Fusion 360 Starting.

A simple Hay Bale

This page summaries getting started in Fusion 360. The starting project will be a model of a bale of hay.

After starting Fusion 360 the home screen will include the toolbar as shown.

Note that Fusion 360 is in the SOLID mode. (Indicated near top left). Underneath there is a CREATE pull down menu which will be illustrated

Note the CREATE drop down box will be different in the sketch mode.

Create a new sketch

In the SOLID mode part of the CREATE drop down box is as shown.

In creating a new 3D project the first step will be to Create a Sketch which can be done by selecting Create Sketch from the drop-down box.

Hovering over Create Sketch will give the display shown.

Upon selecting Create Sketch the following two images will appear on the screen

This image gives the possible planes for generating the sketch. As shown the X (Red) Z (Blue) plane is chosen. Also the background grid is shown in the same orientation. Hovering over the other planes will change the colour and the layout of the grid.

3This picture gives the orientation of the sketch. In generating a sketch typically one face will be chosen to give a 2D presentation and then the orientation changed to see what the model looks like in 3D

For this project the XY or Top view will be chosen.

Generate a 2D Circle

Hovering over the X (Red) Y (Green) the image will change to blue. Clicking on the blue plane will give the following display:

The display gives the drawing canvas and a Sketch Palette. For this project it is assumed that the Sketch Grid is checked,

At the top left of the tool bar the sketch options are now shown along with the Sketch Pull down Menu.

For this project select the circle. It could also be selected from the Create Pull-down menu.

Click cursor at desired centre of circle (In example it is the drawing origin) and draw the cursor to give the desired diameter. This will be shown in inverse video. For a hay bale in HO model railway scale (1/87) the diameter could be approximately 16mm.

(If the snap to grid option is enabled) exactly 16mm will be difficult unless one of the axis is used)

Click on the desired diameter. This will fix the circle diameter and give a new centre point for a second circle. Since a second circle is not required to exit use right click and select Ok.

The resulting sketch will be the desired circle outlined in black to indicate the diameter is fixed.

Extrude the 2D Model

When the sketch is complete presss "Finish Sketch" on the right-hand side of the toolbar or at the bottom of the sketch palette

The project will now be in solid mode.

Hovering over the Extrude Symbol will give the screen as shown.

Before clicking on Extrude it is suggested to press the home in the view image.

The model will look as above.

Once extruded the object will be displayed in 3D

Clicking on Extrude will give the palette shown. It might be necessay to click on the model if nothing is selected.

In the Extrude Palette select the distance of the extrude - 12mm has been chosen for the hay bale.

This distance is chosen to be above the profile plane. Other options are possible.

Print the 3D model (ie Generate a STL File)

Upon pressing OK a new 3D object will be generated. If this object is going to part of a larger project it should be save using file>>sav as.

Note on the bottom of the screen there is a project timeline. Once the project gets larger it will be possible to move back to an earlier phase.

On the lower right there are a number of symbols. The first will change the orientation of the object on the screen while the hand allows the object to be moved. (It will be necessary to use the F2 key and press OK to exit from this mode.)

To generate a new 3D model the object must be sliced and printed. To transfer the model to the splicer it will be necessary to generate a STL file.

Hovering over the 3D Print in the file drop-down box will give the above screen.

Selecting 3D print will give the above screen.

Click on the object and press OK

You will then be asked for the name of the STL file. A possible name is HAY_BALE_Round.

It might be useful to include a version number or date should changes be necessary (Larger hay bales?)

Conclusion and My Comments

As a second project users may wish to generate a rectangular hay bale. Approximately 10x12x20.

With Fusion 360 it is possible to generate 3D models in many ways. My biggest problem was that I was able to generate 3D models by chance and then when I came to duplicate them I was unable through not really understanding the very basic steps. Hence the previous explanation has given more detail that necessary to generate a simple cylinder (hay bale) .

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