Equivalent to sketchup "tape measuring tool" in fusion 360?

[tonocastillo]

Hello,

I am learning fusion 360 because it looks like a more powerful software than Sketchup.

I am looking for a equivalent to the Sketchup "Tape measurement tool"

Is there anything like this tool on Fusion 360?

This is an tremendously useful tool and I have only found "measure" under "Inspect" and this is not what I am looking for because the Sketchup "tape measurement tool" leaves a construct like at the distance you need or just measure a segment, saving a LOT of time.

It seems with Fusion, I need to draw a line and then make it a construct line, this is slowing me down. 

Could this feature be added to Fusion? (if it doesn't exist)

Thanks for your help.

Regards,

Tono

[lichtzeichenanlage]

I'm not sure what you're pointing tool. Sketchup can do (plus XYZ delta for points) but not creating reference lines / construction lines. Fusion 360 is sketch based so you have to create a sketch on a plane. Different tool, different workflow. It is like it is and I guess it will not be changed.

[TheCADWhisperer]

Can you File>Export and then Attach your *.f3d file here?

[tonocastillo]

Hello TheCADWhisperer,

I am trying to draw my first Fusion 360 to print it in a 3D printer.

It's very simple and took me less time to draw it on Fusion 360  at this moment (I had deleted the file yesterday).

I know I need to get rid of the Sketchup mindset to use Fusion 360 but this tool from Sketchup that I mentioned, was very useful to measure a segment or just a part of it and even let me leave a small mark so I can draw a line of something else until that point. This is just to mention a feature of this tool, it's very flexible.

With the "Measure" tool found under "Inspect" on Fusion, I get the details about the whole segment that I am selecting that's it, not a flexible tool, unless there's something else I don't know about.

Maybe this is not something that needs to be changed but it may be an enhancement to the measure tool on Fusion or maybe not.

[TheCADWhisperer · Accepted solution]

I recommend that you do not normally use primitive Box, Cylinder, Sphere but instead use Fully Defined sketches and Extrude, Revolve, Sweep....

This gives you a parametric history that is easy to edit and less need for measuring because YOU defined the measurements as parameters.

[lichtzeichenanlage]

Im still a beginner. I'm not a technical engineer or designer. Fusion 360 is more or less my first (serious) try in CAD. I never had the need to measure smaller units than a edge. Sometimes I'm missing some options for construction planes, but moving this to the measurement tool is totally wrong for me. I would really like to know a use case for this.

I had a quick look at your attachment and I have to say: Don't use primitives in Fusions model workspace. They are APITA. I've attached an alternativ solution and a little screencast. 

[lichtzeichenanlage]

I'm always slower than you... 

[tonocastillo]

Will keep that in mind.

I found the primitives and thought "hey, I can do things like in Sketchup", but again, need to switch my brain into thinking this is not sketchup.

I just feel the tape measurement is like a ruler in my hand where I can measure whatever I want 

[Anonymous]

I get what you're saying. I used the measure tool in Sketchup to quickly layout parameters. Sorely miss that function here. Need a construction line at 2" up? Measure tool, click the line you're measuring from, drag a line up and it's there. Need a line 22 degrees off of that, same thing. Lots of work in F360 to do the same thing.

[TheCADWhisperer]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I get what you're saying. ... Lots of work in F360 to do the same thing.

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I don't get it.

Can you File>Export and then Attach your *.f3d file here to illustrate this complex Fusion 360 workflow?

[Anonymous]

I am an avid sketchup user and I agree. Having this type of tool would be excellent-especially when teaching high school students. 

[tonocastillo]

It's really not necessary, believe me. After some time you will forget about that tool.

[TheCADWhisperer]

@Anonymous 

Can you File>Export your *.f3d file to your local drive and then Attach it here to a Reply?

[shofland]

So what is the substitute process in AutoCAD?