Imperial to metric translate and save

[Drewpan]

Hi,

I have checked the forum for how to do this but most posts are about how to change this BEFORE you start

your project. If I have imported a model or for some reason modelled something in Imperial but then when I

am finished need to save a version in metric how would I do this?

I have plans in Imperial that it would be easiest to model in Imperial. I would end up with a model in Imperial

dimensions. That is useful in itself but in Australia we predominately use metric machines. Most of the smarter

ones have both but then you have to rely on the machine conversion to actually work. What I would like to do is

copy and convert the model into metric. The main reason being I can still check if it works before sending it to

manufacture but I can go over it and change the hardware to metric for all the screws and bolts.

In theory I could scale the model by 25.4 but surely there is a cleaner way to do this?

Cheers

Andrew

[TheCADWhisperer · Accepted solution]

Don’t scale anything. Fusion is “units aware”.

Simply change the units after designing. 

Alternatively you could start with metric but always type in your inch units - Fusion will convert on the fly. 

Being in the USA I have to work in a mixed imperial/metric environment all the time. Modern parametric CAD software eliminates need for conversion calculations or scaling. 

If you have a particular units conversion issue - attach your file here. I also have a tip for correcting wrong units used. 

[Drewpan]

Hi,

Thanks for that. Works a charm, wasn't nearly as hard as I thought.

Even though in Australia we are a metric country, we also deal with both regularly because of the amount

of trade we do with mainly the US. We both import and export to the US and so sometimes we have to "make

things fit". I didn't have any specific problem, it is that I create models from plans I get from all over to practice

using Fusion (hence some of the strange things I ask about). I often get plans in Imperial and if I am just

modelling I stick to Imperial, but sometimes I actually WANT to build a model of something. The issue is

normally not the bodies and components, its getting the hardware. We might do a lot of trade but Imperial

tools and nuts and bolts are relatively expensive down under compared to the metric "equivalent". Some

things are cross over, so we get 1/4 inch bolts for example, but some of the less used stuff we order in from

US suppliers or re-create the model with different holes. We might be able to get a 1/4 inch bolt but an M6

is close enough unless it is needed for Safety Factor so we do that a lot also.

I am a mature age student so I actually remember the changeover in Australia. It was just about done by

the 1980s but things like Mile Posts were still around in rural areas. When I was young my dad wouldn't

tell me how far somewhere was and make me work it out. I learned 5 and 8 times table really well.

Thanks for your answer and also being patient with me. I know I ask some strange things sometimes but

I just think a bit different to some people.

Cheers

Andrew