There should be an Auto 2D Drawing dimensioning function in Fusion 360.

[CLmoss]

There should be a Auto 2D Drawing dimensioning function in Fusion 360.  I mean, if we designed it already in Fusion, then the dimensions are all there in the files, even in the STEP files.   We have to design the project twice to get a set of dimensioned Drawings. A true automated system would do this for you.

If it exists then I have not found it.  Point me to it.

[TrippyLighting]

That is unlikely going to happen in Fusion 360, at least not to the degree as that works in Solid Works or Geomagic Design.

This works in Solid Works or Geomagic design purely because sketching works different in these Software applications.

It also only works if proper precautions are taken when sketching in this applications. After 27 years with CAD applications in professional environments I can say that often things are dimensioned differently for manufacturing purposes that they are designed/sketched to create the proper geometry.

The same geometry can often be dimensioned with several very different approaches. Only a mind reading software would be able to truly automate that process.

Also, applying the dimensions is only small part of creating a technical/manufacturing drawing. Tolerances GD&T and surface symbols are also often necessary to convey intent and it is not possible to do that automatically. 

[TheCADWhisperer]

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@CLmoss wrote:

If it exists then I have not found it.  Point me to it.

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Autodesk already has an MCAD product that does this very nicely - it is called Autodesk Inventor.

(for native files, not for STEP neutral format files)

[Maowen_Zhang]

@CLmoss, there isn't a 'fully' automated system could add drawing dimensions yet, as @TrippyLighting said, it's very hard to get a 'fully' automated system could generate all dimensions fit the drawing. But there could have some 'limited' level of support we might consider.  When you mentioned auto dimensioning, are you more talking about including dimensions from 3d model (2d sketches)? As 2d sketch in 3d model f3d file already contains some dimensions, and could be an input for 2d drawings. 

[CLmoss]

Oh my God.   You guys sound like you have Battered Housewife Syndrome.  The word enabler comes to mind.  Listen, it is just a program.  As a programmer myself, I can tell you that this is no problem... no big shakes.  You just have to decide that you want to design it.  If I designed it, I would place all the dimensions automatically then switch to manual move or delete mode and let the public move things around.  Try to have a vision of the future folks.  If people didn't have a vision of the future we all would starting fires by banging rocks together.   I am actually offended that we have to deal with dimensions in the Drawings section.  We entered all the dimensions in the design mode, like in Model.  I just don't get it.  These guys must be sleeping at the switch.  Designing this is like Motherhood.  I mean, everything you need is right there in the files!  Holy Cow.  In fact, you should be able to do this from a STEP file. 

but, nooo... we have to do mouse clicks and push buttons.  

Well, maybe my emails here will get the programmers to thinking.  Heck, if I wasn't busy on this project I would design it myself, then copyright it and get royalties.  Dr. Zhang, does this seem like a hard problem to you?  Common!  It is not!  If you start thinking about how it would work, it becomes very simple.  You have all the data right there in the files.  You can create proximity functions that find room on the drawing for you.  When there is a problem, you let the user move things around.  Easy.  

Gooosh.

[CLmoss]

To be clear, I am talking about the DRAWING MODE.  Think about how many years software packages have been auto-wiring PCB layouts now.  I think that started in the 1980s.  Same goes for IC designs.  They all have an auto mode where they can produce a suggested layout from which you can modify.  It is nothing to produce drawings with dimensions on it.   I am only thinking about the component level here. However, a complete design would not be much harder as you would do them one component at a time.  Then have a library of components that make up the total design.  It is so hard to convince you of anything programmatic.  I am finding that some shops don't want drawings at all.  They quote and produce everything you need from STEP files. Some are not there yet.  

OK, I have a question.  One of the shops wants me to produce DXF files for either 2000LT or Rev 14.  I found the attached dialog box on the web, but I cannot find it in Fusion.  Does anyone know how I get to this? 

[Maowen_Zhang]

@CLmoss, our product Autodesk Inventor has existing feature to include dimensions from 2d sketch (model file), and user could simply pick what dimensions to add to drawing, Fusion drawing might do similar but haven't decided yet, it's a ready solution and not so difficult to implement. It has limitation, not so smart to prepare you with all dimensions you need for different drawing views (section view, detail view, different orientation views, etc.), we're actually doing some research about it. I understand your point, don't limit imagination and explore great ideas, we do strive to provide great drawing experience. Thank you! 

[CLmoss]

Hey, thanks for the response Zhang.  It would minimize dimension errors.  Like from clicking on the wrong edge.  So, the more you have to do by hand, the more chance of an error there is. Once you design a component you have done your work. The program should take it from there.  Use those dims to create drawings.  Less chance of error.  Less redundancy. 

Did you see my post just above about DXF/DWG options?  Can you point me to where I can change the versions? I have looked all over and can't find where to do this.

Now I have to learn on YouTube how to give my cat an enama.  Boy oh Boy.  

[Maowen_Zhang]

@CLmoss, unfortunately, output drawing as PDF hasn't been ready yet in Fusion, we understand it's important for users and it's in our plan. 

The workaround is to output your file as DWG file, and then use another software such as AutoCAD to convert it as DXF file, sorry about the convenience!  

Let me know if you need help to convert your file to DXF file, we could help to find software or do conversion for you if need. Thanks! 

[CLmoss]

I didn't have a problem outputting a drawing as a PDF.  It works.  I need to adjust the DXF file format so that it is level 14 or 2000. Do you know how to do that?  I can output a DXF file too, but I need to set it to 14 or 2000.  I think that dialog box I posted in my last post is the Fusion interface, but I cannot find it.  DXF files are made from a Sketch.  I saw where there is a dialog for addin's.  Are any of those to allow me to change the format of the DXF files?  Well, Fusion outputs a DXF file, but I cannot  view it as it is black.  Hmmm   I don't have AutoCad. 

SO what is the solution to this?  An outboard software add in?

Tell me more. 

[andrew.de.leon]

Hi @CLmoss, @TrippyLighting,

For more details on the research @Maowen_Zhang was talking about, take a look at the Drawings Update & Roadmap - April 2017. In there you'll see an update on our sheet metal progress as well as a couple of prototypes from @Maowen_Zhang and the drawings team that we'd really like your feedback on. The first enhances our drawing templates to auto-create multiple sheets with drawing views and parts lists based on the design, while the second creates dimensions automatically. As @TrippyLighting says, the dimensions used during sketching\modelling are rarely the dimensions you need for manufacturing documentation, so the prototype analyses the drawing view to figure out the basic dimension requirements, then places the dimensions, then arranges them appropriately. So take look and let us know what you think.

[andrew.de.leon]

Hi @CLmoss,

Unfortunately, there's not much more to tell. The dialog box you attached is not from Fusion 360 Drawings, so you haven't missed anything. At this stage, the only 2 formats a drawing can be output too is PDF and DWG (version 2013). DXF is not supported, nor are older versions of DWG. As for any add-ons that support this, I'm not aware of any 3rd Party developers writing add-ons to suport this.

Can I ask what the DXF will be used for? Is it for manufacturing (profiling, etc.), data exchange\design review, US Patent Office submission, or something else?

Thanks,

Andrew

15" Retina MacBook Pro (Late 2013), OS X Sierra (10.12.3), in Sydney Australia

[CLmoss]

Oh boy.  I have a person who runs a little prototype sheet metal shop near here who said he must have a DXF or DWG file, 2000 or version 14 to build from.  He has been pretty helpful. I think his computer might be pretty old.  His CRT monitors are.  That doesn't matter if it works.  Other shops just want STEP files. Those companies are using Solidworks.  There is nothing wrong with the STEP files that Fusion outputs is there? That would be a drag.  Do  all this design work and no one can use it. 

Well, that is the way it goes I guess.  

Thanks. 

Jim 

Silicon Valley, CA 

What is DWGCONVERT ?

Is that an exe file that runs by itself?   I see that softpedia has this. 

Autodesk listed this:

http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2016/ENU/?guid=GUID-1C2163A6-29CC-4EC2-974C-5B6017B948C4

[CLmoss]

"As @TrippyLighting says, the dimensions used during sketching\modelling are rarely the dimensions you need for manufacturing documentation".  I am not surprised he would say something like that.  Well, I have lived and worked here in the Silicon Valley since 1974.  At no time would any engineering department that I worked for, or ran, hire anyone with that mindset.  

If I had a designer who spent all the project's money and time to created a model that was not going to be anything like the final proto, I would fire that person and hire someone who knew what they were doing.  I am not sure how things are run in your countries, but here in the Silicon Valley you do it right the first time or the competition eats you lunch.  For my money, I want total consistency and continuity between the Model, the Drawings and the Production Prototype.  If there is a change, then we take the Model to Rev 2.   If you don't do this, you don't have a legitimate documentation system.  

And you, the Senior Principle (Spelled Principal) User Experience Designer, you better get with the - real life - program or this Fusion program of yours will be a total failure.  People in the real working world here in the Silicon Valley have no time to waste on re-do's.  New startups have seed money.  That is it.   When that is gone, they are gone.  You do it right the first time and ahead of schedule or you are thrown out of the car at 90mph.   Never forget that.  

[Maowen_Zhang]

@CLmoss, For converting DWG to old version files, you could use DWG TRUEVIEW at below link. Please inform us if you need other info about it. 

https://www.autodesk.com/products/dwg/viewers#

[CLmoss]

Zhang, there is something wrong with this program DWG TRUEVIEW.  It takes 2.16 GIGS and many hours to install.  Actually, I have tried to install it several times now and used two different downloads to do it with.  Still no luck. This time it won't even unpack completely.  What program like this would need to use up 2.16 Gigs?  It is crazy.  

I am still trying though. 

[CLmoss]

This is not going to work Zhang.  Here is what the install help says. 

• Installing the 32-bit version of Autodesk® DWG TrueView 2018 on a 64-bit platform is not supported.

My system is Windows 7 64-bit.

Any other suggestions?  

Are there any STEP file to DXF/DWG file converters? 

[CLmoss]

You know, this DWG TRUEVIEW file name is DWGTrueView_2018_ENU_64bit.sfx.exe 

It would seen that it is a 64bit program.  Maybe it doesn't work.  I should try the 32 bit version and since I am using Win7 Pro I can try to install that under a compatible with XP option.  Has anyone had any problems or successes with this program?  

[CLmoss]

Lori Zhang (Fusion Development),

this appears to be a program that doesn't install in most cases for people... EVER! 

Read this Google search on the topic "trouble installing DWG TRUEVIEW"

I am starting to wonder about you guys. 

[daniel_lyall]

Did you install design review as well, did you download https://www.autodesk.com/products/dwg/viewers from here