Geometry Features

[al.whatmough]

I'll keep this short as I am traveling back from the UK today.

That said, as many of you know, we have an insider program that allows users to register to get access to early builds of Fusion 360.   Sign up here  https://feedback.autodesk.com/key/Fusion360Insider 

Some of those insiders reached out asking if they could start making videos early for geometry features.   Geometry features is an exciting update to how we make sections in Manufacturing to allow for selection methods to be accessible in all operations, provide lists of selections with greater control and to allow selections to be accessible between operations.

While all the same muscle memories will be the same, it is a new experience in an area of the product that 100% of CAM users use.    So, to those insiders, let this thread be a starting point to share your Geometry features knowledge while being able publically to point to me being the one that first shared this. 

[seth.madore]

As the first contribution, I knocked out a quick rundown of this new feature:

[Awhatmough-T]

Thank you @seth.madore 

[jbisme]

I greatly prefer the geometry feature user interface that hyperMILL uses. They use a separate tree panel instead of burying it in a tabbed dialog box that you have to press a down arrow to see your saved geometry features. 

Much better geometry feature UI 

[al.whatmough]

here is one from Kevin

[DarthBane55]

This is awesome!

Question:  The old files selections will automatically transfer to this right?  (I mean, old jobs won't lose the selected contours when it switches to this method).

[seth.madore]

That is correct, selections will transfer over. However, since the underlying architecture of Tangential Extension has been fundamentally changed, there is no transfer of those values. IE; the values will be zero

[DarthBane55]

oh oops!  Meaning we will have to review every toolpath that uses this (mainly 2d contour).

It's definitely a move for the better, too bad tangential extensions can't transfer.

I wonder what will happen to paths like Trace, where the extension is under the passes tab.

[seth.madore]

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@DarthBane55 wrote:

I wonder what will happen to paths like Trace, where the extension is under the passes tab.

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We'll find out relatively soon 🙂

-EDIT-

I double checked between current and future behavior, and there's no change, as the "Pass Extension" field still exists. However, while there is now the option of specifying a separate beginning and ending Extension (thru the Geometry Features), it does not appear that it's been "hooked up", so to speak. You'll still need to use the old method of Extensions  (I've opened up CAM-42453 to investigate this oversight)

[jbisme]

Saw it and was first to comment. See Fusion 360 insiders forum for a comment that agrees with me on my idea for much better accessibility. There is zero chance Fusion 360 can grow in volume into serious machining job shops packing all information into one tree and a small, tabbed dialog box. hyperMILL, Esprit, Topsolid, etc. all use multiple trees. Critical data needs to be right in front of you and not buried. Autodesk Featurecam also has this right with its excellent User Interface. 

[daniel.pacific]

Tangential Extensions have changed, we migrate the old parameters but we did build a NEW Star/End Extension value in the chains themselves. 
The old Tangential Extension values are in a hidden parameter in Compare&Edit right now. 

The reason for this change is that we wanted to put a visual preview of the extension to the chains in the UI. Right now tangential extensions in their old form would be sent to the kernel and the extension would be calculated and then returned in the toolpath itself. The new parameter will show you an active preview of the extension as you're putting the value in. It's a much better trade-off and we were careful not to erase any legacy values users had previously. 

[jbrewlet]

Made a video that includes some nested sheet examples.

[jbisme]

4:20 of your video. "So that's only two things to select".

It's only one thing to select in CAM programs I previously mentioned because of the far better User Interface. 

Also, good on you that you mention User Interface problems in Fusion 360. There is no possible way that Fusion 360 CAM can stick with this overly simplistic UI and fully integrate CAMplete. 

Thanks for an excellent video. 

[jbrewlet]

I made similar critiques in the video.

I do not think this is a perfect solution but I also have no ability to change the product.

It’s also better than previous.

[jbisme]

I'll make sure your excellent video and points do get mentioned to those who do have some apparent influence over the user interface of Fusion 360.

For Fusion 360 to get better, more users who make the kind of astute user interface observations that you do in your video, need to speak up. 

[DarthBane55]

I'm just happy they are releasing this upgrade.  UI is highly personal and they cannot please everyone that is for sure.  They can make a better one that is not something I'd argue about, but you use what you get I guess, and carry on with your job.  And if you are sad daily about your experience, you move on to another software that you'll prefer.  Nobody is forcing anyone to use Fusion really.  This thing is not even release and already complaints lol.  Just wait, use it, and they already said this is the 1st version and still working on it to make it better.  I don't disagree about the UI, but don't bash an upgrade that's not even released yet, this upgrade is a good and important one.

[DarthBane55]

Hey, side note, the update has arrived, and I'm going thru the what's new, and there is zero mention of this major change!  Maybe address that with a few explanations like it is usually done for new features!  😁

[seth.madore]

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@DarthBane55 wrote:

..there is zero mention of this major change!  Maybe address that with a few explanations like it is usually done for new features!  😁

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There's going to be a separate "What's New" specifically for this new feature 😉

[DarthBane55]

Ok, that's good...  I hope it's coming soon and will be accessible from the usual what's new in the help.  I don't think every Fusion user is looking at this forum, and the update is out now, I might have been lost a bit if I missed this thread in the forum! 

So far I like how this works!

[seth.madore]

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@DarthBane55 wrote:

Ok, that's good...  I hope it's coming soon and will be accessible from the usual what's new in the help.  I don't think every Fusion user is looking at this forum, and the update is out now, I might have been lost a bit if I missed this thread in the forum! 

So far I like how this works!

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Yeah, there were a couple wires that got crossed on this. Not sure where they're going to post the info 😞