2D drawing improvements

[jkelindberg]

The 2D-drawings workspace could use some improvements.

• Add weld symbols.
• Edit balloon content.
• Attach text to balloons, dimensions and "control frames".
• Breaks on leaders.
• Dash-dot-line for section view call-outs.
• Put balloons anywhere.
• Add possibility to select horizontal text direction for diameter and radius.
• Attach "control frames" to dimensions, make them follow movement of the dimension.
• Free-standing machining/surface roughness symbol for general requirement.
• Correct the diameter symbol in the "control frame".
• Create custom paper dimension (at least add A3 portrait).
• Ability to set default view line visibility (I do not like "hidden lines", so every time I make a new view I have to change, very annoying). Same with tangent edges.
• I am using a PDM system which creates the drawing frames, I want to be able to set a preference to have the default as no frame and no border on new drawing creation.

[Anonymous]

@jkelindberg This is one of, if not the most request feature with Fusion 360 users. The drawing environment needs to be significantly overhauled. If, Autodesk expects users to truly embrace Fusion 360, they MUST make significant improvements within the drawing environment.

[Anonymous]

@jkelindberg I would also recommend that you go to the Drawing utilities thread and "Up Vote" this thread. The goal is to have Fusion 360 recognize and acknowledge the improvements that need to be made within the drawing environment.

[Anonymous]

• set depth on section views and cuts
• Shorten views
• ability to customize section and detail symbols (with blocks or similar) - and add dynamic parameters (ie: drawing number if the view is moved to another drawing.
• set line type properties and hidden lines visible/not visible per part or filter

[Anonymous]

Great suggestions, section view lines are discussed here:

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-design-validate/drawing-section-lines-no-hashed-lines-pres...

It doesn't look like its a priority to upgrade this functionality any time soon.

Oh, and the ability to parametrically dimension chamfers and threaded holes is something which is sorely needed.

[youre00]

does not get the definition of the carving in the drawings, and also the rumble of the surface as in Autodesk Inventor

[Anonymous]

@Anonymous "The drawing environment needs to be significantly overhauled. If, Autodesk expects users to truly embrace Fusion 360, they MUST make significant improvements within the drawing environment."

YES, SO THIS!!!  The drawing environment is a massive let down and despite numerous threads and idea suggestions, it seems that the necessary improvements to the drafting environment are not even on the roadmap.  

I have had a copy of F360 to play around with and LOVE the modelling environment - but I simply cannot adopt F360 as a professional tool at the moments because, despite being able to make and adapt models, I can't communicate them effectively on paper to clients, fabricators and fitters.  Its just not worth modelling anything in F360 (much as I'd like to) if I can't commit the design effectively to decent drawing.

Im starting to look into alternative software as I just don't see enough development happening on 2d drafting which is very frustrating.  What's the point in making a nicely developed, well considered model if you can't communicate the design to the person paying for it or the people making it.

[Garret_H]

Thanks for submitting your suggestion to improve the drawings environment.  Lot's of good suggestions here and hopefully one day we will see this area be improved.

[zhuravliki]

We had the meeting regarding our company future development, including switching to new design software. Unfortunately, without ability to generate industry standard documentation and drawings, this great software still considered as good attachment to CNC machines and nothing more.

Please pay attention to current industrial workflows. Drawings are still the essential part of them now, and the things are not going to change in the near future. Current Fusion 360 drawings is extremely limited and useless in industrial environment, which lead to guaranteed Fusion 360 failure as the main design and collaboration platform.

[Anonymous]

I come from an automation background and while we provided all of our fabricators the CAD model of the part we wanted made, the drawing was still the control document. The drawing was/is far more important than just the model in terms of communicating the design intent of the part, the datum faces, the tolerances, and any other notes the guys making the parts might need. The machinist making the part will have a paper drawing in front of them when they make the part, they won't bring a computer with them, and they'll use the drawing to check the part to make sure it's good. If we can't provide them with an adequate useful drawing, they'll make one themselves and upcharge us for it. 

[jkelindberg]

Fully agree, @Anonymous

This has been an absolutely crippling deficiency of the software. I have been trying for years to highlight this for the Autodesk team. But after 4 major updates in a row, with precisely zero improvements to 2D-drawings, is making me believe they do not actually want to put any effort into it. It seems they are content to sell the software to kids with a 3D printer in the garage instead of focusing on the pro market. Part of it may be due to "internal competition" with other softwares they are flogging, like AutoCAD. In fact, Autodesk actually called me up on the phone and tried to SELL AutoCAD to me after I had complained about the lack of 2D-drawing features in Fusion 360. So I suppose that sort of makes sense, to them at least..

--johan.

[Anonymous]

Below is a post of mine from another thread...

When I looked (a couple of months ago) I found nearly 40 separate threads ,ALL of which were asking for improvements to the drafting environment.  When I searched, I only looked at the first 2 pages of the Idea Station to find all the threads listed below so it was by no means an extensive search.  Not one of them has been actioned, implemented (or from what I can see) acknowledged but Autodesk.

As @Anonymous  says, "The drawing was still the control document. The drawing was/is far more important than just the model in terms of communicating the design intent of the part, the datum faces, the tolerances, and any other notes the guys making the parts might need."

The text from my thread is below and this is the link to it

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-design-validate/the-2d-drawing-environment/m-p/8778828#M189478

_________________________________

Hi,

I'm not sure if this is the correct place to post this.  I've posted in the Idea Station, starting my own post and commenting on others but haven't really had any response so figured I'd try here.

Im finding the 2d drafting environment in Fusion sadly lacking and as a result am not able to produce drawings of the quality that I can with my current setup.  I've seen a lot of posts on the Idea Station requesting drawing features and some (including me) feel that a major overhaul of the 2d drawing environment is required to bring it in to line with other competitor packages.  I've see people posting on the forum saying that the can only use F360 as a 'hobby' package, due to the shortcomings in the drafting environment. 

I'd like to know when / if the F360 development team will be putting some time into developing the 2d environment.  It is so far behind other applications that it renders F360 pretty much useless (for me) as a commercial modelling and drafting tool.  I see no point in spending time drawing up a model, developing and then rendering, if I can't then communicate the design to clients, fabricators and fitters on paper. 

I've had a Fusion (paid) licence for 2 years and have seen no progress on this; as such I'm thinking I'll just cut my losses and look for an alternative piece of software that will allow me to model AND draft to the level required.  I don't want to do this, because I can see that 'when' the 2d environment is overhauled, F360 will be a very powerful and well priced piece of software.  For now, for me, its just not worth spending the time modelling anything up in F360, as I can't then communicate the design effectively on paper.

Below is a list of topics I pulled from the first 2 pages of the 'drawings' ideas board (https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/idb-p/125/label-name/drawings), so it's by no means an exhaustive list.  Every single topic is asking for improvements to be made to the drafting environment to improve functionality and, as far as I'm aware, all of these are issues that are still not resolved (some of them date back to 2016 and are duplicated in subsequent posts)!  Many of these seem like simple updates - allowing more font sizes, allowing coloured lines and text, better title blocks, custom paper sizes, more freedom to place items on page (balloons), import vector images (not just raster), sketching in 2d workspace, copy and paste text boxes, hatch type options.... etc, etc, etc.

As I said, I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this but there have been no responses from any of the posts in the Idea Station area so I figured I'd try my luck here.  One of the comments in list below was that "the drawing environment appears to be stuck in a early beta version - it is impossible to make correct 2D drawings of even very basic geometry" - this has been my experience and it is the main (infact, probably the only) reason that I'm currently searching for an alternative software option to Fusion.  I really hope there will be some indication soon that there will be some much needed development to the 2d workspace - I know I'm not alone in my frustration at the shortcomings in this area....

Thanks

Sam

List below (from first 2 pages of ideas station) requesting 2d workspace improvements.

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/2d-drawing-improvements/idi-p/8632714

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/2d-drawing-space-needs-to-be-stronger/idi-p/85...

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/insert-vector-graphics-into-2d-drawing/idi-p/8...

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/drawing-geometry-in-drawings/idi-p/8672779

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/basic-functionality-of-drawings-environment/id...

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/drawing-tools-should-catch-up-with-every-cad-p...

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/improving-the-drawing-workspace-fusion-360/idi...

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/drawing-utilities/idi-p/8366543

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/features-needed-in-2d-drawings/idi-p/8103137

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/please-upgrade-the-title-block-for-the-technic...

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/sketch-option-in-drawings/idi-p/8050608

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/add-some-missing-drawing-features-like-in-inve...

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/extend-titleblock-attribute-types-for-auto-pop...

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/more-text-height-options-for-annotations/idi-p...

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/control-of-line-weights-in-drawing-mode/idi-p/...

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/support-for-showing-sketches-in-the-drawing-en...

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/sketching-use-different-colors-for-different-l...

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/basic-drawing-tools-in-drawing/idi-p/7997884

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/creating-drawings-different-layers-or-colors-f...

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/dimensions-angled-to-horizontal-vertical/idi-p...

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/drawing-environment-improvements/idi-p/7916292

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/allow-free-hand-sketching-in-drawing-layouts/i...

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/weld-symbols-in-fusion-360-drawings/idi-p/5722...

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/changing-line-weight-and-font-size/idi-p/58831...

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/2d-drawings-need-more-options-for-dimensions/i...

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/in-sketch-mode-make-lines-in-current-sketch-th...

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/request-to-bring-sketch-option-into-fusion-360...

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/2d-drawings-need-improvement/idi-p/6017568

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/sketching-on-2d-drawing/idi-p/8417362

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/dimension-colour-change-in-a-2d-drawing/idi-p/...

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/drawing-manually-add-different-colors-thicknes...

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/sketch-into-2d-drawing/idi-p/7423099

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/better-drawing-function/idi-p/6341578

[Anonymous]

I agree with everything stated above. Other aspects of Fusion have been developed extensively over the last two years but the Drawing environment has only seen minor improvements.

Frustratingly if you look at the development roadmap for drawings :

https://app.mural.co/t/timerahart2/m/timerahart2/1475171276107/0945259b7c22117012173ea2be3c9151fec1f...

Not all of the suggested ideas are being worked on at present, and even if the entire backlog was cleared tomorrow I'm not sure this would result in the radical improvement to the drawing environment that users have been asking for.

I'm currently teaching CAD to undergraduate students using Fusion 360. I think it's a great way to get started with CAD. At present though, it is impossible for students to make drawings which are fully compliant with BS8888, if this situation doesn't change very soon we will need to move to other software for CAD instruction.

[zhuravliki]

That is strange ignorance from Fusion development team. Probably they have very little understanding of the current industrial standards. The software has amazing potential, but without such essential well developed part it just new Ferrari with powerful motor, leather interior... and missing chassis. Guess how far you can ride this car?...

[konstruktion2GTMB]

Almost 5 months since this idea was posted and still no reaction by the development team. Does this mean they are ignoring this post intentionally?

All those functions are essantial for professional manufacturing work with Fusion360. If the drawing environment would get an overhaul with those functions i wouldnt need an extra Software for my work.

In the past i was always very satisfied with the 3D side of Fusion360, but the 2D enviroment is lacking functions in almost all parts.

Thank you very much @Anonymous, @Anonymous & @jkelindberg for keeping this thread alive, maybe the Fusion360 Team will acknowledge your efforts in the future.

Greetings from Germany,

André

[DS_P]

AutoDesk really needs action on this front. It is additionally embarrassing how bad the quality of the export to dwg/dxf files are, so you can't even take your drawing to another software for markup easily. Basically you end up with a solid model that you have to redraft from scratch in another 2D software. 

Also could I add that there needs to be better control of drafting styles (fonts, text sizes, line weights, leader dimensions)  The current style makes drawings look preschool. 

[arendVisher]

There are multiple Idea Posts that request custom page sizes. To make your vote more affective you should also vote on this post because it has the most support so far and deals with the single topic.

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/custom-sheet-size-in-drawings/idi-p/7550630

[Garret_H]

@Anonymous Thanks for compiling that list.

I'll add one of my own from when I first started using Fusion360 professionally:

 https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/drawing-wish-list-starting-with-copy-paste/idc-p/8279867#M35188

I would really like to see this "idea" remain at the top of the list. I know that the Fusion team has their roadmap of drawing features to implement but I don't think it is getting the attention (personnel) it deserves. I would hope that the Fusion team do a survey of their paying and professional users to identify what their needs are and adjust their priorities to suit.

Maybe I am just biased, but I suspect this is the biggest issue for professional users. For my own professional requirements Drawings in Fusion 360 have the highest amount of missing features and deficiencies and are most in need of improvement.

I just reviewed the 2020 drawings roadmap, it was just updated yesterday. I count over 60 individual items and 9 categories on the roadmap for 2020. If all of these get implemented it will be a dramatic improvement. That being said a lot of these appear to have been previously on the 2019 roadmap (5 items completed last year). 

Please work hard on these items Fusion team, it would be hugely appreciated.

[Anonymous]

The roadmap mural you linked to @Garret_H is very enlightening. It can clearly be seen that there was a big push by the Fusion team to improve drawings in 2017 and since then resources devoted to the drawings environment, and hence the progress made, has dropped off rapidly. In fact, considering the BOM table properties feature is only in Beta, only four items were really completed in 2019 and these are pretty minor improvements.

Personally, I really don't understand the decision not to improve 2D drawings. It is one of the very few areas where once the features have been developed and implemented, little to no more improvements will be needed in future years. A drawing is a drawing and once all of the tools are available to create them, that's it. It's not like ISO or ASME are going to radically change how these things should look in future years. Compare this to rendering, simulation or generative where regular updates will always be needed to keep up with the latest technology, and it seems like a no-brainer to put the effort into 2D drawings and get this workspace "finished".

From my (very) brief discussions with the development team, I know they are working hard on developing Fusion, it would just be nice to know where their efforts are focused and when we will likely see major improvements in this area. It's now been nearly a year since @jkelindberg 's original post, and many many more posts pre-date this one which ask about 2D drawing features. It would be very much appreciated if the community could get some sort of statement from the fusion team ( @TimeraAutodesk ) about 2D drawings which gives us more detail than simply "we're working on it...". The roadmap is great but it gives no indication of when these features will be ready, or if they ever will.

(side note: In searching for some of the info for this post it seems there are many other users reporting the same issue through various areas of the forum

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/drawings/idc-p/9236852#M42141

I'd encourage everyone to find as many of these posts as possible and upvote them)