topic Re: Copying Features to multiple points in Fusion Design, Validate & Document Forum

Copying Features to multiple points

batchelder_jimmy — Sat, 25 Feb 2017 15:16:55 GMT

I am looking to copy a revolved cut to several points on this part. The parts are not in a regular pattern so I cannot use the Pattern tool. The Copy/Move will not let me select the revolved cut for a point to point copy. It will also not let me select more than one point to copy the the feature too. This is a larger part that I need nearly 100 profiled holes in, so doing a Copy/Move Faces operation for each location is not an option.

Is there a tool for this I am unaware of? Or am I misusing the Copy/Move tool? This seams like a very common and simple thing to do. I feel like I'm missing an obvious solution.

In the example below I want to copy the revolved cut, from the smaller body, to the center of all the holes in the larger part.

Re: Copying Features to multiple points

Anonymous — Sat, 25 Feb 2017 17:52:39 GMT

I'm not sure I fully understand what you are trying to do.

However, you can copy from point to point. As shown in the Screencast.

The traditional copy/paste that you would expect is kind of broken in my opinion.

Re: Copying Features to multiple points

batchelder_jimmy — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 01:27:05 GMT

I just put the revolved cut in a separate body because it was faster to set up. It is the profiled hole (or other feature) that I am trying to copy. As I stated above, copying isn't a feasible solution for parts with a large number of feature instances.

Re: Copying Features to multiple points

Anonymous — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 01:40:26 GMT

I'm sorry, I don't know of a way to make 100 irregularly positioned exact profiles without copying.

Re: Copying Features to multiple points

Noah_Katz — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 03:58:07 GMT

@Anonymous,

> The traditional copy/paste that you would expect is kind of broken in my opinion.

Yes, seems like we really need a move/copy/point to point/to point/to point...

Re: Copying Features to multiple points

TrippyLighting — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 11:14:17 GMT

What is needed for the is a sketch point based pattern similar tot he sketch based pattern in Solid Works.

This is an idea I posted a while ago. Here is another idea with the same thought.

Re: Copying Features to multiple points

Anonymous — Sat, 08 Feb 2020 14:56:41 GMT

A feature that is available in most cad programs, including Autocad LT etc but not for some extremely frustrating reason in Fusion 360. Come on Autodesk, sort out the sketch functions to make them more like Autocad so we can all improve our productivity, as most of the time its far more convenient to sketch and extrude or copy a feature to multiple points from a sketch than anything else.

Re: Copying Features to multiple points

TheCADWhisperer — Sat, 08 Feb 2020 15:09:01 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Come on Autodesk, sort out the sketch functions to make them more like Autocad so we can all improve our productivity...

You are unfairly comparing an new 21st century product to a mature product from the 20th century. 😜

Re: Copying Features to multiple points

Anonymous — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 00:45:40 GMT

I don't think that's an unfair comparison at all. Especially considering it's a fairly basic feature that's been around forever....and it's the same company no less. 🤔

Re: Copying Features to multiple points

Anonymous — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 09:59:52 GMT

I personally find it frustrating that all of us are having to use workarounds in the sketch environment in order to achieve what we want to do. The program should be assisting our work flow not making it that we have to keep adapting to it. Most users will be from an Autocad type background and so are used to the ways particular things work and so expect a product from the same stable to work in the same way, which is not unfair assumption or expectation. Let's face it, trying to copy something from one intersection to another in a sketch is a nightmare, if not down right impossible, despite it being a normal drafting task, but in autocad, draftsight, solid works, etc it would be as simple as selecting the item to be copied, click copy, select first intersection, select second one, and its done. In Fusion 360 on the other hand, the only way to do it is to:

Create a extra construction line between the two intersections in order to create points at those locations as there is seemingly no way to create a point at the intersection of two lines in a sketch;
Select move/copy
Select point to point
The selection copy, as if you do it before step 3 then on clicking point to point it deselects "create a copy" for some bizarre reason;
Then click on end of the line and then the other end of the line;
Hope there are no constraints automatically been applied to the object you are trying to copy, even though its a copy and not the original
Swear at screen when it hasn't done what you wanted it to and try and figure out another work around.

That's the basic problem, at least five frustrating steps when it should be possible to do it in two, as it is in every other autocad product and most of the competitors to.

Yesterday I needed to copy something at an angle, the only way to do it was to use the circular pattern command, which in itself has a bug as when you selected angle, it often only asks you for quantity and not the included angle. Besides which, why does it not have similar functionality to the rectangular pattern command? Surely giving the option of total angle plus quantity or individual angle plus quantity? Plus setting circular pattern command to default to 1, which means nothing is created is nonsensical.

You are falling behind the curve Autocad by not building the sketch function using the commands from your other products. A lot of the time designing from a 2D sketch and the extruding is the way a lot of designers like to work, myself included, as it allows us to see the overall layout before we make things more complicated.

Re: Copying Features to multiple points

TrippyLighting — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 10:19:27 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

... The program should be assisting our work flow not making it that we have to keep adapting to it. Most users will be from an Autocad type background and so are used to the ways particular things work and so expect a product from the same stable to work in the same way, which is not unfair assumption or expectation ..

The vast majority of users do not have an AutoCAD background and there's a reason for that. Fusion 360's clientele is mostly younger and I personally ditched AutoCAD in 1998 for most of my work. If I need to work in 2D I resort to AutoCAD LT and only very rarely and briefly.

A 35 year old degreed Mechanical Engineer with 10-12 years of professional experience might have never worked in AutCAD and in the market segment where Fusion 360 tries to compete AutoCAD plays no role whatsoever.

Expecting the sketch engine of a 3D software to work like AutoCAD is outright nonsense!

While there are undoubtfully things that can be improved in the sketcher in Fusion 360, hopefully that does NOT include making it more AutoCAD like.

BTW the name of the company is Autodesk and not AutoCAD.

Re: Copying Features to multiple points

Anonymous — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 13:25:49 GMT

A 35 year old degreed Mechanical Engineer with 10-12 years of professional experience might have never worked in AutCAD and in the market segment where Fusion 360 tries to compete AutoCAD plays no role whatsoever.

Expecting the sketch engine of a 3D software to work like AutoCAD is outright nonsense!

Ironically, I'm actually a 35 year old registered PE with 16 years of solid experience working in various versions of MicroStation, AutoCAD, Revit and trying to add Fusion360 to the list. At the end of the day, the theory behind Autodesk's marketing strategy/clientele for Fusion360 is irrelevant. The background of the user doesn't change the deficient functionality for all users across the platform. The only thing that changes, is that users with backgrounds in other software will spot the deficiency much sooner. That's it.

The expectation (at least from my perspective) is not to necessarily "make it like AutoCAD" and really misses the point. We are simply noting that a feature exists in most all other CAD platforms - 2D and 3D - and does not in Fusion360. The point is that Autodesk should have taken note from all the other platforms out there (including their own) and included what many see as a basic function of any 2D AND 3D software.

For what it's worth - I do agree with you in a sense. I don't want it to be like AutoCAD. The only reason I use AutoCAD is when the client requires it. I find it incredibly slow and cumbersome, and the move to the Ribbon interface years ago was very frustrating as it buried useful tools several layers deep that used to be more prominent and easier to get to. I get it from Autodesk's perspective - they probably licensed the Ribbon background software from Microsoft and probably saved a ton of money/time by adopting it. However, the end result was a slightly slower workflow and was/is frustrating in any case.

Re: Copying Features to multiple points

TheCADWhisperer — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 13:40:16 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
The point is that Autodesk should have taken note from all the other platforms out there (including their own) and included what many see as a basic function of any 2D AND 3D software.

Design Differently with Fusion 360

The Fusion 360 3D CAD design app is the new metaphor for designing differently and efficiently.

🤔

Re: Copying Features to multiple points

TheCADWhisperer — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 14:10:50 GMT

@hoowahfun wrote:
....and it's the same company no less. 🤔

Re: Copying Features to multiple points

TrippyLighting — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 15:31:33 GMT

@TheCADWhisperer yep, I've asked for that feature 4 years ago 😉

Re: Copying Features to multiple points

Noah_Katz — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 16:29:37 GMT

I got an email saying there's a solution and got taken to your post, so I presume you mistakenly did so.

I did that once and undid it, though I don't remember how.

Re: Copying Features to multiple points

Anonymous — Sun, 07 Jun 2020 23:45:00 GMT

Yeah somehow one of my posts got marked as the solution. Not sure how that happened or who decides that since there is no solution.

Re: Copying Features to multiple points

veso58S5W — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 20:26:37 GMT

I would suggest a Cage Match between you two 😂🤔🤣

Re: Copying Features to multiple points

veso58S5W — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 20:29:29 GMT

LOL

Re: Copying Features to multiple points

veso58S5W — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 20:44:14 GMT

But, seriously ANYBODY from AutoDesk read this?
For last, what 3 years?
@Phil.E @ryan.bales please guys do something.

Simple thing:
1. Move/Copy function must have in Target Point ability for multiple points, immediately after Create Copy is checked.
2. Move/Copy shouldn't switch and clear target Point after selecting Create Copy.

Also, talking about same function, after selecting Move Type "Point to Point" Origin/target Point boxes must be active, not let me go back and forth thinking and scratching my head "what the f.... happened, where are the points?"