Help us help you create better 2D drawings!

[TimeraAutodesk]

Hey all,

Here’s another opportunity for you to influence how we develop the 2D drawings experience! 

We want to do some comparative analysis of our internal drawings against your real-world drawings – created from Fusion or (even more interesting) from your other CAD packages. 

Feel free to reply to this thread with your drawings. If you want to keep your drawings confidential, email them to me directly at timera.hart@autodesk.com and we will keep them safe. Any and all examples of drawings you're making today to get your job done would be super helpful to us as we keep our eye on the prize of fullfilling our promise to rounding out the drawings environment.

We on the drawings team are still hard at work to bring you some great new features in the upcoming releases, with a bunch happening on June 22 (mentioned at the bottom of the June 8 what’s new post).

Timera

[HughesTooling]

Hi @TimeraAutodesk Thanks for the update, something I don't think gets a mention is export formats. At the moment the DWG is only really usable with Autocad, so is there going to be any options for DXF and different versions.

Mark

[burnandreturn]

I have been asking that question from the first time I used Fusion.   No one will answer the question.  Hell they don't even acknowledge the question.  The question is invisible.

I asked a simple question as in is there any plans to improve the export formats.  

It must be only me that needs DXF export from drawings as none of Autodesk employees will answer the question.  1.  If it will ever be implemented or even is it under consideration. 2.  When..

[TimeraAutodesk]

@burnandreturn & @HughesTooling - great follow up question. Based on the feedback we have received, we do understand that DXF export is needed however we don't think that the Drawings workspace is the right solution to the problem. Exporting a DXF (almost always in a 1:1 ratio for manufacturing) is something that we think should come off of the Model or from a Sketch - this is why you don't see it on the Drawings roadmap. I hope that helps clear things up, let me know if you have any other questions. 

[burnandreturn]

Have you ever actually built anything Timeria?   Have you actually ever designed something and sent it out to be laser or plasma cut?   I don't think so.

An exported dxf with dimensions is needed.  Laser, plasma and waterjet services that I use need a dimensioned dxf file.   I make mine in GeoMagic most times

[PhilProcarioJr]

@TimeraAutodesk

"Exporting a DXF (almost always in a 1:1 ratio for manufacturing) is something that we think should come off of the Model or from a Sketch"

Thinking this way is a huge mistake...your hurting all the laser, water and plasma cutters out there.

Say I have 40 parts laid out on a sheet each part has it's own sketch, sure I can export 40 sketches as a .dxf but wouldn't it be easier to have one drawing of all the parts on the sheet that I can export one .dxf?

Same scenario but now I want all the parts at 1/2 scale...wouldn't it be easier to change the drawing to 1/2 scale and export it to .dxf rather then scaling 40 sketches and exporting each one?

I really hope that's not how the team feels...what your suggesting is hindering production not helping it...

Just my 2 cents.

[TimeraAutodesk]

@burnandreturn - Yes, I have, but thanks for checking to make sure. I understand the need for dimensioned views, and if this is done via Sketch, then the dimensions should come through. This project has not begun work, and I'm sure the team will reach out for more feedback when they do tackle it. 

Note - I did not say that we would *never* bring this into Drawings, but for now, we know that we have many more pressing features to deliver in Drawings and this is a feature that can gain value through other channels.

Appreciate the feedback.

Timera

[PhilProcarioJr]

@TimeraAutodesk

Just out of curiosity how much experience does the decision makers for drawings have with Laser, Plasma and Water cutters?

Because I find it hard to believe that anyone using these machines would feel the way your team feels.

I mean no disrespect but I use these machines everyday and what your suggesting (doing it from model space), makes no sense at all.

I can't think of one company using these machines that doesn't use .dxf files for the cuts and given cases like the one I posted your suggestion = tons of lost time and money.

I posted what I did in the hopes that the drawings team would see the value and needs of your customers and made no assumptions whether or not this would be added, just tried to show the need for it.

[burnandreturn]

Please translate "this is a feature that can gain value through other channels"

I actually build things.  I design them and then build them.  I get my hands dirty.  I weld, machine, cut and cuss!     Many of Fusion users do the same I think.  We need not just want .dxf export from drawings.  Period.

So Timera you have actually designed a model and had that design laser, waterjet or plasma cut and then assembled the parts made out of real materials into a real world physical machine or thing?   I find it hard to believe because if you have done this you would know what we are struggling against.  I am not calling you a fraud just I find it hard to believe is all.  What was your workflow?

[PhilProcarioJr]

@TimeraAutodesk

Typically all laser, plasma and water cutting companies want a dimensioned .dxf file. Applications like Solidworks export these with all dimensions on one layer and geometry on another. That way the machine operator can load up the .dxf and select which layers he wants to cut and not cut the dimension layer. In addition in Solidworks you can assign each part in the drawing it's own layer so you can choose exactly what parts you want to cut. Using your suggestion I would need to export each part sketch as a .dxf then I would need to make a drawing of each one so the machine operator on the floor can check the parts for accuracy after the cut. I would also have to assemble all .dxf files into one for a sheet layout. Now the operator, instead of having one file on his screen with all needed information has to switch back and forth between drawing and .dxf file or he needs a printout of the drawings. In addition using your method I couldn't see where I need to place dimensions so they don't overlap other parts on the cut sheet meaning a lot of trial and error.

Anyways there is a need and I hope your team changes their mind about how this should be handled...

[HughesTooling]

@TimeraAutodesk

OK you already have DWG export, it's just in a format someone without AutoCad can't use so why can't it be changed to output to model space. There are plenty of programs that could use a DWG preferably 2004 format. The suggestion to use a sketch will mean producing 2 sets of files one to cut from and one with dimensions and title block. I always have the fully dimensioned drawing as proof of what's ordered and ask for a signed copy back from the supplier. The sketches used to build the model are not always usable as they contain construction geometry so you have to make a sketch just for manufacture and then make a 2d drawing, I can't see how usable 2d export is not seen as important.

Mark.

PS The question why is my DWG empty comes up about once a week at the moment, when sheet metal's introduced I can see it being even more often.

[TimeraAutodesk]

I can appreciate all your passion and feedback concerning this subject, and thank you for the additional details. 

I'll reiterate again that the Drawings team is currently focusing on rounding out the tools needed to create Part & Detail Assembly Drawings. This does NOT mean that DXF output from Drawings will never happen by any means, just not right now. We are working on building a drawings package for a diverse set of customers. There are still many shortcomings that are blocking Fusion customers from producing the drawings that they need to get their work done. In our prioritizing we take this, requests, and the length of implementation into account - and even with this we are frequently forced to make difficult decisions. Currently the work to consistently produce quality usable dxf output from the drawings module as well as the work to continue to support this functionality is very large - and our decision to prioritize other functionality ahead of it is based on the opportunity cost of taking it on.

We understand that the output from the model space is not a perfect solution, but we are evaluating the opportunity for it to bring incremental value, and we really do appreciate your ideas and suggestions around improving the workflow. For example, we posted this survey to identify DXF needs just earlier this year, so if you haven't participated in it yet, then please do: https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/design-validate-document/dwg-and-dxf-export-from-fusion/m-p/5900071#M...

Best,

Timera

[TMC.Engineering]

I get the feeling the reason dwgs are this way, is to force you into buying AutoCAD.  As @HughesTooling mentioned this topic comes up all the time.  In addition to the obvious needs that have been mentioned already.  It is needed for technical illustration needs like product manual creation and silk screen production.  pdfs help but they don't always come over nicely.

[TMC.Engineering]

@TimeraAutodesk thanks for re-posting the link (survey completed) and all the work from the drawing team.

[PhilProcarioJr]

@TimeraAutodesk

Well the drawings team should get ready, because when sheet metal tools are released the angry customers will be coming out of the woodwork.... 

[TimeraAutodesk]

@lemelman - good catch! Office Hours are set for WEDNESDAY, Nov. 2nd, 8-10am PST. Thanks for the heads up, we'll get the blog updated.

[Anonymous]

I posted this over in Ideastation but maybe it's better suited here since we're talking about 2D drawings.

I'm not sure if I'm missing something in settings but I would like to be able to freely move the datum structure box around a drawing as I need. As of right now, I have to anchor it to an object. I am used to the way this feature works in inventor where the datum box can be populated and then moved around where it is needed. The only option I have now is to put the box at the end of my dimension which creates a line through the dimension as it were being crossed out, or putting it below the dimension and creating a leader which looks unprofessional in my opinion. Any help or guidance with this would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Keith

[scott.price]

Hi @Anonymous - 

Appreciate your note. Currently the product does require the feature control frame to be associated to an object or annotation. We will be improving the functionality here to be more in line with your expectations in the future. I can't give you a good estimation when that would be available at this time as we're working on several different areas of drawings but the team will try to get in touch with you once we have a better idea.

Best,

Scott

[Anonymous]

Hi, would like to suggest a few more for you 🙂

1. Annotation text height.  Why is it only limited to a few? If possible would like to have it customized height by entering whatever number instead.

2. Copy and Paste specially for texts.

3. Basic shapes.

4. Add/Insert image.

5. Text colors

6. Smart PDFs ( For better quality etc. I think this has been mentioned many times but I really want to present a professional pdf for clients in future, so I think this is very important)

7. Option to see mesh shapes etc. sometimes When I make a 3d file, some parts didn't show up in 2d file.

8. Bom list - Ability to customize the table? Also option to use sub or sub/sublayers/subsubsublayers as materials instead of direct layers? I sometimes organize layers like this:

I probably will have more suggestions in the future.  Thank you.

[Anonymous]

@TimeraAutodesk. Hi some of what I think it should have to be implement.

- How about we can edit projected plane ? ( for delete line,...), of course without change 3d model.

- Section View can place any where in draw.

thanks.