Custom materials?

[ScottWertel]

Is there a way in Fusion 360 to create a custom material library?  I'm more interested in creating custom physical properties so I can get an accurate weight and balance of a design (mass and center of gravity) than I am rendering textures, but having those too would be nice.  I also want to call out materials in a specific manner, such as CRES ALLOY IAW ASTM...

I found a series of xml files that appear to have something to do with the library, but I haven't been able to translate them into a human readable set of modifiable files yet.

[ScottWertel]

Twice out of the last 2 posts I did this to myself.

I spend minutes searching the UI, the community, the help files, and even Google for no hints at an answer, so I post here. Within seconds after the post goes live I find the selection. Not in the menu I would expect, but I find it. Why can't I find it the first time I search for it?

To answer my own question.
In the MODEL environment, the Manage Materials function is under the MODIFY menu. That brings up the Material Browser to create a new library and/or edit existing materials.

So instead, I'm going to ask another noob question.  How do I calculate the mass and CoG of a top level model?

[James.Youmatz · Accepted solution]

Hi @ScottWertel,

Glad to hear you solved your own question! It's always the moment you hit post, that you regret hitting it. I've done that too many times to count....

Anyways to answer your other question. You can find the weight (as well as other mass properties of the component) by right-clicking the body in the browser and selecting "Properties". This will bring up the properties menu. As far as Center of Gravity goes, there is no property in Fusion 360 in this moment in time that can calculate it, although I believe it has already been submitted to the IdeaStation if you would like to go vote on it! The link is below:

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation-request-a/mass-properties/idi-p/5532300

Let me know if this answered your question and if not I'd be more than happy to keep helping.

Thanks,

[Anonymous]

To get the mass of the top-level component, you could right-click at the top-level > properties > mass.

You would also get the coordinates of the cog from the same. But for a visual cue, which is what I think is more useful, you could click inspect ( in the top ribbon) and select the center of mass, you'll get to see the checkered dot. Since the center of mass and center of gravity are the same for your typical cases, that should do it.