Exporting visible 3d model only to share with non fusion users

[Anonymous]

I am running into a serious issue when I try exporting my models as step or DWG files. I do this to share with professional clients and is tedious and imperfect to share an exported dwg or step. I have to export the model to said format, reupload delete all sketches and irrelevant items, reorient, re-export to said format, reupload to make sure changes were successful. 

Even in doing so the units automatically convert to mm no matter what I do, the DWG export takes way too long, and when there are joints and other relationships the exported model goes haywire and parts are scattered everywhere!

Is this just a failing of fusion 360 is this being worked on? I am a paying customer really hate when I have to own multiple costly cad software to achieve simple tasks like this.

[jhackney1972]

I do not see these issues.  Take a look at the Screencast where I walk through the process of Exporting a STEP file and then Importing it into AutoCAD.  You did not say what your viewers are using to open the STEP file but it should not be an issue.  Also if you use my method, the units will not change.

[Anonymous]

Hey, thanks for responding so quickly! The issue is exporting DWG more than exporting the step file.

First, my clients are using Autocad and specialty furniture industry software.

It seems the sketches no longer travel with the file that's good.

The main issue with the step file is having to reorient the model which gets rotate 90deg when I make the export. I only have fusion at the moment and I do need to reupload the model to see what happened.

Exporting as a DWG converts the models to metric and all joints release and body parts fly. see image.

[TrippyLighting]

I think it would help if you explain you process in more detail, perhaps with a few example files.

I have a hard time making any sense of your process. When you export a 3D model to a STEP file you really only export "dumb" solids (BRep) or surfaces (NURBS). Those are always to scale.

[jeff_strater]

STEP is a much preferable format for sharing 3D models than DWG. No sketches will be exported, and because STEP has a units system (DWG does not), the units will always be correct. I do NOT recommend using DWG for sharing solid models with clients.

[HughesTooling]

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@Anonymous wrote:

The main issue with the step file is having to reorient the model which gets rotate 90deg when I make the export. I only have fusion at the moment and I do need to reupload the model to see what happened.

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Is the rotation because you have Fusion set to Y up (the default). Or is it rotating around another axis?

You can change the orientation for new designs in preferences.

Mark

[HughesTooling]

DWG files exported using the online translators are in CM and the unit info is in the design and I'm pretty sure newer version of AutoCAD should read this info. Might be worth trying to insert the DWG into an existing template set to the units you require rather than just opening.

Here you can see importing a 1 inch cube into another CAD system shows the file units as CM and it ends up scaled correctly.

Mark

[HughesTooling]

@Anonymous  You might be able to workaround the moved components in the export if you first create a Derived design then export the derived design. Just use derive from the create menu and window select all the visible bodies you want to export. In the derived design you'll only have bodies so no worries about component position. The derived design is linked to the original so easy to update if needed.