Best practices for importing dimensions off a STEP file into Fusion 360 sketch

[martinCNY88]

Hi guys,

I'm having trouble figuring out how I would go about the following.  Any help appreciated.

I wish to take dimensions from a STEP file on my PC and use these in a sketch in Fusion 360.  If I were writing software for this it would ideally allow me to create a Fusion 360 sketch where I can have the STEP file visible in the background, and have the edges and points in the STEP file act as snap points in the Fusion 360 sketch.  That way I could trace off the important points very quickly and with few potential mistakes.  Alas I cannot see how to do this.

My workaround for now, which I am not happy with, is to create a drawing from the STEP file and then dimension the features on the drawing that are relevant to me, then go into my Fusion 360 model and draw the sketch while manually typing in values I read off the drawing.  Yuck.  There is surely a better way.

[laughingcreek · Accepted solution]

can you not put the step file in your model and project directly off it into your sketches?

you can always break the projection links later, add dimensions (which will already be right, you wouldn't have to type anything in) and then remove the step model later if you wanted to.

[martinCNY88]

I'll run projection and projection links through Google search and see what I come up with.  It may be that is the best way - it sounds pretty ideal!  ... I'm just unaware of projection in Fusion 360.

[jhackney1972 · Accepted solution]

If I understand your comment about not being familiar with "projection" in Fusion 360, the attached Screencast will help you out.  One thing to remember, you must Break Link between the projected sketch, if you left the Projection Link check box on, and the imported STP component if you want to remove the STP component from the model.  

[martinCNY88]

Thank you both! Projection was indeed what I was after. Thanks very much @jhackney1972 for your step by step guide, you have really made my day! I have successfully carried out the same approach in my own test design now. This is great!