Improve Drawing export options

[cekuhnen]

Drawings seriously needs:

1. basic DXF export

2. Usable PDF export with clean path and not that path salad Fusion Drawing/Autocad creates

3. Maybe a DWG without the view links jusy an old and basic DWG that is more compatible 

Because:

DWG - Uses the Autocad drawing views hardly any other software I tested uses (incl. Rhino and Alias)

PDF - The path the PDF exporter creates are utterly nonsense and chaotic so you cannot use it for technical illustration or saving from AI as DXF or DWG

So both option already have some major issues, the DWG locks you into Autocad and the PDF export you can use for handouts and thats it.

If a place does not use Autocad you can throw the Fusion DWG into the trash can. If you are on windows you could try and download 470MB for DWV Viewer which unpacks into 1.2 GB to view and edit DWGs (seriously?) but this is only Win not Mac.

Currently I would have to export all the models as step and then do the drawings in a different application where I can get either

the CNC lines I need (uses line and arc representation) or the NURBS to Bezier spline export I can use for technical illustration in Illustrator.

[Anonymous]

Yeah kinda sucks not having a good dxf output, i have been using "Cloud
Convert" https://cloudconvert.com Online, works fairly well just be careful about the output scale (size)
sometimes i have to rescale my drawing to get back to 1:1
I have to do this for every drawing i make to get them back into the boss's
favorite antique software.
I sure wish fusion had a good export besides just pdf.

[cekuhnen]

@Anonymous

The PDF export is also very problematic. It is fine for line drawing art but cannot be used for anything more without heavy adjustments of the output data when you want to use it for machining (convert to DXF - load into a laser cutter etc) or use it for illustration purpose (use in Illustrator etc.)

if a shop has a CNC and uses Fusion all would be fine but many shops I know do not use Fusion and the DXF 2D stuff CNC cuts is pointless which is why I create such path when needed still in Rhino.

[Anonymous]

I am in the exact same spot as @nmi. We use Solidworks but are seriously considering switching to Fusion. We don't need a lot of the complex stuff SolidWorks can do but we do post images on websites and we need to post-edit every drawing we make in Fusion. The best thing (for me) would be a SVG-export but with a drawing dxf we would atleast be able to do something. I really like fusion so hope this could be adjusted

[benDMDZJ]

I agree with the original post.

Exporting in general for Fusion is terrible.

Only thing that is working effectively is PDF.

DWG only export in the latest versions - so for all my client I have to have all these workaround apps and other packages which you have to rent/buy/learn and deal with.  It is really becoming a long tedious time consuming effort to get simple manufacturing drawings to a client - becoming to much of and effort to be honest.  My business use Creo as standard and then 2 subscriptions of Fusion but it looks more and more as for Fusion is for the less serious hobbyist type person for using once in a while than a real contender for design for manufacture.

I have good hopes for Fusion and maybe they can get their asses in gear and develop a bit faster because I will definitely not renew if this functionality is not sorted very soon.

[Anonymous]

Yeah their export is not good. I am finding to get the results i need, its best for me to export my model to solidworks or even our older bobcad software and make my 2d prints there. I realy like the manufacturing end of fusion, i think it beats surfcam hands down. But the 2d end needs to be thrown out and started over from scratch. With out being able to actually draw a line on the print it really makes it hard to give my customers the info they want. 

[Anonymous]

I'm new to Fusion 360. I came from Solid Works, OnShape, and AutoCad. One of my biggest frustrations with Fusion 360 has been the DXF export. I also find the Fusion Drawings to be frustrating. The flow just isn't intuitive in my opinion. 

[TimeraAutodesk]

We just released a simplified DWG and DXF export. We'll continue to look at PDF quality in the future, but hopefully these new output options help in the meantime!

[DovetailTechnology]

Hi Timera,

Thanks so much for the update. You guys should be shouting about more than just the DWG and DXF change. I have just rechecked the PDF export function using the same geometry as pictured on the first page of this article and I am very happy to report that clean lines are now being exported. So it would appear that whatever change was made for DXF has also improved the PDF export.

Seems so long now so you and Keqing came over to visit!

Cheers, Matt

[TimeraAutodesk]

@DovetailTechnology I'm so thrilled to hear that! We were hoping for some cross-contamination with PDF quality, but want to keep our eye on that area still as well 🙂 

We'll have to make another trip out to visit and see how the PackedPixel evolution is coming along!

Best,

Timera

[Pedro_Bidarra]

Finally! Thank you!