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.

[CLmoss]

Nope....

No one said to do that.  

Is there a sequence of programs or procedures I need to go through to install DWG TRUEVIEW?  I just downloaded this gigantic file and tried to install it.  This all about being able to convert DWG 2014 files to 2000 files.  This so a person I am working with can open them in his system.  I thought that "design review" was only to do markups of DWG files.  Maybe I was wrong.  So, I would need to install design review first then, right?  Has anyone plowed this ground before me?  Has it worked for you, anyone? 

I am editing this post to say that I just read the Design Review web page which says you need to have DWG TRUEVIEW installed first to install Design Review.  So, this is not the problem as I cannot install the first program DWG TRUEVIEW. 

https://www.autodesk.com/products/design-review/overview

It could be the install software that is broken.  Look Here.

[daniel_lyall]

God knows then it worked fine for me 4 days ago, win10 yes I know this does not help one bit, The system requirements are quite low and it says it works with win 7 services pack 1, you can get the older version but I would not have a clue what version will open files from fusion sinces I have the 2017 version.

It worked in 2015 (2015 version) with win 7 that I do know. @Maowen_Zhang @andrew.de.leon will the 2015 version or 2016 version open the dwg files fusion spits out as of today.

link to older versions

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/dwg-trueview/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/W...

[CLmoss]

I will give the older ones a try.  Thanks!

Good question if they will open the current files.  I think the current files are 2014. So, 2015 should work.  If it works at all that is. 

[Maowen_Zhang]

@CLmoss, sorry about the inconvenience! I didn't realized this issue, I had DWG TRUEVIEW 2018 64bit on my WINDOWS 8.1 and WINDOWS 7 Enterprise 64bit SP1 which work well. (DWG TRUEVIEW 2018 requires WINDOWS 7 SP1). 

As @daniel_lyall suggested, could you try DWG TRUEVIEW 2016 64 bit (the link as below provided by @daniel_lyall)? Which should work at different WINDOWS 7 versions as below. I just installed it on WINDOWS 7 64bit.   

• Microsoft Windows 7 Enterprise
• Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate
• Microsoft Windows 7 Professional
• Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/dwg-trueview/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/W...

@daniel_lyall, Old version 2015 should also able to open output DWG from fusion 360 drawing, but it's recommended to use DWG TRUEVIEW 2016 which matches most for drawing data. 

[CLmoss]

Well, I am using Windows 7 Pro Service Pack 1 with an i5-2500K 3.3GHz  16Gig RAM with 2 SSD and 3 Hard Drives.  With Win7 I can load files that work in XP etc.  I don't like the Windows 10 "Tile World".  I think there is a failure in the install program of the current version as it gets to the very end and stops.  It is a bad idea to believe that all users are running Windows 10.  I have been a MS user since DOS which trained me to NOT be an early adopter or operating systems.  I am running Malwarebytes and Norton Internet Security too.  Are there any issues with these?   I don't see them firing off while I am trying to install. 

On the original topic, I could sure use a Flatten function about now.  One shop wants me to use corner relief with a round hole and that is not really possible in a 3D finished view.  I guess I could start over and make a flat version, but holy cow.  One shop can't read the DWG 2014 files and the other wants flattened metal.  This has brought the project to a standstill.  Is this done in other Autodesk products... that have a 90 day trial option?  I could load one of them and do the bends and fixes, output some 2000 DWG files and be done with it. 

[CLmoss]

Well, DWG TRUEVIEW 2015 unpacked correctly, then tried to install, but got stopped when it said that I didn't have .NET 4.5 installed.   Why didn't they ship that version of .NET with the download?  So, they are right.  I don't have .NET 4.5 installed.  I have .NET 4.6.1 installed.  

Microsoft says, the following:

The fact that later .NET Framework 4.x versions are in-place updates to earlier versions means that you cannot install an earlier version listed in the table if a later version is already installed. For example, you cannot install the .NET Framework 4.6 on a Windows 10 November Update system, since the .NET Framework 4.6.1 is preinstalled on it.

Sunk again.  Shouldn't 4.6.1 be backward compatible?  Guess Not!  

Is there another software package that can open DWG 2014 and write it as a DWG 2000 out there?  Is there a Autodesk website that will do that for me?  

This is starting to SUCK!

[Maowen_Zhang]

@CLmoss I'm sorry to hear that. Could you try uninstall the .NET 4.6 --> install .NET 4.5 and later re-install 4.6 back when need to later? Thanks! 

Link to install .NET 4.6 https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=48130 

[CLmoss]

Oh, I don't think that is a good idea as other programs need 4.6.  I do have a couple of XP machines. I might try installing them there, if they still work.  What a complicated mess.  How soon will we get Flatten?  I need to create some corner reliefs.   

My female Manx cat in the photo is not doing so well.  It is a big drag here.  I think I will have to have her put down soon.  She stopped eating. She is 11 years old. I had her for 9.  They add so much to your life.  It is tough when they go.  

[CLmoss]

So, the big question is, if DWG TRUEVIEW 2015 needs .NET 4.5 and nothing else, what does the current version of DWG TRUEVIEW require?  Why can't it complete an UNPACK?  

[Maowen_Zhang]

@CLmoss, thanks for staying on patient on this!  DWG TRUEVIEW 2017 & 2018 base on .NET 4.6, I'm not sure why the unpack fail. If it's convenient, could you take a try by run the install file from the Administrator account?  I understand the pains of handling this issue, please feel free to post an idea at:  https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/ideastation-request-a-feature-or/idb-p/125. 

Flat pattern feature will be ready very soon. 

[WestonMFG]

I agree there should be an auto dimensioning fuction in fusion. Even if you could generate a page for each component and put a basic view of it on there.

I mean **** I'm working on part drawings for an assembly with just 16 parts and I have to hide each part individually on each sheet as well as setup the view for each of them. Just hiding the unneeded components is 240 extra clicks for nothing...

One of my good friends made a piece of design software in Softimage using the Ice tree. It would take a 3d mesh and along every edge put a piece of whatever material you wanted (like 2x4s or whatever you defined. He made it for doing wooden structures.) After the material was placed it'd miter each piece so it fit together nice and then it sorted them into a cut order to utilize your material with the least amount of waste. You would define what lengths the material came in and it'd tell you how many of each length you would need to complete the project.

That was one guy by himself. The teams at autodesk should be able to make something better since they're actually "engineers" right?

[TimeraAutodesk]

Hi @WestonMFG - great ideas. We have a lot of work to do still to round out the drawings package, and this is one idea that in on our minds as well. Check out the latest Drawings Blog post to see a demo / experiment of these types of auto-layout and auto-dimensioning tools that a few of our engineers have been exploring. Here's the blog link: https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/blog/drawings-update-roadmap-april-2017/

Best,

Timera 

[WestonMFG]

Hey @TimeraAutodesk

Those smart templates and auto dimension features look pretty good! I can't wait until I can try them out.

[CLmoss]

Well, what do you know?  After trying just about everything under the sun, I got the DWG TRUEVIEW program to install.  I wish it could do more besides converting DWG types.  It would be nice to find it could convert to STEP to DWG files.  However, I am fine with what it does do.  

[CLmoss]

OK, I downloaded and installed DWG TRUEVIEW 2017 or 2018 converted DWG files from 2014 to 2000 and this one shop still could not read it.  They said there were no holes in the plate.   If I installed Autodesk Inventor could I take maybe a STEP or IGES file from Fusion 360 and in Inventor flatten these files, then create DXF files that the shops need?  Maybe Inventor will open up fd3 files.. who knows?  Someone out there, I need some help on this.   Fusion 360 should be called Fusion 359 as it is not done yet.  🙂

[daniel_lyall]

It can be done with a step i just did it with a fusion sheet metal part exported out as a step file. I tried a fusion file it failed it's not on the list anyway of what inventor can use.

Then I exported the part out of inventor as a .dxf there is a lot of different year .dxf to select from attached is a 2004.

If you wont PM me a file I will try and do it, no guarantee other than the file will be removed from my computer when finished. 

[Maowen_Zhang]

@CLmoss, could you share more details about the issue:  output dxf file doesn't contains holes? Such as the command are you using to export DXF file (in sketch environment?), what major settings are used, etc.  I'm wondering whether there are some settings or special elements which won't be exported.  Thanks! 

[CLmoss]

Sure will.  

1) I took a 3D f3d file and opened it in Fusion 360.  

2) I output a DWG file from it.  

3) Then I opened it in TRUE VIEW and saved it as a 2000 version.  

4) The particular shop who wanted a DXF file or DWG file of R14 or 2000 format tried to open the file.

When he did he said he only saw the metal portion with no holes.  I can see that in a DWG viewer. In TRUE VIEW it looks right, but says that it was reconstructed from older document.  

Later I contacted another couple of shops for quoting.  They said they needed a Flattened DXF file. The Fusion 360 file is 3D. Fusion 360 cannot Flatten or make DXF files.  

-- 

So I was asking, if I got a trial download of Inventor, could I output a file from Fusion (f3d, STEP, IGES, etc) and open it in Inventor.  Then from inside of Inventor, Flatten the 3D file and create a DXF file.  

-- 

If Fusion 360 had Flatten and a functioning DXF output capability, I would not need this. 

[Maowen_Zhang]

@CLmoss, Great to know the detailed workflows!

About flatten, as @daniel_lyall said, exporting 3d model as STEP file from Fusion and then import it to Inventor works only if using fusion sheet metal file (sheet metal workspace which is opened to only few users for testing and garthering feedbacks).  If using normal fusion 3d model, then Inventor can't flattern it.   Fusion 360 sheet metal flat pattern will be ready very soon (might in July update).

For the another issue that exporting to DXF doesn't contains holes, which should work and there might be some issue or model specific. It would be great if you could share your fusion file to us. (could delete 'confidential elements and just leave a simplied part which could repro the issue). Thanks a lot!  

[CLmoss]

OK.  Attached is a .f3d file for the back panel.