From Beginner to Pro: Conquer STL Files in Autodesk Fusion [UPDATED!]

In this video, we will learn how to work with STL meshes in Fusion. We will focus on 3D scanner-based meshes, but the tips and techniques can be applied to different types of meshes as well.
To bring a mesh into Fusion, the preferred method is to use the "Insert Mesh" option under the Mesh Tools. You can select an STL, OBJ, or 3MF file and open it in Fusion. STL files contain only triangular mesh elements, while OBJ and 3MF files can also contain quad meshes or ngons with additional information like material, appearance, and 3D printer settings. In this video, we will focus on STL files, but the options are similar for other file types.
Whether you create mesh section sketches, freeform bodies, or convert quad meshes, it is important to spend time refining the mesh and understanding the impact on the final surface. If you have any questions or alternative workflows, please leave them in the comments.
Thank you for watching, and we'll see you in the next video!
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[@emanggitulah4319]

That was a fantastic and very informative tutorial. Please Autodesk, let Matt do more, more in depth videos... He is the expert in fusion!

[@LearnEverythingAboutDesign]

Wow thanks :)

[@emanggitulah4319]

@@LearnEverythingAboutDesign would really love to see more. Thanks for the great work

[@kennyingalls6709]

Thanks for posting this. It's like you read my mind. You covered exactly what I wanted to know when I opened KZbin!

[@luis7899]

Excellent refresher Matt. I am still mainly using the free form body option - It gives me more control. But another useful workflow is using a tool called "Instant Meshes" to convert triangular to Quad meshes. Then use fusion´s Quad-to t-spline conversion. Hope it helps.

[@LearnEverythingAboutDesign]

Awesome tip Luis!

[@tdplayert]

super informative video! So as a beginner, I'm wondering to what extend we need high resolution 3d scanners if we can 'only' deal with lower detail quad meshes... and also smoothen triangle meshes to a large degree before we start rebuilding or pulling them. Also I'm wondering if other programs offer better / different ways? I had never realized it is this complicated to create a workable model out of a scan..

[@NDesign3D]

Thank you for this! Things will be so much easier now!

[@KaliKavala]

Wow , so much info. Nice video

[@rickd-xb7nu]

Yes great job very, very informative. Thank you.

[@CraigHollabaugh]

Very informative. Can you recommend a learning approach to forms? Which videos to you have or other creators?

[@LearnEverythingAboutDesign]

Craig, I have a forms mastery playlist on my channel as well as loads of forms content for modeling everything from simple shapes to cars. kzbin.info/aero/PLBDfGh8A8kXWCgB3Q5DYiCDSCxCqw8tJ7 kzbin.info/aero/PLBDfGh8A8kXW2KBn0b7pMsH5q6FLfSYql

[@lostmanamiga38]

What are the favorite resources for quad conversion?

[@cfriedalek]

Nice video. Is there any way to export the subdiv mesh from the Free-form modeling process without converting to B-Rep or triangular facets? Would be useful for getting mechanical or semi-organic parts that are easily modelled in F360 into other subdiv based modelling apps for detailing. Cheers.

[@ali-sleimanchehade6129]

Is there a way I can share a video with you asking my question and show you what I want to accomplish? It about alining a Scan file to the origin (and set the new coordinates to the mesh file in the exact middle) I’m having a lot of trouble with it 😩 I wish you guys could add some option that geomagic design X have 😩

[@DrewCrigler]

Great Video, Thanks! What if you do what to orient the mesh to your default plane orientation though? Your mesh here was off by .151 degrees which was considered negligible so you didn't align mesh to the default plane. Curious as to how that could be accomplished. Thanks

[@340havoc]

That's actually easier than it seems. Once you have your plane drawn, just use the align tool. The align tool will allow you to select the plane you made and align it to origin, or another body or whatever. You can use this to move your mesh around as much as you like as long as your mesh body is it's own component and the construction planes are in the same component folder.

[@cnz-u5x]

could you share this design example, belt guard qual? Thanks

[@abdontroche]

this is amazing, It help me a lot

[@soobz]

Masterclass in 15 mins.

[@baicaifx]

钣金什么时候增加个冲压功能呀

[@spamone]

Thanks f360 team for the effort but the software is lacking good and efficient tools for reverse engineering. Form mode is clunky in term of ergonomy and snapping has bugs. Quadconvert is a good solution but only for very low quality reverse engineering. Mesh section could be enough To do the job, i have recreated many complex foundry or mechanical parts based on high quality 3d scan, but the problem is it lacks some tools to be more efficient, fast and accurate: mesh quick select tool with controled propagation, primitives fitting on mesh, enhanced mesh section (multiple sections, radial sections, sections limited to selection, sections on path, silhouette), mesh deviation compare to cad, 3d sketch that fits to mesh, fit form surface on mesh (based on selection and/or driven by 3d sketches)... So many good tools that could possibly be implemented in a f360 extension. For me, f360 doesn't take this seriously. I understand this domain is not your main objective because a majority of your audience don't give a fuck about 3d scanning, but that's very frustrating to see 70% of the tools implemented but without much more development to make them fully efficient.

[@davidmurrell403]

Agreed

[@AthanCondax]

Wait. Is that Matt from Learn Everything About Design? Did I miss something?

[@LearnEverythingAboutDesign]

Nothing Missed. I have been making videos for Autodesk since 2016 for their learning portal. I am a contractor/consultant for them and was asked to remake some old youtube videos recently so there are more coming.

[@swamihuman9395]

- great! - thx.

[@pizdaxyu]

would be nice if Fusion team developed AI method to convert STL/OBJ mesh into soft bodies or bodies automatically

[@spamone]

You can't. You can convert with auto surface some simple bodies but we are far from automatic parametric reverse engineering. Doing reverse engineering based on scan is like a craft. It needs a lot of experience and "feelings"

[@340havoc]

@@spamone Until someone figures out how to do the AI. But yeah I agree, there are a ton of judgement calls needed especially when going off scan data.

[@gkoornhof]

Day 4 of asking for Dark Mode in Fusion 360

[@everythingatlasgamingandmo1386]

They do have dark mode its not called it but it’s under viewport or display the tiny ribbon at the bottom of your fusion pov

[@gkoornhof]

@@everythingatlasgamingandmo1386 Proper Dark Mode needed, not just the environment setting 👍

[@emanggitulah4319]

Viva la persistence 😄

[@jaemelo2693]

Ask using the proper channels on the forums not the KZbin comments section.

[@gkoornhof]

@@jaemelo2693 That has been tried for years

[@Te4mUp]

Buggiest program i’ve ever used. Been using 3d CAD for ~15 years…

[@Factory400]

Ive been using Solidworks since 1998 and Fusion360 since 2018. Fusion360 has been very stable. Guessing hardware configuration is important.

[@Te4mUp]

@@Factory400 Been like this over 3 brand new fresh max'd out macbook pros. Hardware's been fine on every one. Fusion's been worse than wine programs that ran on hackintoshes that didn't have the correct plist files.

[@Factory400]

@Te4mUp There is a reason I have abandoned Apple for engineering work. The PC/Windows version is demonstrably more stable. I use Linux for code and infrastructure. Windows for CAD/CAM and other engineering software. After many dozens of Apple machines from mid 90s to 2019 or so....no more. They are slick until they aren't.

[@acintron3Dmfg]

It happened to me using apple. Indeed apple have a phenomenal UI/UX for the moment most software are NOT compatible with Apple for example Netfabb.

[@emanggitulah4319]

Fusion 360 should run way better now on macos. I prefer working on windows with cad. Not much option for macos