How to copy and paste a sketch

[DhimDoes]

Hey there, I am very new to Fusion 360 and still trying to find my way around. This one has really got me scratching my head. How do you copy a basic 2D sketch? I am selecting the shape, let's say a center point circle, using CTRL + C and then CTRL + V. Nothing happens. If I right click on the circle it gives me the option to redo paste, but it does not create a 2nd shape. 

How can I achieve this? In the more basic offering of 123D, when I hit copy and paste, even with a 2D sketch, it pops up the new shape and provides the move tool. 

[Phil.E · Accepted solution]

In a history free model, this is possible. You can copy and paste an entire sketch.

In a parametric model, the sketch must reside inside a component. Copy the component to copy the sketch.

In either case, if you are editing a sketch, you can copy and paste lines, arcs, circles inside that sketch.

Thanks!

[DhimDoes]

Thank you. The key part of your response was that I needed to be in the edit sketch mode in order to copy and paste. Sorry for the delay, but I wanted to provide closure.

[wijnen.e]

I have this problem at the moment: I want to copy a few lines from sketch 1 to a new sketch (2) on a different plane .... Is this possible?

[HughesTooling]

If both sketches are in the same document you should be able to edit sketch1 select all, right click and copy. The open sketch2 right click and paste. If the sketches are in different documents see this thread.

Mark

[Anonymous]

I am experiencing this problem as well, within the same sketch in the same document - the Copy command shows up upon Right-clicking after selecting the desired components, but I do not see any indication of where the "Paste" command lives. Ctrl-V (standard Paste shortcut on Windows) does nothing. Please this is essential behavior! for creating identical profiles easily for lofting

[Phil.E]

@Anonymous

Welcome to the Fusion 360 community forum!

Perhaps this video will help. I think you may be trying to paste while you are not editing a sketch. This will fail because Fusion doesn't know if you want a new sketch, or if you wish to paste inside the same sketch, or another existing sketch. So to paste you should either create, or edit, a sketch you wish to receive the pasted information.

[solanoone]

Thank you for the video. It helped. I am noticing fusion 360 requires a lot more steps than the cad software I'm used too. My cheap Viacad is much simpler to use.

[Anonymous]

I simply don't get this.

Isn't there just a simple key command ?

I'am sorry but i don't understand what you mean and I'am kinda loosing my mind here trying to copy a simple square.

[daniel_lyall]

@Anonymous if you watch phil's vid it show what you have to do. to past you need to have a active sketch.

active sketch is like this

inactive sketch looks like this

[Phil.E]

@daniel_lyall thanks.

For everyone else: I'm going to list some steps in case videos are not your thing.

When you are trying to copy a sketch object you should be editing that sketch.

When you are trying to paste the object, you should be editing the sketch that you wish to paste it into.

You know you are editing a sketch when a command called Stop Sketch is on the right end of the toolbar.

 

Steps:

1. While editing a sketch, window select the entire object, a rectangle in this example.

2. Right click and pick Copy. Or use standard win/mac shortcuts, CRTL+C (windows), or command+C (mac).

3. To paste into the same sketch, or another, ensure that the destination sketch is being edited.

4. Right click and pick Paste, or CTRL+V (windows), or command+V (mac).

When your pasted sketch objects appear, you get a chance to move them.

I hope this helps!

[HughesTooling]

---

@Phil.E wrote:

@daniel_lyall thanks.

When you are trying to copy a sketch object you should be editing that sketch.

---

@Phil.E your first statement is not correct, you can copy from a none active sketch you can even copy from several none active sketches at the same time!

Mark

[Phil.E]

@HughesTooling

You are correct, thanks for pointing that out, but I don't like the results when that happens*. So my advice says "should". 🙂 YMMV.

*In this case, sketches that are on different planes are pasted into one sketch on one plane. I can't think of a good use for this, and I find it confusing. It's not good advice for someone struggling with copy+paste, IMO. 

[HughesTooling]

Sorry I didn't really explain totally what I was thinking about, part of the reason was to be careful because even if you are in an active sketch you can select from a non active sketch so be careful if more than one sketch is visible.

Mark

[smallfavor]

I can't manage this.  I don't think it should be this difficult.  If one copies a sketch then it seems the info placed on the clip board should include enough info so the program will recognize the object and simply paste it.   In the vid attached I've gone into the sketch mode, copied the sketch I want and then into another document that's in the sketch mode and STILL there's no paste.  Furthermore, there's no such option available with the right click so one much use the keyboard combos.

[Phil.E]

Did you pick a place to paste? Fusion needs a destination plane. It's exactly like starting a sketch. When you start a sketch, Fusion makes you pick a place to sketch. When you paste a sketch, Fusion makes you pick a place to paste. There must always be a planar reference selected for adding sketch information.

[dgaucher]

This function is very maddening. I have a very simple design. I have tried about 20 times to copy a simple sketch from a design to a new design with absolutely no results. Even if both design are in edit mode.

[Phil.E]

There are a couple workflows to get it done. Normally I don't just paste links as an answer, but this has been covered in detail by customers. So please check these out and let us know if you still have problems with it.

There is a video provided here, it shows a couple bugs, but should help. Start watching at precisely the 1:15 mark. ht @HughesTooling

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/design-validate-document/bug-coping-sketch-between-documents/m-p/6978...

Here is another video, thanks again @HughesTooling

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/post-your-tips-and-tutorials/copy-sketch-between-documents/td-p/59548...

And we can thank @cloudbase9 for this tip

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/post-your-tips-and-tutorials/reliable-way-to-copy-and-paste-sketches-...

Regards,

[moth3r]

If users struggle with something that basic like copy, paste of sketches this should be flagged as a problem. I really don't know on what behavioral model Fusion 360 UI is developed if we have search for solution because people cannot figure something that basic on its own.

[cparsons]

I have to agree that when an operation this basic takes so much explaining, it is time to rethink the way that operation works and redesign it. I have been considering this program for inclusion into how I teach introductory 3D printing and modelling to university level art students. Based on the fact that the 123D series was so accessible and in many aspects those programs were somewhat intuitive, I had hoped that Fusion 360 -- as the recommended place to migrate now that most of those very popular programs were discontinued -- would be sufficiently easy to use that it would be a good choice. So far based on my experience in learning the program I give it a big thumbs down. It is as if the Fusion 360 design team were given the task of adding extra steps and avoiding ways of performing this task (cut and paste) that users would already be familiar with. Fusion 360 looks great, is enticing since it is free for many users, and clearly can be used to do good work, but it could be a LOT easier to use. I don't think I'll be recommending this for classes anytime soon. Very disappointing program.