topic Re: Exporting as an fd3 NOT fdz in Fusion Design, Validate & Document Forum

Exporting as an fd3 NOT fdz

Drewpan — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 04:22:45 GMT

Hi All,

It seems that we have gone back to being limited to exporting fdz files again.

Has anyone else noticed this? Devs, can we PLEASE have the ability to export

fd3 files AGAIN because it makes it much easier to both post to the forum and

also send to others. Sending to others is painful as you need to explain to them

to unzip the file first. I understand the need for archived versions but small

files simply do not require it. This should be a simple "turn it back on" fix.

Cheers

Andrew

Re: Exporting as an fd3 NOT fdz

davebYYPCU — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 04:29:22 GMT

F3d and or F3z files are attachable to the forum.

F3d files are strictly independent of any external file/data.

F3z has external references within it.

I have not seen any problem exporting F3d, because I don't use drawings, external components, or configurations, all of which will automatically trigger the F3z file format.

Might help...

Re: Exporting as an fd3 NOT fdz

a.laasW8M6T — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 04:29:46 GMT

I don't believe anything has changed here

Are you aware of the Conditions the cause a file to be an .f3z?

Simply Put if there are ANY external references(Linked components, Fasteners, Derived Components, Machines(That have a Machine Model) then the File will be exported as an .f3z

If you don't want it to be an .f3z then you must break any links to external components etc

Re: Exporting as an fd3 NOT fdz

Drewpan — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 23:08:34 GMT

Hi,

Ok. So the imported STL file is causing this? The file is still very small. I should have the option.

Cheers

Andrew

Re: Exporting as an fd3 NOT fdz

a.laasW8M6T — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:07:30 GMT

It has nothing to do with file size.

Inserting a Mesh should not create any external references, there must be something else going on

Re: Exporting as an fd3 NOT fdz

davebYYPCU — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:45:28 GMT

We will need a screenshot of your expanded browser content.

Re: Exporting as an fd3 NOT fdz

Warmingup1953 — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 22:48:40 GMT

Please share your Fusion file, even if it is a .f3z.

I imagine you are uploading the .stl to your Fusion Cloud Data panel, then dragging it into your design file?

Attached are two approaches: one is the uploading then dragging method which necessitates the .f3z...

The other is Insert from desktop as a mesh that allows export as your desired .f3d