Fusion 360 design for aluminium profile systems such as IPS, Rexroth, Item,

[Tony-Warren]

I have in the past used Alibre design to use IPS, Rexroth and Item aluminium profile systems in multi-axis automation, machine guarding, work cells, lean manufacturing manual assembly systems.

The key to doing that was to import a system part from IPS into a .step file. I would then project the face of that file onto a new plane. Copy that face to a new sketch and save that sketch as a part number from the IPS catalogue. I could then take that part face and extrude it to the length I needed and assemble it and other such parts into a machine or whatever.

I cannot figure out how to do this in Fusion 360. I can import the parts I need, but the come as pre-extruded lengths. I cannot seem to change their lengths. I cannot seem to project the face of the piece.

Can anyone help me figure this out?

[etfrench]

1. Import the step file.
2. Select the face.
3. Create a sketch.
4. Close sketch.
5. Extrude.

Or

1. Import the step file.
2. Select the face.
3. Extrude or Press/Pull to length.

p.s. First step is to use the Break Link command on the Browser context menu.

[Tony-Warren]

Hi,

First off thank you for the great reply. I am too ignorant of Fusion yet to
make either of your solutions work for me. I tried them both before and
again when you suggested them and I ended up with nothing useable.

Here is a link to the files I am using.

http://www13.boschrexroth-us.com/Framing_Shop/Product/View_Product.aspx?category=10104&subcategory=1

Maybe it is something obvious that I am missing.

Thank you again for your suggestions.

[etfrench]

That's odd.  The file seems to behave as expected:

[davebYYPCU · Accepted solution]

Not sure what you are missing, in general terms, what Ed said, works, 

did a screencast to check for myself, while Ed was posting his

some minor details, when the step file is converted, opened, and loaded to Fusion it is a direct model, base feature,

as soon as it arrives I turned Capture History on, 

Then as Ed outlines the steps work, create sketch on the end face of the extrusion, not the Origin Plane

I had the Automatic Project feature turned on under preferences, 

Fusion created the sketch but the purple lines expected, are not visible, however the regions are, then select the correct region on the Extrude command, set your respective distance, 

So really there was nothing different in your listed workflow, but might help with this scast.

[Tony-Warren]

Thank you for all of your help. I will keep trying referring back to your great work.

My ignorance of Fusion is really the issue. I will keep plugging away at this until I own it.

Cheers,

Tony

[davebYYPCU]

Yep, takes a while to find what does work, and in what order to attack the problems. 

Happy to help...

[Tony-Warren]

I'm a geezer, so learning is more difficult. But perseverance always triumphs. Thanks again.

Cheers,

Tony