Fusion 360 for Woodworkers - Lesson 2 Parametric modelling, bodies and components

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hi, welcome to lesson 2. Hope you find it useful. Andy

[@jasonanderson537]

I love the sound effects when your changing the perimeters

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Those sound effects cost a lot of money and time in post production…. Cheers Andy

[@CostisPan]

Many thanks for producing this tutorial series.

[@budj13]

You do an amazing job of clearly illustrating the methods and then reviewing it all at the end of each video-- brilliantly. For an experienced woodworker, the use of User Parameters is amazingly powerful for a number of reasons. One good example is I'm building an outfeed table/cabinet and two others that sit beside it. The style and construction is identical, but the width and depth of one cabinet is different. I only have to model the one and then I can create a second set of full drawings by just changing the parameters! If I was a commercial shop the cost savings would be amazing. I'm just a retired guy who is saving time, but that is precious as well.

[@TheWoodgrafter]

When you understand how parameters work its a game changer. I now make everything a parameter, I can’t remember the last time I put a measurement directly on a line. I have a whole series of coffee tables, I design one table and changed the parameters for width and length and height. New design completed with workshop drawings ready to go. Awesome. Andy

[@greexc]

Its a great relief to view these videos after spending so much time and achieving not so much, thank you.

[@dougpatterson4380]

I started watching another KZbin series on the same subject and spent a gazillion hours designing my mudroom cabinets. Now I'm watching yours and realizing how much time I could have saved had I only come here first. I've learned so much already, can't wait to watch the rest of the series.

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Thanks Doug, All learning is good learning, so you have probably gained from both sets of videos. Andy

[@kevinkillworth5470]

Intimidating at first, but I am taking one lesson a day. I've learned more than I thought I would and I'm excited to continue learning this powerful software. Thank you for explaining this in a way a layman can understand.

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Stick with it, HUGE learning curve but well worth it. Always here to help. Andy

[@wiggwire]

possibly the best series I have found for fushion360, Thank you!!

[@jamesharris4219]

Hello, I recently purchased Fusion 360, to assist in my business. I have searched a number of tutorials, and after watching your first videos, your explanation and guidance is the best I have seen. I am happy you have gotten right into parametrics. It is one of the main attributes of Fusion I desired. I am anxious to move on to the next video. Thanks again.

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Glad I could help

[@johnmarsh6118]

The muddy waters of fusion 360 are starting to clear thanks for taking the time to make there's lessons

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Thanks John, That is really great feedback. Cheers Andy

[@crucifer9008]

I've found your Fusion 360 tutorials very good, thank you!

[@gavinwoods5045]

This is an excellent video. I have watched a good number of videos and was a bit lost. This is a game changer and the workflow is perfect. Thank you very much

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Thank you Gavin, Glad you like it, I will be starting a new channel soon that will focus 100% on CAD CAM so Fusion, Vectric, 3D printing, CNC and Laser. CAD/CAM for Woodworkers. It will give me the chance to deep dive on things. Andy

[@brianrowland9993]

Andy great instructional video ! - yours are the best I have seen on Fusion 360 on KZbin. Unlike other presenters you provide a clear context snd use a top down approach that provides knowledge instead of confusion. Fusion 360 is powerful but in my opinion not particularly intuitive - until you understand the various rules and workflow logic. A breakthrough for me was clarifying the differences between body and components and of course the power of parametric modelling. 10/10 for enjoyable learning and knowledge transfer!

[@moderntouchfurniture]

Well done Andy, I've watched quite a few Fusion video's, I love that this is specific to woodworking, and how thorough your explanations are, looking forward to the next one.

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hi Mr V Thank you for the feedback, glad you found it of value. Next Fusion series will be on the new channel CAD/CAM for Woodworkers. Watch this space. Andy

[@makermark67]

Thank you for this series. Much appreciated.

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hi Mark, Thank you for the feedback. Andy

[@mariano_353]

Great series of videos

[@craigturner2756]

I can't believe that in the space of 1 hour and 2 vids, you've got me hooked. In fairness you had me hooked in episode 1 when you showed how to get the free hobbyist version. Really looking forward to the rest of the series.

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Thanks Craig, Glad you are finding these useful Andy

[@richardclarke9966]

Same here. I've been reluctant to pull away from SketchUp but this has simplified everything.

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Great news, I really did have this sat on my Mac for over a year - I bought books and could never crack it. Then decided to really focus on it, lots of googling lots of videos and hours of trial and error - then it just clicked. I used Sketchup fo years - but now I couldn’t go back to it. Cheers Andy

[@richardclarke9966]

@@TheWoodgrafter You should do a comparison model to see how much time is saved with F360 - I bet that would be quite interesting. Time-lapse split screen of the modelling with timer 😃

[@TheWoodgrafter]

That’s an interesting thought. I guess the challenge is that you can do so much more in Fusion than in Sketchup. But an interesting thought. Cheers Andy

[@VirTERM]

Andy, this is a good one. Fusion 360 is a way to go for woodworkers and I am really glad that you are helping people to get up to speed with using it. Way to go.

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Thank you so much for the feedback. Love Fusion 360, agree it is the way to go. Cheers Andy

[@sailslikeagirl3154]

Really enjoying learning Fusion from your video. Very helpful. Think it’s sinking in. My new year skill, taking my carpentry to the next level. Thank you.

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hi, Glad it is adding value - good luck with the New Year resolution. Cheers Andy

[@mickgoodbe235]

Excellent - thanks!

[@TheWoodgrafter]

You are welcome. Andy

[@moderntouchfurniture]

This is an excellent course so far. Thanks for pointing out to select Component instead of the default Joint when creating side panels. Also thanks for pointing out the quirk on the selecting the top panel.

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hi Mikey, Thank you for the feedback. Glad you are finding it useful. Andy

[@mplussant]

…very well done…great presentation!…bravo…cheers…

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Thank you

[@heystarfish100]

I am going to single handily make you a very wealthy man by all of my repeated views on this series Andy. Thanks for the timely topic. 😀👍

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Glad you you are finding it useful, watch as many times as you like. The series is also available over on the web site - as part of the youtube bundle. And the advantage of that is of course you can ask questions and recommend topics for future videos. Cheers Andy

[@marcospierri]

Wonderful explanation! thanks you very much!

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Thank you for the feedback

[@Super997turbo]

Fantastic video series explaining in depth the amazing software of fusion. Downloading now. The ease of precision and ability to go back and change dimensions is such a time saver. Thanks for the work and education much appreciated for all your videos you create.

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hi, glad you are finding value in it. Andy

[@richardclarke9966]

Brilliant tutorial Andy, thank you 👌

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Thank you Richard, Glad you are finding it of use. Andy

[@grumpywiseguy5992]

The one topic I would ask that you cover is joints. What the two types are, when to use each type, and how you use or don't use them in your designs would be of great help. Thanks and keep the videos coming.

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hello again, Yes I will be looking at joints. I tend to use joints when I want to position something in relationship to something else. E.G. when we make the drawer unit, I will make that as a stand-alone sub assembly and then use joints to put it into final position, that way I can make the drawer open and close along a set path. You can use joints to position the pieces of the carcass as well. E.G. I could have made the side panel, and then made the top panel and used a simple joint to connect them together. I don’t tend to use that technique as I just start me sketch on the face I want to connect to. It will make sense when we get to that episode. Cheers Andy

[@robecarb1300]

You are so very good on explaining step by step design on Fusion, thank you!

[@TheNymoo]

amazing work, thank you

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Thank you

[@michael.knight]

Great video again, learning about those parameters was really helpful. I've built some models for my 3D Printer since your last video, and although I got the job done, it was always a lot of trial and error. These videos help give a much better basic understanding!

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hi, If you can crack parameters you are half way there - the challenge is thinking it through so you can reference ALL of your bits back to the parameters. Gets interesting for example when you have dovetails and decide to change the size of the drawer - BUT we will get there. I find Fusion great for 3D printing, I bought some scales for the workshop - decided to make a hard storage case for them - literately took about 15 mins to design and start the print. Took a day and a half to print mind ;-) but the design was quick. I may do a course on Fusion and 3D printing after this one. You really get hooked. Andy

[@markpope6162]

Hi Andy, thanks for putting these courses together. I'm now a convert from SketchUp to Fusion 360. Can't wait to start working on plans for my workbench!

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hi Mark, I didn’t design my bench using parametric modelling so will need to re-do it soon. The thing about Fusion. The more you use it the more you learn so the better you want your earlier work to be. A lot like woodworking :-) Good luck. Andy

[@kimdalzell3316]

Hi Andy, Have started watching your tutorials on fusion and am enjoying them and I am slowly getting it on how to use it. Its a bit of a slow process and it makes it easier using a project in wood to learn. I notice in this episode when you where in your save folder you had a folder for Festool labels, can you share this with me so I can also make my own labels for my Festool products. I will understand if you would prefer not to. keep up the videos they are great. Regards Kim from Australia.

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hi Kim, Welcome to Fusion 360 - it is a great piece of software, but a steep learning curve. AND you never stop learning. I hope the series in small way. Yes no problem, of course you can have the file. It was designed to be 3D printed. I'll drop the source file somewhere on the community site and send you a private message on the site. Will get to it tomorrow. Cheers Andy

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hi Kim, File uploaded - check you messages on the web site. Cheers Andy

[@kimdalzell3316]

@@TheWoodgrafter Thanks Andy Regards Kim

[@stuartwilliams7903]

Hi Andy. Thanks for a brilliant video I have been trying to get my head around fusion or sketchup ,but at the moment you are drifting me towards fusion , still very confusing for an old man like me ,but the way your explaining it GREAT please try and keep it simple , been following you since you started on KZbin , hope you don’t mind me asking what was your previous occupation, you seem to be experienced in a number of fields. Stuart

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hi Stuart, Like most things is easy if you break it down into steady steps and practice a lot. I will try and keep it simple - its the only way In can understand it :-) Background is, started life as a builders lack so learnt loads of trades. Then specialised as an electrician (apprenticeship at ICI) so learnt even more skills, then moved into the world of design before studying for my engineering qualifications. Did a stint at a college training apprentices before moving into engineering full time. Engineering naturally moved into the world of computers following an Enterprise Architecture, CTO and then technical strategist route, before moving into the world of executive management in a very large IT company. In fact I still do that now as a day job, have a team of around 3,500 people. The woodworking aspects have always been a hobby - and that naturally grows as people ask you to make things for them. The KZbin channel initially started as a way of promoting making things, but very quickly moved to the more educational side of things. That has now created the on-line woodworking school. The next obvious step is to buy/rent a bigger woodworking studio and dedicate more time to it. BUT that would require a decision to stop the day job. Heres to the next chapter. Andy

[@ytwoodworking7315]

Hi Andy, You got me hooked on Fusion 360 with your hands on approach, showing us how it is done. Kudos! Two things though: a. When using the dimensions you use BookcaseWidth - StockThickness - StockThickness or something pretty close to that.. but you can as easily make that BookcaseWidth - 2* StockThickness. Saves on the typing and this more computer code like write up makes it more easy to understand in the long end. b. With software of this kind going to the cloud are you not affraid that Autodesk will eventually make it an expensive paid adventure of x GBP/month forcing you out of Fusion 360 and if so, what is your alternative as per your perspective for simple hobby woodworkers? Regards

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hi, Thanks for the feedback, you are correct - in fact I was playing with expressions today (working on the math for the length of the centre panels that will have dovetails) - and came up with "bookcasewidth-(2*stockthickness)+((stockthicknekss/3)*2)" So yes you are correct. I guess you can get pretty complex with these expressions - I may give it a go one day to see how far I can push it. However when explaining things it's easier to grasp when you say minus the thickness of the top and minus the thickness of the bottom. I think its more visual - not every one can see maths. I felt it was more important to explain the concept, people will find their own way if they have the concept. To your second question, yes it is a danger when using any SaaS subscription that the vendor will change the commercial model - and all of your work is trapped in a format. However, whilst the hobby and startup licenses are free then it makes sense to use it. Also Autodesk has had this free hobby license for some time - so it must work for them. AND don't forget, I run the Woodgrafter as a business, so will be purchasing a yearly subscription when my startup license expires next year. So I am not too concerned about it. I find Fusion so powerful and useful in my everyday design work (and now add 3D printing to that) and the CNC machine isn't far away. That I think it is value for money. Cheers Andy

[@tadge74]

I've been using cad and fusion is hard concept as drawing uses different principles. Seems to be more commands needed to achieve the same thing. I use mirror command often in cad to copy items. Can I ask why you drew a new component for the top rather than copy/mirror the bottom panel? Thanks. Learning more from your videos than other places. Thanks

[@kimdalzell3316]

Hi Andy, sorry to bother you again but I am having a bit of a problem with the Grid and snapping etc., can you let me know the best way to set up the grid and the settings please. I have trouble because of the snap situation keeping things at 90 degrees and parallel. I am slowly getting things done and have a long way to go, I have gone through 4 to 5 of the lessons but I am back on the 2nd lesson to try and get that sorted and me up to speed, I am certainly learning but find it a lot harder than Sketchup and even AutoCad Architectual although with AutoCad I did go and do the beginner and intermediate course, but I will not let this beet me I love the drawing side of woodworking. Regards Kim

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hi Kim, Glad to hear you are sticking with it, and ask a many questions as you like. In the drawing pain, in the sketch workspace. Look at the very bottom centre of the screen. You will see a graph paper type icon next to the monitor icon. Expand that and un-select snap to grid. Not you can start pretty much where you want, and set the angle through parameters rather than Fusion adding constraints you don't actually want. Let me know if that helps, Cheers Andy

[@TylerRiot]

Hi Andy - thank you for all your efforts on this series, I am slowly making my way through them in an effort to make the transition from SketchUp to 360. It is hard going but worth it in the end i hope! One thing I cant seem to find an answer for is this.... In sketchup you can make a component and editing that component makes changes to all copies like in 360. However, there is also the option to make a copy 'unique' if you need to make adjustments to just that version of the component. I have used the Make Pattern (along path) tool to create a series of dividers for a cabinet. However the joinery in a couple of them differs from the rest, is there a work around for this?

[@TheWoodgrafter]

H Rick, Yes that had me stumped for a while as well. If you select the component and then choose copy from the quick menu (right button in white space) or from the edit menu at the top then you will see two commands in the right click menu. Paste & Paste New. Paste will create a copy that is always linked to the original - change one and then the other changes Paste New will creata a copy that is 'based' on the original but is a new instance The challenge is that each command has a slightly different outcome. E.G. The pattern tool will create a copy The move copy tool will create a copy The mirror tool will create a new instance of the component So if you know you will need to edit then use the mirror or paste new tool If they will always be the same then use paste or pattern And know, there is no right click make unique. And yes that is pants. Cheers Andy

[@TylerRiot]

@@TheWoodgrafter thank you!!

[@angieangie21]

@@TheWoodgrafter Thank you for this explanation. I have been searching for this answers for weeks!

[@tadge74]

Hi, trying to decide if sketchup or fusion is way to go for woodwork. My furniture is in vehicles so they are not square panels but curved where they attach to the vehicle. Can you give a quick outline why you moved from sketchup to fusion? Thanks

[@pfv3462]

Brilliant tutorial Andy, thank you I still have 1 question, when I save I always get a new version 1.1, 1.2 etc. if I want to continue the next lesson the next day do I have to save each time?

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hi Patrick, Thank you for the feedback, I am glad you are finding it useful. Fusion is a cloud based program so it saves and synchs back to the cloud as you go. You tend to use the save features when you have reached a point that you may want to come back to. As you exit, you will always synch back to the cloud. There is no issue with saving each time - but I don’t tend to do that. Cheers Andy

[@aa1cs021409076149]

I found that for the height of the stock minus the stock thickness x 2 in the parameters gives you the right height for the project, see example below storageheight = 330 mm - stockthicknesstopbott = 9 mm * 2 (value = 312 mm)

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hi Scott, Yes you are correct - I was keeping it really simple I this lesson, we start to add more complex calculations in figure episodes. Thank you for the comment. Cheers Andy

[@mikecarlton7918]

Are you modeling in the free version of Fusion 360? when I hit the extrude command I don't get the menu that shows in your lesson.

[@jackmcclure6354]

Do you have to move the timeline back to edit a sketch, or can you just select it and directly edit it without moving the timeline

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hi Jack, You can edit the sketch by right clicking and editing it. Or you can use the parameters in the parameter menu. Cheers Andy

[@paramtrx9558]

I think you would like my last 2 Video's.. Keep up the good work!

[@peterfreedom]

Hi. I did this exercice 3 times and everytime, the Top Panel on top left corner looks like it is not over the left side panel even if the length is Bookcaselength. The other end fits right. The measure on the sketch seems to start at the right place pour the Extrusion is not. what am I doing wrong? Thanks.

[@peterfreedom]

Forget about my comment, I just saw the tweek your are doing and now it is ok.

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Cool, thank you for letting me Know. Andy

[@mariano_353]

23:55 -stockthickness*2

[@jackmcclure6354]

You made both end pieces as a single component, can you now separate it into two individual components

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hi Jack, Yes I did that as I want to show how they will behave when we add the joinery. I will then go back and edit the extrusion to create two components. And show how it behaves when they are separate components. I will also discuss how to copy, paste, paste new and mirror the components. Cheers Andy

[@paultay23]

Hi Andy, i am part way through this second part and keeping up with you...although i am having to go back time and time again as my concentration levels are shite because of a tooth that is giving me issues. I will try and finish the tuition toothday and get back tooth you with an update... Cheers Paul... Oh how the f*ck do you get 2 thumbs down for this ...unbelievable

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Glad you are keeping up, and sorry to hear about the tooth ache. However the sore tooth is no excuse for the 'tooth' joke, you've got some 'plaque' putting things like that in writing. (groan). You can't please everyone all the time - so don't really worry about it - folks seem to get value from these videos, so I will keep making them. Andy