Scale to exact Dimensions Fusion 360

[chrisWCQXN]

So I have a model that I was given from someone else for a project, it is a STEP File, and it is exactly what I need for the project I am currently working on.

However, it is the wrong dimensions when loaded into Fusion 360

As an example, the design of this vehicle chassis is 3,577mm long and in Fusion is is 1,460mm long

So I thought no worries, I'll make it 2.45x bigger and it ends up still a few mm off, I think first time was 3,578.something

Now for what I need, these measurements need to be EXACT unfortunately, is there a way to click on it and manually set the length, width, and height by typing in the exact millimetre dimensions rather than the scale tool?

I've found a number of topics like this one however they do not help, they still involve using the scale tool to get it fairly close.

For reference, this model will be used to help manufacture Electric Vehicle Conversion Kits for a popular vehicle, as such I need the diagrams and sizes to be bang on for the vehicle engineer to look over in principle and run his own simulations on, turns out he uses 360 as well, hence why I have moved over to 360 as he can run his simulations in 360 which is nice.

[Beyondforce]

Hey @chrisWCQXN ,

If all the measurements are off, then you should figure out one dimension how much you need to increase or decrease in percentage (%) to get to the right dimension. Then, use the Scale command and scale the model based on the "%" you have just found.

I hope this helps!

Cheers / Ben

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[chrisWCQXN]

All well and good to try that wal, but I just can't seem to do that to get it millimetre perfect, as I end up running into extreme cases where it has to go up by 1.0000000002455514575854184477456487454586484% or down by 0.915644156487454874489746449848798%

(Numbers exaggerated for effect)

However this still ends up off due to rounding being present in all the calculator apps I am using.

[Beyondforce]

I'm rarely using this Scale command and since not too many people are using it as well, the priority to improve it is very low.
If I were you, I would build this model in Fusion. This way you will have much easier control over the dimensions. Check out this addon - sheeter. Maybe it can help you in some way!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=477&v=dwWDpQSrz7o

[chrisWCQXN]

I would, however for the purposes of engineering the end product, the D scan of the original object is the best, most accurate thing to allow approximations of how the real life thing is going to react, not guesses upon guesses

[Beyondforce]

You are right, I don't like to guess either!
I wish I had a better solution for you. The only way is to resize it in the original program it was created from and import it to Fusion. Maybe one day they will improve the Scale command.

Cheers / Ben

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[chrisWCQXN]

Maybe they will, I'm just amazed that nearly every other CAD program works this way where you can manually enter dimensions, however not, it seems, in Fusion....I recall over a decade ago Bryce let you do this lol

[HughesTooling · Accepted solution]

Scaling parts to size like you describe is not that useful in a parametric modeler. If you create parts and fully constrain them with dimensions you just edit the dimensions to get the sizes you want. Other CAD programs without history you need to bodge parts to size using scale.

You can enter the size you need in the scale dialog, just divide the size the size you want by the size it measures. So it it should be 1250mm and the part measures 1100mm just enter 1250/1100 in the scale. If you are going to use non uniform scaling aren't some parts going to end up deformed, circles will end up ellipses for example.

Mark

[HughesTooling]

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@chrisWCQXN wrote:

As an example, the design of this vehicle chassis is 3,577mm long and in Fusion is is 1,460mm long

So I thought no worries, I'll make it 2.45x bigger and it ends up still a few mm off, I think first time was 3,578.something

If you get an error like you discribe, how did you measure? Did you measure exactly along the XYZ axis? If you measured between 2 points that were not horizontal\vertical you'll get an error. If you have an example where entering 3577/1460 as the scale then I'm sure support would want to see it as that would be a bug as it is pretty basic maths to scale by that ratio.

Mark

[g-andresen]

Hi,

What happens, for example, with angles of struts, pipe cross-sections and drill holes if the axes were scaled individually?
For me, such a work basis would be unacceptable.

günther

[TrippyLighting]

@chrisWCQXN With 30 years off CAD and engineering under my belt I am utterly baffled and shocked at how you approach the problem!

[etfrench]

Can you even measure something >3500mm with 1mm accuracy?

[chrisplyler]

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@etfrench wrote:

Can you even measure something >3500mm with 1mm accuracy?

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You mean in real life? Of course. That's within the realm of a cheap tape measure.

[bryanGXTNK]

Sorry for the zombie thread. Is there any way to do this? Its been a normal command of Autodesk software since the beginning. In my case, I have files that come in from other software that does not import correctly (importing SVG and dxf never is, especially from graphic design or nesting software) and could really use to scale items to the exact size I need. 

Im a novice at drawing in 360 and mainly use it to generate toolpaths for a CNC router, but have used Autocad from version 8 up to 2019. 

[etfrench]

You can either use the Scale command or  you can fully constrain the imported sketch with dimensions and constraints.  The later is preferable😁

[bryanGXTNK]

The scale command only allows for a numerical value, it does not allow you to select a measurement on an object, and scale that to the distance needed. There is no reference scaling, at least not that I can find. 

[etfrench]

Measure the object and the desired size and divide.  Set the scale to the result multiplied by the object measurement.

[trebory6]

I'm sorry, but as someone versed in CAD software for the last 15 years, it's baffling to me that this software doesn't have this utterly basic feature.

Why force people to do the extra step of calculating scale factors when you need to make minor adjustments for prototyping? If I'm creating a part that needs to fit within another pre-made part, I grab my calipers and measure what I need to, within fractions of a millimeter.

I should be able to then go to the part I'm creating in Fusion 360 and enter in the value from my calipers so that the part is compatible.

Why on god's green earth do the developers of this software think it's acceptable for a CAD software often used for prototyping to force me to have to calculate the scale factor every time I want to make minor adjustments?

[etfrench · Accepted solution]

If you can measure it with calipers, why do you have to scale it in Fusion 360.  Just enter the reading on your calipers in a dimension.  You can also use formulas in dimensions and user parameters.  Scaling is the least preferable way to make changes in parametric CAD software.

[HughesTooling]

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@trebory6 wrote:

Why on god's green earth do the developers of this software think it's acceptable for a CAD software often used for prototyping to force me to have to calculate the scale factor every time I want to make minor adjustments?

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This shows in your 15 years you haven't used parametric modelers. Using scale to make your design the correct size is something you might use in a direct modeler but never use in a CAD program like Fusion, Solidworks, Inventor etc.

Mark