help.

[Anonymous]

Hello All,

I've never done CAD/CAM and am having trouble getting traction with Fusion 360.  I learn best with conceptual overviews first and then to dig in and practice specific tools and techniques.

Is there a document or web site that has definitions for the terms used by Fusion 360 like body, component, rail, sculpt,etc?

My goals are to first design some items that will be 3D printed then eventaully use 360 for CAM with a desktop CNC machine.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Eric

Richmond VA

[martin.zatecka]

Hello,

Here are some learning materials and resources, I would recommend you to start with tutorials.

• Tutorials / Learning page

• Youtube channel

• Autodesk Screencast website

tips and tricks:

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/post-your-tips-and-tutorials/bd-p/453

regards

Martin

[Anonymous]

Thanks Martin. I've been working through the tutorials and the youtube
videos. The screencast site I have not seen so thanks.

Still the videos talk about "stuff" like bodies, rails, components and I'd
like to better grasp those and other concepts. I'll keep working on the
tutorials and "playing".

I've been having fun. I've tried other products and found the user
interfaces a bit challenging. I'm sure I can do what I want to do with
Fusion 360. So practice practice practice for me.



--
Eric Palmer

[Anonymous]

I agree that some higher-level conceptual docs would be really useful.  

Related: see this idea station request for a visual glossary.

Best,

-c

[knobbsa]

Hello Eric,

I'd recommend taking a look at the  Fusion 101 training

Does this documentation help you with understanding the basic concepts, tools and tequniques?  

Best,

Amy

[Anonymous]

Amy,

Thanks.  I am working through the 101 series and videos, the forums and more.  It helps some with technique and understanding of the user interface.  It is the terminology that I would like to better understand up front.  You see, I am dyslexic and some dyslexics approach things from the gist, the big picture.  If I understand the big picture then working through the details (like the 101 content) makes more sense.  

Fusion (and the other CAD/CAM products) all use terminology that seems to mean something specific but it seems hard to find a solid definition for in the documentation.  If I understand the terminology better then I can better visualize how to take my ideas to completion.

Some terminology seems obvious: assemblies, sketches.  Some even can be guessed or looked up: t-spline.  But what about forms, bodies, components, rails, centerlines (how are rails and centerlines different) and more.

Consider that my learning may be also non-typical. I'm 61 years old (I write software, manager a development team, agile coach) and have two kids.  So time to "play and learn" is limited.  So I steal time to learning Fusion (and other things of interest) whenever I can.

I'm sure I will get this after practice but was just hoping there was a quick guide or something.  

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions and feedback.

Eric

[Anonymous]

a closet is like the data panel

a suitcase is like a document

clothes are like components

clothes have pockets that contain small items such as notes (sketches), keys (bodies), or tissues (surfaces)

clothes can also contain other clothes... don't ask why! 🙂

clothes can be combined into a wardrobe using joints

It's a stretch, but hopefully it helps! I run a Fusion youtube channel so if you have any specific requests I'd be glad to post it up.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Here's another one:

Lets say you have a huge knife collection.

Your closet is your data panel

Your collection case is your document

Your swiss army knife is one component that contains all of the parts which are also components

The movement of your swiss army knife is defined by joints

Your cleaning rag is also a component that contains a single body

[Anonymous]

lukepighetti

Thanks, this is helpful.  What is your youtube channel?

Eric

[Anonymous]

Glad it was helpful! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6QCCphfxNODJNfPk2tJrTQ/videos

[knobbsa]

Hello Eric,

I'm glad you were able to get some answers from the Fusion 101 Training document, and from others here on the forum!  

I'm sorry to hear that it was difficult to find the information you were needing in order to get started.  The  learning content and support we're providing our Fusion 360 users is something that we're currently working hard to improve.  Feedback, questions, and input from users like you help us to improve the things that are most important.  You'll be seeing many great improvements to your learning experience over the next couple of months!

I've made note of the areas you were struggling with.  If you have any more feedback please let us know!  

Best,

Amy 

[Anonymous]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

Hello All,

I've never done CAD/CAM and am having trouble getting traction with Fusion 360.  I learn best with conceptual overviews first and then to dig in and practice specific tools and techniques.

Is there a document or web site that has definitions for the terms used by Fusion 360 like body, component, rail, sculpt,etc?

My goals are to first design some items that will be 3D printed then eventaully use 360 for CAM with a desktop CNC machine.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Eric

Richmond VA

---

...first time inputing as a forum member.

I am a long-time autocad user that has been out of the loop for a while and bypassed everything up to fusion 360, which seems like a terrific tool.

I also think it would be good to see a fusion 360 glossary for the terms or maybe what might be considered the more difficult or confusing terms.  Sounds like there is not such a glossary?

Thanks

Paul