Data Exchange in Fusion 360 (Build 2.0.1291)

[innovatenate]

Having trouble getting your data into Fusion 360? Check out the below tips to become a file-opening master!

If you expand the Data Panel, you'll find an Upload command. 

Uploading a file will upload to the Active Project by default. However, in the subsequent dialog (Select files to upload), you will be provided the option to Change destination.

Once the file has been uploaded, it can be opened from the data panel. You may also access the file through the Dashboard. At any point you can view an items details in the  Data Panel by expanding the item's information in the data panel and selecting Open details in A360.

Please note that using the Data Panel > Upload command will send the file to the Autodesk Translation Service and begin to translate your file so that it may be edited natively in Fusion 360. At this time, the following file formats are supported:

• Auotdesk Alias (*.wire)
• AutoCAD DWG Files (*.dwg)
• Autodesk Fusion 360 Archive Files (*.f3d)
• Autodesk Fusion 360 Toolpath Archive Files (*.cam360)
• Autodesk Sim360 Archive Files (*.sim360)
• Autodesk Inventor Files (*.ipt, *.iam)
• CATIA V5 Files (*.CATProduct, *.CATPart)
• DXF Files (*.dxf)
• FBX (*.fbx)
• IGES (*ige, *iges, *igs)
• NX (*prt)
• OBJ (*.obj)
• Parasolid Binary Files (*.x_b)
• Parasolid Text Files (*.x_t)
• Pro/ENGINEER and Creo Parametric Files (*.asm, *.prt)
• Pro/ENGINEER Granite Files (*.g)
• Pro/ENGINEER Neutral Files(*.neu)
• Rhino Files (*.3dm)
• SAT/SMT Files (*.sab, *.sat, *.smb, *.smt)
• SolidWorks Files (*.prt, *.asm, *.sldprt, *.sldasm)
• STEP Files (*.ste, *.step, *.step
• STL Files (*.stl)

So then... What does this Upload button do in my Dashboard?

Note: You may access your Dashboard from any computer by logging into https://myhub.autodesk360.com/portal/

This Upload command will upload all file types to your Projects, not just CAD files but excel & word documents, pdf's, etc... However, this command will not automatically translate these file types to a Fusion 360 native format. These files will be left in the original format they are uploaded in. You'll note data upload with the Dashboard > Upload command looks differently in the Dashboard and in the Data Panel.

Please note that you can convert a CAD file that has been uploaded to the Dashboard by right clicking on it in the Data Panel and selecting Create Fusion Design.

What about exporting Data?

An visa-versa, you can export a Fusion 360 native file out to another CAD format in your project dashboard by selecting Export from the Tools menu of an item.

Export Formats for this command include:

• Fusion 360 Archive
• Inventor 2014
• SAT
• SMT
• STEP
• DWG
• DXF
• STL
• FBX

Please note that this item will appear in your project dashboard once it has been translated. You will still need to download this file you local computer's hard drive after the fact. Want to export straight to the local hard drive?

With a design open in Fusion 360, you can select Export from the File menu. The command supports the following formats:

• IGES Files (*.igs, *.iges)
• SAT Files (*.sat)
• SMT (*.smt)
• STEP (*.stp, *.step)
• Archive Files (*.f3d)

One final tip: You can use an item's Share menu to create a public download link for a file via your Dashboard. 

No need to send items through dropbox, or through an FTP site.

Cheers,

[PuzzleBoxes]

HI there,

Thanks for the tip.

I have a question, how can I also export the joints I made in fusion 360 to inventor?

[innovatenate]

Joints and other features will not translate natively between Inventor and Fusion. At this time you would need to recreate the joints, manually, in Autodeks Inventor. 

I hope that answers your question. Let me know if you have any follow up questions. 

[PuzzleBoxes]

Thanks for the answer.

Okay that's a real shame though (since I already did them).

Especially since I find it much easier to assign joints in fusion 360 becuase of the as-built joints.

[rpayne]

Can you convert Dwg, Dwgx, Step files in Fusion 360 and export as Parasolid Text files?

[innovatenate]

Thanks for the inquiry! At this time, parasolid (text) is not an option. However, if you would like to see this feature please feel free to add an idea in the Fusion 360 Ideastation or vote up similar ideas like the one below.

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/ideastation-request-a-feature-or/export-parasolid-fusion-360/idi-p/58...

Thank you for participating in the community!

[Anonymous]

Great info thank you.

Maybe I missed it, but can I import an Inventor solid file into Fusion and keep the feature tree history?  I have a part with some complex hole patterns that may need to change and it appears my import was as a "dummy" solid.

Thank you!

[sebastiaanengelen]

Hi,

I am experimenting a bit with converting files from Catia to Fusion since one of our suppliers is using Fusion. So far every method of conversion that I tried (either through Step export, 203, 214, etc. or directly uploading the native Catia files) I lose some of the data in the files. For example the names of the different assemblies and parts are converted but the description is not. Since we use an automatic numbering system for the names and put an easier to understand name in the definition and description field in Catia it would be nice to see this in Fusion as well. Also the PartBody names are lost during the conversion. Is there any way of converting that keeps this data or do you have any other tips that I could try?

Thanks in advance!

[innovatenate]

@sebastiaanengelen Welcome to the Fusion community!

I don't know all the specifics here but I will offer what I know. Some data, meta-data like part numbers and descriptions aren't translated, especially when you use neutral file formats like STEP. Each CAD application stores these differently, so it can be hard to move this intact from one application to another through a neutral format. The biggest concern during translation is generally the geometry. 

Although I have heard of some plans that may make this easier in the future in Fusion (sorry no concrete details to offer at the moment), as it stands today, there aren't a lot of options when you upload files. 

Having said that, there is a composite upload feature in the Dashboard that will allow you to upload your assembly from the native CAD application.

I would be curious if you utilize this workflow (in combination with the native CAD format) what the results are. I imagine that the results for CAD applications where assembly and part files are stored as different document, this process would yield better results. You have to upload all of the required files (assembly and part files) for this to work. I know the Pack and Go feature will collate all of the referenced designs into a single directory if you're coming from Autodesk Inventor or solidworks.

Please note that after uploading the native CAD data to the dashboard, you have to locate the data in the data panel in the Fusion 360 client. Then right click and select Create Fusion Design to kick off the translation process.

I haven't done much testing in this area, but this might be worth a try if you haven't done this yet. 

If you have any questions, please let me know. I'm happy to help! 

Thanks,

[Anonymous]

Dear Nathan, 

your tutorial on how to convert files is very useful - I need to convert / open an stp file into fusion, however in order to do so I cannot get any further as i dont seem to have the 'tool' button in my fusion 360- browser that i would need to then export the file into another file format. 

did i miss anything? very happy for any help :o)) thanks in advance and all the best from Paris :o))

Doris 

[innovatenate]

Hi! Welcome to the Fusion Community! This is a old post so he UI has changed quite a bit, sorry for any confusion.

To open or import a STEP file, please refer to the steps in the below link.

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/fusion-360/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/How...

To export a design from Fusion, you may use the steps in this link.

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/fusion-360/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/How...

If you have any questions, please let me know. I am happy to help.

Thanks,

[Anonymous]

can you create a link to share a folder with files?

[ec2638]

@innovatenate

FYI - Fusion seems to not read (upload) PTC Creo 4.  It fails to translate even simple Creo 4 .prt files.

PTC released Creo 4 November 2016.

Fusion does successfully read Creo 3 and 2 .prt files...

[innovatenate]

@Anonymous You can't share at the folder level. However, you can invite other users into a project or share a public link of a design. See the below link for more info.

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/a360/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/How-to-share-a-Fusion-360-design.html

@ec2638 I believe Read support for Creo 4.0 files was added in March to the cloud translation framework. I may need to verify that we can translate to the Fusion format. Could you share a sample part with me? I'll be happy to investigate a bit further with a test part.

Thanks,

[ec2638]

"Could you share a sample part with me?"

@innovatenateYes, privately...

[ec2638]

"I believe Read support for Creo 4.0 files was added in March to the cloud translation framework."

@innovatenate

Still no Creo 4 import support?

[innovatenate]

I never recieved a private message, did you send one? 

Are you having problems with all 4.0 files or just one?

[ec2638]

Every Creo 4 file fails.  Just PMed you....thanks

[innovatenate]

I was able to reproduce the issue with the file you provided. Thank you for sharing that with me. 

I did some digging around and was able to verify that the documentation I was looking at was for a newer version of the the Autodesk Translation Framework. I've been able to confirm that the translation framework currently used by Fusion does not support reading the Creo 4.0 file format. I'm inquiring into the nature of when the next update may occur, but I don't have any visibility into that information yet. However, I can confirm that Creo 4.0 file format is not currently supported.

I'll circle back as I learn more. 

Thank you,

[ec2638]

thank you