topic Re: How can I get a sketch exported with dimensions? in Fusion Design, Validate & Document Forum

How can I get a sketch exported with dimensions?

burnandreturn — Sat, 18 Feb 2017 18:38:02 GMT

I want to make a simple sketch and print it out with the dimensions I had put in the sketch. When I tried to either get a sketch or DXF I had no dimensions even though I had them in the sketch.

Is there a way to do this in Fusion?

Re: How can I get a sketch exported with dimensions?

ahreum.ryu — Sat, 18 Feb 2017 22:40:30 GMT

Hi @burnandreturn,

Thank you for posting!

in 3D model, our aim is to create model bodies so that sketchs just help to construct as base.

if you need dimensions of sketch, you are able to use 2D drawing export.

After creating body, go to Drawing environment and you should add dimensions on drwaings and export again. here is how to use drawings.

but you want to edit the dxf file, you should convert view through AutoCAD. here is how to change to model view

if I miss something, please let me know

I look forward to your reply.

Many thanks,

Re: How can I get a sketch exported with dimensions?

TrippyLighting — Sun, 19 Feb 2017 00:30:37 GMT

Nope, unfortunately.

I've used screenshots before but that has obvious limitations.

Re: How can I get a sketch exported with dimensions?

TrippyLighting — Sun, 19 Feb 2017 00:36:21 GMT

Drawings ar a necessary evil when you have someone else make your things. However, if you are making your own things, having to go through the hassle of making a drawing first is really a waste of time.

For a small independent shop that waste of time translates directly into lost revenue.

Re: How can I get a sketch exported with dimensions?

burnandreturn — Sun, 19 Feb 2017 06:56:21 GMT

Why can't we actually draw in drawings? If I need to make a part in my shop I want to be able to print out a drawing with dimensions go to the shop and machine the part. In Fusion I have to jump through a bunch of hoops to get there and duplicate a lot of steps from one module to another to get a simple drawing.

Also it seems it is not actually possible to DRAW in drawings. Or have I missed how to add a line, circle, rectangle, etc. in drawings? Construction lines? I made a sketch and I needed a construction line as a reference point in order to dimension the sketch for exploring the design. (I think that is how you all refer to designing). But I have to extrude the sketch to make a drawing from the sketch. Maybe it is just me but it seems backasswards to me.

Re: How can I get a sketch exported with dimensions?

burnandreturn — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 10:05:09 GMT

Is it possible to draw in drawings? If not why not? When will .dxf export arrive in the drawing module?

Re: How can I get a sketch exported with dimensions?

daniel_lyall — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 10:43:45 GMT

No, Not added yet, soon.

I think your getting confused with the wording of stuff, Sketching is what you do when you are designing a object (in modeling), Drawing is making the plan semantic of the object in Drawings.

Re: How can I get a sketch exported with dimensions?

burnandreturn — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 11:12:08 GMT

No I am not confused. I am disappointed that we can not do the most simple things in drawings or even in sketch. Why can't we either export a .dxf from drawings that we have dimensioned or a sketch with dimensions to a .dxf or for that matter to any format? The idea of having to do a screen grab of the sketch with dimensions is so non-professional.

For me I might have to make a bracket. Say a simple square with a 36mm hole in the middle and a bolt circle with four 6mm holes. If I use Fusion I have to make a sketch. Then extrude it. Then make a drawing from the body I have created and then dimension everything. In the sketch I have already dimension the sketch but now I have to do it over again in drawings. And if I want to print it out I have to make a .pdf of the drawing. What a waste of time. And it gets worse if the bracket or whatever is more complicated. Too easy to make a mistake on the drawing while dimensioning. And if I want a .dxf with dimensions I have to use another CAD program.

Bad form Autodesk

Re: How can I get a sketch exported with dimensions?

daniel_lyall — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 19:12:07 GMT

I think you will find that's normal for a professional level program.

Re: How can I get a sketch exported with dimensions?

burnandreturn — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 13:03:46 GMT

Do you intend to add .dxf export to drawings?

Re: How can I get a sketch exported with dimensions?

TheCADWhisperer — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 13:47:45 GMT

@daniel_lyall wrote:

I think you will find that's normal for a professional level program.

Huh? Can you elaborate on this response?

Re: How can I get a sketch exported with dimensions?

HughesTooling — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 14:03:42 GMT

@TheCADWhisperer wrote:

@daniel_lyall wrote:

I think you will find that's normal for a professional level program.

Huh? Can you elaborate on this response?

Yes Please explain.

I was just going to post this. Here's a sketch in ZW3d exported as a DXF and opened in Rhino and the dimensions come through, did need to resize the text scale though. Also no problem exporting DWG\DXF files from a 2d drawing that can be read with any program. Can't figure out why AutoDesk are making it so hard to get dimensioned DXF files out of Fusion, perhaps they don't want to take customers away from AutoCad Lt and Inventor.

Mark

Re: How can I get a sketch exported with dimensions?

daniel_lyall — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 19:10:25 GMT

I am just going by what I have used, programs that can't do what @HughesTooling shows @HughesTooling I learn't something new today Thanks I know I can trust the EE to set me straight.

Re: How can I get a sketch exported with dimensions?

blacktip — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 12:27:46 GMT

Digging up this plus two year old thread, just to hear if anyone has any solution in getting a sketch exported together with measurements/dimension into a separate file (that I can print/email/whatnot). The DXF-export works fine, but the hassle of re-measuring everything is just not possible.

And for those wondering why I need a 2D-drawing, the answer is simple: the carpenters and builders working on my house atm like to have a printed copy of what to do, or at least see the intended measurements of what to build.

Was playing around with the idea of importing the dxf in Illustrator and using CadTools to re-add the dimensions, but nah … too expensive. Then started to re-model/build everything in Sketchup, but then though … why re-do everything again? Ended up taking screenshots of the sketch-files instead, that sorta works although the contrast of printout is hard to read at times.

Re: How can I get a sketch exported with dimensions?

g-andresen — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 12:44:59 GMT

Hi,

If you only need the sketch for the workshop/building drawing, extrude it minimally and create the required views with dimensions in the drawing environment.

günther

Re: How can I get a sketch exported with dimensions?

blacktip — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 13:02:08 GMT

Ah, of course. I'll try that. Thanks.

Re: How can I get a sketch exported with dimensions?

Anonymous — Sat, 01 May 2021 00:13:07 GMT

A couple years late to the party but yes, this is possible and quite simple.

Draw your sketch, in this instance I have inserted a sheet of ply and am sketching the size of the bits I want to cut out so I can keep track of material requirements.
Now, top right hit, new drawing from design
Place the part down and ensure the face with the desired sketch is facing up
Top right, select sketches and set them to visible, while checking that your desired sketch is also visible in the sketches drop down menu
Now, you can add dimensions to the sketch in the same way you would any other drawing file, save and export as usual.

Re: How can I get a sketch exported with dimensions?

davebYYPCU — Sat, 01 May 2021 00:44:40 GMT

You missed the point of this thread.

Yes you can make your drawing documenting sketches, - now,

back then sketches were not available as visible drawing items, Fusion was upgraded to do this, but strips the existing dimensions during transfer to Drawing, now requiring you to replace them. Might make sense to some.

Export sketch with dimensions is still unavailable.

Re: How can I get a sketch exported with dimensions?

Anonymous — Sun, 30 May 2021 06:01:10 GMT

Yes I agree completely, why redo all the dimensions when they are there ready and waiting in the sketches already done, just dump them to the 2D view along with your actual shapes drawn. If youre not generating CAM/CNC stuff and just giving to an old school fab shop ? I am fortunate as my stuff is fairly simple and I can just go back and redo all the dimensions in the drawings, seems silly though, its such a fundamental thing I am sure there must be some sales\licensing driver for AutoCAD or something behind not doing it

Re: How can I get a sketch exported with dimensions?

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Jun 2021 11:14:55 GMT

Any way they make this possible? Who can you suggest?