Slice your 3D prints directly in Fusion 360!

Fusion 360 can slice models for 3D printing, without the need to save the file as an STL. In this tutorial, we'll take a design model into the Manufacture workspace. From there, we'll slice it, simulate the 3D print, and save the Gcode.
Fusion 360's slicer has many advantages and disadvantages... but will it replace Cura any time soon? (comment on this video!)
My 3D Printer (for serious hobbyists/professionals) ➞ bit.ly/kevins-printer
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - How to Slice with Fusion 360
0:42 - Setup and printer configuration
2:11 - Selecting print settings
4:22 - Reorient and snap model to build plate
6:43 - Slice the model with Generate tool
7:05 - Preview the 3D Printer simulation
8:00 - Post process and save Gcode
10:00 - Updating the model and reslicing
10:50 - Creating a new machine
TUTORIAL RESOURCES
1. This tutorial's resource page ➞ ProductDesignOnline.com/37
2. View my checklists for Fusion 360 beginners ➞ bit.ly/f360checklist
3. Join us on Patreon ➞ / productdesignonline
TOP FUSION 360 PLAYLISTS
bit.ly/learn-fusion360
bit.ly/woodworker-playlist
bit.ly/3D-printing-playlist
bit.ly/sculpt-playlist
DISCLAIMER
This video and description contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. This helps you support the channel at no extra cost to you and allows me to continue to make videos like this.
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#Fusion360 #3DPrinting #ProductDesignOnline

[@BeachBum100]

I just started using your tutorial Fusion 360 in 30 days. So far well done! Well thought out and makes learning intuitive. Thank you!

[@gravewhite1258]

You have been exceptionally helpful, and easy to listen to, thank you!

[@segpie]

I'll definitely be trying this out. Good video!!

[@TheDaveOutlaw]

will give this a try with my flasforge adventure 3 ...glad you showed the feature

[@drbishy_hao]

Thanks Kelvin

[@MaxGoddur]

An interesting feature available in PrusaSlicer is the ability to import profiles from tested and refined profiles. This would be a great feature for F360.

[@hillfortherstudios2757]

Thanks for this video. Good job! Do you know if tis possible to edit supports?

[@user-ek7vk9ce3j]

I'm new to Fusion 360 and your video guides are really useful. We are looking for a way to slice a model into 18mm slices and nest them for CNC router cutting, to create a parametric slat wall art. How would you go about slicing the model now that Slicer in no longer an add in?

[@DerekSpeareDSD]

I like Cura and have been using it for my Creatbot DM01 for a long time. I don't think I will stop using it, but I would like to keep everything in Fusion in the end.

[@Dajosco]

PrusaSlicer 2.2.0 for now. Great vídeos!

[@F2_CPB]

Thanks for making video. I will be trying it right now with my Creality Ender 3. But so far just by looking amount of settings available and having to add G29 manually. Cura remains my favourite for now. However I really want it to exceed Cura. Let's see what Autodesk makes it like in future I would personally love to see non planer slicing

[@ScrapSoft]

Excellent tutorial!!.. 2 questions. 1. Cura doesn't automatically show I have to go to custom then find the program. Is there a way to put cura in like it is shown in the tutorial. 2. Can I send multiple components to cura so they can be printed together. Thanks

[@jdbarrera]

Thanks, I didn't know this was even a thing.

[@NabilBennaniKerrout]

Me neither

[@mbs1234567]

Thanks for the upload. Your videos have helped me so much. Not sure this slicer is for me. Seems like PITA. Maybe in the future. Cheers, Mike

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Agreed.. they got some work to do 😆

[@jlesquer]

Good tutorial thanks for sharing! I tried it and I think it is a good feature and it'll be in the future but it needs more time to improve and add more options/information....e.g. I couldn't find (maybe it is somewhere...) any printing time estimation, I think for the moment I'll stick to Cura

[@pauljones9150]

Whoah!

[@sawdust9719]

I just tried this and worked great but some things I make or tokens with different colors and fusion doesn't have layer stops which is to bad. Maybe in the future. I can now just take sliced file and put on my sd card and print away. I did notice that it prints in less time compared to cura for same file which is also good.

[@BookLoversPizza]

Mate, your videos are officially epic!!!

[@whybothertry8642]

I just got fusion 360 today and watched your beginner tutorial video making the stamp. I'm only going to get a 3d printer in over 3 months but I want lots of practice on f360 first! Perhaps I'll use the slicer on here too

[@ProductDesignOnline]

I'd recommend using Ultimaker's "Cura" which is free...its a little more user friendly and there is more info online to get started with your first few prints :)

[@whybothertry8642]

@@ProductDesignOnline awesome, I'll check it out thanks :D

[@adityavarma7366]

Thanks for the video , I prefer F360 at present , I don't have much idea on cura software

[@johnlafferty5032]

Thanks for the update. Another tool for the collection. I'm yet to find one slicer to rule them all.

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Good point, John! They all have something that makes them unique.

[@billkellogg1403]

Hey Kevin, how do I actually send the print to the printer? I have a wifi connection. I can’t see anywhere how to actually begin. I put the gcode file on a flash drive too, the printer didn’t recognize it. Thanks!

[@IceCreams62]

F360 Thanks Kevin

[@AlexandruDobrecph]

how do do a dual extrusion slice in fusion

[@damariscotto1268]

Hello Kevin! Thank you for your amazing tutorials, I have learned a lot with them. I would like to know if is there any way to simulate laser cut paths in Fusion 360. Thanks again and I wish you the best with your wonderful project.

[@ProductDesignOnline]

You can generate tool paths in the manufacturer workspace and save them for laser cutters. However that only works well for outline cuts, there's not much you can do for etching. For outline cuts you'll just have to select or create a custom bit size and you can use that to simulate the laser.

[@damariscotto1268]

@@ProductDesignOnline Thank you for answering so fast! I'll try what you mentioned. I'm not really interested in get the nc file, I just want to be able to simulate the outline cuts for educational purposes because due to the pandemic the school is closed and my students are not able to use the machines, I think this could be a good way to show them how it works.

[@pdxcnc]

Saving this for later 👍

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Do you have a printer in your shop?

[@pdxcnc]

@@ProductDesignOnline Just got one. Haven't had time to get into it yet but excited to get it online 👍

[@ProductDesignOnline]

@@pdxcnc wooo! Congrats! 👏🏻 What brand/model did you get? 😁

[@pdxcnc]

@@ProductDesignOnline That new Creality kickstarter, CR-6 SE

[@ProductDesignOnline]

@@pdxcnc Awesome. Crealitys are great printers. 😎

[@MohamedAfzal]

can you make a video on loc line systems designing on fusion360

[@SuryanIsaac]

I usually just go to "3D Print" under the File menu and choose "Send to 3D Print Utility" and choose Cura. I have a good amount of custom gcode, and I trust the Cura Engine to not mess up. Other advanced settings are also not accessible in F360. I'll stick with Cura now, but the option to use other slicing engines would be nice.

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Totally - I'm right there with you. Have Cura setup and primed for all 3 printers.... it will be interesting to see how it evolves in the coming updates.

[@SuryanIsaac]

@@ProductDesignOnline Yeah, it's much easier for me compared to F360 slicer. I don't think I'll ever switch, because I love the expandability of Cura. Also, Cura is connected with Octoprint so I can directly send the sliced gcode to my printers from Cura.

[@Titan3DAZ]

I'd really like to see autodesk buyout simplify 3d or some slicer and gain all of the inherent features and change the UI to be more slicer like.

[@saikiransai6501]

Thanks, Please make a video on gears construction

[@saikiransai6501]

Thanks for liking

[@7maszi7]

Unfortunately, there is no round bed option in the setup so can't use it with my delta printer.

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Good point! May be worth posting on the forum so they're aware of that (if they're not already). Cheers :)

[@makewithmegma]

💕👍

[@FuriousImp]

Wait... what?! Slicer in F360? 🤯

[@nveneno]

Great tutorial!!! I was totally lost trying to use Fusion 360 slicer. Now it works perfect..... any one knows how to add Artillery X1 to the library?

[@ProductDesignOnline]

You can create a custom machine in your Machine library. You'll have to setup the dimensions and other details, but it will be worth it for re-use as once you input it you will not have to again :)

[@mickmouse2258]

I see they even have a place when editing for including a PICTURE of your custom printer. Rather silly at first glance, but it shows the level of depth they were going for in the design of the slicer. Soon people will be sharing printer profiles, there's even a "Post" tool available, in line with their 'Web Centric' philosophy. Give them a year or two and they'll give Cura a run for it's money. Now ...? Not so much, very 1st Gen tech. But when you have the deep pockets ... they can hire top 3D talent. They're clearly aware of the 3D evolution.

[@sualpozel1]

Nice video Kevin, keep up the good work. i am definitely reading the comments :-) Sualp Ozel Fusion 360 Additive MFG Product Manager

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Thanks, Sualp. Looking forward to the future of Additive with Fusion 360 😎

[@gedr7664]

For me, I'm really missing tree support and Octoprint support! These are the last things that are stopping me from leaving cura entierly :S. Also non-planar slicing would be cool!

[@sualpozel1]

George , with the September release we added support for G2/G3 in the gcode. We also included a legend for the various colors shown during toolpath simulation. Stay tuned for future release for some of the functionality you mentioned above.

[@mcorrade]

ummm I followed these steps but my build plate always ends up vertical not horizontal. Not sure what I'm doing wrong and I really want to try slicing with F360

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Hmmm... Never seen or heard that issue. That one may be best for the official Fusion 360 forum where one of the Engineers can chime in :)

[@mcorrade]

@@ProductDesignOnline ok thanks

[@wardprocter2371]

Cura for me

[@la3el]

8:23 link? :D Again, top video and info´s, thx!

[@debuti]

Why is it a defunct app? Can we do the things slicer for f360 does without it?

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Nope. Unfortunately, the capabilities of "Slicer for Fusion 360" are not available in Fusion 360. Long story short, it was a product that Autodesk brought and it hasn't been supported for a few years now. It's useful for very specific workflows, so I assume not as many used it as they "need" to keep supporting it. Fingers crossed they'll take some of the tech and make it available in Fusion some day :)

[@MrSurtz]

I have tried to slice a model, but I can't, when I click on Machine "select", the Fusion 360 library is empty, it's displaying "No Data", what am I missing, do I need to download something. Please help.

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Hi Stephen. I believe it should've been included with your install. If not, you can also grab the machines and open/install them from here: cam.autodesk.com/machineslist

[@ricklynch]

Since it's not using the dreaded STL file format, I wonder if it produces circles and arcs using G02 and/or G03? If so, this would drastically reduce the size of the file. I've been complaining about the STL file format since the late 90s. I'm a machinist and have worked with 3D printed models and solid modelling for decades.

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Great point, Rick! I do know they generate the "tool paths" in a different manner than the typical slicer, but not sure the answer to your question without looking into it :)

[@ricklynch]

@@ProductDesignOnline If one would slice even a few layers with round geometry, then looked st the g-code, it would tell the story. I manually did this years ago in GibbsCAM and it naturally produced "proper code. Of course I had to input the extruder code manually, but none the less it worked. A clean Parasolid or STEP file sliced is league's better than a STL file! Seeing how Fusion 360 does the slicing is extremely promising! Thanks for the video! :)

[@sualpozel1]

Great question: all I can say is September will be a good month for us all :-)

[@ProductDesignOnline]

@@sualpozel1 counting down the days... :D

[@imjustapotatoleavemealone]

@@ricklynch Hey! The comment is old, but for anyone wondering: Fusion uses G02/G03 for turning machine, but not for additive for some reason. Edit: As it turned out my printer (ender 3 neo) doesn't support g2-g3 codes, it needs a different firmware to be able to process it. The program is capable of doing it tho, just have to find the right settings with the right printer.

[@Grazvius]

The lack of Octoprint support and difficult way to add custom G codes stick me with PrusaSlicer.

[@LuLeBe]

what does prusaslicer do for octoprint? I use cura and just have the octoprint watched folder as the cura output folder.

[@lostmanamiga38]

Slicer defunct? I am not hearing it!!! :) Great program ...still hoping for the best

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Same here! Spoke with someone at Autodesk last week... apparently, it hadn't been worked on or supported in a while (a few years). There are a few inside Autodesk pushing to get some of its features into Fusion 360. The more we all mention it on the forums and elsewhere, the more likely they are to make that happen :)

[@lostmanamiga38]

@@ProductDesignOnline there is a program called Pepakura, a free program on the PC that seems to be popular in the CosPlay community. I haven't played much with it (I have a mac for now). There seems to be an opportunity to combine some features. Doing that kind of work-integrated with laser cutting, 3d printing, and CNC work could be very powerful. Not really thinking this out thoroughly, - ask you being woodworker - but imagine doing furniture with soft features like upholstery in Fusion as well with the fabric or leather template created too ??? does this sound silly?

[@IlanPerez]

While it's nice to have an all in one software package I think the features and the flexibility of other slicers is far better. ...my two cents

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Agreed! There will be some unique workflows that make it better (with future releases) but it will be hard to replace others.

[@ericcsuf]

It's too limited at this point to be useful. There's enough there to see it's promising, but just too many shortcomings for experimenters and hobbyists. It might be fine in a production environment where they set it up and seldom change it. I'm sticking with Cura for now, but will watch how F360 evolves for 3DP capability.

[@ProductDesignOnline]

agreed 100% :)

[@ChristianLaufs]

I still prefer PrusaSlicer, only for Tree Support i go back to Cura.

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Good point! Tree supports are handy. What makes you enjoy Prusa Slicer over Cura?

[@ChristianLaufs]

@@ProductDesignOnline The fact that I can change my printer and my filament without loosing the data. When I change this in Cura, I keep ALL settings (which is nonsens) or loose everything!

[@cheetahfpv6476]

Its just way to many steps imho. I plan to keep on using cura but i will try it out and compare the results for sure

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Couldn't agree more! It's definitely a different mindset, as they mirrored the rest of the Manufacture workspace. I think we'll see more use cases come to light in the coming months. I'll do some project-based tutorials when they release new features for it :)

[@kelicomfg]

I like Prusaslicer much much better..

[@saikiransai6501]

My fusion 360 is student license can you help me to improve,please

[@wingtracer]

where is the windows slicer g code link you promise at 7:30

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Where is says "Tutorial resource page" www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/How-to-install-a-custom-post-processor-in-Fusion-360.html

[@alex.germany]

Too slow, too complicate. Compared to my usual slicer (PrusaSlicer) I see only disadvantages...

[@ProductDesignOnline]

Can't disagree with that.... I think there will be some unique workflows that make it worth it (with future releases).

[@gagegilson9122]

Thanks for not posting the windows steps 🙄🙄