The purpose of this post is to explain how to create/use 3D PCBs by answering the following questions:
Considering this will be a long post, I won't include every details here. Feel free to let me know if anything is not clear.
Hope this post helps.
Richard
Solved! Go to Solution.
Solved by RichardHammerl. Go to Solution.
Correction: What's the difference between "3D PCB" and "3D PCB with Canvas"?
"View 3D PCB" command will create a full 3D PCB that even the solder mask and the coppers are 3D but "View 3D PCB with canvas" will render the solder mask and copper as an image (a.k.a canvas in Fusion 360).
Creating a 3D PCB with canvas is much faster than creating a full 3D PCB. So if the details are not important, using "View 3D PCB with canvas" is a better choice.
Thanks for the post. This belongs into the documentation section of Fusion 360 ASAP and would clear aup a ot of questions.
Up to now the expected behavior would be for a sketch edit to be reflected in the extrusion and "edit sketch" still exists, but does not "do" anything.
A "regular" Fusion 360 would not usually try to edit the extrusion to find the needed functionality:
I'd find it much more intuitive and in line with usual Fusion 360 functionality to replace the normal "Edit sketch" functionality with the "edit board outline" when selecting the sketch in the timeline and then select the extrusion to re-select or de-select profiles to define the board shape.
So helpful! Thank you!
Can you suggest a way to drive a board outline based on the models of the parts on the PCB?
So you create a board, place the components, and then (say) have the board outline be an outset of the enclosing rectangle of the placed parts and traces?
Hi @bigjosh2 , this feature is in development. Before it's ready, the only workaround I can think of is
1) create a 3D PCB using a simple rectangle as the outline;
2) Insert the 3D PCB into a new Fusion design;
3) Project the edges/faces of the placed parts onto a sketch;
4) Create a new 3D PCB fro this sketch and link it to your PCB.
Richard
Hi Peter, thanks for your comment. I agree it is a bit confusing here. In most cases, Edit Sketch will be enough. We are trying to make the behavior in line with the normal Fusion commands, especially the Extrude command. I think one of the reasons of the confusion is, in Fusion modeling design, if we want to add a hole to a body, typically we don't go back to change the sketch (if we do it, you will find that' s exactly the same steps for editing the board):
Great post!
I'm trying to add a 3D package to my existing PCB (I created a new circuit and PCB and imported files from Eagle). I followed your answer by clicking "Create Package from Footprint". This works (well, first I had to replace all devices with the one from the new library that is now hosted in the cloud), however, the 3D model is never updated.
I've tried Switch > View 3D PCB but I still only see the red squares.
How do I update the 3D PCB with the new 3D packages from the library?
Hi @kschepens , if you open the library manager, do you see the library has a newer version? Can you confirm that your design is using the latest library? Try to add the package to your design and create the 3d again.
Hi @yqliu,
Thanks for your response! That's basically what I eventually did. See also my post (with the glorious title "Nothing but problems") here: https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-electronics/nothing-but-problems/m-p/9286662
When you derive a sketch from the enclosure to define the pcb.. How the heck do I put the PCB into my assembly to see if components fit etc?
Fusion complains about circular references....
So, if I design my enclosure first, derive a sketch from it to create my PCB-outline and then add the enclosure and the 3D PCB to a new assembly it will work the other way ?
will give it a try tonight
Great manual on creating 3D PCBs!
For case 9 -> is there a way to make this work when your derived sketch is not in the XY plane?
(also see: https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-electronics/set-3d-pcb-board-origin/td-p/9446185)
Have we lost functionality?
One of the most powerful workflows was to design a PCB in Eagle, push it into a Fusion assembly, modify the PCB i.e. add mounting hols from the model, then pull it back into Eagle. This is something I did a lot.
This appears to have been lost, or the process has changed dramatically and I cant work hot how to do it.
Am I missing something?
Within Modelx
We have Create PCB withing an assembly, it states. "Insterts a PBC into the timeline and enters the PBC workspace. Use PSB workspace commands to collaboratively design a PCB with an EAGLE user. Click Finnish PCB to return to the Model workspace."
So we create a PCB, select a profile and a new tap opens with a 'PCB' from the profile. Save file PCBx.
From EAGLE we push to fusion to the saved file PCBx.
PCBx updates to the Eagle PCB.
"Click Finnish PCB to return to the Model workspace." There is no Finish PCB!
All we can do is move a component, save.
Whatever we do, the PCB does NOT appear in file Modelx. Nothing in the timeline to do with the PCB!
Hi @Airobot-Dynamics, we have changed the workflow. The tooltip is out of date and we have a fix for the next update. We are now separating ECAD design into a different document so that it gives the possibility to reuse the same 3D PCB in different designs. This also reduces possible computation errors as the whole design getting more and more complex. To make it appear in the mechanical design, please insert the 3D PCB document as x-ref.
Hi thanks for the reply.
Please excuse my ignorance, but I am unclear of what x-ref is. Google not helping for this one.
I can only presume this is when you "Insert into current design". (external-reference?)
This works for PCB, you can insert it into the design, but you are unable to modify the PCB within the M-CAD. i.e. add mounting hols.
It has been a while since I have used Fusion, as I have been working on Eagle projects for the past 10 months, and its time to link e-cam to m-cam for this project.
Thanks
Anthony
Hey there,
thank you guys for posting all your 3D PCB questions here in this tread started by my colleague Richard @yqliu .
Richard's post is highly informational and we see a lot of people reading it and adding questions here. This is great and we thank you so much for your participation.
Now I will close this thread which means you are no longer able to reply and post directly in this "How to work with 3D" thread. You may ask why?
Well, that's for everyones benefit. We would like to see your comments and questions related to 3D in single threads in the Forum. This helps other forum user to find dedicated topics mentioned and solutions given more easily.
Just a final remark to all of you: Thank you very much for participating in the forum. It is great to have you here. All your comments, questions, suggestions help us to improve our products and gives us most valuable feedback which gives us guidance on how to proceed with our mission... 😀
Best regards,
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