How do I copy just a sketch from one desing to another?

[sprior913]

I created a sketch in one design that I want to copy to another.  I found how to export the sketch to a dxf file, but haven't found how to import that dxf file into the new design, ideally I'd like to be able to imprt that dxf into an existing design but see no option for that.  I did see that I can import a dxf file once when creating a new design, but the original was on the XY plane and when I did the import it appeared on a vertical plane - how do I fix that?

Is there some import DXF option that I'm missing?

[sprior913]

I used the create new design by import feature and then moved the sketch into the XY plane, but the original sketch was in feet and it seems that it was imported into the new design as mm - how do I fix this?

[joel.palioca]

Hello,

The way you can accomplish this is by opening the sketch, hightlight and select all of the sketch that you want to copy.  Then go to the new design and create or open a sketch.  Paste the geometry into it.  You can see it with this screencast.  I am guessing your intent is to copy and paste the sketch as a whole instead of just the geometry inside of it?

[sprior913]

Yes I want to copy the sketch as a whole.  Your instructions didn't work for me, I'm in the model environment with both designs open.  I copy the sketch geometry in one window and switch to the other design where I've got a sketch editing, but I don't get any paste option.  What am I missing?

[joel.palioca]

Could you potentially upload a video of what you are doing?  I have tried multiple models and sketches and I am able to copy the geoemtry, so I want to make sure I haven't missed something specific to what your doing that is making it hard for you to do this.

Cheers,

[donsmac]

What you are missing is:

Create/Create base feature/new sketch/paste

Also use Create Base Feature to paste bodies from another file.

[innovatenate]

Can you check the step by step instructions below and see if they work for you?

1. Edit the sketch that contains the geometry you wish to move/copy (you should see the Stop Sketch command appear in the top right of the ribbon if you have edited a sketch)

2. Select all Sketch figures by dragging a selection box around them (the sketch figures will highlight)

3. Select Copy from the right click menu or use the keyboard shortcut for Copy command (Windows CTRL+C- Mac Command + C)

4. Select Stop Sketch from toolbar

5. Activate the Component you wish to place the sketch in (select white circle next to the Component name in the browser to Activate Component)

6. Select the Work Plane or Face you wish to sketch on, Right mouse click and select Create Sketch

7. Select Paste from the right click menu or use the keyboard shortcut for Copy command (Windows CTRL+V- Mac Command + V) while in an active sketch. 

Note: Paste can be a little hard to locate, but it's on the right click menu, see below

8. Move Geometry as necessary (if necessary)

9. Stop Sketch

I hope this helps. Let me know if I may be of further assistance.

Thanks,

[sprior913]

I lost you at step 5 - I don't have an existing component to activate, so I selected Create sketch in the new design, then selected a plane.  But then Ctrl V did nothing.

So I'm still lost on this seeming simple thing to do.

I'm trying to copy a sketch from one design to another.

[sprior913]

Create Base Feature didn't help either.

[sprior913]

Not what I'm trying to do, but I just followed the copy instructions to copy from one sketch to another within the same design and that works, but what I'm trying to do is to copy a sketch from one design to a new sketch in a different design and that doesn't work.

[innovatenate · Accepted solution]

I apologize for the confusion, I have a revised step list below.

1. Edit the sketch that contains the Sketch geometry you wish to copy (you should see the Stop Sketch command appear on the right side of the ribbon if you have edited a sketch)

2. Select all Sketch figures by dragging a selection box around them (the sketch figures will highlight)

3. Select Copy from the right click menu or use the keyboard shortcut for Copy command (Windows CTRL+C- Mac Command + C)

4. Enter into the Other Design's workspace by clicking on the tab above the upper Toolbar

5. Activate the Component you wish to place the sketch in, if necessary. (Hint: select white button next to the Component name in the browser to Activate Component)

6. Next, select Model > Create > Create Base Feature (Finish Base Feature will appear on the right side of the Ribbon)

7. Select the Work Plane or Face you wish to sketch on, Right mouse click and select Create Sketch (the Stop Sketch command appear on the right side of the ribbon)

8. Select Paste from the right click menu or use the keyboard shortcut for Copy command (Windows CTRL+V- Mac Command + V) while in the active sketch.

9. Use the Move command to position the sketch

10. Select OK in the Move command to place the sketch

See the ScreenCast below for a demonstration.

I hope that helps!

Thanks,

[sprior913]

Sat down to to try this procedure tonight, but when I started Fusion 360 it went into a slow upgrade installation which seems to be mentioned nowhere on the Autodesk site - no advance warning, no release notes.

[sprior913]

Thanks, now that I got to try it the procedure worked.  Would be great if the online help was expanded enough to allow the user to figure something like this out.

[cloudbase9]

I believe this solution should be deprecated. Using a base feature for this makes the sketch un-editable in future. Instead, copying and pasting sketches between documents is possible and remain editable according to this thread