How do I print out a sketch?

[Anonymous]

Hi all,

What's the best way to go about printing out a sketch on a regular inkjet printer to scale?

[Anonymous]

I would be willing to bet that the majority of your users would welcome the simple ability to "Print Sketch". I doubt anyone would call that a waste of energy. Your program is very close to perfect and really shows what is possible if a company really puts their mind to listening to its customers. So why anyone would be opposed to making its functionality better would be beyond me. Please consider the only glaring problem that would give anyone pause be put on a successful track. Again, is the Plug-In capability a way to get us there? If Plug-In functionality is powerful enough, let those who want it create it?

[promm]

@Anonymous,

We have a site where you can create and share add ins for Fusion 360

https://apps.autodesk.com/FUSION/en/Home/Index

I found a similar idea on the IdeaStation, please take a look and see if it aligns with what you are thinking.  

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation-request-a/printing-sketches/idi-p/7110297

Regards, 

Mike Prom

[Anonymous]

That is absolutely what I was thinking. He put it much better than I ever could. I wish more people would go there and vote. I really feel that would be a great addition. Also, every small business machinist in the world who has their own equipment prints out the hole patterns and edges, etc real quick, runs over and makes the part and then adjusts the sketch to suit. Going through the Draw Design flow is wasted time that they don't have. Proposed changes in Collaborations would be so much faster. This program would be unstoppable with that feature. Then later you will want to put "Draw Design From Sketch" so the sketch is just dropped right into the Draw Design flow with all of its measurements and everything. Think of it as Job Security. Thank you for listening Mike!

There has to be some other reason than "its not popular enough" that someone hasn't created that add-in yet. I have a son who is an expert programmer, I'll ask him to look into it and report back here. [if you think the Add-In feature is possible to implement that way]. 

Go  here and VOTE!!

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation-request-a/printing-sketches/idi-p/7110297

[Anonymous]

Printing is a fundamental command or tool, and it looks like Fusion 360 can not do this without an involved process,  we should be able to create a PDF at any time of any thing that is on our screen.

Fusion 360 does not have Tech support, throwing a question out onto the internet and hoping that someone can give you an answer is not tech support. Just looking at how long this thread has lasted is prof that it is not intended for professional work. 

It also seems that saving ones work to a local hard drive or a USB stick is not straight forward either.

I have looked around and I don't see an On Line User's Manual.

For an alternative try ONSHAPE, the only feature that I don't like is it is completely cloud based and the issue of local storage.

Also Alibre is back in business and it is a good program that is easy to use.

Then there is Spaceclaim is a non parametric and very modern, more expensive that Fusion 360 but a lot less than Inventor.

Maybe the best place to be asking question is at Titans of CNC, Titan has the best teaching methods of anyone I have seen, easy to follow and complete answers, there is the Titan CNC Academy which is the best organized training program I have seen. Titan teaches well because he owns a real shop and has to get things done, that why he has learned how to machine difficult materials at high rates, 500 to 800 IPM,  Time is money and he is willing to share what it takes to be successful.

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@Anonymous wrote:

That is absolutely what I was thinking. He put it much better than I ever could. I wish more people would go there and vote. I really feel that would be a great addition. Also, every small business machinist in the world who has their own equipment prints out the hole patterns and edges, etc real quick, runs over and makes the part and then adjusts the sketch to suit. Going through the Draw Design flow is wasted time that they don't have. Proposed changes in Collaborations would be so much faster. This program would be unstoppable with that feature. Then later you will want to put "Draw Design From Sketch" so the sketch is just dropped right into the Draw Design flow with all of its measurements and everything. Think of it as Job Security. Thank you for listening Mike!

There has to be some other reason than "its not popular enough" that someone hasn't created that add-in yet. I have a son who is an expert programmer, I'll ask him to look into it and report back here. [if you think the Add-In feature is possible to implement that way]. 

Go  here and VOTE!!

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation-request-a/printing-sketches/idi-p/7110297

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Fusion 360 is a nice idea but the fundamental functions need to be in place, printing, creating PDF of anything on screen, saving files to local storage, etc.

Take a look at the frequency of what user's do everyday, where do they spend their time and doing what -  Optimize this first to make users life easier, e.g., I would like to have the ability to generate any kind of Gear but in the long run printing, file storage, editing  -- these are the things that would make life easier and more productive. Not being able to just print out ones work with a single mouse click is frustrating. 

How many people really like being stuck with Subscription Software? It seems we are in a Hostage situation with Subscriptions,

Everyone one out in the world should demand that Software Bugs are fix for free, A Software Bug is a Defective Product! It is time to make Software Companies responsible for their products and not let them get away with saying you have to buy the next update to fix the current Bug!

Since Fusion 360 is an Auto Desk Product they should have the resources to address all issues with Fusion 360 - If Inventor has good Printing, PDF generating, and File storage functions then use those in Fusion 360! Reusable Function / Software, Software Companies and Academics have been talking about this forever but I don't see much progress being made - companies need to stop talking about why they can't do something and just learn how to do things.

[Anonymous]

I hit the Wrong Button I did mean to Quote,

[Anonymous]

I agree with your sentiment on it being a no brainer that printing out should be the first feature, THEN you program everything else after that. They had a vision that was paperless, local storageless, and more nimble than the rest of the offerings out there. It was predicated on a few assumptions that were flawed however. Here is where they are going sideways:

1) The internet is a disaster right now as far as speed and reliability. Only those who live in the big cities have an internet backbone that can handle cloud based systems reliably. Big City dwellers even complain about this. The internet is not ready for the demand they are thinking they can place on it. I would guess the REAL reality is the DOS attacks on our infrastructure are so routine and out of control, its causing most of the problem, but I am guessing. 

2) To make this program practical, small business needs to embrace it as well as big business. The two are NOT the same. The small guy needs to be able to print hole patterns, project shapes, etc to be used as templates so he can properly do his traditional fabrication process. Not everyone has bazillion dollar CNC tables where everything is just moved from the design phase to the end product. Its those small fledgling businesses that you need to support your product. And to do it, ALL you need to do is give us a Print feature? SO, I feel the rest of your post too. BUT...

This is a very promising undertaking and all we need to do is get a few youngin's in line with reality in the programming department. Or start firing the idiots who are standing in the way of progress. We are SOOOO close right now to a perfect solution!! I am not abandoning ship just yet because they have just a few issues to iron out and it will be perfect. This community.. when I say community I mean those of us who would use a program such as this one, are so fragmented and everyone is using something different and none of them are compatible. If this program were perfect as it is close already, there would be no reason for that, and AutoDesk could clean house! I want them to succeed, so my hope is, our friends here are LISTENING. Fusion 360 is just another try that failed without a Print Sketch feature. Too many reasons to have it, no reason not to.

[Anonymous]

Very well Said!

In the mean time I will use my old Ashler Vellum or PunchCad,  Ashler Vellum ( Graphite today ) was the first really intellegent drafting programs and for 2D Drafting with 3D Features is still the easyest to use and is very complete for drafting.

After all we still need more than one tool in our Tool Box.  Sometimes a simple tool is better than more complex tools!  Tools should be as simple as possible to get the job done. 

I would suggest that who ever programs these tools have experience in all phases of the idea concept -->  Designing -->  CAM -->  Machining -->  Inspecting -->  Evaluation --> Modifying, -->

Yes a Pure Programmer can have advisors to help but nothing replaces Hands On Experience, Experience of actually working where your livelyhood depends on the results of their work.

Sometimes when I am trying to figure a tough problem listening to some good old CCR Helps!

[Anonymous]

So Promm ... CCR is Credence Clearwater Revival! Its a band from the 70s! 

Just having fun with you. As I said before I have a son that is a world class programmer and they do not have time to do ANYthing more. They are way overloaded because the industry is not attracting new programmers. Its too hard for the new generation. I understand the difficulties, but this really is an important endeavor (what you are doing) and we need to be heard. You are letting down about 1/3 of your market by not having a Print Sketch function. I really hope you and your hierarchy can sit down and think about how your program is being used and why this is so critical. Back to some ACDC, JP and JD!

[Anonymous]

Fairly new to F360, but the two things mentioned here (printing sketches and easily saving locally) are two of my biggest irritants. Almost so great that I nearly decided to abandon F360 and advise my colleagues to do the same.

Printing sketches is such a basic requirement that it shouldn't require lengthy debate and as much confusion as has been created in this thread. It wasn't until i got well into the thread that someone suggested the FIle/Capture Image item. Not ideal, but the best fix atm imo.

And not every company wants to be tied to a cloud based file management system. The option for a local network system should also be considered.

[Anonymous]

I have a request in the idea station you can upvote and see if we get it into development but my work around is to tape a pen to my CNC router and use the trace command to generate a tool path. 

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation-request-a/printing-sketches/idi-p/7110297

[Anonymous]

That's a novel idea 🙂

I think I have voted already. Fingers crossed.

[Anonymous]

File/Capture does not even begin to mimic the precision built in to Fusion 360. It doesn't give us the ability to create physical templates that are spot on. The reason I am so vocal about this is because it is such a no-brainer in the small metal working, auto restoration shops all over the world to have a printed template that you can place over a piece of raw material to punch holes, trace and use in the manufacturing process. To hear the Program Manager actually say there are no plans for it was enough to make any sane person move on to another platform. Problem is, there just isn't another program out there that is as rich in features. Until one comes along, we are at the mercy of those who have zero understanding of most of the consumer base they are seeking to serve.

If you want the bad press to stop, take the time to add the feature. It's one of the simplest programming routines there is because EVERY CAD/CAM package out there has it. All of those who came before you had it, and its just astounding that you have gotten away with it this long! You have too good of a product here to ignore about half of your user base.

Right now because of this, I have to use this other program called DraftSight and draw the part in that first, then print it out, and HOPE the algorithms between DraftSight and Fusion 360 are the same. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. (not much better than File/Capture) Then, since they are DWG files, I get to redraw it again because although it IS possible to import DWG in to Fusion 360, most of the sketch commands don't work. It's a nightmare I tell you! Please end the misery!!

[Anonymous]

I am an M.E. and have used CAD for a long, long time. I used Inventor for years at work.  I uploaded an entire existing design of mine to test Fusion 360.  It is in native Inventor format.  It contains .iam's, .ipt's, .idw's.
I can't seem to even make a simple print of my Idw files, nor can I make a .pdf of them.
I now use Solidworks at work, and was looking for a home CAD solution for my home workshop.  I don't think this is it.

You shouldn't have to consult forums for answers to simple functions for everything you try to do on a CAD program.

Just my 2 cents worth.

[Anonymous]

@Anonymous At least printing a sketch is possible now. The feature was just added this month. While it does seem odd at first printing from the drawings environment allows me to make nice drawings for shop use. It is much better than taping a pen to the CNC.

[TrippyLighting]

Fusion 360 and Inventor are different programs with a different code base. Opening Inventor files in Fusion 360 to test Fusion 360's abilities is not a particularly meaningful way to do that.

I trust that your employers provided you with the software packages you had the privilege to work with ? For hobbyists Fusion 360 is free.

[Anonymous]

Can someone please tell me how to print a sketch with the new capability? I am looking around in the Drawing functions and cannot find it. It that is true, it will be the Merriest Christmas EVER! I will finally be able to take a perfect 100% drawing over to the welding table, draw out the outline, punch the holes, and finally have a perfect way to duplicate my designs. That was the ONLY thing left that was missing for my use. I have been patiently holding out going to another program in hopes this would happen!!

[Anonymous]

I haven't played with the interface yet to sort it out but the path is:

Model>Drawing>From Design

This opens up a new window. Set the page size and scale. Then there are a bunch of options for how to display things.

[Anonymous]

I know that much, but there is no place to add the sketch that I can find. What I need is a procedure for doing it. There still appears to be no way to import a sketch. Has anyone successfully used this feature?

[Anonymous]

I had a little chance to play with it but I found some roadblocks. I was unable to make the sketch lines solid and not broken. I was also not able to include the letters that would be engraved on this part. But, here is a simple screencast showing the basics.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I had a little chance to play with it but I found some roadblocks. I was unable to make the sketch lines solid and not broken. I was also not able to include the letters that would be engraved on this part. But, here is a simple screencast showing the basics.

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Yes, I see the same issues.

Also, is it possible to take over the Sketch dimensions? Don't tell me, you have to re-dimension the sketch again from scratch.

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