Importing and Editing STL Files in Fusion 360 [2022]

[@3DPrintingNerd]

THANK YOU for this! I was rusty with my Fusion 360 knowledge, and was trying to do some very simple edits to an STL. This saved me, you are awesome, and I'm going to sub.

[@thehardwareguy]

@3DPrintingNerd Hey Joel, you're welcome! you've been helping me for years with your videos. Glad I could give a little something back to you. Take it easy, - Gareth

[@sualpozel1]

Nice video. I am the product manager who worked on all the mesh features you are showing here in Fusion 360 ,and I really enjoyed your video. Keep up the good work. You may also want to show the outcome of the face group calculation by turning on face group visualization from the icons on the bottom middle area of Fusion

[@thehardwareguy]

Thank you! much appreciated

[@dylangergutierrez]

Why was the prism mode limited to pro only?

[@Shamsher1]

Please make the prismatic mode free!!

[@DerTechNick]

How about doing something about this paywall? We will not pay for it anyways

[@rosumparat]

Let's put basic features under a paywall because greed - product managers today. You're disgusting.

[@Hohmies86]

May your channel continue to grow super fast. I thank you extremely much for all the knowledge you have selflessly given me.

[@RobertBarton86]

I had no idea that Prismatic mesh conversion was so powerful. I've been doing stl remixes on hard mode. Thank you for this simple, concise guide!

[@S_Chand13r]

I am a complete noob to using any kind of program like this. I’ve tried following along with some of the “more in depth” videos, but it always seems like information overload! You’ve put it into a clear and concise format that is easily understood. Thank you for this, and I look forward to seeing more of your work!

[@deankq4adj125]

Absolutely brilliant! I have watched hours of video and you are the one to get me what I needed.

[@god1aj]

Thanks, you’re a lifesaver, I spend 20-30mins trying to do stuff myself then have to search when I can’t figure out. A lot of it seems like common sense once you see it. Thanks!

[@rauls2380]

GÊNIO DA BOLA ❤

[@pvercello]

Super helpful! Thanks for breaking it down so clearly.

[@joetkeshub]

Thank you so much. It's instructive and helpful. Great pedagogy.

[@vynaltheworld4092]

Hay you are my go to guy for stuff like this. Because you always make the best videos and there always so easy to under stand. Also I'm on free version and it worked just like in the video. Thanks for saving my life again.

[@guillermomichelgonzalez4824]

Thank you so much man i've been trying to do this for weeks you a real one

[@hernansintado2989]

Thank you so much!

[@BhindiBhaji888]

Really useful. Helped me a lot this. Thanks

[@Tester13032]

Got my subscription off this to the point video. Thank you!

[@SayantanAuddy]

Very informative and to the point :)

[@sateeshum394]

awesome detailing, thanks much

[@avejst]

Great video as always 👍 Thanks for sharing your experience with all of us 👍🙂

[@thehardwareguy]

You're welcome, thanks for watching!

[@1r3k1970]

THANK YOU!

[@mortenkallesen923]

Thanks. I really needed this :)

[@RyanStone143]

Great info, thank you!

[@thehardwareguy]

Glad I could help, thanks for watching!

[@Way2Do]

Really appreciate your videos, thanks for make it.

[@mdimansantoso3976]

Wow this is much easier to understand, thanks

[@lukafh]

Very informative info! Thank You very much!!

[@thehardwareguy]

You're welcome, thanks for watching!

[@BenRush]

Thanks!

[@rabnawaz3347]

very nice tutorial

[@giusepearturo]

thanks from Colombia!!!

[@American.Divergent]

I think I’m more amazed on how quick you imported and converted. My computer takes some time no matter how much I upgrade the system

[@shadowfreak5613]

Very usefull thanks alot :)

[@marcoyip9245]

thanks a lot, the video is very useful

[@ladislavboxan1121]

super usefull thx

[@lukaszsiadaczka]

This is brilliant! Game changer. I'll open the champagne and drink to you 🎉🍾🥂 I finish work at the speed of light... But tomorrow. 😂

[@kennethhicks2113]

Ty, been years and ain't the old AutoCad I used to know! Hate online apps... so limited and well, expensive! Done the tedious free type you described and am here looking for better way... off to see the FreeCad example ; ) Again, thank you so much.

[@jedzciejapka]

TY, you hero

[@summerswoodworking]

Thank You ever so much!!!!!

[@augie3]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. You just got a SUB.

[@beardeddad_NL]

Great video again mate! I had the issue that I needed to "Compute All" everytime when I was deleting the faces to clean up the mesh. Any suggestions on that?

[@mathirojust7402]

THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH i had to watch 3 vidéos where they had the education license and said it was the "free licence"

[@waikryder6633]

Do you have any other videos that shows the other differences between free version and the paid version?

[@ver1fy487]

It is very fucking rare that these videos work, but this one worked!

[@thediscoman2001]

sorted just what i wanted, question how would you do the same in solidworks

[@oqueeutofazendoaqui]

Hi. The freecad version of convert processing is in your channel? Do you have the name or the link?

[@thehardwareguy]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqOUoqeXirelrKs

[@gourabpal8652]

Please share which key do you press in keyboard.?

[@Paul_______]

I wonder if alibre design can do this too

[@damionmanuel9625]

I love it when software companies remove features from their free versions. Prismatic used to be part of the free version but I guess since people were using it they took it out.

[@harryravenkiller8580]

very helpful video. I tried the process outlined in this video. When I clicked on a Triangle and hit [Delete] it only deleted that single tringle. Was there something to determine which triangle to delete to clear the entire flat surface?

[@xhex_3116]

I am experiencing same issue.

[@TheMoose240]

So here 2 years later but related question. What orientation would you print this to limit supports and have a decent form and functional part.

[@Yaroslav_Tselovanskyi]

Is there a different format that I can export from inventor to get this clean model in the free version?

[@jaggedpixel]

Any reason the paid options are available in my free version?

[@connectcampers5138]

Nice video as always But I am following all this and still coming into problems My software is a paid for variety but will not do the prismatic way I know this is not how it should be but I am an ongoing learner and need this to work Just posting here to see if I can get help Sorry From the UK Stay safe everyone

[@x_jaydn]

I'm on the hobbyist license, but I was able to use the Prismatic mesh conversion. Did they migrate this feature to the free hobbyist license now or something? 🤔

[@AWatermansLife]

Is there any way I can scale the imported model to exact uniform dimension? I just want to import something I made in blender. then center it in the right direction and uniform scale it using 127mm on the Y axis. :P then i can modify it properly and put a 2.2mm hole down the middle of it. :P

[@CorbinHurst88]

Ive been wondering this too. My quick and dirty way is to use the scale function. If you play around with inside points you can scale it down. it always take two goes for some reason, but i just use known measurements and divide! would love to know if there is a "calibrate" funtion like with canvas'

[@eduardito69]

After inserting the .stl mesh and then modify/convert mesh, when I come back to solid and I select and try to delete a face it says: "DeleteFace1. Compute failed. Cannot delete individual faces...". Am I doing something wrong?

[@stenmartens7179]

the thing i dont get is when i press delete, it just prompts me an error and doesnt do anything, even though the surface is flat...

[@broderp]

How does one get an educational licence?

[@R0LLM0P]

I have tried this on some simple STL's, but it seems to miss out lots of faces :(

[@onecarwood]

Really sucks they made this only paid. I mean probably one of the biggest reasons I was happy with Fusion as a hobby guy.

[@mrtyko]

Hello , i can not hear what key to hit to clean up the surface <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="272">4:32</a> in the video

[@thehardwareguy]

The delete 'DEL' key.

[@shawnr699]

How to clean up the triangles on corners with the free version, Is there a work around?

[@thehardwareguy]

Not as far as I know, but I will keep my eyes open for possible work around!

[@shawnr699]

@@thehardwareguy I saw a video a while ago someone was putting dots on the curve to make points and then could make a face. I can’t seem to find the video. I think it was productdesignonline vid but very old. Maybe is there a program you can use to convert the stl to solid body? Then import into fusion? Do you know of any programs to do so?

[@makewithmegma]

💕👍

[@squidkid05]

Is there any way to import the stl files using the student version of fusion?

[@thehardwareguy]

Yes, that is the first method I showed you

[@michaelrobinson9643]

Can this be done in FREECAD and then imported as a design file that is immediately workable in F360? I.e. a workaround for the paywall?

[@thehardwareguy]

Yes you can. I have made a separate video about it. However, the results aren't as good as they would be in Fusion 360. This is common with most features in FreeCAD.

[@vazza69]

i downt have that little menue on the right..

[@expatinthailand9824]

Tinkercad imports STL similar to Prismatic on Fusion but when I try to export to Fusion 360 it says it cannot connect to my app. I am on a personal license. The only other exports are your typical for slicers.

[@OneIdeaTooMany]

By putting some of these features behind a pay wall, they are missing the opportunity to become the go to application for model editing. I really don't model enough to warrant paying for the feature for anything more than a month at most.

[@YQLF]

100% Agree . .I am switching to Open Source/Free version software.

[@leandrowoods5865]

Thanks for the video, I have the free version and when I select the face and hit delete to make a flat surface it just deletes the face and doesn't actually flatten the surface :(

[@ChrisT-ib1zh]

Switch back to 'Solid' first!

[@rjdial9705]

I never got that part to work either, even after switching back to Solid from Mesh. delete a triangle on a face, and just the triangle face deletes.

[@sonOsamp]

Insert mesh isn't a thing anymore?

[@vfxmastersthailand9330]

Hi there, i'm chris, i have CP which mean I can't use my hand for the PC so i use a chine pointer, I have download a wielding mask STL from thingverse, which i have changed but now I am trying to fill in a gap and the sides, but it just will not do what I want. I been trying now for 3 days; I'm getting nowhere can you please tell me what I'm doing wrong pleaseeeeeee

[@flyingcactus1953]

how do I convert a huge poly mesh into solid?, I have a 300k poly file and have been really struggle

[@thehardwareguy]

check out my most recent video, should help you out a lot

[@futbol1972]

Is this tinkercad?

[@Despiser25]

Ive followed this and my mesh turn purple and I cant select it. This mesh thing is supremely frustrating. I don't even want to edit the stl file I simply want to place it in the assembly using a joint. It shouldn't take me 2 days and be no further along.

[@rabnawaz3347]

sir i am select the face but there are totally delete the selected surface please help me i am new in fusion 360

[@ulaga9166]

same here. did you figure it out?

[@gonzalez519]

I tried downloading the Free CAD for my iMac and for some reason it wouldn’t open? 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@thehardwareguy]

You need to give it security access, Mac is pretty strict with non verified developers

[@gheice_modelism]

Funky... I select any flat face, I delete and I get a "Failed computing" message.

[@vladimirmitrovic9724]

Prismatic is no longer an option in the free one.

[@taurruth]

Why is it so hard to find that video! It should be top result but it took me over an hour to stumble on it when I was already giving up...

[@Enojadoland]

This is pretty good when the designer doesn't let you sell prints of his files because they don't give out seller "loicenses". Reverse engineer them into STEP and now you can sell the prints as they would be originating from your reverse engineered copy, not their STL's, therefore, your not violating any licensing agreement when you bought their files. When they find out and try to get fresh with you, you just clap back with screencaps of the step files and that usually shuts them up.

[@davido273]

This did not work for me (Free Version) I am working with an object with flat surfaces and things worked up until the "select a face on a flat surface and delete". This action only resulted in an error warning.

[@jcd2171]

Commode

[@EnnTomi1]

wont work on free license

[@3pantherproducts619]

how to deal with more than 20,000 Triangles in the free version. fusion keeps crashing

[@johnl5177]

doing this with a large item is a night mare in fusion 360

[@JeskaRain]

The delete key absolutely does not do that for me it just deletes the tri face and it's completely pointless if we cannot deal with curves at all.

[@thehardwareguy]

They may have updated it. Please don't take frustrations out on me, blame Autodesk! Ultimately, they want you to pay.

[@Dirt33breaks]

Deleting faces in stls never works for me, it complains and gives errors and fails. Most Stl files i get were made in stuff like blender which give you stls that have millions of faces after conversion. Its a real nightmare on the free version

[@YQLF]

The benefit of this video to let you buy the paid version. ok, thank you.

[@ARK_2908]

Unfortunately, it no longer works! Probably it was not intended and Autodesk has blocked this feature with an update for the free accounts 🤨

[@thehardwareguy]

they seem to be restricting the software more and more as the days go by. Disappointing that they've abandonded the very people who gave the software it's credibility

[@atreyucinema93]

The model was filled with holes unfortunately. One day I hope to have success with this.

[@chinchan9]

sadly for a hobbyist, this whole conversion has been made so much more difficult in the free version..

[@kavorka8855]

there's no "convert mesh" now, I suppose they want you to pay for it

[@agrahazl]

Your content is very good and covers the important details. It is hard to watch though due to volume. LOSE the keyboard and mouse. Everytime it sounds like your trying to punch the key through the desk. The mouse clicky sounds like your tapping a base drum every time. A whole video with this and you come away with a headache. Nails on a chalkboard. Maybe move the mic away from these or use a pin on mic.

[@dandunn6419]

nothing works for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@outkast187]

Its disgusting how they charge such an insane amount. If you are a big company, no prob...its worth it. But they screwed the average user. Now its $1600/yr when it was free. I bought my machine when it was free, now I cant even use it.

[@user-lx9jm1wo3h]

I think I am done with Fusion at this point. They are way over priced for for the average hobbyist out there. If they allowed you to buy a standalone version and not have to use cloud service, it would be worth the money. Having to pay just under $500 every year just to make some parts for yourself is just crazy! And to get the EDU version you have to actually in school and not learn from some online YT or some other online learning website.

[@MrDaniell1234]

The edu and start-up license are the same version of fusion as the paid licence.

[@davidbucek]

Delete key not working like before... what is wrong ? :( Just get this error: Error: Cannot delete individual faces. To delete the whole body, please use the Browser or Selection Filters. There was some stupid update?

[@tacticalbacon8064]

unless your selling modified STL's in large quantity the paid version of 360 is worthless. its 70$ a month and if you only remix 1 or 2 models for personal projects, it adds to the cost of those projects when most 3d printed parts are not worth that much unless they are highly specialized or one of a kind im not pay 70$ to remix a headphone stand when i can buy one made from aluminum, for 20$, that is universal, and i can buy it at most superstores with just a simple drive this concept will be autodesk's pitfall IMO they are gatekeeping their product at a high price removing makers and small hobbyist. as the economy falls and small engineering companies slide out of existence , those hobbyist will be using cheaper, better, and more honest software. thats when youll see autodesk fall to the wayside because those hobbyist are the next generation of engineers and if their using other software that other better software will become industry standards the solution is simple, reduce the cost of the software for personal use with all features available just no money making rights and a slightly more expensive version that has the same features for those who wish to use it for making money and keep the personal version low like 9 to 15 a month similar to solidworks for makers

[@craigcorbin4098]

So if I do this in FreeCAD, can I bring the result into F360? Thanks! @thehardwareguy