topic Re: Aligning imported step files to Fusion 360's global XY plane in Fusion Design, Validate & Document Forum

Aligning imported step files to Fusion 360's global XY plane

componentscience — Mon, 30 May 2022 22:33:27 GMT

The attached file was created with an imported step file that does not align with Fusion 360's global XY plane - it is floating in outer space.

Question:

What is the best way to align the center of the two holes with Fusion 360's global XY plane? The center points of the two holes must align with the X axis.

Re: Aligning imported step files to Fusion 360's global XY plane

laughingcreek — Mon, 30 May 2022 22:52:57 GMT

easiest for me is to put it in a component and use a joint.

Re: Aligning imported step files to Fusion 360's global XY plane

componentscience — Mon, 30 May 2022 23:03:38 GMT

@laughingcreek

Seems like the holes don't align with the X axis.

Re: Aligning imported step files to Fusion 360's global XY plane

laughingcreek — Mon, 30 May 2022 23:12:22 GMT

oops forgot the joint origin

Re: Aligning imported step files to Fusion 360's global XY plane

componentscience — Tue, 31 May 2022 02:13:28 GMT

Clever.

Re: Aligning imported step files to Fusion 360's global XY plane

laughingcreek — Tue, 31 May 2022 04:11:56 GMT

Re: Aligning imported step files to Fusion 360's global XY plane

componentscience — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 04:30:07 GMT

Hey sorry never responded to this. At first glance yes this seems cleaner - will give it a shot.

Re: Aligning imported step files to Fusion 360's global XY plane

componentscience — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 19:35:50 GMT

@laughingcreek

is the 3d arrange preview feature intended to help with these scenarios?

Re: Aligning imported step files to Fusion 360's global XY plane

laughingcreek — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 20:48:27 GMT

no, 3d arrange is used to arrange components inside a build envelope for 3d printing. it's not a modeling tool.

Re: Aligning imported step files to Fusion 360's global XY plane

componentscience — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 12:55:23 GMT

@laughingcreek this issue resurfaced in a real-world application. Trying to use the component/joint method we discussed but must be missing a step. The holes are not aligning to the X axis.

(view in My Videos)

Re: Aligning imported step files to Fusion 360's global XY plane

davebYYPCU — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 15:51:14 GMT

Duplicated instead of edit sorry.

Re: Aligning imported step files to Fusion 360's global XY plane

davebYYPCU — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 15:50:02 GMT

In your case, before making the Joint, adjust the Joint Origin disc, to align to the sketched line, click re-orientate, and rotate the required amount.

Frankly the Joint Origin is not required, as the Joint itself can select midpoint of the line, and the triad does the rotate.

Might help....

Re: Aligning imported step files to Fusion 360's global XY plane

componentscience — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 16:07:07 GMT

Hmm re-orientate is used before making the joint (0:45), aligning the X axis to the sketched line.

Re: Aligning imported step files to Fusion 360's global XY plane

davebYYPCU — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 00:58:19 GMT

I finally found a way to fix that misalignment, but the reciprocal calculation, (-1.917 deg) did / would not register, and that is very likely why, you said the angle adjust was incrementing 5 deg.

Might help....

Re: Aligning imported step files to Fusion 360's global XY plane

componentscience — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 03:46:52 GMT

Clever - might work. Not sure if we did this the same but feels slightly cumbersome selecting the global X axis. Regardless might work. Also curious where the angle comes from.

Re: Aligning imported step files to Fusion 360's global XY plane

etfrench — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 07:55:45 GMT

Here's another method. Just requires adding another component at the point where the holes align with the X axis.

Convert the body to a component.

Use a revolute joint with the joint origin at one of the holes and the other at the main Origin.

Create a sketch.

Project the body to the sketch.

Draw a circle from the Origin to the other hole.

Draw a line from the Origin to the circle with a Horizontal/Vertical constraint.

Draw a circle at endpoint of the line.

Extrude the circle.

Create a revolute joint between the second hole and the extruded circle.

Re: Aligning imported step files to Fusion 360's global XY plane

componentscience — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 13:59:45 GMT

@davebYYPCU,

Definitely like the simplicity of this approach. One thing that's concerning though is we got different values for the angle alignment: -1.9 vs -1.917. Also curious where the angle comes from.

Re: Aligning imported step files to Fusion 360's global XY plane

etfrench — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 16:39:51 GMT

The measure tool is only approximate and depends on the units setting in Preferences. Using a joint will always be more accurate.

Re: Aligning imported step files to Fusion 360's global XY plane

componentscience — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 12:47:20 GMT

So the additional component at the point where the holes align with the X axis is the extruded circle? You mentioned a joint will always be more accurate are you referring to the revolute joint?

Re: Aligning imported step files to Fusion 360's global XY plane

etfrench — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 17:32:06 GMT

The first revolute joint aligns the model at the origin on one of the planes. The second revolute joint aligns it perfectly on the axis. Using the Measure tool to place items can result in cumulative errors in large assemblies as it rounds the number.