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Learn how to navigate and customize Fusion’s interface so it works based on your preferences and workflows.
Type:
Tutorial
Length:
8 min.
Transcript
00:03
Welcome to your first lesson on transitioning from mash
00:06
to
00:06
CAM to Fusion 360. The user interface
00:09
in this video,
00:09
we'll take a look at the user interface of fusion 360 highlighting
00:13
some important differences and how fusion 360 adds value to these areas.
00:18
When you first open Fusion 360 you will see some things that look familiar like a
00:22
command tool bar at the top of the screen and a browser on the left side.
00:27
Let's start with the one major difference between
00:29
fusion and master cam or any legacy tool.
00:31
The data panel,
00:33
the data panel is essentially your file management system
00:36
like windows explorer or finder on your mac,
00:38
except all data is stored on the cloud and is accessible directly with infusion.
00:43
Here. You can create new projects,
00:45
access existing projects,
00:48
upload and access cloud asset libraries.
00:51
See those involved in a project
00:53
and open an extensive library of training and
00:56
sample models including sample work holding components from a
00:58
wide range of vendors that you can save into your projects for easy access and use.
01:05
I'll open our gearbox cover project to show
01:07
you how the data panel offers several benefits
01:09
keeping your data at the center enables
01:11
a fully integrated workflow within fusion 360 allowing
01:15
a much more streamlined process when programming your
01:17
components compared to a legacy tool like Mastercam
01:20
Fusion 360 contains different workspaces for design,
01:23
manufacture simulation and so on.
01:26
Switching from one workspace to another displays only the
01:29
relevant features or commands respective to the workspace.
01:32
You are in
01:32
meaning you are not overwhelmed with unrelated commands and
01:35
you only have the tools you need to work with
01:38
switching workspaces doesn't require any data translation.
01:41
So there's no loss as you move from design to manufacture.
01:44
Of course,
01:45
you can always customize the workspace toolbars if you
01:47
need as you'll see later on in this video,
01:52
it's also worth mentioning that fusion makes it
01:53
easier to work with multiple files at once.
01:56
New designs open in a new tab.
01:58
So all open designs are quickly and easily available right at the top of the window.
02:05
Now heading over to the right hand side when you click on your name,
02:08
this drop down includes your autodesk account
02:12
preferences,
02:14
any fusion teams you belong to
02:16
and also your profile,
02:18
which gives you instant access to your Fusion 360
02:20
portal where you can organize your projects and files,
02:23
edit designs online directly in your web browser,
02:26
export to any number of file formats
02:28
and also build a discussions or wiki page for your
02:31
teams which can prove invaluable when discussing and sharing information
02:36
within the same drop down menu.
02:38
You'll also be able to modify your preferences including language,
02:42
workspace, specific units of measure
02:45
in graphic settings.
02:48
Two preferences I want to draw your
02:49
attention to are both under general manufacture.
02:52
The first is a check box enable cloud libraries.
02:56
If checked, this will allow you to access the asset libraries.
02:59
I spoke about at the beginning of this video.
03:01
Another useful option,
03:02
external editor allows you to choose the default external G code editor.
03:06
If for example, when post processing,
03:09
you want the G code to be opened in notepad plus plus,
03:12
just navigate to where the application file is on your disk and select it.
03:16
If you don't have a preference, the default with infusion 360 is brackets
03:21
going back to fusion. We can see under the help menu.
03:24
Also at the top right of our U I one
03:27
feature that's worth mentioning in particular the learning panel.
03:30
This is an intuitive tool that knows which workspace you're
03:33
in and provides tips based on certain clickable actions.
03:37
The learning panel is particularly useful if you're in new
03:40
diffusion as it guides you through the necessary steps to complete
03:43
a given task within a given workspace and acts as a
03:46
checklist to ensure you have covered the most fundamental features.
03:51
One last thing to notice on the top right of the
03:53
U I is the extensions icon represented by a wrench.
03:56
This is where you can subscribe to the manufacturing extension which
03:59
gives you access to advanced tools for additive and subtractive manufacturing
04:03
including inspection.
04:05
More information about each feature is available at the learn more link
04:08
for more information on the extension and how to purchase it.
04:12
Click the link in the upper right hand corner of this video.
04:16
Now we're going to take a look at the canvas,
04:18
the bulk of our U I where all the magic happens and how it differs from master camp.
04:22
The main differences I want to point out are the browser tree,
04:25
the view cube and the comments dialogue box.
04:30
The browser tree separates your program into named
04:32
views which capture the model orientation models,
04:35
which reference the design structure and subs which contain tool paths.
04:39
This helps both organize your program and provide
04:41
quicker access to the models and tool paths within
04:47
Autodesk's View cube gives you an easier way to manage
04:50
design views as it is integrated into the canvas.
04:52
So it is always available yet remains unobtrusive.
04:55
You can also set your view between orthographic and perspective.
04:59
This paired with your named views under the browser tree
05:02
creates a powerful combination when controlling your program views.
05:06
Next, the comments,
05:08
dialogue box allows you to discuss objects or features or
05:11
make general comments which are then uploaded to the cloud.
05:14
So they can be accessed both by those with access to fusion
05:17
and those via a shared web link on a web browser.
05:19
This makes it easy to discuss features
05:21
with key stakeholders quickly and effectively.
05:24
As you can see when I access our program on the web portal.
05:29
Now we're going to take a quick look at how we can
05:31
create a tool path and how the interface differs from master cams.
05:35
As you can see the tool path menu is divided into
05:37
five tabs that give you access to all of the parameters.
05:40
You would need to control the quality of your strategy.
05:44
Notice that all I have to do to generate this two D pocket tool path
05:47
is to select my tool and my pocket as fusion will take care of the rest.
05:51
Leaving me more time to experiment with the different settings or strategies.
05:56
Let's now look at how we can customize our toolbars.
05:59
This is extremely useful for users who tend to
06:01
use the same function multiple times during their workflows
06:04
to add an icon to the toolbar, just hover over it,
06:07
click on the three dots on the right and you'll be able to pin the icon to the toolbar.
06:12
If you make a mistake,
06:14
all you have to do to remove it is drag and drop anywhere outside of the main toolbar.
06:19
Similarly,
06:20
it is possible to add your favorite icons to the list
06:23
of shortcuts that's available by pressing S or new keyboard.
06:26
So if for example, I wanted to add engraved to my list of shortcuts,
06:30
all I need to do is click on the three dots and select pin to shortcuts
06:35
and if I now press s you can see that the desired tool path has been added to my list. It
06:40
is worth mentioning that the shortcuts are workspace specific and will change.
06:44
If for example, you're in the design workspace. As you can see
06:47
using the S key also allows me to search
06:50
for commands in that workspace and select them from
06:52
the drop down where I can also pin them to the shortcuts menu with the up arrow.
06:58
It is in fact possible to create a keyboard shortcut for
07:01
any tool that you want to access quickly and painlessly.
07:04
Let's say that for instance,
07:06
I wanted to create a shortcut for the engraved tool path. We just saw
07:10
just repeat the same clicks as before and choose change keyboard shortcut.
07:14
Here you'll be able to create your own shortcut as a combination
07:17
of modifiers such as control alt or command and alphanumeric characters.
07:25
One last thing I'm going to show you is the right mouse button menu.
07:28
If I right, click anywhere on the screen,
07:30
I'll have access to a series of commands that include among others,
07:33
undo redo and a repeat of the last functionality I have used.
07:37
So if I want to access a command, I have just used,
07:41
all I need to do is hold my right mouse
07:43
button and drag it upwards where the repeat action is.
07:46
If I right click again,
07:47
I can now quickly access some functionality that's
07:50
specific to the tool I just accessed,
07:53
this will make repetitive tasks much easier to perform.
Video transcript
00:03
Welcome to your first lesson on transitioning from mash
00:06
to
00:06
CAM to Fusion 360. The user interface
00:09
in this video,
00:09
we'll take a look at the user interface of fusion 360 highlighting
00:13
some important differences and how fusion 360 adds value to these areas.
00:18
When you first open Fusion 360 you will see some things that look familiar like a
00:22
command tool bar at the top of the screen and a browser on the left side.
00:27
Let's start with the one major difference between
00:29
fusion and master cam or any legacy tool.
00:31
The data panel,
00:33
the data panel is essentially your file management system
00:36
like windows explorer or finder on your mac,
00:38
except all data is stored on the cloud and is accessible directly with infusion.
00:43
Here. You can create new projects,
00:45
access existing projects,
00:48
upload and access cloud asset libraries.
00:51
See those involved in a project
00:53
and open an extensive library of training and
00:56
sample models including sample work holding components from a
00:58
wide range of vendors that you can save into your projects for easy access and use.
01:05
I'll open our gearbox cover project to show
01:07
you how the data panel offers several benefits
01:09
keeping your data at the center enables
01:11
a fully integrated workflow within fusion 360 allowing
01:15
a much more streamlined process when programming your
01:17
components compared to a legacy tool like Mastercam
01:20
Fusion 360 contains different workspaces for design,
01:23
manufacture simulation and so on.
01:26
Switching from one workspace to another displays only the
01:29
relevant features or commands respective to the workspace.
01:32
You are in
01:32
meaning you are not overwhelmed with unrelated commands and
01:35
you only have the tools you need to work with
01:38
switching workspaces doesn't require any data translation.
01:41
So there's no loss as you move from design to manufacture.
01:44
Of course,
01:45
you can always customize the workspace toolbars if you
01:47
need as you'll see later on in this video,
01:52
it's also worth mentioning that fusion makes it
01:53
easier to work with multiple files at once.
01:56
New designs open in a new tab.
01:58
So all open designs are quickly and easily available right at the top of the window.
02:05
Now heading over to the right hand side when you click on your name,
02:08
this drop down includes your autodesk account
02:12
preferences,
02:14
any fusion teams you belong to
02:16
and also your profile,
02:18
which gives you instant access to your Fusion 360
02:20
portal where you can organize your projects and files,
02:23
edit designs online directly in your web browser,
02:26
export to any number of file formats
02:28
and also build a discussions or wiki page for your
02:31
teams which can prove invaluable when discussing and sharing information
02:36
within the same drop down menu.
02:38
You'll also be able to modify your preferences including language,
02:42
workspace, specific units of measure
02:45
in graphic settings.
02:48
Two preferences I want to draw your
02:49
attention to are both under general manufacture.
02:52
The first is a check box enable cloud libraries.
02:56
If checked, this will allow you to access the asset libraries.
02:59
I spoke about at the beginning of this video.
03:01
Another useful option,
03:02
external editor allows you to choose the default external G code editor.
03:06
If for example, when post processing,
03:09
you want the G code to be opened in notepad plus plus,
03:12
just navigate to where the application file is on your disk and select it.
03:16
If you don't have a preference, the default with infusion 360 is brackets
03:21
going back to fusion. We can see under the help menu.
03:24
Also at the top right of our U I one
03:27
feature that's worth mentioning in particular the learning panel.
03:30
This is an intuitive tool that knows which workspace you're
03:33
in and provides tips based on certain clickable actions.
03:37
The learning panel is particularly useful if you're in new
03:40
diffusion as it guides you through the necessary steps to complete
03:43
a given task within a given workspace and acts as a
03:46
checklist to ensure you have covered the most fundamental features.
03:51
One last thing to notice on the top right of the
03:53
U I is the extensions icon represented by a wrench.
03:56
This is where you can subscribe to the manufacturing extension which
03:59
gives you access to advanced tools for additive and subtractive manufacturing
04:03
including inspection.
04:05
More information about each feature is available at the learn more link
04:08
for more information on the extension and how to purchase it.
04:12
Click the link in the upper right hand corner of this video.
04:16
Now we're going to take a look at the canvas,
04:18
the bulk of our U I where all the magic happens and how it differs from master camp.
04:22
The main differences I want to point out are the browser tree,
04:25
the view cube and the comments dialogue box.
04:30
The browser tree separates your program into named
04:32
views which capture the model orientation models,
04:35
which reference the design structure and subs which contain tool paths.
04:39
This helps both organize your program and provide
04:41
quicker access to the models and tool paths within
04:47
Autodesk's View cube gives you an easier way to manage
04:50
design views as it is integrated into the canvas.
04:52
So it is always available yet remains unobtrusive.
04:55
You can also set your view between orthographic and perspective.
04:59
This paired with your named views under the browser tree
05:02
creates a powerful combination when controlling your program views.
05:06
Next, the comments,
05:08
dialogue box allows you to discuss objects or features or
05:11
make general comments which are then uploaded to the cloud.
05:14
So they can be accessed both by those with access to fusion
05:17
and those via a shared web link on a web browser.
05:19
This makes it easy to discuss features
05:21
with key stakeholders quickly and effectively.
05:24
As you can see when I access our program on the web portal.
05:29
Now we're going to take a quick look at how we can
05:31
create a tool path and how the interface differs from master cams.
05:35
As you can see the tool path menu is divided into
05:37
five tabs that give you access to all of the parameters.
05:40
You would need to control the quality of your strategy.
05:44
Notice that all I have to do to generate this two D pocket tool path
05:47
is to select my tool and my pocket as fusion will take care of the rest.
05:51
Leaving me more time to experiment with the different settings or strategies.
05:56
Let's now look at how we can customize our toolbars.
05:59
This is extremely useful for users who tend to
06:01
use the same function multiple times during their workflows
06:04
to add an icon to the toolbar, just hover over it,
06:07
click on the three dots on the right and you'll be able to pin the icon to the toolbar.
06:12
If you make a mistake,
06:14
all you have to do to remove it is drag and drop anywhere outside of the main toolbar.
06:19
Similarly,
06:20
it is possible to add your favorite icons to the list
06:23
of shortcuts that's available by pressing S or new keyboard.
06:26
So if for example, I wanted to add engraved to my list of shortcuts,
06:30
all I need to do is click on the three dots and select pin to shortcuts
06:35
and if I now press s you can see that the desired tool path has been added to my list. It
06:40
is worth mentioning that the shortcuts are workspace specific and will change.
06:44
If for example, you're in the design workspace. As you can see
06:47
using the S key also allows me to search
06:50
for commands in that workspace and select them from
06:52
the drop down where I can also pin them to the shortcuts menu with the up arrow.
06:58
It is in fact possible to create a keyboard shortcut for
07:01
any tool that you want to access quickly and painlessly.
07:04
Let's say that for instance,
07:06
I wanted to create a shortcut for the engraved tool path. We just saw
07:10
just repeat the same clicks as before and choose change keyboard shortcut.
07:14
Here you'll be able to create your own shortcut as a combination
07:17
of modifiers such as control alt or command and alphanumeric characters.
07:25
One last thing I'm going to show you is the right mouse button menu.
07:28
If I right, click anywhere on the screen,
07:30
I'll have access to a series of commands that include among others,
07:33
undo redo and a repeat of the last functionality I have used.
07:37
So if I want to access a command, I have just used,
07:41
all I need to do is hold my right mouse
07:43
button and drag it upwards where the repeat action is.
07:46
If I right click again,
07:47
I can now quickly access some functionality that's
07:50
specific to the tool I just accessed,
07:53
this will make repetitive tasks much easier to perform.
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