topic Re: Problem exporting DWG in Fusion Design, Validate & Document Forum

Problem exporting DWG

Anonymous — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 02:22:16 GMT

I have created a few 3D models in Fusion360. I need to provide these to my machinist in DWG format for pricing and eventual milling of several parts. My machinist uses AutoCAD and is requiring files in this format. The files look fine in Fusion360. I can open in A360 and export to DWG. However, when I download the files and send out, I am told these are just 2D flat files without any dimensional information. Sure enough, if I try to open these DWG files again in Fusion360, all I see is a 2D mesh image of the front side of the model.

I am sure it is something stupid that I am doing, but what am I missing please? Thanks anyone in advance for helping me out with this issue.

John

Re: Problem exporting DWG

HughesTooling — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 10:17:53 GMT

I'm guessing you've made a drawing and exported that, DWGs from made with New Drawing From Design are just 2d. To get the 3d model you need to export using Dashboard, when you click the download icon you're given a choice of formats, pick DWG and you'll be emailed a link to download the converted file. You could just send the link to your machinist or download yourself and email.

Here's what to look for on Dashboard.

Mark

Re: Problem exporting DWG

Anonymous — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 17:53:27 GMT

Mark, THANK YOU!!

I would never have figured that out. I cannot thank you enough. Cannot tell you how long I broke my head struggling with that one. Seems like something that should be explained better, wouldn't you say?

Anyway, I am very grateful for your help.

Regards,

John

Re: Problem exporting DWG

HughesTooling — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 18:09:41 GMT

It would be nice if you could export from the data panel in Fusion. You have some export options from Fusion's file menu but they are restricted to igs, sat, smt, stp and f3d all the other file types have to be exported from Dashboard. Just remembered you do have the option to share a public link from the data panel, but that will let anyone with the link download the file as any file type available for export.

Mark

Re: Problem exporting DWG

Anonymous — Mon, 02 Nov 2015 16:34:28 GMT

Mark,

Back with another issue. While my machinist can now open the file, he is telling me there is no dimensional data and is requesting to be sent a "Solid Mode" in order to see the dimensions. I am lost here. I thought sending him the .dwg would be the answer. Any ideas as to what he is requesting and how this differs from what he was sent?

So you can see what I sent him, here the files and links I sent him. Thanks again.

Clip Bending Jig Lower V2

https://myhub.autodesk360.com/ue29cc954/g/projects/2015102418905506/data/3096224757120391/XD9285eQTcf875d3c539bc4119da4b4d15e7?version=3&show=overview

Clip Bending Jig Upper V2

https://myhub.autodesk360.com/ue29cc954/g/projects/2015102418905506/data/3096224757120391/XD9285eQTcf875d3c53980e1d43cc540f476?version=5&show=overview

John

Re: Problem exporting DWG

HughesTooling — Mon, 02 Nov 2015 17:00:20 GMT

Your only option with Fusion would be to make a 2d drawing with dimensions and tolerances and export the 3d model as a separate model and send him both. If that's not good enough for him I'd say find another machinist who can think for himself. What he's asking for is a design done in AutoCAD with the 3d model in model space and the dimensions in paper space. Here's some info.

Mark

Re: Problem exporting DWG

Anonymous — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 03:20:01 GMT

Mark,

I did as you suggested. Thank you. I opened each file in model view, and selected "Drawing from Design". I then created four views, drew all of the needed dimensions, and added some notes, etc. I saved them as .PDF's and sent them off. (see attached)

So if I understand what is going on here correctly, a model, which has built-in dimensions, can be exported (after opening in A360) to a .DWG file, but when opened in AutoCAD, it loses all dimensional data and becomes just an information-less picture? Doesn't it seem like that would be the whole point of the file? What is a model without dimensions? Could he not have clicked on whatever the equivalent of "Inspect" is, and check to see the embeded dimensions?

Sorry if these are ignorant questions, but I am kind of shocked. Again, it seems like Autodesk does everything possible to make it as difficult as possible to work with people requiring .DWG's if you don't purchase their product.

John

Re: Problem exporting DWG

HughesTooling — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 10:21:18 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

Mark,

So if I understand what is going on here correctly, a model, which has built-in dimensions, can be exported (after opening in A360) to a .DWG file, but when opened in AutoCAD, it loses all dimensional data and becomes just an information-less picture? Doesn't it seem like that would be the whole point of the file? What is a model without dimensions? Could he not have clicked on whatever the equivalent of "Inspect" is, and check to see the embeded dimensions?

John

No the DWG is just the 3d model there are no dimensions in it. Most solid modelers work like Fusion you have 2 files, the 3d model and a linked 2d drawing. I don't think the Fusion team understood how important 2d drawings are, without them there's no way to specify tolerances, finishes, materials etc.

The way I work is I'm supplied with a 3d model and 2d drawing, although I machine from the 3d model I need to know how accurate and\or important parts of the model are. Also before I start work the 2d drawing is signed by me and the customer, any changes made after that date would mean a requote and more cost. So your question about just measuring the model, yes he could get a size but how important is that size, does he assume everything is +\- 0.001mm making the whole part to that tolerance would cost a lot more than only specifying a tolerance that's good enough.

Mark.

Re: Problem exporting DWG

Anonymous — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 21:35:30 GMT

Got it. I think I understand things a little better now. I see I still have a bit of a learning curve ahead of me. But I would still be at square one if you hadn't been kind enough to answer my posts. Thank you again for your help. Much appreciated.

Regards,

John

Re: Problem exporting DWG

TMC.Engineering — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 16:28:32 GMT

To add a little to the great info Mark has given. You may already know this but just in case you don't...

you can export DXF directly from fusion 360 no need for the PDF
you can also add the tolerances you need
you can add dual dimensions, metric and english. (I design a lot in metric, but one of the machine shops I use like imperial)

Re: Problem exporting DWG

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 18:19:10 GMT

Thanks Timm,

I wasn't aware of that. This should make things easier. Did you mean DWF or DWG? You mentioned DWF but the export is actually in DWG.

Thanks,

John

Re: Problem exporting DWG

TMC.Engineering — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 19:48:03 GMT

For some reason I thought it was DXF, but you are right it is DWG. The are similar dwg is autocad, dxf is genaric??? don't quote me on that.

Re: Problem exporting DWG

HughesTooling — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 21:02:45 GMT

Unless your customer has AutoCAD you might want to stick with PDF. See this thread. views-are-missing-in-drawing-dwg-export

Mark

Re: Problem exporting DWG

TMC.Engineering — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 21:37:44 GMT

Hopefully things will be better with the novmber update.

Re: Problem exporting DWG

Anonymous — Tue, 03 Jan 2017 15:53:02 GMT

How did you exported the files from f3d to dwg? and do you know how to convert f3d files to pdf?

Many thanks.

Decz

Re: Problem exporting DWG

HughesTooling — Tue, 03 Jan 2017 16:43:39 GMT

@Anonymous

Here's a link to the help on 2d drawing, once you've created a 2d drawing you can export as DWG or PDF.

Mark

Re: Problem exporting DWG

vertunc1976 — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 18:42:14 GMT

I modeled a design composed of components and I wanted to make a drawing from that design. So I opened up drawing module and made all sheets with parts necessary views and dimensions, notes etc. As my CAM operator needs 2d dwg files, I exported them as dwg. After opening all sheets in autocad, all drawings come as unexploidable blocks!! I tried almost everything to unblock them but nothing helped. Then I tried to export tham as pdf, Nevertheless the drawings came as pdf are not precise enough for the manufacturing process. Slight alterations occur on all dimensions. Than at last I tried to export in Dxf format. I opened them in Autocad but this time the scale values does not match. After scaling to the correct value the dimensions on the drawings and the dimension tools gave different results. And at that moment of insanity I deleted all dimensions that came from fusion and redimensioned them again in autocad. This was what I have suffered last week just to send a correct 2d drawing files to my cam operator. This is really awful! Fusion's design module is good but it's drawing module is so so so awful and incapable still after ten years of time. Truly disappointing. Think a software that can not do what it is intended to be. Fusion has put me in really terryfying situations that I couldn't explain to my 3rd party collaborators. By the way any suggestions will still be appreciated after this long complaint.