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.

 

 

[MRWakefield]

You can create any combination of diameter, pitch, thread angle etc. However, if you're asking whether it can create modelled tapered threads. then Fusion doesn't currently support that. There is also no provision in the Fusion thread definition file for the angle of the taper or other parameters such as gauge length.

[jasonhomrighaus]

Seems like something broke again with the most recent update.  I tried to reload the Xml but the thread won't come up in the list when trying to apply a thread.

[MRWakefield]

I'm not seeing any issues here. If you can give me as much information as you can this will help me find out where the problem is. Screenshots, xml file(s) and/or workflow details would be useful.

[jasonhomrighaus]

ok when I open the fusion folder it takes me to one location, but when I go to save the CSV it takes me to a different location.

this may be meaningless but 

this is where the file is when I select "open Fusion folder"

/Users/jason/Library/Application Support/Autodesk/webdeploy/production/2448aa8b3276a952725a8bb01f628b797da18a2a/Autodesk Fusion.app/Contents/Libraries/Applications/Fusion/Fusion/Server/Fusion/Configuration/ThreadData

But when I select "save CSV" it goes here

/Users/jason/Library/Application Support/Autodesk/webdeploy/production/bb8a77c570b7d168ed962552ad8ce402395afc4a/Autodesk Fusion.app/Contents/Libraries/Applications/Fusion/Fusion/Server/Fusion/Configuration/ThreadData

When I try to navigate to the first location in the save menu, I cant navigate beyond this point

/Users/jason/Library/Application Support/Autodesk/webdeploy/production/2448aa8b3276a952725a8bb01f628b797da18a2a/Autodesk Fusion.app

don't know if this helps but that's what im running into

[MRWakefield]

The CSV files don't have to go in any special folder, you would usually just save them to a convenient place. I save mine in Onedrive, but most people would probably store them in a subfolder under their "Documents" folder. Here's a screenshot of a suggested folder layout in Windows, Mac would be similar:

Let me know whether this solves your issue or if you need any further help.

[jasonhomrighaus]

So I went through the process again and it seems like your App is remembering the last folder it opened when you select "Save CSV" or "Save XML". but when you select "open Fusion Folder" it goes to the active folder where the active thread files are located.  

I was able to get things working by selecting "open fusion Folder" button which opens a finder window.  Then I did the csv and xml generation which saved to the other folder and was able to select "show in finder" which opened another finder window.  then I was able to drag the xml across from that folder to the active folder, rename it and delete the active thread file.  after that the thread showed up in Fusion.

[MRWakefield]

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@jasonhomrighaus wrote:

So I went through the process again and it seems like your App is remembering the last folder it opened when you select "Save CSV" or "Save XML". but when you select "open Fusion Folder" it goes to the active folder where the active thread files are located.  

I was able to get things working by selecting "open fusion Folder" button which opens a finder window.  Then I did the csv and xml generation which saved to the other folder and was able to select "show in finder" which opened another finder window.  then I was able to drag the xml across from that folder to the active folder, rename it and delete the active thread file.  after that the thread showed up in Fusion.

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Yes, IIRC that's how the Mac version behaves. This has recently been changed in the Windows app so that each of the dialogues open in more sensible places according to whether you're opening/saving CSV or XML files.

The way it's supposed to work is this:

• Save CSV files in any folder that makes sense to you.
• Save XML files to a different folder to the CSV files that also makes sense to you.
• Set the XML folder as your "Sync" folder. This simplifies copying your custom XML files to the correct Fusion ThreadData folder via the "Tools|Sync folders now" menu item. However, I would very highly recommend the ThreadKeeper add-in for Fusion as this automates all of the syncing and even performs an automatic sync whenever Fusion receives an update and rather unhelpfully changes the location of the ThreadData folder.

Unfortunately I don't have an actual real-life Mac to develop or test it on. I'm also not able to install Fusion into that dev system either. In addition to this, the environment that I use for developing the Mac version has a broken debugger (which I can't seem to fix, whatever I do). All-in-all this means that I'm not able to fully test and debug the Mac version to the same degree as I can the Windows version. I basically have to hope it works!

Let me know if any of this is unclear and I'll try to help. Anyway, I'm pleased you got it working, even though, when set up correctly is much simpler to use.

[jasonhomrighaus]

No worries. I will have to check out the thread keeper app.