Stuff you need to know: Apply materials

[patrick.miller]

This video introduces physical and visual materials in Fusion. You'll learn the difference between physical and visual and also how to apply and remove materials.

[Phil.E]

When you care about the physical material for mass or simulation needs, but also plan on using various visual materials, best practice is to apply physical materials first and visual materials second.

This mimics real-world parts in this way: Let's take the case of aluminum handlebars for off-road motorcycles. The material will always be aluminum, but the color might be red (Honda), or green (Kawasaki). The real world part, prior to anodizing, carries the physical properties of, and happens to look like, aluminum. Anodizing the handlebars to be red does not change the physical properties of aluminum, but does change the visual material properties to be a red anodize.

[Anonymous]

I like the materials feature, but I am limited to what is currently available in Fusion. For simulation and engineering calculations it would be nice to have a larger library including ceramics and insulating materials to analyze heat transfer. Is there a resource for generating new materials or adding new material libraries into Fusion?

[Phil.E]

Hi,

Thanks for asking.

Actually, Fusion downloads with a set of Fusion specific materials and appearances. Additionally, you can download for free the entire Autodesk library via the Manage Materials dialog.

Once you have your materials downloaded, you can copy and edit any one of them to create a custom material with custom appearance and physical properties.

Please let us know how it goes for you!

Thanks,

[kjellhar]

Hi,

just one follow up on this.

If you select the physical material, say aluminum first, and then you add an apperance that is not related to aluminum, say polished chrome, it is still aluminum just with a chrome look?

Kjell