Fusion 360 Custom Thread Utility

[MRWakefield]

Every time someone asked for a custom thread (or a standard that isn't included with F360) here in the forum, or I needed one myself, I would think about writing some kind of utility to make the whole process easier, and each time I would mull over whether it would be worth investing the time for such an occasional requirement.

Well, some months ago I bit the bullet and decided I'd finally write something. It's taken a few months on and off and although I really wrote it for my own use I thought I might as well share it. If you like it and feel the need to give something back then you can send me a Ko-Fi tip

It can take an existing Fusion thread file and convert it to CSV (which can be edited in your favourite spreadsheet program) and it will also open a CSV file (of the correct format!) and allow you to generate a new thread file. It has the ability to adjust the Major, Pitch, and Minor diameters by a given amount to compensate for 3D printing (an alternative to adding an offset to the faces of the thread) or for creating in-between sizes (such as a TR21x4 - used on Sodastream CO2 cylinder). I've written a basic 'Rough Guide' that's included with the app but hopefully most of it will be obvious enough.

The app also includes a form for manually entering thread data and a calculator for non-standard metric threads. This took a lot of time studying the ISO standard to get the code right for this so was very relieved to get this part working! Maybe one day, when I feel like diving in again I might take a look at adding other thread standards.

Here's a screenshot of the main Windows application window.

Anyway, I hope some of you find it useful. You can download an installer from my ko-fi page. Hopefully you won't have too many questions.

Edit: I was reminded by @HughesTooling to mention the ThreadKeeper program for syncing custom thread files. I highly recommend it for making life much easier!

EDIT: I'm in the process of porting I've now ported this over to MacOS as well. You'll find the MacOS version on my ko-fi page as well. Be aware that it hasn't been signed or notarised so you'll get the usual warnings about potential viruses 'n' stuff. If you're worried just run it through a virus scan. Anyway, I hope all you Mac users find it useful. Let me know if you have any issues and I'll try to iron them out.

 

 

[joge2468]

Correct. So I was happy to discover the NPSM file. Thank you for your help.

[MRWakefield]

You're welcome, I'm pleased you found what you were looking for.

[cmmTXHAC]

any chance you could make a section for acme and stub acme?

[MRWakefield]

Can you elaborate? Do you mean add these to the calculator?

[cmmTXHAC]

sorry i didnt realize i could just manually input the parameters. I though it would only work for metric and UN threads.

[MRWakefield]

The calculator will only calculate thread data for Metric and UN (I might add more in the future if I'm feeling particularly masochistic!). As you appear to have discovered already, you can use the manual entry facility to enter any type of thread that Fusion currently supports (that's symmetrical threads - i.e. not buttress or some other unusual thread forms).

[MRWakefield]

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@markwhitnell717 wrote:

It is pretty simple to add code so that when Fusion updates are implemented, instead of deleting users settings that have been modified by the user, just add the items that have been changed for the update.  I've always hated when a programer writes code saying 'Do you really wants to delete that?' after I have responded and requested previously that I want to 'delete'.

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It's probably less to do with the grade of the programmers and more to do with the decision makers. It would definitely be advantageous to have any custom threads move with the standard threads. What would be even better is if the custom threads were stored in something like the Assets folder so that they stayed with the user whichever machine they were working on (this has previously been discussed as a potential option in the future).

@MRWakefield - the moderation team has edited the quoted material for a Community Rules & Etiquette violation.

[ArnieO]

@MRWakefield: Thank you for your efforts to make this great tool - highly appreciated!

Minor comment (after all, I managed to find this thread):
The link in your signature line ("You'll find it here.") does not work, it would probably be better if you updated it to the Google drive link in the initial post.
Question:
The "stock" XML definitions for pipe threads (e.g. "ISO Pipe Threads.xml") generate filleted threads, which I think is an advantage for 3D printed threads. I'm scratching my head on how to update an XML file to obtain filleted threads. Any idea how Fusion knows how to fillet those threads?

[MRWakefield]

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@ArnieO wrote:

@MRWakefield: Thank you for your efforts to make this great tool - highly appreciated!

Minor comment (after all, I managed to find this thread):
The link in your signature line ("You'll find it here.") does not work, it would probably be better if you updated it to the Google drive link in the initial post.
Question:
The "stock" XML definitions for pipe threads (e.g. "ISO Pipe Threads.xml") generate filleted threads, which I think is an advantage for 3D printed threads. I'm scratching my head on how to update an XML file to obtain filleted threads. Any idea how Fusion knows how to fillet those threads?

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Thanks, I hope you find it useful.

The link should bring you to this thread. I did it that way so that instead of directly linking to a download it brought you to a place that provided an introduction and explanation of the software as well as a direct download link for the application.

If you read the AutoDesk guidance (if you can find it!) on custom thread files you'll see they specify various integer values for "ThreadForm". These can be:

0 = Trapezoidal

1 = Sharp Vee

5 = Square

7 = Whitworth (radiused)

You'll see that setting the "ThreadForm" to 7 should give you a radiused thread root and crest. However this became broken some time ago and then someone discovered that a value of 8 now produced a radiused crest and root. If you open one of the AD supplied pipe thread files you might see something odd. The files don't specify a value for ThreadForm. It appears that the AD supplied Whitworth thread form files (such as G or BSP etc) have been hard-coded in Fusion to be radiused! It's extremely odd and it can throw a bit of a curved ball if you're not aware.

If you're using my app to generate the XML just select the ThreadForm value from the drop-down:

[ArnieO]

Link

My bad; it works!👌 I had issues earlier coming from an other thread, must have been something local here.

Fillets

OK, this explains why I was not able to find anything in the pipe thread XML files that could trigger fillet creation. Great to see that you have sorted out this too in your tool. I would not have found it without your help, so thank you for your rapid assistance!

[MRWakefield]

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@ArnieO wrote:

Link

My bad; it works!👌 I had issues earlier coming from an other thread, must have been something local here.

Fillets

OK, this explains why I was not able to find anything in the pipe thread XML files that could trigger fillet creation. Great to see that you have sorted out this too in your tool. I would not have found it without your help, so thank you for your rapid assistance!

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No problem!

I'm pretty pleased with the app although it isn't perfect and there's always something more I could add. There's also one or two bugs in one of the components I use for managing the CSV grid but that's out of my control unfortunately. It also has issues with UTF-8 encoded CSV files so make sure any CSV's you create aren't save in this format.

Anyway, I hope you find it useful.

[MRWakefield]

Prompted by a post by @alan.jonesXHXUF in another thread, where he's asking about finding 'lost' thread files I have added a somewhat rough-and-ready 'thread manager' feature.

On the LHS of the dialogue you'll see a list of folders. Most of these are from previous installs of Fusion (one will be your current Fusion folder). When you select one of the folders you will see any thread files that are present in the 'ThreadData' folder further below in the folder tree. When you have found the folder that contains your orphaned thread file you just need to click the 'Copy Files to Fusion Thread Folder' button and they will be copied over. This saves you the headache of manually searching for your orphaned files in the rather tortuous (and torturous!) folder tree!

Hope you find it a useful addition.

[jakeJ4WNM]

Hi all, 

Would anyone be able to sort an XML file for M33, M34 and M35 x 0.5, 0.75, 1.0 please?

Thank you in advance for your help! Been messing with the thread creator application for hours and going round in circles!

Thank you!!

[MRWakefield]

Sorry you're having issues with my thread app. Just to clarify what threads you need: Are you looking for three thread files, M33x0.5, M34x0.75 and M35x1.0 or do you need each of the sizes in all three pitches (i.e. 9 designations in total)?

[jakeJ4WNM]

Sorry, it’s definitely me and not the program causing the issue!

sorry, yes, 9 designations in total, so M33,34,35 in all three pitches. I’m not sure how quick that is, what I really actually need to get this particular job done are:

M35x1.0 external

M34x0.75 internal

its to draw an adapter for a suspension part!

thanks

[MRWakefield]

If you head over to this thread you'll find various custom thread files. If you download the zip file attached to the first post you'll find an ISO Metric Non-Std thread file that I've just updated with all your required designations. It contains both external and internal so that makes 18 plus the ones that were already included. Usual warnings about possible errors etc... If it's important then please double-check the figures.

If you have any problems just shout. BTW, it's getting quite late here now so will probably be off to bed fairly soon.

[jakeJ4WNM]

 Thank you so much!!

[MRWakefield]

You're welcome.

[etfrench]

Csv file is failing to upload.  The csv file was created in Excel.  I used the Generate CSV command on the ISO Metric Profile Fusion thread xml, then copied several lines to a new file in Excel.

[MRWakefield]

Hmmm... sorry you're having problems. I've tried your CSV and it opened just fine:

I've experienced this on a number of occasions though. It's often when I've been working on other files then tried to load another CSV. For some reason it throws this error. I haven't got to the bottom of it but a restart of the app should fix it.