Eagle 9.6.2 → Fusion 360: STEP Export Missing Pads and Copper (Only Components Visible)

[m_bhiri]

Hello everyone,

I’m having trouble exporting a STEP model of a PCB I designed in Autodesk Eagle 9.6.2. When I try to export directly from Eagle, I get an error saying the STEP file can’t be generated.

I push the design to Fusion 360, where I can see the complete 3D PCB model with components and the board outline. However, when I export the PCB from Fusion 360 as a STEP file and open it in another viewer or in Fusion 360, the STEP model is missing all pads, vias, traces, and copper layers, and only the 3D component bodies appear, as shown in the attached screenshot.

I’m wondering whether this is expected behavior and if Fusion 360’s STEP export intentionally excludes copper features, or if there is a setting or workflow I’m missing.

I would appreciate any advice or workarounds that would allow me to export a full STEP model that includes the copper geometry for mechanical or enclosure design work.

[jorge_garcia]

Hello @m_bhiri ,

I hope you're doing well. The STEP file format only worries about the mechanical constraints. It by definition won't include traces or other copper features, it's a limitation of the STEP format itself. 

If you need to get a full model for a different program, the only option is if that program can import the Fusion model.

Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,

[m_bhiri]

Hello @jorge_garcia,

Thanks for the explanation. Since the STEP format doesn’t include traces, pads, or copper, I understand why they don’t appear, but the problem is that the software I’m using cannot import the Fusion model directly. Is there any alternative way to export my PCB—including traces and copper features—into a format that other programs can read?

[jorge_garcia]

Hi @m_bhiri ,

I hope you're doing well. What is the other program you are using?

Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,

[m_bhiri]

@jorge_garcia 
Our mechanical engineer use SolidWorks and I use eDrawings to visualise his integration

[bidrohini]

Fusion 360 PCB STEP export omits copper features.The exporter writes only solid mechanical bodies.
Pads, vias, and traces are not solids. They are stored as electronics domain graphics. STEP ignores those objects by design. Only components and board outlines appear. Autodesk confirms this limitation publicly.
See this Autodesk forum discussion for confirmation.

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/eagle-forum/step-export-does-not-export-copper-or-silkscreen/td-p/911...

Eagle native STEP export behaves the same way. Copper and silkscreen are intentionally excluded. This is not a user configuration issue. It is a format and workflow limitation. Common workarounds involve simplified copper solids.
Others use Gerbers and external conversion tools. 
This tutorial demonstrates a practical approach.
https://www.pcbway.com/blog/PCB_Design_Tutorial/3D_model_Render_with_copper_from_Altium_to_Fusion_36...

[oliviagrace4990]

Yeah, what you’re seeing is pretty normal,Fusion 360’s STEP export from Eagle usually only includes the 3D component bodies, not the copper layers, pads, or traces. If you need the copper geometry for enclosure or mechanical work, a common workaround is to export the board as a IDF file from Eagle and then import that into Fusion 360, or use a dedicated PCB-to-STEP exporter that includes copper. It’s a bit extra work, but it preserves the full board geometry.

[m_bhiri]

Thank you for your reply, do you have any suggestions for a PCB-to-STEP exporter that includes copper as you suggest, I would really appreciate it.

[Thorsten_Rist]

I think it's an excuse to say that it is a limitation of STEP-File format:   In the older versions it was possible. I exportet complete Step files with all layers, vias, printing layers to step-file in the past and wanted to do the same now with a updated PCB. But with the actual fusion-version it is no longer possible. The file size is smaller and many details are missing.
Very bad for a complete 3D - Fusion Model generation.

[jorge_garcia]

Hello @Thorsten_Rist ,

I would be happy to have an example STEP file that contains that data. It's possible you exported an f3d file at some point with that info (it's still wouldn't have the internal layers but it would definitely have more info than a normal step file).

If you have such a file I could provide it to the developers as evidence of a regression or missing feature and they could fix it.

Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,

[Thorsten_Rist]

After some testing I noted that the difference is, how you create the 3D - Model: 
- only with less details, no routing in step:   Work in eagle an push it only to fusion 360.   (step export approx. 18MB)

- see additional layers copper top, bottom and soldermasks top/bottom in step:    Load the complete Eagle Project (brd, sch) into a layout project in eagle followed by a "Change to 3D-PCB" and export this as step:    (Step export approx. 120MB)  and more layers in the step.

So it is not a step problem, but a export problem from fusion for me. (or the way you export the Step-File)

Here a picture from the autodesk step viewer of the 120MB Step:

[jorge_garcia]

Hi @Thorsten_Rist ,

This step is generated from the 3D PCB which doesn't include the internal layers. In any case this is something that you could also do with a normal 3D PCB since this is the origin of this specific file. So Fusion should be able to generate it in the same way EAGLE did.

Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,