topic Best way to add a 3D mechanical object to a 3D PCB? in Fusion Electronics Forum

Best way to add a 3D mechanical object to a 3D PCB?

scott — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 06:34:04 GMT

I want to add a simple mechanical object (a rectangular solid) to my PCB. It has no electrical function, and thus so far doesn't exist in a library. It seems to me that I should be able to create the 3D object as a Design item, save it, and somehow add it to the 3D PCB document, but this doesn't seem directly possible, as the "Insert into Current Design" menu option is greyed out. I saw in a older forum post something about needing to put the 3D PCB into a Design Workspace first. I'm a seasoned Eagle user who is trying to leverage some of Fusion's 3D capabilities without turning simple actions into major projects!

Obviously, I can create the desired object in a library and add a 3D model to it, i.e. the Eagle way to do it. Given where Fusion is today, what are my other options for the above? What does it mean to put the 3D PCB and the 3D object into a Design Workspace? Does "Design" mean mechanical design, as differentiated from "Electronic Design"? And is this still the best way to do this, or is there simpler way now?

Thanks,

Scott

Re: Best way to add a 3D mechanical object to a 3D PCB?

jorge_garcia — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 22:50:42 GMT

Hi @scott,

I hope you're doing well. By definition, a 3D PCB can only consist of the PCB, associated layers and 3D models for the components. You can not just insert a 3D object onto a 3D PCB because it will not have any correspondence on the 2D PCB. The best approach if the object is related to a component will always be to do it in the library, or use the 3D model command in the 2D PCB.

With that said, if you want to mockup something there is a way to do it. Insert the 3D PCB into a new design, the 3D PCB will be treated as a component of this new design and then you can place whatever geometry you want on or around it because the 3D PCB itself will not be changed.

Let me know if that answers your question or if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,

Re: Best way to add a 3D mechanical object to a 3D PCB?

scott — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 23:10:22 GMT

Hi Jorge,

This is a helpful explanation of what a 3D PCB is and is not, and why. When you say "new design", am I correct in thinking that is a new mechanical design? If so, how do I put the 3D PCB into that design? Export it as a STEP, for instance?

Thanks,

Scott

Re: Best way to add a 3D mechanical object to a 3D PCB?

jorge_garcia — Mon, 06 Mar 2023 21:52:40 GMT

Hi @scott,

I hope you're doing well. You are correct it is a new mechanical design. The easiest way I've found to do it is as follows.

1. Open New mechanical Design

2. Save it (you can't insert an external reference without first saving the design)

3. In the data panel on the left find the 3D PCB

4. Right click on the 3D PCB, select insert into current design.

That's it there's no need to export into a different format. ECAD-MCAD in Fusion is all about eliminating translations and import/export workflows.

Best Regards,

Re: Best way to add a 3D mechanical object to a 3D PCB?

scott — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 02:40:57 GMT

Thank you Jorge, I will give that a try.

Regards,
Scott