Join, Cut, or Intersect. Once you have your Target and Tool bodies selected hit OK to complete the operation.

 

*Combine Tool is shown in this example. The blue is the Target body and the red is the Tool body. The operation being performed is Cut.

Additional Useful Tools

Adding a Reference Image


     

At times it can be helpful to work from a reference image. To add one in Fusion 360, click the "Insert" icon in the toolbar. In the menu that appears, click the button that says "Insert from my computer..." and then the plane on which you would like to view your reference image. Once you have positioned your image, press OK.

 

Image showing the placed reference image and the new Canvases drop-down menu.

A new dropdown menu will add a new section called "Canvases." You can toggle the visibility of your reference image as well as delete it in this menu.


Canvas Calibration


If you know the exact size of an object in your image you can calibrate the canvas to match. To set the image size right click on the image under Canvases in the browser and select Calibrate.

Image showing the calibration tool used to get an exact measurement of part of the wrench in the reference photo.

After you click Calibrate you will be asked to select two points on your image. A box with the current distance between those points will appear. Type in what the actual value should be (in millimeters) based on the physical object and the whole canvas will scale to match.


Using the Timeline


If you know the exact size of an object in your image you can calibrate the canvas to match. To set the image size right click on the image under Canvases in the browser and select Calibrate.

Image showing the calibration tool used to get an exact measurement of part of the wrench in the reference photo.

After you click Calibrate you will be asked to select two points on your image. A box with the current distance between those points will appear. Type in what the actual value should be (in millimeters) based on the physical object and the whole canvas will scale to match.

Exporting Your Model

** IF YOU WANT TO PRINT A FILE AT THE UTC STUDIO, PLEASE READ **

The software used for 3D printing in the Studio (3rd Floor, Library) uses .stl files. If you want to create a design in Fusion 360 and print it using the 3D printers at the Studio, you will first need to save the file to the Autodesk Cloud by clicking the save icon on the top toolbar. From there, you will be able to follow the steps below to export your file. 

If you are not planning to export your file as a .stl file, please follow the instructions provided during the export process by Fusion 360.

 

To export your file in Fusion 360, click the File icon's dropdown menu and choose 3D Print. Image of file toolbar with File drop-down menu circled.

 

A pop-up menu will appear on the right side of the screen.

  1. Uncheck the box beside "Send to 3D Print Utility."
  2. Select the object(s) you want to save as a .stl file.
  3. The "OK" box in the pop-up window that was originally grayed out should be clickable now. Click the OK button.
  4. Another pop-up window should appear. This pop-up window will allow you to name your file, choose a file type, and choose a location to save your file. If you want to save your file locally to your computer, check the box beside "Save to My Computer" and choose a file location.
  5. Click the blue "Save" button

 

Congratulations! You've just made and exported your own 3D model in Fusion 360!

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