Import and Edit STL Files in Fusion 360 2024

Import and Edit STL files in Fusion 360 on the free Personal Use license. Learn how to remove those mesh triangles (facets) using 3 core techniques. These Edit STL techniques range from beginner to advanced concepts, all of which are covered in this lesson.
Thanks to Thangs.com for helping us create this free learning resource.
TUTORIAL RESOURCES
1. Demo Files ➞ bit.ly/STLfiles
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Import and Edit STL files in Fusion 360
00:30 - Import STL in Fusion 360
01:25 - Convert Mesh to STL in Fusion 360
02:51 - One: Self Repair mesh facets in Fusion 360
03:40 - Two: Fix simple mesh surfaces
07:03 - Three: Fix complex mesh surfaces
10:37 - Stitch surface bodies in Fusion 360
12:08 - How to version control STL files
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Disclaimer:
This video description may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a small commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.
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#Fusion360 #ProductDesignOnline #3dprinting

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Get the Demo files (and tips) here ➞ bit.ly/STLfiles Helpful video? Buy Kevin a coffee ➞ www.buymeacoffee.com/pdo

[@dbtest117]

Thank you very informative. Will put to good use. I do think though the loft on the bottom corner looks odd 10:13, not sure but wouldn't it have needed a triangle shape on each side just curved in one plane to become completely accurate? Maybe I'm picky or don't fully grasp how the geometry turns out.

[@ludwig2345]

I REALLY respect that you not only provide the files (and tips) for free but ALSO a transcript! Transcripts are the best thing ever!

[@ProductDesignOnline]

@@ludwig2345 glad to hear that! Appreciate your feedback 😃

[@MikiCab1]

One of the best Fusion 360 videos I have ever seen. Usually there is one step missing that prevents the student from being able to follow along without hours of frustration. Very well done. You are now my Fusion 360 tutor of choice.

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Thanks, Richard! Happy learning :)

[@SkintSNIPER262]

This time it's a pay wall.

[@attack125]

@@SkintSNIPER262 i didn't see a wall when i watched this video. did you? (don't say stupid crap)

[@SkintSNIPER262]

@@attack125 do you know what a pay wall is? Don't project your stupidity onto me.

[@apparentlywyatt]

This is the exact video I've been searching for since I started using fusion in December. Thank you!

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Glad to hear that, Wyatt. Hope you're enjoying Fusion 360 :)

[@joelstolarski2244]

Me too. And just now, completely out of the blue. Was just scroling down videos

[@Ritter_Kotzenplotz]

Saaame, so glad theres finally a video thats up to date

[@DanieleCappelletti]

Me too thank you very much

[@christoskaragiannis7973]

The amount of useful information in 14mins of video is amazing. Thank you!

[@rainydaytoast1490]

I have been watching a few fusion 360 tutorials on and off for the last couple years as I’ve needed and I find your to be the better of them. Clear and concise! Thank you! Subbed.

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Thanks for the kind words and support. Appreciate you! :)

[@glittalogik]

Sharing because this might come in handy for other newbies who want to trim off parts of a complex mesh body without loads of faffing about: - Create a new 'tool' body in the desired negative shape - Position the tool intersecting with the unwanted bits of your converted mesh body - Combine the two bodies using Solid > Modify > Combine > Cut - The tool and unwanted mesh bits go bye-bye and you're left with nice smooth surfaces. I figured this out while adding a threaded end-cap STL to my project. The walls of the cap were way too thick, so I made a hollow cylinder shell with inner diameter matching my desired outer diameter for the cap. I slid the cylinder down over the cap, did the above, and now it's perfect :) The threaded area is a maze of tiny faces that I don't want to screw up (heh) so this was a great way to fix the rest with no risk to the functional bit.

[@mrCetus]

You literally just made my day! I was really frustrated with Fusion 360 a few days ago because I wasn't able to use the prismatic method and had no idea how to clean up the mess Fusion left me with. Horrified by the choice of learning another CAD software (start from zero again - who has the time?) or paying more for a single piece of software than I paid for my laptop I had to put the project on hold for a few days. Now this workaround seems fast and easy enough for my needs and will save me a lot of headache in the future, thank you so much!

[@samanawayadatta891]

This is probably the only video in the entire 3D Modelling landscape that exactly solves my problem. Very thanks, mate.

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Glad to hear that! Thanks :)

[@97JoMiller]

This was super helpful! It really helped me get moving on editing files where I can take something "close" that someone else created and then edit it from there to fill my actual needs. AWESOME!

[@mv_1097]

This is seriously the one and only video that helped me! Thank you and cheers!

[@sualpozel1]

A great video for all who are on the personal license of Fusion 360 and work with mesh bodies.

[@peacekper]

Thank you so much for the helpful video! I haven't touched any CAD software in about 10 years and recently got into 3d printing and these videos are awesome.

[@brandonleirer4928]

I don't know if they changed/updated this, but at 1:13 there was no "Mesh Display" option in the drop down. After some searching I found that the face group colors can now be turned on via "inspect > Display Mesh face groups"

[@pioun777]

shift + F

[@quentinlecoq]

Clearly the best fusion video out here. Clear, concise, fast. I understood way much here than anywhere. Thanks a lot!

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Thank you! I appreciate the kind words. Glad to hear you learned a lot :)

[@vlozity]

wow... finally a really good tutorial to clean STL models, thanks!

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Thanks for watching! :)

[@tinkerman1790]

You are my hero! This tutorial really helpful for all hobbyists of 3D printing and modeling who running personal edition of fusion360 likes me. Thx! 😎

[@ColinWatters]

Great video. I've been using F360 for awhile and still learnt a few new tricks. Will have to book mark this vid.

[@malakov5]

Thanks a lot for this. There are tons of videos about cleaning up STL but they are all on the paid version or a student license and sometimes fail to mention that. This video really helped me get to started.

[@adamali7840]

Great Video. Learned a bunch of new tricks!

[@Way2Do]

I was searching for another video but I'm happy that KZbin recommended yours. Simple and perfect. Subscribed to your channel to keep learning! Thanks

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Thanks! :)

[@fletcherluders415]

Thank you, this was very straightforward and helpful!

[@maximthemagnificent]

I find frequently that even if I already know the main tools used in your videos I pick up great quality-of-life ones along the way! Thanks.

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Glad to hear that, Maximilian! :)

[@MapleMusicFreakXD]

As a student, you might have just saved my Degree. Thank you so much!

[@djispro4272]

Thank you! I used the first method. Super simple, and well explained!

[@MikiCab1]

Great video. I usually just draw everything from scratch and do the best I can. I am right in the middle of a project right now that I may try this on.

[@reaford2004]

I find your videos to be amazingly helpful. I really wish you offered some sort of "live" course. I think it would be amazing. I am a physician by training and have essentially learned Fusion360 (at least many concepts) completely from your videos.

[@Deses]

Thank you for this video, this is incredibly useful. I barely touched the Surface workspace of Fusion360 and now I see the potential it has.

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Surfaces open up a whole new world. Happy learning! :)

[@ilansagital3519]

simple, clear, just amazing. Thank you 🙏

[@ChronOJohn2]

I think I finally understood how my arch-enemy - lofts work. Thank you!

[@matejkuka797]

this helped me a LOT ! thank you Mr. :)

[@cfoust100]

Wow this video was so unbelievably helpful thank you

[@Block-Shock-and-Fabrication]

Thank you so much, Usually I have no problem converting a mesh from step file. But what I'm working on is more complex/weird geometry. I was missing one step that was critical to correctly converting to a solid body. Again thank you. Extremely good tutorial! Adding to playlist❤🎉

[@erick2will]

Absolutely outstanding content! I was looking for this content since I'm a hobbyist fusion 360 user. Thank you very much!👏👏👏👏👍

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Thanks, Erick! Glad to hear that :)

[@nsboost]

Thank you for this! I might be able to apply this to the file that’s been kicking my but for the last week. 😁👍

[@TheAciditty]

Display Face groups was moved to the Inspect dropdown, if anyone can't find it.

[@MakerMike-bx5ms]

Holy Crap this was soooo helpful! THANK YOU!!!

[@barkster]

great video thanks, learned more about meshes than anything

[@John-fn6jd]

your the best, I love your teaching style..very clear and concise. def helped me to get much better in fusion360

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Thank you John! I appreciate your continued support.

[@MarcBesancenot]

Your tutorials are the clearest and easy to follow, thanks A LOT ! Fusion 360 sometimes made me losing my nerves ^^

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Thanks, Marc! :)

[@intelli_mw]

Great tutorial for us n00bs. Thanks!!!

[@DoctorHAXXX]

Well this is definitely gonna help me with modifying all those "almost exactly what I'm looking for!" things out there! Done some real butchershop jobs on a custom headsetstrap intended for Quest 2 that I remodeled for my HTC vive Gen1. This video about a year or so back would have made my life soooooo much easier! But convert to brep, split body, loft and just use cut to flatten out surfaces have worked fairly well. I wouldn't wanna look at it through any sort of analytic lenses though...

[@micah2936]

How did KZbin know I needed this I didn’t even google search it, I found my own method to do it and then had this recommended

[@ConsultingjoeOnline]

"Project tool" just blew my mind. THANK YOU!

[@ConsultingjoeOnline]

Point-to-point too! Could have used that the other day

[@maxwamsley]

Got to 2:00 and was good to go! Great video!

[@h0nzik_333]

Thank you, helpful.

[@stevesloan6775]

Awesome upload! 🙏🏻🤓🍀🍀🍀🇦🇺🤜🏼🤛🏼

[@stefanwalden3339]

Thank you so so much for this guide. You saved my day, and probably many days to come 😀

[@MikeCarr07]

Do you have the freeware version? This doesn't seem to work anymore

[@katemoon7476]

Always gr8 content.

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Thanks, Kate! Appreciate your support :)

[@mauriicio--i]

Thanks! I was stuck for almost an hour trying to do this!

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks, Mauricio! :)

[@Koushakur]

6:24 Assuming the model got correctly centered and is symmetrical I think it would be easier to use a circular pattern instead, so you get it all done with a single feature on the timeline rather than 9

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Would likely work with this model. I wouldn't generally recommend patterning surfaces. With more complex files it will wreck havoc, especially when you go to Stitch the surfaces back together :)

[@h3Xh3Xh3X]

What is the advantage of combining faces and removing triangles? Should you do this for the entire mesh, or only the parts you wish to modify?

[@OCDRex11]

If only we could keep the previous versions that didn't botch STL importing. I honestly have lost a lot of love for what they changed with importing. But this makes me a little happier to go back and try! TY!

[@mikeboi784]

Awesome video Just what I needed thank you you should get a radio job sound like I heard you on there

[@aguirrejara]

gracias 👍🏽

[@eliteaudioinstallations4242]

Just subbed

[@prateekrajbhandari]

Thanks!

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Thanks, Prateek! Appreciate your support :)

[@flantc]

Why couldn't Autodesk make a video this clear? This is perfect! Thanks!

[@HopeScreen]

is there any source or video that tells the viewer that what software has the best options for stl editing for reverse engineering

[@bdwoodworking6411]

Thank you! Loved your video and to the point explanation. However, I have been trying to follow your steps with my project I'm not able to get the same results. I'm very new to Fusion 360 and to 3D printing and I'm trying to add text to an oddly curved STL surface that I downloaded (sort of a wavy surface). I know how to add extruded text to a solid body but regardless of what I try to do, I can't add text to this project. Again, I've watched your video countless times so I'm wondering if there might be another option without paying an arm and a leg for the full version. Thanks for any help. Cheers!

[@patricklang7201]

Might it be possible to update the guide with the latest (march 24) Fusion?

[@ms.awesome]

I know ur in there NileRed

[@Reckless_Incorporated_utv]

No its nileblue

[@FAMBEEZO]

Dude, spot on. I’ve been going crazy wondering who this guy sounds like. This is RiverBlue

[@BlueLightSpecial2023]

The demo file above is causing an error when Convert Mesh is applied. I'm using parametric with prismatic. When converted, a Compute Failed message is generated and the resulting object is corrupt. EDIT: When creating face groups, reducing the Boundary Tolerance from the default 0.001 mm to 0.01mm resolved the issue.

[@SethStringham]

So I'm following this tutorial, but when I convert mesh I end up with a bunch of floating solid pieces that are disconnected, instead of one solid piece. Any suggestions? It does seem to appear that when generating face groups, not all of the faces are placed into a group.

[@diederrr]

how do you easily orient an stl with poor faces for TOP FRONT ect. like on a round object or something with no flat parallel surfaces?

[@syahti]

why me error insert .stl when generatefacegroups1... error messange boundary tolerence is out of range. the valid rnag is form 1e-08 cm to 0.01cm

[@tomflock9916]

What the hell?! How did you know that yesterday I was trying to clean up Proton Pack stl files with my hobby license? The timing of this video is uncanny, ty!

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Glad to hear that, Tom! Thanks for watching :)

[@dsdkustom8143]

Great job. Do you have a video on how to hollow and imported stl file?

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Not at the moment...but that's a great topic. Thanks! :)

[@AntonioGarcia-ry8kv]

Does cura have these options as well?

[@akhil5533]

When I delete a face under the mesh tab it doesn’t merge the faces but deletes the face to show a surface… any help?

[@Vindolin]

Great video! I just wish Autodesk would offer us hobbyists an affordable version that would let us pay for those features. 😥

[@pascal4613]

I dont have the mesh display option under Visual style.

[@yasin_uyghur]

I am using free version and i could not use the Parametric feature, what is the different between Faceted and Parametric ?

[@jasonstation]

orange surface body: find and close the open a's?

[@rschapman]

Prismatic appears to now be in the Hobby version.

[@lgbfjbsupporter5566]

New Sub, thanks Im just starting with F360 and its a pretty big pill to swallow... Not sure how good you are with computers but I will be needing to replace/build a new computer soon as F360 really puts a load on my current system. If its within your purview perhaps a computer build that is focused on or around F360 speed and performance. As you go through the components you would choose a good, better, best option would be great to help stay within a persons budget. Just an idea. Thanks again.

[@Alasdair-Morrison]

Great video! Some tightwad bean counter at Fusion will soon stop the ability to use these work arounds no doubt.

[@sualpozel1]

No , no plans to limit any of these workflows. I wish we could give all the high end functionality away as well but we also have to fund all the development and services to keep Fusion a viable commercial solution.

[@nathanael_opoulos]

My fusion doesn't seem to have a menu option for mesh display settings...

[@aashitgarodia]

Can you please tell me how to find and close the opening because I got a orange body :(

[@D4RKFiB3R]

Has the Mesh Display > Face Groups option been moved in recent updates? I can't find it. Thanks.

[@pioun777]

shift + F

I can't figure it out for days. 3D printer not detecting. I just started learning Fusion 360. It gives an error as below. Can you help me? "The operation failed. Try adjusting the values or changing the input geometry. Cannot convert mesh body to solid or surface body. Use Generate Face Groups or Direct Edit to align face groups to geometric features on the mesh body."

[@scottybrow4587]

parametric is not available in my free version. 😕

[@srilemobitelsrile8809]

How do you add support to model?

[@TheArtofWalls]

Can't find "Mesh Display/Face Groups" in my Display Settings. Have they moved it to anywhere else or is my Spanish translated version missing this option?

[@pioun777]

shift + F

[@3dprintingrevolution791]

I thought reverse engineering died in the free version. Thanks so much

[@Solider134]

I don't have mesh display - face groups settings, is it normal? My version is for personal use (hobby)

[@ProductDesignOnline]

It looks like they just moved it to the Inspect dropdown in a recent update. You can also use Shift + F.

[@AnthonyRose]

i'm not seeing the mesh display settings in my instance of F360, is that a recently added feature?

[@mikembley]

Following the video i ran into the same issue. I did solve it though, go to Utilities Tab > Inspect > Display Mesh Face Groups. A quicker way is to use SHIFT + F.

[@AnthonyRose]

@@mikembley Thanks for the tip!

[@mikembley]

@@AnthonyRose No Problem!

[@magicmanspaz]

When I convert some models i get broken/open holes where curved edges where?

[@ProductDesignOnline]

That is pretty common due to mesh geometry creation (particularly if the file was created in a mesh program originally). You can try to use the repair tool in the mesh tab to automatically fix it. Otherwise, you'll have to patch them with the surface tool.

[@steadfast9354]

When I try deleting mesh faces, it gives the following error: "Error: Cannot delete individual faces. To delete the whole body, please use the Browser or Selection Filters."

[@robertzawasky545]

Fusion, LASER Energy

[@mururoa7024]

The 3 point arc base on the 3 projected points leaves gaps and the extruded surface doesn't close on the edges it has to connect to. Seems like something else needs to happen for this technique to work with all types of curvatures.

[@stuthepoo123]

Hi, can you give computer stats ?

[@Vica0023]

Hi, i dont have that "Mesh display" setting. Any one know why? Have the last version at today

[@braaap2065]

It will automatically display the mesh groups now. It is because Autodesk got greedy and is now charging hundreds a month for things that were free.

[@dtolds]

Is there a reason I can't find the Convert Mesh feature? I even tried the shortcut without success

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Very strange. Can you check what F360 version number you're on? From the Help icon > About

[@bennynordgren]

Great vid but I'm stuck att 2:47 with a orange surface body and cant make out what you are saying, i´m working on a pipe shaped object with two additional holes in it

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Have you tried to "patch" the two holes (surface Patch tool)?

[@pieterstragier]

Hey Kevin, I work on 3D printing with people with mental disabilities. We want to make a piggy bank from a pikachu (found on thingiverse) I try to follow the steps in the tutorial but (maybe because of my free licence) some steps don't work. Importing the mesh works, but we don't find out how to make the hole for putting the mony in it. Can you help me out or say what tutorial video I have to use?

[@nsboost]

Looks like I’m going to have to model this thing from scratch. It’s a round “case” with tons of round extrusions. Fusion just flat has a heart attack when I try doing much of anything with it. I do appreciate your efforts tho

[@kamilabiaozynska554]

same here - anything more complicated than a simple box with maybe one fillet and the PC is gone :(

[@nsboost]

@@kamilabiaozynska554 my laptop is a gaming laptop with a decent i7, lots of ram, and a good graphics card. It just craps all over itself. My desktop handles it much better (even though specs are less but I’m in the process of moving the house around and don’t have it set up).

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Very strange. Only latency I experienced was stitching everything together (~20 secs). Are you saying yours locked up when using 'Convert Mesh' or when deleting faces/doing other work to it?

[@nsboost]

@@ProductDesignOnline I am working on a few different pieces. I managed to get the “flat” piece worked out for the most part. But I spent a lot of time away from the laptop letting it think. Especially deleting faces. The amount of triangles on these pieces after converting is insane. It has 28 extruded holes through this part and the shape of the object is a circle. Even after getting the flats worked out, it is still pretty slow moving. But I’ve left the curved edges and holes alone. I Think it’s just a bit much for this laptop to deal with. The slow work flow and constant 10 minute loading times makes learning the software extremely difficult. I don’t have nearly as much of a problem if I model the part from scratch. But that is proving a challenge in itself just trying to get hood reference points to measure from and replicating it (money saving project for me. If I can print the parts I don’t have to spend $100 on each assembly).

[@rebe7800]

In HURRY?

[@SM3Dcreations]

did they move the mesh display settings?

[@SM3Dcreations]

done the "s" shortcut found the display mesh group faces in there :D

[@parkermaggard8862]

What do you do if the whole thing is a complex shape?

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Can you give a more specific example (of an object)? There are many factors at play, and some models (organic/mesh type) are simply better suited for the mesh type of programs that they originated from.

[@parkermaggard8862]

@@ProductDesignOnline so I am working on a filter adapter for the PBF gas mask and I have the filter part imported basically a thic Pringle with a hole in the middle how to I get it to whare I can thread that hle in the middle

[@caidensaquatics2319]

what is a mesh facet?