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Fusion 360 Tutorial
1. Basics....................................................................................................................................... 3
1.1. What is Fusion 360?......................................................................................................... 3
1.2. Browser/TimeLine............................................................................................................. 3
1.3. How to create a project.....................................................................................................6
1.4. Making a sketch................................................................................................................6
1.5. How to extrude a block..................................................................................................... 8
1.6. Moving around.................................................................................................................. 9
1.7. How to cut.......................................................................................................................10
1.8. How to join...................................................................................................................... 11
2. Simple part............................................................................................................................. 11
2.1. What is a 2D plan?..........................................................................................................11
2.2. Basic shape.................................................................................................................... 13
2.3. How to make features.....................................................................................................18
2.4. Patterns.......................................................................................................................... 18
3. How to Make a 2D Plan..........................................................................................................18
3.1. Using a plan....................................................................................................................18
3.2. Making the Right POV.................................................................................................... 18
3.3. How to annotate..............................................................................................................18
3.4. (Conventions)................................................................................................................. 18
4. Complex part..........................................................................................................................18
4.1. ........................................................................................................................................18
5. Render.................................................................................................................................... 18
5.1. Understanding the render suite...................................................................................... 18
5.2. How to change object material....................................................................................... 18
5.3. How to change the lighting............................................................................................. 18
5.4. How to Render (Cloud Vs Local).................................................................................... 18
6. Phone Stand project..............................................................................................................18
6.1. ........................................................................................................................................18
7. How to 3D print...................................................................................................................... 18
7.1. Learning how to export................................................................................................... 18
7.2. How to use Cura and Babulab Sudio..............................................................................18
7.3. Settings...........................................................................................................................18
7.4. How to Calibrate a printer............................................................................................... 18
7.5. How to print.....................................................................................................................18
7.6. How to remove print........................................................................................................19
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7.7. How to retouch prints......................................................................................................19
8. Simulation.............................................................................................................................. 19
8.1. Simulation suite.............................................................................................................. 19
8.2. How to edit properties.....................................................................................................19
8.3. How to add forces...........................................................................................................19
8.4. How to constrain............................................................................................................. 19
8.5. How to.............................................................................................................................19
9. Final project........................................................................................................................... 19
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1. Basics
1.1. What is Fusion 360?
Fusion 360 is a comprehensive computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing
(CAM), and computer-aided engineering (CAE) software developed by Autodesk. It offers a
parametric modelling approach, allowing users to create 3D models and designs while defining
parameters and constraints. With its intuitive user interface, powerful parametric modelling
capabilities, and extensive library of standard parts and components, Fusion 360 is widely used
in various industries such as manufacturing, engineering, product design, and architecture. It is
also cloud-based, enabling users to access their plans from anywhere and collaborate with
others in real time. Fusion 360 provides a complete solution for the entire product development
process, from initial design to manufacturing, making it a popular choice for professionals and
hobbyists.
1.2. Browser/TimeLine
In Fusion 360, the browser is a critical feature that provides a hierarchical view and
organisational structure for your design's components, features, sketches, and other elements.
It is a panel located on the left side of the Fusion 360 interface.
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A. Sketches: Sketches used for creating 2D profiles are listed under each component in the
browser. You can expand the sketch folders to access individual sketches and make
modifications as needed.
B. Bodies and construction geometry: Bodies, such as solid or surface bodies, and
construction geometry, like planes and axes, are organised under each component in the
browser. This allows you to manage and manipulate them efficiently.
C. Visibility and selection: The browser also controls visibility and selection. You can toggle
the visibility of components, sketches, and bodies on or off by checking or unchecking
the eye icon next to each element. This helps simplify the view and lets you focus on
specific parts of your design.
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In Fusion 360, the timeline is a chronological record or sequence of operations that represent
the history of your design. It is a visual representation of the features, sketches, and
modifications applied to your model in the order they were created.
Here's what you can expect from the timeline in Fusion 360:
A. Feature-based modelling: Fusion 360 follows a feature-based modelling approach,
where you build your design by adding features in a specific order. The timeline displays
a list of these features, showing the sequence in which they were created or modified.
B. Modifying and suppressing features: You can modify or edit parts directly from the
timeline. You can access its properties and make adjustments by clicking on an element
in the timeline. You can also suppress or unsuppressed features to toggle their visibility
and impact on the design.
C. Reordering features: The timeline allows you to reorder elements by dragging and
dropping them to a new position. This can be useful if you need to change the order of
operations or experiment with different design iterations.
D. Viewing design history: With the timeline, you can revisit and review the design history of
your model. By selecting a specific point in the timeline, you can see the model's state at
that particular stage of development.
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1.3. How to create a project
First: head to the top left of the window to create a new project. Then click the file icon. the new
design. this can also be achieved by pressing Ctrl+N
1.4. Making a sketch
Fusion 360 sketch is a fundamental building block for creating 3D models. A sketch is a 2D
representation of a design that serves as a foundation for creating features and geometry in
three dimensions. When you start a sketch in Fusion 360, you work on a 2D plane or face within
the 3D workspace. The sketching environment provides various tools and options to draw lines,
arcs, circles, rectangles, and other shapes. You can also apply constraints and dimensions to
define the relationships and sizes of the sketch entities. This will be covered later in the course.
Sketches in Fusion 360 are typically used to create profiles to generate 3D features such as
extrusions, revolves and lofts. By manipulating the sketch geometry and modifying constraints,
you can change the underlying design and have those changes propagate throughout the
model.
Here are the steps to follow
A. To create a sketch, press C; alternatively, click on the icon at the top left of
your screen.
B. A 3D cube will appear in the centre of your canvas, where you decide what
plane the sketch will be placed on. Pick any one of the three orange squares.
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C. Once the plane chose, you will be greeted by this screen.
D. On The top left of the screen, these buttons appear. They are what allow you to create
and modify a 2D drawing. The first one allows you to create a line in space. Second, the
is a 2-point rectangle. Next is the centre point circle. And lastly, there is the Fit point
spline, which allows you to contour a shape and get curved lines. The rest will be
explained when the time comes.
E. You can also pull up this menu by pressing S. This menu allows you to type the name of
the type of tool you want to use.
F. First, press the line tool and click anywhere on the canvas. Continue to move your
cursor; you will get two dimensions to show up: length and angle. Change these by
pressing TAB.
G. Do the same again a few more times, and you will have a line sketch. Drag your cursor
to the first point and click. you will have made a sketch.
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H. Next, we will learn how to make shapes. First, click on the rectangle icon. Then click
anywhere on the canvas. Drage the new point anywhere else to make a rectangle. To
set specific dimensions, press TAB.
I. Lastly, there is the Circle tool. Place the centre point where ever you want. Drag your
mouse and click down once the desired dimension is achieved. Pressing TAB also
brings up the option of inputting specific dimensions.
J. Lastly, Hovering over the vertex of a shapes point will appear in the corner. Click and
drag to reshape
K.
1.5. How to extrude a block
In Fusion 360; extrusion creates a three-dimensional object by pulling or pushing a 2D shape
along a specific direction to give it depth. It is like adding or subtracting material to or from a flat
profile to create a solid object.
A. On the toolbar, click on SOLID
B. Once on the toolbar, click on the Extrude icon
C. Now hover over one of the shapes that you have created. The shape will be outlined by
a black line
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D. Click on it
E. On the middle right, there will be a menu that pops up.
F. For now, all we need to look at is the Direction and Operation
G. Direction allows you to choose in which direction the Extrude goes in. and/or make it
symmetric. Secondly, there is operation. This is important to use if you cut through an
object or add to it
H. Dragging the arrow in the sketch allows you to extrude it.
1.6. Moving around
In Fusion 360, 3D movement refers to the ability to navigate and manipulate objects in a
three-dimensional space. It allows you to view, rotate, zoom, and translate your 3D models to
examine them from different angles and perspectives.
Here are the basic 3D movement controls in Fusion 360:
A. Rotation: You can rotate your model by clicking and dragging the Small 3D cube on the
top right of the screen. You can also lock in a position by clicking on the face of the cube.
B. Zoom: You can use the scroll wheel on your mouse or the zoom controls to zoom in or
out. Scrolling the wheel forward zooms in while scrolling backward zooms out. You can
also use the zoom controls in the toolbar or the keyboard shortcuts.
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C. Translation: You can move or pan your model horizontally or vertically by clicking and
dragging with the middle mouse button or using the pan controls. Holding down the Shift
key while dragging allows you to move the model along a specific axis.
D. Orbit: The orbit tool lets you rotate the model around a specific point or axis. You can
access the orbit tool from the toolbar or by pressing the Shift key and the middle mouse
button.
Combining these movements allows you to explore your 3D models from different viewpoints,
inspect details, and better understand the overall design. This capability is essential for
visualising and working with complex 3D objects in Fusion 360.
1.7. How to cut
A. Access the Extrude command
B. Click the sketch to use as a cut
C. Choose the cut operation: set the Operation option to Cut. This tells Fusion 360 you
want to remove material instead of adding it.
D. Specify the cut direction and distance: Select the direction you want to cut. You can set
the cut distance by entering a numerical value or interactively dragging the arrow.
E. Once satisfied, click Ok or ENTER to apply the cut and create the modified geometry.
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1.8. How to join
A. Select the components or bodies: Identify the ones you want to join. You can select
multiple components by holding down the Ctrl key and clicking on each component.
Alternatively, you can select bodies directly from the graphics area.
B. Access the "Combine" command: Once the desired components or bodies are selected,
click on the "Modify" menu at the top of the Fusion 360 interface.
C.
2. Simple part
2.1. What is a 2D plan?
An engineering drawing is a specialised technical drawing that provides detailed and precise
information about the design, dimensions, and specifications of a product, component, or
system. It is used in engineering and manufacturing fields to communicate and document an
object or structure's physical and functional aspects.
Here are some key characteristics of an engineering drawing:
A. Accuracy and precision: Engineering drawings are created with high accuracy and
precision. They convey precise measurements, tolerances, and specifications to ensure
the object or system is correctly manufactured or constructed.
B. Standardized symbols and conventions: Engineering drawings use standardised
symbols, line types, and conventions to represent various features, dimensions, and
materials. This allows for consistent interpretation and understanding across different
professionals and industries.
C. Multiple views: Engineering drawings often include various views of the object or system,
such as front view, top view, side view, and section views. These views provide different
perspectives and details to represent the object comprehensively and thoroughly.
D. Annotations and notes: Engineering drawings include annotations, dimensions, and
notes to provide additional information about specific features, tolerances, material
specifications, surface finishes, and other relevant details.
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E. Title block and part list: Engineering drawings typically have a title block that includes
information about the drawing, such as the title, author, revision history, and scale. They
may also include a part list or bill of materials, listing all the components required for the
object or system.
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2.2. Basic shape
I will guide you through each step to recreate the 2D drawing in this example. I'll explain each
action clearly, so you can easily follow along. By following this process, you'll learn how to
replicate the details and dimensions of the original drawing accurately.
A. The first step is to create a new design (CTRL+N). After that, Click on C and pick the
bottom plane.
B. Move your cursor to the centre of the screen and press S. Then go to the centre
Rectangle and click on it. This can also be done with the 2-point rectangle.
C. Click on the centre of the screen and drag the mouse out. Press TAB and enter 80mm
repeat this step. You will have made an 80 by 80 square
D. Now click on the circle tool. Move the mouse to the centre of the square. Drag out a bit
and press TAB, and enter the value of 80. Repeat this step with a circle of 60 and 30
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E. Now use the extrude tool to extrude the four corners of the sketch including the middle
ring. Extrude 15mm
F. The sketch would have disappeared and we need to use it again. To make it visible, go
to the browser and enter sketches click the little eye symbol
G. Use the extrude tool and click on the ring that is left and extrude it to 35mm
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H. Now that you have the “Body” done, we will move to the sides. Start by moving your
cursor over one of the rectangular sides. Press C and click on side
I. Now that you are on the sketch. Pick up the draw tool and draw a line that goes from the
top of the rectangle and down 50 mm. From that point, draw a circle of 80.
J. Draw 2 lines going from the vertexes and go down to the tangent of the circle. A little
symbol will appear on the cursor and will lock into place when this happens
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K. Now draw a smaller circle in the same place as the bigger one. This one must have a
diameter of 32mm
L. First Use the extrude tool and click on every segment that is on the sketch making sure
to leave out the 32mm hole. Extruded the part by 20 mm. Then go to operation and
chose “New Object” press OK
M. Go to the browser and Click on object 2 then press M on the keyboard. This will prompt
you wit the Move command
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N. Now that you are in the move menu click on Create a copy. This is found at the bottom of
the menu. Ten drag the part to the other side of the original body. This can be achieved
by entering 100mm in the movement
O. Now that the part is in place go to the Combine command that is found in the Modify
section of the top row. Click on all of the bodies and press ENTER
Congratulations on completing your first drawing in CAD! This is an exciting milestone that
marks the beginning of your journey into the world of computer-aided design. By creating your
first drawing, you have demonstrated your ability to utilize CAD tools, navigate the software
interface, and translate your ideas into a digital format.
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2.3. How to make features
2.4. Patterns
3. How to Make a 2D Plan
3.1. Using a plan
3.2. Making the Right POV
3.3. How to annotate
3.4. (Conventions)
4. Complex part
4.1.
5. Render
5.1. Understanding the render suite
5.2. How to change object material
5.3. How to change the lighting
5.4. How to Render (Cloud Vs Local)
6. Phone Stand project
6.1.
7. How to 3D print
7.1. Learning how to export
7.2. How to use Cura and Babulab Sudio
7.3. Settings
7.4. How to Calibrate a printer
7.5. How to print
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7.6. How to remove print
7.7. How to retouch prints
8. Simulation
8.1. Simulation suite
8.2. How to edit properties
8.3. How to add forces
8.4. How to constrain
8.5. How to
9. Final project
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