Pipe feature API

[oyvindTMNSU]

Im planning to write a add-in for frame generating. I was thinking i could use pipe feature for that. But im not able to use the pipe feature in the add-in without leaving all steps ( means sketches, construction planes and sweep feature) in the timeline. I just want it to be a feature i can change values on. 

Is that possible?

[BrianEkins]

That's not currently possible.  Hopefully in the future.  What is possible today is that you can group items in the timeline.  Try it out interactively first to see what I mean.  If you select a range of nodes in the timeline and then right-click there is a "Create Group" option in the context menu.  They'll now be collapsed into a single node.  The user can expand the node and can ungroup if them they want.  The API supports the same capability to create the group.

[oyvindTMNSU]

So the way to make a frame generator will be to draw a sketch and sweep that for each element of the frame then...?

I understand the group function

[kandennti]

Hi @oyvindTMNSU .

Here's a very tricky way.

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-api-and-scripts/use-textcommands/m-p/9645688#M10756 

There are many unclear points, and I think that some experience is required.

There is a method using sketches and sweeps in the installed sample script, and that method is recommended.

[BrianEkins]

I think it depends a lot on what your definition of a "Frame Generator" is.  If it's a way to automate building a structural steel structure, I would think extrusions will be a better choice.  If you're needing to build something with bent tubing, then maybe something like the pipe command will be useful.

The best way to start is to use Fusion interactively and construct a sample of what you're trying to do. You can then work backwards from that and see if you can automate steps of the process or even the entire process.