S3DtoFusion is a Fusion360 Add-In allowing to import s3dx savefiles from Shape3d X.
I am aware of the fact Shape3d X offers a "3D Export" option and this Add-In might look like a way to get around the (from a hobby-shaper's perspective "massive") investment for that option to purchase. But please keep in mind: While loading the File, some slight modifications to lines and points are necessary to persuade Fusion to do what I want. Also there are some approximations done due to some fusion-internals I can not overcome and some assumptions are made how Shape3d X does, means or handles things. This Add-In is strictly made for the DIY community, who want to play around with the 3D model in Fusion360 (But please, if you can afford it, buy the standart version and give the devs some love) and NOT for professional Shapers. Also, take a look at the known issues and file requirements to see if your board is able to be loaded properly.
As this Add-In is still in early development, there is no official Fusion360 installer. You have to add the Add-In manually.
You have two Options, manual or semi-auto:
Install the installer-script from the Fusion360 AppStore: Install scripts or addins from GitHub
Start Fusion (this works even with Fusion360 currently running) and press Shift + S
Click GitHubToFusion360 and press Run or doubleclick.
Paste this url into the textfield:
https://github.com/0xhexdec/S3DtoFusion
and hit OK, now its all set up.
Firstly, download the latest release of the Add-In.
Unzip the dowloaded file and rename the folder S3DToFusion-x.y.z to S3DToFusion, simply remove the version number.
Navigate to your Fusion 360 AddIns folder, (typically found here on Windows %appdata%\Autodesk\Autodesk Fusion 360\API\AddIns) and copy the S3DToFusion folder into the AddIns folder.
Start Fusion360 and navigate to the Scripts and AddIns dialog box by pressing Shift + S or navigating to UTILITIES -> ADD-INS. Choose the Add-Ins tab on the top left and click on the little green plus icon next to My Add-Ins. A file chooser should open in the AddIns directory. Select the S3DToFusion folder and click Select Folder.
Select the S3DToFusion Add-In in the list under My Add-Ins and click on Run in the lower right. You can choose to run the Add-In automatically on startup by checking the Run on Startup checkbox. If you don't do this, you have to manually start the Add-In after each restart of Fusion 360 (by pressing Shift + S -> Add-Ins Tab -> click S3DToFusion -> click Run)
Create a blank Fusion 360 Design, navigate to UTILITIES and click on S3DX IMPORT (either the Icon or the dropdown's Import s3dx entry).
The Command Dialog opens (look may differ):
Choose your s3dx file (the file needs to comply with file requirements), set the options to your liking and hit OK. The Add-In will do its best to create some useful data for you. This may take a while depending on your selected options.
This is a preview how the blank surfboard looks like.
Current features are:
- Importing the modifiable 2D Bezier curves (Apex, Deck, Rail, Stringer Top/Bottom, etc)
- Creating 3D Bezier Curves for modifiable curves (Apex, Deck, Rail, etc) - See file requirements
- Importing the Boxes (Finboxes, Leashplugs, etc) as 2D Sketches
- Importing the Slices
The ultimate goal is to loft the Board to a 3D Body. But this may take some time.
Due to the (strange) fact that Shape3d X saves all visible curves into the save file, but non-visable curves not (except for some special curves), it is important that you make all modifiable curves visible in the outline AND side views and than save the file to disc.
Modifiable curves are all curves you can modify within the slice view (at least Apex, Rail, Deck 1). You can make all curves visible if you like, they get imported to fusion then, but other curves than the modifiable ones are not necessary.
Disable all kinds of file protection!
- selecting different rocker planes has no effect
- The Sketches are a MESS!
- Starting the AddIn takes some time and Fusion is unresponsive during this time. I am not 100% sure why but a big reason is that I have to download a python package in the background. Will fix this someday.
- every form of "Non continuous" in the stringer or outline makes fusion to freak out, best to use the Tangent-Type: Continuous only (the type where both handles are fixed to each other) I try to work around this limitation in the future.
- the current bodies are used for a workaround, it's not that I like it that way
- I only own the standard license. therefore, not features from any higher versions are available (like Asymmetric designs, 3D Layers, ...)
Yay, another one. Please report the bug by creating an issue.
Important Note: The 3D body creation feature is in such a early state that I deactivated it completly. Please wait for a future update.
If you want to play with sneek-peeks of the development, try some Experimental Settings, these are always subject to change and I can't guarante for anything, neither material nor life.
Experimental features are prone to crashing, not stable and/or behaving weird. DO NOT EXPECT THEM TO WORK! Be happy if they do.
I use Fusion in Z-UP mode, it can have an impact in how some lines are placed. Create an issue if this happens, I will try to fix it.
Probably a bug, create an Issue and PLEASE attach your .s3dx file to the Issue. If you don't want to have it public, we will find a way how you can send it to me. If your file is confidential, you shouldn't use this plugin in the first place!
The current Add-In does indeed only provide script features. There are no background monitoring tasks but as this might be subject to change, I choose to set the project up as a Add-In and if needed, I don't have to deal with migrating from Script to Add-In.