Fusion 360 Update: New Features & Fixes for Modeling, Design & Manufacture

What’s New in Fusion 360 April 2019?

v.2.0.5688 version:

These recent issues are now fixed:

  • The Timeline marker disappeared when you activated a component, making it impossible to scroll back to a previous state.
  • Local rendering didn’t work when you installed Fusion 360 under a Non-English account. Now it works as it should.
  • We cleaned up some CAM code that was causing some in-stability in certain tools.
  • Contour selection in Manufacture became very polygonal and was no longer a smooth curve when curved edges were selected. This did not instill confidence, since you don’t want the machine to cut angles on a part that should have been round. Turned out this was a display problem. It’s now smooth again.

Usability Updates in Fusion 360

Mac App Store Transition

This update marks a shift in how Fusion 360 is offered. The Mac App Store version will be discontinued in the next major update, and development efforts will focus on the version available on the product page. This decision aims to improve update control and ensure feature parity across macOS versions.

Rest assured, Fusion 360 for macOS is here to stay. Focusing on a single distribution point will allow for better update management and a consistent experience across all macOS users.

If you’re using the Mac App Store version, don’t worry. Follow the instructions to transition smoothly.

How to Transition from the Fusion 360 Mac App Store

Thanks to Apple and the Mac App Store for the support. Fusion 360 for macOS will continue to be supported and improved.

New! Measure Tool Enhancements

The Measure tool now displays secondary units, providing measurements in both metric and imperial units simultaneously.

Improved! Design Name Display

Design names now maximize document tab space, ensuring the full name is visible even with multiple tabs open.

Improved! Create Mesh Section Sketch Location

The “Create Mesh Section” command is now “Create Mesh Section Sketch” and is located in the Design > Solid tab, streamlining access without entering the Mesh environment.

Notable Fixes:

  • HiDPI resolution toolbar scaling issue
    Addressed UI clipping issues on hiDPI Windows machines, improving usability.
  • Right-click > workspaces > 2D Drawing improved
    The “2D Drawing” workspace now defaults to creating a 2D drawing based on the active design.
  • Fusion 360 icon on Windows updates
    The Fusion 360 icon will no longer be moved or replaced during updates.
  • ESC key cancels timeline playback
    Fixed a bug where the ESC key didn’t stop timeline playback.
  • Sketch tab title issue fixed in PCB environment
    Resolved a glitch causing a missing Sketch tab in the PCB environment.
  • UI Preview issue with loading Add-ins
    Fixed an issue where Fusion 360 froze when toggling to the Tools tab with certain add-ins.
  • Selection issues in the Mesh environment
    Improved selection behavior in the Mesh environment to select mesh surfaces correctly.
  • Disappearing toolbar when closing/accepting “Generate” dialog fixed
    Resolved instances of the toolbar disappearing in the Generative Design workspace.

Data Management Enhancements

New! Trash Folder in Fusion Team

A long-awaited feature, the trash folder is now available in Fusion Team. Deleted items are no longer permanently lost.

Access the Trash Folder from the data panel by clicking the project name.

Project admins will have access to manage deleted items. The trash folder shows deleted files and folders with their deletion dates. Files and folders can be restored to their original locations.

Modeling Updates

New! Physical Distance Type in Plane Along Path at Point

The Plane Along Path tool now has a “Physical” distance type, allowing the use of actual distance values instead of scale values for precise plane placement.

Notable Improvements and fixes:

  • T-Spline engine updated
    Fixed issues, including crashes when extruding a Torus after applying mirror symmetry.
  • “One-off update…” messages addressed
    Removed the message that appeared when working with old sheet metal parts
  • Shell tool stability improved
    Resolved instances of software lockups when using the Shell tool on specific designs.
  • Issue with opening certain designs fixed
    Improved design opening for files not recently modified.
  • Thread angle on ISO Metric Trapezoidal Threads corrected
    The thread angle on ISO metric trapezoidal threads is now correctly set to 30 degrees.

Sketching Feature Improvements

New! Manage Lost Projections

Fix broken sketch projections more easily. If a sketch projection loses its reference geometry, the error message shows missing edges, highlighted in red. Right-clicking the Sketch entity in the Timeline gives access to the Manage Lost Projections option which allows relinking, deleting, or deleting all references.

New! Show/Hide Projections

A new option in the Sketch Palette now allows you to show/hide sketch projections for better control over the sketch environment.

Improved! Work Planes and Model Faces as Mirror Lines

Work planes or model faces can now be used as mirror lines in the Sketch > Mirror tool.

Improved! Move/Copy – Set Pivot Option

The Move/Copy command now includes a Set Pivot option to re-orient the manipulator.

Improved! AutoCAD and DXF Splines Editable

Imported AutoCAD and DXF files with splines are now editable as CV curves.

Improved! Project Splines Control Points Retained After Unlink

When an projected spline is unlinked from its original source, the spline will retain all of its control points.

Generative Design Updates

New! Streamlining Generative Design to Simulation

Easier reuse of generative design study setups in simulation studies. Newly generated designs now retain load case and constraint data. Export outcomes and apply loads and constraints in the Simulation workspace.

New! Generative Design Results Sharing Enabled

Generative design results can now be seen in shared documents, enabling collaborative analysis and export capabilities.

New! 2-Axis Cutting Manufacturing Method (Preview)

2-Axis Cutting is now available as a Preview feature for creating constant thickness designs suitable for various cutting operations.

Improved! Connector Obstacles Functionality Expanded

Connector Obstacles tool now recognizes new obstacle bodies created by copy/paste, mirror, and patterning.

Improved! Outcome Export Messaging

New messaging clarifies when the geometry conversion routine is used during outcome export.

Improved! Messaging for Failed Solves

Error messages now clearly state when cloud credits are refunded for failed generative design studies.

Improved! Pre-checks for 3 and 5-Axis Milling Constraints

Added pre-checks for 3 and 5-axis milling constraints to prevent issues with incorrect tool parameters.

Manufacture Updates

Improved! Round Shank Holder

Improvements to modeling round shank tools.

Accurately model a larger variety of round shank tools during toolpath verification and simulation, including:

  • Internal grooving tools
  • General turning tools with “round shank” checked on
  • Internal threading tools with “round shank” checked on
  • External grooving tools with “round shank checked on
  • Face grooving tools with “round shank” checked on

Improved! Angled Turning Tools

Angled tools can now set the compensation type to “tip tangent”.

Toolpaths can be programmed with an angled tool by either setting the “Tool Orientation” parameter in the operation, or by setting the “Orientation” parameter of the tool in the setup tab in the tool library.

Also notice that the tool compensation point in the tool preview picture is now correctly rendered.

If you have generated NC code for angled tool turning operations then you would need to edit your post processor.

Improved! Turning Simulation for Small Parts

Improved the quality of turning simulation for small parts.

Turning simulation in Fusion was very faceted for small parts. This update should improve the quality of turning simulation for these kinds of small parts.

Notable Fixes

  • Fixed: Invalidation Issue for Turning Setup origin change
    Changing the origin for a turning set up no longer has an invalidation issue.
  • Fixed: Invalidation issue for Safe z value change in Turning Setups
    Changing the Safe Z value in a turning set up no longer has an invalidation issue.
  • Fixed: Saving Tool Holder Unit Edits
    Fixed the ability to successfully save tool holder unit edits.
  • Fixed: Missing collisions for 2D Adaptive
    Collisions are now shown regardless of lead-outs being on/off.
  • Fixed: 2D Contour with Both Ways and Roughing Passes
    The 2D Contour toolpath now works correctly.
  • Fixed: WCS Override Default
    The WCS override is no longer ON by default.
  • Fixed: Inclined Turning tools
    Corrected incorrect behavior of inclined turning tools.
  • Fixed: Turn Boring holders
    Turn boring tools are now being shown with round holders in simulation and tool preview
  • Fixed: Swarf regeneration issue
    The Swarf toolpath now regenerates correctly.

API Updates

New! Curvature and Tangent Handles

Four new methods on the SketchFittedSpline object that lets you activate and get the arcs and lines that control the curvature and tangency.

New! Sketch Display properties

Added new properties to control display aspects of a sketch. These are areConstraintsShown, arePointsShown and isLightBulbOn.

New! Form Feature (T-Splines)

Exposed minimal Form feature (T-Splines) functionality in the API. Access T-Spline bodies, save an existing T-Spline body, tsm file, and create a new T-Spline body.

New! Custom Graphics Text

Support for adding text in custom graphics.

Improved! Boundary Fill and Trim Features

New cancel method on both the BoundaryFillFeatureInput and TrimFeatureInput objects.

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