Convert STL Mesh to a Solid Body in Fusion 360 (2023)

Demo File ➞ bit.ly/mazePuzzleSTL
Clean up STL Triangles ➞ • Import and Edit STL Fi...
Fusion 360 can convert STL mesh files to bREP solid bodies. Use the Insert Mesh tool, which allows STL, OBJ, and 3MF mesh files.
Once inserted, Mesh files can be converted with the Convert Mesh feature. Converting an STL to a Mesh with Fusion 360 is now streamlined. Fusion 360's new mesh tools allow you to convert as a Faceted or Prismatic option. Prismatic will provide phenomenal results that are similar to a native Fusion 360 file or an imported STEP file.
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Convert STL Mesh to Solid in Fusion 360
00:26 - Insert Mesh file into Fusion 360
02:57 - Convert Mesh to Brep Solid Body in Fusion 360
04:00 - Faceted vs Prismatic in Fusion 360 explained
04:48 - Generate Face Groups in Fusion 360
05:38 - Turn off Face Group visibility in Fusion 360
06:47 - Merge facets in Fusion 360
07:46 - How to Open Mesh file in Fusion 360
09:04 - Summary of STL to Mesh in Fusion 360
09:30 - 3D Modeling Challenge Sponsored by Thangs
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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

[@JoeOggier]

As someone who came from a traditional Engineering background and have always struggled working with anything but solid models, this is a game changer and a lifesaver! I will be using this often, and I was previously wholly unable to successfully convert STLs to anything useful. Thanks much!

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Thanks for your support! Glad it was helpful 😊

[@KetaFPV]

Duuuuude, your channel is so beneficial! I completely missed the fact that Fusion360 updated and when I launched it today, I couldn't find any of the BRep to Mesh settings. You're the only person I could find that has done a video on these specific changes. Always crystal clear and excellent tutorials. Thanks man!!

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Glad to hear it was helpful! I do my best to release the videos asap when changes happen :)

[@agie170hss2]

As always, a crystal-clear explanation, spoken at the correct pace, and easily followed. Your channel should be promoted by Autodesk!

[@thespencerowen]

Prismatic is not included in hobby license... booooooo, what a let down, I was so excited for this

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Agreed... I was pretty bummed when I learned this while testing the feature :(

[@thespencerowen]

@@ProductDesignOnline Despite this, the rest of the mesh workflow is fantastic. Maybe blender + fusion will be a work around for us hobbyists.

[@maggge89]

@@ProductDesignOnline But you still waited until 6:40 to mention it. That is really frustrating.

[@chuckycheesetouchedme7434]

....it shows up for me...am I just not able to use it?

[@batesjernigan1773]

​@@chuckycheesetouchedme7434yep that's right. I tried just now after following this workflow and it shows a prompt that it's only for paid subs.

[@BioStuff415]

I watched 3 other videos on this topic. Thank you for getting it done right. Excellent. Subscribed - thumbs up.

[@wfpelletier4348]

Thank you for this excellent explanation of the mesh-prismatic conversion. It really does look like an incredible tool, especially for working with a lot of 'Thingiverse' STL models.

[@timfischer]

Indeed, looks incredible. Too bad it's priced out of my hobby budget.

[@daviddowning4991]

Thank you - this helped me (a beginner in Fusion 360) overcome a roadblock in a project which had stumped me for days!

[@doco6186]

Very informative and, as always, very clearly presented.

[@33rdframe]

I have searched for MONTHS for this... thank God for you bro. Subscribed!!!

[@sanperez313]

Thank you so much Kev!!!! Much needed... I was so lost earlier until I found ya!!!! 💙💛💙💛

[@Michele-ue5eu]

This is a godsent, I didn't know about the new prismatic feature, I have been searching for an effective workflow to deal with stl, I hope this is it

[@finnyzmeobmw]

Thank you so much, this is the exact information I needed to fix my imported STL mesh to help with the creation of fillets.

[@superchargedkayaker]

This tutorial is my go to. Thanks so much for taking your time to make this video.

[@ryanwilson1369]

Thank you so much for this tutorial. I didn't know about the generate face groups command and once i saw that my mesh was converted to the solid body super nicely. Great video.

[@Bob-Is-A-PotterNow]

THANK YOU for this video. I hadn't run Fusion in a week or so and was stunned when the Mesh->Brep was not where I expected to find it - an artifact of silent, push upgrades. Without your help I would have had to struggle with Autodesk documention, I find obtuse to say the least... Thanks again!

[@ProductDesignOnline]

You're welcome! They definitely push out software updates faster than documentation :D

[@hveliorum8252]

Thank's! Very qualitative tutorial! Helped me out a lot!

[@SRPhotographyVideo]

Great Tutorial, you've helped me a lot! Now i get a litte bit better in fusion and can edit my models a litte bit better for my 3D Prints.

[@Fredster9984]

I wish I could like this more than once! I'm sorry for the people that don't have the paid version, but this is what I have been looking for!

[@penjim]

Excellent instructional video! Thank you!

[@ahmedghaith6080]

You have no idea how much i struggled with this trying to do it on my own. YOU ARE MY HERO!!

[@x-onicsltd.2118]

is it possible to convert the mesh body without paid license of the fusion 360?

[@joelstolarski2244]

Everybody suffers with this program. There's a YT video that an engineer made. He had problems with it too.

[@nathan24277]

Amazing step by step video .Thank you Very much.

[@avejst]

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

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Thanks, Asger!

[@AllenIsbell]

Absolutely perfect video. Thank you!

[@nargames]

This is utterly amazing thank you so much, everyone is so confusing

[@CraigHollabaugh]

Excellent coverage of additional Fusion 360 functionality. Thanks for the video and to your sponsor, checking out their website now.

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Thanks, Craig! Be sure to check out the July 3D Modeling challenge (open to everyone) - bit.ly/July3DChallenge

[@thomasleftwite]

Thank you! It's very helpful. I couldn't do it well before.

[@elpipetuanis]

This was really helpful, thanks!

[@DanCounihan]

Just stumbled across this video. You now have a new Subscriber. Great video and was something I actually needed know and will save me a lot of time and effort.

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Glad you enjoyed it/learned a lot!

[@LuisSanchez-kx1pm]

Thank you so much!! Helped me out a lot!

[@pmsskateing]

If you guys are having any problems where after you convert your mesh into a Brep, it only acts as a SURFACE body instead of a SOLID body, here is the fix. After you convert it, and it is a surface body, go to the surface ribbon ( next to mesh ). Under modify, click stitch. Then select your object and hit OK. It should be a solid body now.

[@mattconte4363]

Thanks

[@joelstolarski2244]

Thanks

[@octavioaguila9276]

Thanks

[@joelstolarski2244]

Great explanation, easy to follow. I'm on the free version, and modifying even a simple stl is burdensome.

[@amazingscout61]

thank you so much! most files i use are stl and i can get accurate files because its a mesh. very grateful for this tutorial

[@Procuste34iOSh]

clear and precise, thank you!

[@siddharths1672]

A much clear video on how to convert mesh into a solid.💯 Good work👏

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Glad you enjoyed it! appreciate you!

[@guilhermeluz1000]

Helps a lot!! Thanks!

[@santosknives6278]

This was great, thanks!!

[@teatrolites3446]

Thank you so much! This really helped me alot

[@jelsondalmeida6208]

Thank you for sharing this video ☺️

[@ChasingAfterTheWind]

Wish you could have went more in depth about the faceted convert method for those of us that are using the non-commercial version, but you put in enough information for me to be able to work my way through it. Thanks for this video. I am looking forward to watching more of your videos.

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Have many videos on the topic. Kindly see this one next: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZaweaSXbrWrpJo

[@Tjm1875]

Very helpful thanks

[@kevin7dave]

thank you ! right to the facts, really helpful

[@Alfonsovice]

thanks worked great

[@qus.9617]

Thank-you. New to fusion 360. I recently downloaded a stl file that was 'mesh'. I wanted to edit it and was used to using Tinkercad. In the end I used tinkercad but good to know I can now use Fusion 360.

[@Nordic_Goon]

This, is, friggin, AWESOME.

[@TFMTraining]

Excellent lesson.

[@matedwards8439]

This is a life saving video, Amazingggggg!!!!!!

[@jemand8872]

Thank you mate! you helped me very much

[@zachangelo7670]

Thank you for this video. In less than 24 hours the program updated and I was lost on my usual way of converting mesh to body.

[@ProductDesignOnline]

What?? You can still convert via the normal (faceted) way that was always available to everyone. Only the Prismatic feature/conversion is not available, which was never a thing until July 2021 update. Don't get me wrong, I'm annoyed it's not available to everyone as well, just want to be clear that the 'regular' way of converting is still available.

[@zachangelo7670]

@@ProductDesignOnline i use to be able to right click on my m esh insert and convert to "body" its no longer like that. your way helped me find how to do it again... not sure.. my program is the free version so maybe thats why? sorry for the confusement

[@vanhelzer22]

great video. Thanks for your time!

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Thanks for watching. Appreciate you!

[@kajpaget3180]

Thank you!❤

[@modernDEsignwithFusion360]

Thanks! Great Video!

[@tedsykora1858]

This is amazing

[@howardbaxter2514]

Oh. My. God. THANK YOU! This was the perfect video I needed. Also, in the most recent version, Fusion 360 also takes OpenSCAD models, and has an "Organic" Method when doing Convert Mesh.

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Great tip! The 'Organic' method is pretty slick. May have to do a separate video on that :)

[@FraiSaY]

Excellent thanks ! However, you know a way i could edit the lenght/size of the object (without using scale funciton) ?

[@mtheapes]

Super useful and succinct info! Thanks!

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Thanks for watching, Matt! :)

[@kylek29]

"Prismatic is not included in the free personal or hobby licenses." So, like the people that will actually use the feature? Lol. Great feature and tutorial.

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Mesh files are actually used a lot in the commercial space these days. I think this is a misconception with the 3D printing community. Particularly with 3D scan/reverse-engineering workflows, which is one of the main reasons the Mesh tab/environment got all of these updates. They brought in a bunch of technology from Autodesk Netfabb.

[@wachocs16]

@@ProductDesignOnline Yup. I do photogrammetry with a pirated software and a student licence of Fusion360 for reverse engineering. Even with that, it's REALLY difficult to get clean and precise parametric designs (A god scanner, like the Einscan Pro 2x cost 65 full median salary here in Argentina)

[@svendemeyer6278]

I do 🤷‍♂️

[@MaxGoddur]

Looks like we need some more videos on the subject matter herein: "'fork in the road' where you choose between Faceted vs Prismatic." Thank you, Kevin.

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Fair point! A follow up showing additional details per Faceted would be helpful

[@NitrobuggyGR]

Thank you so much man

[@truegret7778]

It would be helpful for you to continue from the faceted method so that those of us hobbyists can learn to modify STL that do not have a Fusion 360 subscription. Thank you in advance.

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Hey, thanks for the suggestion! I do plan to cover some more of the facets techniques and new mesh tools soon :)

[@joelstolarski2244]

I saw some of those tools for simplyfying mesh, and tried to use them. Ended up with some missing facets, that fusion was unable to fix. So hopefully just a few tips will be appreciated.

[@techiejam]

Instep Studio :)

[@gummispecht]

@@techiejam useless comment, InStep is also NOT free with full functionality.

[@IJackDaWackI]

​@@gummispecht Perhaps a useful comment would be to pay for the program if it has something you need it to do. People dont develop these highly complex CAD programs so they can offer it to the world for free. The "free" versions are nothing more than trials of the paid product for people to test so they can decided if the program is worth purchasing the full version. The "free" versions often come with WAY more usability then they really should. Fusion 360 now has an additional addon option for organic conversions where prismatic fails. Faceted conversions are extremely difficult to work with, and there isnt going to be a "how to guide" once they are converted because they will all behave differently. Keep in mind Fusion 360 education if Free and is basically the entire paid for base program. You only need an education based email address to register.

[@cassidycantrell6829]

Any guidance on what to do if the convert results are a surface body as opposed to a solid body?

[@michaelbrown-qe8cr]

Another Excellent Video Kevin!

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Thanks, Michael!

[@thomasdenner1846]

Great video, but unfortunately, they locked out the hobby users - which are actually those who would use it the most. With this feature one cold easily modify all thingiverse STL. Imagine, which reach Fusion360 would get if unlocked for hobby users. But I feel that large reach for hobby unseres is not in the interest of the company any more.

[@JJFX-]

Autodesk's model is to get people into 3D design and use the free users as beta testers and data collection. Those that do upgrade realize they are still limited by many of the bugs, features, performance/online restrictions being used to push serious users to their real 3D product, Inventor. Customers who take the plunge into that realize it's also far from perfect only now they're so deep in the Autodesk ecosystem they're unlikely to leave.

[@alejandroperez5368]

@@JJFX- Ok, go back to using Freecad if you don't like it. LOL

[@JJFX-]

@@alejandroperez5368 I'm not saying that just to hate on it. It's only because it's frustrating to me how much potential F360 has over typical CAD programs but Autodesk seems set on undercutting it.

[@cosmicrdt]

@@JJFX- can confirm. Our company wanted to switch from autocad to another software but the licensing, staff training and lost revenue meant we are stuck with autodesk forever

[@lorenzorojasv]

@@alejandroperez5368 ah yes, im banned from using something cause of pointing out how it could improve

[@TheWindGinProject]

Top Notch Fusion 360 Instruction. Thanks!

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Thank you!

[@Akegata42]

I wish I had watched this before spending a couple of hours trying to clean up a model I converted from stl to step in FreeCad, rather than after I had given up on that. Not sure why, but the prismatic conversion works perfectly for me with a free hobby license.

[@VallGowrylo]

Super!

[@RichardMumford1]

Thank you Kevin, I very much appreciate your detailed explanations. I have a paid version and every time, regardless of the methods used I get compute failed or the conversion does not show all of the parts Is my computer at fault? Perhaps too slow to do the required calculations, I have had it for a few years. Thank you.

[@awensman25]

Amazing explanation

[@georgigeeksky8349]

Thank you!

[@cubrecamarojo2924]

youre my hero

[@JohnVanderbeck]

Is there a way to modify the face groups if it appears to make a mistake in the auto creation?

[@thronex4741]

i need help with the hobbyist licence the free version to convert stl to body after doing that im getting the weird lines and i can't select the whole body how to do that?

[@Dylise]

Man, you're great....I was attempting to alter an STL I found for my security cam...I remember seeing your video for STL's and had that in the back of my head for when I needed it. So, I'm watching it, and following along in Fusion, and I get to the point to right click, and Convert to BREP or whatever that means....and it's not there. I'm looking everywhere, trying all kinds of things, and all I really needed to do was take a closer look at your video, because right under your video, you had a link to think even stating 2022 Version! So awesome, because minutes after i noticed that, I had my model to print. I really wish the Prismatic feature was available, but I totally get it. They already allow almost anyone to use Fusion for free, so its hard to complain. Great video, thanks a lot. Huge fan of your tutorials, and still getting through them as I find the time. They've helped me tremendously (professionally/at work & at home playing with designs to print) I can't wait until I get to your videos on how to model things specifically for 3d printing, but I am watching them all in order as you put them up. Cheers!

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Thanks, John! Glad to hear you found the '22 version. I wish it was easier to call out the newer versions as folks often don't see that. Nonetheless, best of luck with your projects!

[@matthewnoffsinger7110]

THANK YOU!!

[@simonsimpson4695]

The tutorial is excellent and very timely. It helped me personally enormously but fact that prismatic isn’t available on the free licence IMHO doesn’t make sense. I completely understand why it isn’t available but I’d have thought that the file size is enormously smaller to store and processing is less involved once it’s been converted. Therefore IMHO it would actually be sensible to allow it to go on the free licence esp if there are large numbers of STLs being stored in the translated form with thousands of triangles etc. I’m still very grateful to Autodesk for being able to use it etc. I’d be struggling royally without that. It’s just an observation.

[@BARE_TEETH]

I have latest version of 360 in Personal setup and my Modify menu is very different. Convert mesh is not on there at all and I can't find the function. Curious if this is because i'm on a non commercial license?

[@nobleamadi1074]

God bless you !

[@riverainventions]

Thank you...

[@MAVICHERODRONERO]

Muchas gracias me has ayudado muchisisisisisisisiiimooooooo

[@Skudiero]

You are the best Thanks

[@Joel280zt]

Legend!

[@djalmaribeirodrone]

Thanks man!!

[@rc-cnc3431]

Great video I tried with a file of mine and I end up with multiple meshes. Any thoughts?

[@philippe888]

Would it be possible to convert a solid body into something you can sculp? Im asking because i made a 3d scan mesh and with the premium organic convert mesh option i converted the mesh to a solid body with very clean surface faces. However i need to edit a few areas as i would do in a sculpt shape but have no way to do this.

[@user-cv9jt8wm4p]

Спасибо большое за ваши видео

[@pendragon2k929]

Just, thanks

[@quanli3552]

This is game changer, now you can access the immense ocean of mesh files.

[@RoamGaming]

only if you have a paid license.

[@maxiu..]

@@RoamGaming for simple enough models the free faceted workflow works just fine and allows to change plenty of dimensions without any problem, I've used it to change dimensions on camera mounts and other small pieces

[@RoamGaming]

@@maxiu.. i've used it as well. but in this case "simple enough" means very very simple. Any model with complicated surfaces (pretty much anything beyond modeling a bracket) fails quickly.

[@andrewkurtz1252]

Your tutorials are awesome! Thanks to you, I know the basics of using Fusion which is completely awesome! One quick question about the new prismatic conversion availability. Is it included with the education license? 🤞

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Yes! It is available on the EDU license.

[@stevnmolla5151]

@@ProductDesignOnline Just switched to educational version and prismatic is still blocked. You also marked a post which says that prismatic conversion is not availible in the educational version, what is correct?

[@joelstolarski2244]

Ive been learning 360 and went to try insert mesh, and noticed that prismatic is grayed out. Wanted to do a little modification to a model. Probably going to use mesh mixer or something similar until I learn to do my own designing.

[@DTCFilms]

Yes it is included in the EDU license. I just used the function yesterday on my education account.

[@gil80]

Is there a different app that can do a conversion similar to prismatic for presonal use?

[@strangeworkshop7733]

Thanks so much for clearly explaining the process and not going a million miles an hour haha!

[@jaggedpixel]

I'm a little confused. Some are saying that it is only included in the paid version, but it shows up and works with my hobby version. Have they added it to the free version?

[@delon414]

is there an equivalent feature like this in solidworks?

[@grantdavies6081]

I tried this and it worked pretty well, but I do have 3 bodies which are from the mesh as a result of the generate face groups and then convert mesh. I have added solids to this model but they are treated as separate bodies and combine does not work. This means you can't "filet" between the mesh that was converted to your new solids.. (I was adding a divider to a box, the box was a mesh and the divider create two compartments, but I can't create filets between the two)

[@bf4chode2]

How is this the one video in 1,000 that actually tells you to generate face groups. Good work man.

[@jsvalentin]

I was always wondering my my measurement wasn't right, I now know thank you. When you upload str it's in CM and I needed in MM so now I know he proper way is to use insert cause you get it in mm and capture your timeline must less work.

[@aungzintun7405]

thank you Sir, you save my time a lot

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Thanks for watching! :)

[@HosonZes]

Just for people like me, that were unable to see the "Mesh" tab and were always right clicking the mesh and entering "direct edit" or "edit feature": You will switch to mesh mode, yes but you won't get the convert mesh feature here. So import the mesh, then in the top tabs switch to mesh and you have it.

[@Yavorh55]

Whyyyy did I not know of the face gouping! That's what I've been needing for so long lol

[@ProductDesignOnline]

It was released ~2 or 3 months ago, so still fairly new :)

[@depopa1033]

its really great how you have to find 200 different tutorials because features keep changing and i dont even have the features showed in the tutorial.

[@robertsienkiewicz8063]

I love you

[@ramyanwar1851]

I downloaded the personal user license trial but it doesn't have the convert mesh tool. Would anyone help me out convert an stl file to a solid body (exact the same thing in the video). Thank you.