No option to make PCB? help what am I doing wrong?

[marcbrooks991]

I'm following the tutorials to create a PCB feature in my current existing design I have done the following:

• Ticked the PCB preview in the preview tab under preferences
• Created a new component
• Created a sketch on that new component to the width and length dimensions of the board in question.

However the next step it tells me is to stop the sketch and locate the option "Create PCB" under the create menu. Now as you can see in the below screenshot. This option is not available to me to use.

Can anyone tell me what I've missed or am doing wrong?

[paul.clauss]

Hi @marcbrooks991

Thanks for posting! Welcome to the Fusion 360 community. 

The reason you are not seeing the option to create a PCB is because you are in direct modeling mode - you need to be in parametric mode (with the design timeline) to create PCB components. 

Instructions on how to switch between direct and parametric modes in Fusion 360 are included at this link. I hope this helps! Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions.

[marcbrooks991]

Hi Paul,

Cheers for the reply managed to fix it. I had to disable the design timeline previously as it was causing Fusion 360 to crash when I removed components that had many sub components in them. In my preference I have parametric modelling selected and noticed even in the create menu it will not show the Create PCB option; however if I right click the main component and select "capture design history" it will then show this option.

Can I ask why is it that the design history has to be active in order to display the PCB option?

[paul.clauss]

Hi @marcbrooks991

Thanks for the response - glad to hear you were able to access the command!

The preference for the modeling mode (direct or parametric/timeline) defines the behavior for new files - if you start a new design in Fusion, you should see the design timeline at the bottom of the screen and the Create PCB option underneath the Create menu. This preference does not make all existing designs parametric or direct - the preference can be to start designs in parametric mode but you can still create files using direct modeling.

For example, if you create a new design from file with a STEP, IGES, or other neutral CAD file format, no design history will be associated with that file (as neutral CAD formats do not include design history information), so the file will open in direct modeling mode. If you change from parametric to direct mode in an existing file and save a new version, that file (from that version forward) will then be in the direct modeling environment.

I wouldn't recommend going back and forth between parametric and direct modes too much in individual files - if you need the design history (to work in parametric mode), it is best to maintain your original features rather than going back and forth.

If you need to create a direct modeling feature in a parametric design, the Create Base Feature tool may be helpful.

While I am unsure of exactly why design history needs to be enabled for the Create PCB feature (I'm not a software developer ), I know that sheet metal components also require the design history to be enabled, so it may have something to do with how component information is stored in each modeling mode - perhaps parametric mode is required for the specialized component type definitions (PCB, sheet metal). 

[m_walczak]

Hello,

I have the sketch created, and I am in Parametric Modeling Mode and the PCB feature is checked and still don't have the create PCB in the create menu.  What am I doing wrong?

THanks,

Mike

[paul.clauss]

Hi @m_walczak

Thanks for posting! Are you in the Model workspace? The Create menu only shows the option to create a PCB component in the Model workspace.

I hope this helps! If you continue to see problems, please provide a screenshot of what you see in the Create menu and confirm that you have enabled the PCB preview in your preferences.

[m_walczak]

Yep I am in the modeling workspace. I have had success with a couple of boards, but this one for some reason is giving me issues.  I know I overlooked something.





-M

[paul.clauss]

Hi @m_walczak

Thanks for the response! Does the option appear if you restart Fusion? How about in a new file?

What is you toggle the PCB Preview flag in your preferences off and then on again?

If this issue continues to occur, I would continue troubleshooting by performing a clean uninstall and reinstalling Fusion. I hope this helps - please let me know if you have any questions.

[m_walczak]

Ok this is interesting.  Just made a simple rectangle in a new file an it worked.  Now I have to figure out what it doesn’t like in the sketch.  I created the sketch by doing a projection from a body.





-M

[paul.clauss]

Hi @m_walczak

Thanks for posting! If you'd like to share a copy of the effected design, I'm happy to have a look on my end. Projected sketch geometry should not be preventing you from creating a PCB.

[m_walczak]

Ok, how do I send it to you?

[paul.clauss]

Please use the instructions at the hyperlink in my previous post:

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/fusion-360/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/How...

[m_walczak]

Sorry, I did read far enough. Just created a new sketch of the PCB by hand and that worked.



-M

[Anonymous]

I completed the steps provided in this link.  Have a fresh design, but the options is not available.  Are there other steps I need to follow to get the functionality available?

[paul.clauss]

Hi @Anonymous

Thanks for posting! PCB is out of preview and can only be seen with design history enabled - you may be working in direct modeling.