Import and Edit STL Files in Fusion 360 2024

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Published 2022-01-21
Import and Edit STL files in Fusion 360 on the free Personal Use license. Learn how to remove those mesh triangles (facets) using 3 core techniques. These Edit STL techniques range from beginner to advanced concepts, all of which are covered in this lesson.

Thanks to Thangs.com for helping us create this free learning resource.

TUTORIAL RESOURCES
1. Demo Files ➞ bit.ly/STLfiles
2. Checklist for F360 beginners ➞ bit.ly/f360checklist

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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Import and Edit STL files in Fusion 360
00:30 - Import STL in Fusion 360
01:25 - Convert Mesh to STL in Fusion 360
02:51 - One: Self Repair mesh facets in Fusion 360
03:40 - Two: Fix simple mesh surfaces
07:03 - Three: Fix complex mesh surfaces
10:37 - Stitch surface bodies in Fusion 360
12:08 - How to version control STL files


Disclaimer:
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#Fusion360 #ProductDesignOnline #3dprinting

All Comments (21)
  • I watch this film every time I need to do this. Fusion 360 manages to complicate the most essential things so much. Thanks for this film!
  • @MikiCab1
    One of the best Fusion 360 videos I have ever seen. Usually there is one step missing that prevents the student from being able to follow along without hours of frustration. Very well done. You are now my Fusion 360 tutor of choice.
  • @apparentlywyatt
    This is the exact video I've been searching for since I started using fusion in December. Thank you!
  • I have been watching a few fusion 360 tutorials on and off for the last couple years as I’ve needed and I find your to be the better of them. Clear and concise! Thank you! Subbed.
  • @glittalogik
    Sharing because this might come in handy for other newbies who want to trim off parts of a complex mesh body without loads of faffing about: - Create a new 'tool' body in the desired negative shape - Position the tool intersecting with the unwanted bits of your converted mesh body - Combine the two bodies using Solid > Modify > Combine > Cut - The tool and unwanted mesh bits go bye-bye and you're left with nice smooth surfaces. I figured this out while adding a threaded end-cap STL to my project. The walls of the cap were way too thick, so I made a hollow cylinder shell with inner diameter matching my desired outer diameter for the cap. I slid the cylinder down over the cap, did the above, and now it's perfect :) The threaded area is a maze of tiny faces that I don't want to screw up (heh) so this was a great way to fix the rest with no risk to the functional bit.
  • @mrCetus
    You literally just made my day! I was really frustrated with Fusion 360 a few days ago because I wasn't able to use the prismatic method and had no idea how to clean up the mess Fusion left me with. Horrified by the choice of learning another CAD software (start from zero again - who has the time?) or paying more for a single piece of software than I paid for my laptop I had to put the project on hold for a few days. Now this workaround seems fast and easy enough for my needs and will save me a lot of headache in the future, thank you so much!
  • @97JoMiller
    This was super helpful! It really helped me get moving on editing files where I can take something "close" that someone else created and then edit it from there to fill my actual needs. AWESOME!
  • I don't know if they changed/updated this, but at 1:13 there was no "Mesh Display" option in the drop down. After some searching I found that the face group colors can now be turned on via "inspect > Display Mesh face groups"
  • @peacekper
    Thank you so much for the helpful video! I haven't touched any CAD software in about 10 years and recently got into 3d printing and these videos are awesome.
  • @reaford2004
    I find your videos to be amazingly helpful. I really wish you offered some sort of "live" course. I think it would be amazing. I am a physician by training and have essentially learned Fusion360 (at least many concepts) completely from your videos.
  • This is probably the only video in the entire 3D Modelling landscape that exactly solves my problem. Very thanks, mate.
  • @sualpozel1
    A great video for all who are on the personal license of Fusion 360 and work with mesh bodies.
  • @malakov5
    Thanks a lot for this. There are tons of videos about cleaning up STL but they are all on the paid version or a student license and sometimes fail to mention that. This video really helped me get to started.
  • @mv_1097
    This is seriously the one and only video that helped me! Thank you and cheers!
  • @vlozity
    wow... finally a really good tutorial to clean STL models, thanks!
  • @Way2Do
    I was searching for another video but I'm happy that YouTube recommended yours. Simple and perfect. Subscribed to your channel to keep learning! Thanks
  • @quentinlecoq
    Clearly the best fusion video out here. Clear, concise, fast. I understood way much here than anywhere. Thanks a lot!
  • @ColinWatters
    Great video. I've been using F360 for awhile and still learnt a few new tricks. Will have to book mark this vid.