Fusion 360 Beginner Tutorials, Part 5 of 16

Fusion 360 Beginner Tutorials can get you to the point where you will have confidence to model any basic shapes that you're likely to need. WATCH NEXT: Basic Tutorial 6 of 16 • Fusion 360 Beginners T... You'll learn to make sketches for simple extrusions and you'll get enough practice with holes, fillets and other fairly standard features so that you can model most things. More complicated parts might take more experience but these sixteen tutorials will get you started in a way that builds skill. So much better than a flashy power point that leaves you excited but none the wiser.
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You will want to download the sixteen drawing files so that you can print them off and keep them handy and see the dimensions and shapes that we're drawing together. Alternatively you can use the Alt-Tab key combination to cycle it on your screen with Fusion 360. Anyway here's the download link:
mailchi.mp/8e3...

[@filibertogurrola4501]

Done with the exercise number 5, easier than a physical classroom, thank you, Mr. Arnold, I'm 61 years young and I would have liked to have found these classes many years ago. Have a wonderful day🧡.

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Wonderful! We're the same age Filiberto, old dogs doing new tricks!

[@peterlindner3283]

@filiberto Maybe a few years ago these products would have been cruder and more difficult to use.

[@jacobpooler6299]

Im getting familiar with the UI of Fusion 360! using knowledge from other SUPER basic tutorials as well as your previous videos, and utilizing hotkeys, I was able to make Part 4 in less than 10 min :)) cheers

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Good on you Jacob, great to hear! I hope you've seen the revised versions of these first few part tutorials; kzbin.info/www/bejne/m16VpYJ3n7N0lbssi=Ry3jJnOgS-dmlPOx

[@joeinkentucky]

I am 65. I bought a great 3D printer, but it sits in my shop, mocking me, as I learn Fusion 360. I struggled a bit with your teaching style, but it is mostly due to us running two different versions of the software, so YOUR buttons and such are indifferent places than MY buttons and such! Still, the PAUSE of the video lets me go in search of the THING you just used so effortlessly, and I am learning where things are now. I used to make Google SketchUp SING, with drawings, so this is very similar. It is only a matter of learning the tools and the BEST way to get from A to B, having some eight different options! I have $14K of SOLIDWORKS software on my PC that I bought in 2012 but never found the time to sit down and LEARN it. Now the version is 10 years old, and upgrading to the "Latest and Greatest" would be 'Spensive, Lucy!' So I decided to jump head first into Fusion 360, and I am kicking myself for wasting so much time! I have a thousand projects in mind for my CreatBot D600 PRO 3D printer, once I learn hw to create the drawings! Thank you for your help!

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Joe, take a look at this one, its a revised tutorial #5 kzbin.info/www/bejne/m16VpYJ3n7N0lbs

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

There are others numbered 1 through 4 also updated to the latest version.

[@kurtgoodwin9490]

I love the short length of these lessons. Makes it easy to keep up with and make progress as time permits. Well done

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Great to hear! and I'm glad you found me here Kurt. Keep going, Fusion 360 is a wonderful tool. How do you intend to use it when you're a gun user?

[@MannyCamRS]

After finishing Part 5 of this series, I think I might be an engineer. LOL. Awesome series. I can't believe I made it this far.

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Nice work! What are you going to do with all this when you've got it down?

[@johnmainville6512]

I had to work on this one for many little reasons...Once completed, I set it in stone. Marble stone.

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Haha! Keep learning. BTW there are revised versions up to part #7. See the playlist page here kzbin.info/aero/PLFCTgdiT5-kLBNvrkUNy63Gu1tWdRuKkr

[@paulgreenlee190]

I have enjoyed the lessons. Now it's time to go back with all the drawings watch them again and practice the moves. I have never made it this far attempting to learn a CAD program. Thanks

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Wonderful!

[@mrjim7123]

You guys are kids. I'm 76 and trying to get proficient enough to generate drawings for submitting my invention for a patent. You're making that possible. Thank you.

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

I'm delighted to hear that Mr Jim, let me know if you have any questions. You should work through the tutorials to get nice and familiar with the way the software works.

[@jeffhill6769]

Thanks for all your great work, Arnold. This series turned me from a frustrated Blender user trying to figure out Fusion360 to a comfortable Fusion360 user. Much appreciated.

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Glad to help! Congratulations on your new tool - Fusion 360! (I love Blender, now that I'm out of residential drafting I'll be leaving Sketchup behind. It would be great to get some Blender skills. I'll have to give it some time.)

[@FerrisFly]

I'm home shop hobbyist and a total Cad novice. Just got Fusion 360 and so far it is the most intuitive cad software I've tried thanks to your tutorials. Much obliged. and, Thank you sir.

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

You're welcome Robert, keep going!

[@ThomasBurns]

Thanks for these videos! You make it look so easy. In reality, however, there are always complications when I try this. Example: I copy and paste new component. Then I go to alter that sketch in order to alter the shape of the new component. Doesn't let me do this. It's maddening. :)

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Hi WN, yes, I’ve been trained to make it look easy but give yourself another few hundred hours of practise and work, you’ll be there too. And that’s not all that far away. Think of a 40 hour work week, its only seven and a half of those. Two months full time, but even if you have to double or triple that by doing it part-time, its not too shabby for a great new skill. Apart from that, don’t beat yourself up, don’t stress over components until you’ve got that sketcher down and the basic feature creation tools. I intentionally left the beginners level component tutorials until after the 16 Basic ones. You’ll see them on my channel home page and that will make the intermediate ones a lot easier for you. Fusion 360 has workflows designed in by the programmers, they are doing something cutting edge when compared to all the other mid-range CAD that’s out there, don’t wrestle, just enjoy the ride and watch it all unfold while you learn.

[@ThomasBurns]

@@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360 Thank you for the encouragement!

[@colemine7008]

I am having great success with this! Completed number 5. So far this is a great series.

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Excellent!

[@wardprocter2371]

I'm enjoying these tutorials but this one took me a while to master. I encountered the same problem as Martyn Perks - my arc just wouldn't go where I wanted it to. It took a few tries but eventually I got it. I also had some sort of constraint problem with getting the sides of the arc to sit perpendicular to the "shoulders" of the part. Again, perseverance is the key. I'm looking forward to learning more about constraints!

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Thanks for embarking on this journey Ward, don't waste a lot of time on this trick, try doing some scribbling off to one side and if it doesn't come right for you, move on and come back after you'ved completed all 16. You might find that the familiarity you will gain can unlock the problem or you will notice that there are other ways to achieve the same result.

[@JavierLopezElMagnate]

Working through these.. I have to say I really enjoy your teaching style. Thank you so much for this. You're doing great work here. :)

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Awesome, thanks Javier! Let me know if I can help with any questions.

[@shivaprasad7893]

very good teaching skill arnold ...thank you

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

You are welcome! Glad to have you here Shiva.

[@frenkwd1]

Done with the exercise number 5, thank you, Mr. Arnold

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

You're welcome Frenk. Please let me know if you have any questions.

[@jeffreyfreeman7409]

Thank you, Arnold. Another great lesson!

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

You're a learning machine Jeffrey.

[@over60crafter]

Enjoying these tutorials.Great job.

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

You're on a roll Over 60! Press on!

[@over60crafter]

@@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360 Definitely.

[@MrDondoerner]

I am just a begginer 77 years old and I found that in order to get coincudents and the my stop sketch back all you need to do is press CTRL key and the ALT key and then click on my sketch.

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Wow don, I couldn't make it appear with the CTRL or ALT key. Keep talking to me, we'll sort this out.

[@DanSullivan-GIM]

Hi. Can't seem to move the center point of the arc to the drawing point of origin. Says over constrained, but I have the same dimensions on the screen as the video. The video doesn't show axis lines; not sure what the over constraint is. Likely culprit? Thanks.

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Dan you will see that I drag things around on the screen during the sketching process. (And yes I keep the grid and everything except the point of origin invisible.) If any line or arc is touching something like existing geometry or an axis or anything else on screen, there will be an automatic constraint applied and the free-dragging behaviour will be curtailed, either partly or completely. Any subsequent attempts to add another constraint will result in the 'over constrained' message and you will also be unable to drag the thing around. They way I suggest you proceed is to redraw that sketch in a fresh document taking care to avoid any inadvertent constraints. Test by clicking and dragging things around (try not to be over energetic so that you don't mess things up too much). Some pushing and pulling like this will be good for understanding what's going on. You'll hopefully get the idea of how everything is progressively nailed down with each additional geometric and dimensional constraint that you apply. A lot of what we're doing with the early numbers in the 16 parts is getting a feel for how these things that we're discussing work.

[@lenkaufer274]

My drawing turned out like it was supposed to but the finished view has the grid running horizontal through the centerline of the hole. Yours ended up with the completed object sitting on the grid. What did I do wrong?

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Ken, try scrubbing to exactly seven minutes and 9 seconds where I twirl it around and you'll see that my part is like yours. Its an optical illusion in the last frame that makes mine look like its sitting on the XZ plane.

[@johnyeager6521]

On Exercise 5 I get the following message from F...360 when I try to dimension the second notch "Adding this dimension will over-constrain the sketch. Choose OK to create a Driven Dimension." Choosing OK places the dimension but I can't change the dimensions numerical value. Is there a work-around for this?

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Yes John, if you have a geometric constraint already in place, it could mean that you don't actually need the dimension. Once you delete the dimension that was made a 'driven dimension' does the sketch lines have a blue colour or black? If blue then its unconstrained and you need to work out a way to constrain it other than by the dimension you tried. If its black then you've got it nailed, just proceed to extrusion. If that doesn't answer the question there is still another way. Find the recent Revised Part #2 of 16 where I demonstrate the Mirror Sketch tool. This part 5 has symmetry and the technique will work here. kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6nQdodqqJ6Ml8U

[@charlesdefreitas8699]

Are you gonna do this lesson with a new version part to follow with the old version just wondering

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Yes Charles, one by one. #5 is in the works as we type. No promises as to when it'll drop, though. I think that by now you will find that you can follow the old tutorials, the UI update wasn't all that drastic.

[@charlesdefreitas8699]

Sorry Did not realize you started the new version yet keep up the good work I appreciate it. And thank you for responding

[@AnkitKumarmeb]

awsome video , very easy to follow sir

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Thanks Ankit, keep learning.

[@MrDondoerner]

How do I get the "CONSTRAINTS" back to the tool bar line?

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Don, its all about the "Fusion 360 two step". The constraints are only visible while in Sketch. As soon as you click "Finish Sketch" they go away and you have 'feature' tools available until you begin your next sketch and they appear again. The "Two Step" means sketch/feature, sketch/feature etc. etc.

[@dugy40]

I am having trouble getting the arc go to the right. It wants to go left

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Its got a mind of its own...

[@MrDondoerner]

Somehow I accidentally delete the constraints item from the tool bar. How do I get it back?

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Each of these videos is teaching you how to use Fusion 360 and the basic workflow is Sketch, then Feature and repeat. You delete the constraints from the toolbar every time you finish a sketch. Don't worry, they'll be there when you need them for your next sketch. You'll see them when you click "Start Sketch" and choose the sketch plane.

[@davidtaylor9846]

I have downloaded the new version of Fusion360. It will let me save them but it say I can only do 10 design then I got to pay. Have I downloaded the wrong version.

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Hi David, you've downloaded the right version of Fusion 360. The 10 design limit is the way they differentiate the free version of the software and you can have an annual free license. You have to renew your free license each year and the process is a bit obscure. This is the way huge multinationals work. Kevin Kennedy published a helpful video on how to navigate the licensing, I think you'll find this helpful kzbin.info/www/bejne/jn_LZJd7m752jpY Keep in touch, the ten document limit can be a bit confusing but you'll find that its pretty easy to do most things despite it. Its still the best choice for a hobbyist student inventor, or small business up to $100,000 turn over per year. By the way, there is a much better revised version of this Part 5 of 16, see the playlist here: kzbin.info/aero/PLFCTgdiT5-kLBNvrkUNy63Gu1tWdRuKkr

[@MrDondoerner]

My Stop Sketch Icon has disappeared from the tool bar? So has my Coincidents Icon

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

You will only see the Stop Sketch icon when there is a sketch active. In feature mode there is no need for a Stop Sketch Icon.

[@jwonderfulsuccess]

Beginners 2.0 👍🙏

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

You won't be a beginner much longer.

[@mstperky]

Hello Arnold, am enjoying your tutorial and am having great success up to this video. When I use the line function the arcs consistently go in the wrong direction and what takes you 30 seconds stops me dead. Is there a solution? Thanks

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Martyn, it has a lot to do with how you drag the mouse out of the end point of the last line segment. ( I take it you mean drawing an arc with the line tool). Keep trying and I think you'll find out how it works. I just did a doodle myself and couldn't make it go wrong. Open a new document, a new sketch and make a scribble. The arc is always tangential to the previous segment, I can't get it to do otherwise. It might go left when you intend to go right but you only need to move the mouse around until it goes where you want it. Does this help?

[@mstperky]

Arnold Rowntree yes thank you

[@hysaasyh]

when you are giving dimension of 240 the size reduces!!! i am doing the same giving dimension of 240 the size increases i don't get this??

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Yashu, it depends on how you draw the sketch, two people draw differently, one large one small, the dimension corrects both of us. Our sketching is rough, dimensions make it precise.

[@michaelweiss6163]

Where is the revised version?

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Michael, as of today its a gleam in my eye. It will be done asap but in the meantime I think you will find that if you've completed tutorials 1-4 you'll be able to follow the remaining ones in the old series. You can see everything in the Playlist here kzbin.info/aero/PLFCTgdiT5-kLBNvrkUNy63Gu1tWdRuKkr

[@andybrewer9845]

Just completed first 5 which go at a nice pace all going well but the menus are laid out differently from the version on your tutorial think the software may be on a later version now? All good stuff though :)

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Hi Andy thanks for coming to the channel, and yes, there has been a UI update since I did these tutorials. I'm currently working on the revision of Part #1, it should be out within a couple of weeks but you'll be way ahead by then, perhaps in the meantime this video on working with the update might get you going:- kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6rWfHR6qtR1j8U

[@Booti007]

These are great tutorials, thank you. Question, why do you not draw the circle on the first sketch and extrude the hole in one step please?

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

You're quite right, Andrew, it could have easily been done in one step and I chose an arbitrary point to break it up. I was trying to emphasise that you should keep your sketches nice and simple while you're learning so that when there is a problem less time is wasted and its easier to troubleshoot. With another 200 or 400 or 600 hours of practise it will be no problem at all since you'll know exactly what's gone wrong and how to make everything work.

[@Booti007]

Arnold Rowntree thanks for the reply. The videos have been a great help. I’ve watched all the series now and see that you do use this method later on.

[@Michaelsloncehammr]

Ive got a blue color for my closed profile how do I change it to orange ?

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Michael, I get blue myself now that you mention it. As long as the Extrude gives the result we're looking for its fine. I remember orange profiles but never paid attention to what was going on. So far no problems, perhaps it was part of the UI update 18 months ago. ....yes orange prior to the 2020 upgrade, see here:- forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-design-validate/sketch-blue-interior/td-p/9668011

[@Michaelsloncehammr]

@@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360 Thank you. Btw I’m really enjoying the lessons. 😎

[@zappa4153]

Why does my curve want to go the the other way when I try to make the ark and is there a way to change the direction.

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

It's a mystery Zap Pa, give it a few minutes but then go on and get the job done with circles or arcs and the trim tool. Get through the basic tutorials and come back to it later.

[@peterlindner3283]

@@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360 I have the dimensions wrong, and want to change them. Is there an easy way to see all the a) numeric dimensions and b) geometeric constraints, so I can modify them individually without get overspecification? Or should I forget it and come back to it after lesson 16?

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Sorry I missed this question Peter, you will need to open each of the sketches, starting with the earliest made one and edit the dimensions as you like by double clicking them in the sketch. Constraints show as little icons next to each line or arc segment, select and delete and then apply the constraint you prefer. Its best to start a new comment, that way I get a notification.

[@richardcresswell7096]

Hi There just realised how your drawing radii with click and drag except my setup id only allowing me to draw in an anticlock direction which is Autocad norm is there a setting to change that? Finding your lessons just right paced for me as a beginner in 3D, thanks

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Welcome to the channel Richard. Never mind about the line/arc thing, if you've got it working at all, keep experimenting and you'll get in control of it with a bit more practice. Everything can be done with basic drawing tools, so long as you're getting the model done, move on and get them all finished and come back to fill any gaps later. Go on and work through the intermediate playlist too. I think you'll find there comes a point pretty soon where you'll want to work on your own projects and you'll be able to wean yourself off these click by click tutorials gradually.

[@markrichardson239]

I believe I mistakenly selected a ZX plane on the last drawing, would I be able to correct that easiest through Modify?

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

If you mean the plane that you chose to begin the initial sketch, no, forget it. You know what to look out for in the next one. But if you really want to know how to fix that, there is the Align command. I'll do a video on that shortly but in the meantime search John Hackney's channel and search his excellent video on 'Align'.

[@rrswitch48]

Difficult test! thanks! I notice when you click on the main surface it becomes square to the view. Mine does not. Any advise appreciated!

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

OK smith-models, a few preferences can help. I don't take you through these initially because most people want to make something immediately and learn these details as they go. You get to Preferences by clicking on your picture in the top right hand corner of the screen. On the General tab lower down the page you'll see Pan, Zoom, Orbit shortcuts and the style of navigation can be set to emulate Solidworks, Inventor and a few others. Experiment with some of these. I like the Solidworks style. For Default Orbit type I keep mine set on Free Orbit, you might like the other option. On the Design tab most people find that 'Auto look at sketch' is already ticked, that one will most likely affect what you're asking about. One other I'd recommend you have ticked is "Scale entire sketch at first dimenson". Does that change what you wanted?

[@rrswitch48]

@@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360 At 5:44 in the video are you also using the "look at" function to orient the model into flat position? I hope so. Seems to be working if I use this function. Thanks! :)

[@peterlindner3283]

I can't make the center of the circle be coincident with the origin, in Exercise 3,4,5. If someone could answer: is there a special time to do it, e.g. in the initial sketch? Thank you Mr. Rowntree.

[@markrichardson239]

Same here.

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Yes Peter and Mark, do it while in the initial sketch. But just fill me in, are you unable to select the point of origin while in sketch mode? It should be selectable so that you can then shift-select the arc origin and then the coincident constraint. Alternatively, click the constraint and then once on each of the origins.

[@peterlindner3283]

@@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360 Concentric circles and incident points did work better when I hit the coincident icon just before the select.

[@kjellbleie4298]

Howe to print to paper

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Here you go Kjele kzbin.info/www/bejne/aHqup6aQhslsb6s This video shows you the bare bones. I intend to cover this in much more detail, its a very important topic.

[@georgelza]

@6:20 you add a diameter, but never say what it is, know it will be on the diagram downloads.

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Caught me! Yes it's on the drawing. You did get that didn't you George?

[@markrichardson239]

It appears I am again hitting a point where the software is a tootsi-fruitsy mess and is beyond useful. Is there an Intelligence shortcut? I mean for the software.

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Mark, take a break, sleep on it, you're going to get it.

[@markrichardson239]

O.K., got part 4 done but it was bloody. Nothing in Fusion 360 is stable. It is a moving target. I spent an hour on part 4 solely due to the commands not being even close to those which you utilize. No, I have been able to navigate the project out of pure persistance rather than following your instructions. I am trying to operate a production machine shop for profit here, and Fusion 360 is so loopy I can scarcely make it work. I talked to them about it, but found them to be I dunno... off onto their own thing. I'd like to think they would have listened as I was at that point, a paying Customer.

[@ArnoldRowntreeTeachesFusion360]

Wow Mark, this is epic!