An add-in for Autodesk Fusion 360 that automates the creation of heat-set insert holes for 3D printing, using insert dimension recommendations from CNC Kitchen.
- Pre-configured insert sizes - CNC Kitchen’s recommended dimensions for common sizes (M2, M2.5, M3, M4, M5, M6, M8, M10, and 1/4"-20 camera thread)
- Blind holes and through holes - Automatically calculates correct depths
- Automatic top chamfer (0.5 mm × 45°; fully customizable)
- Automatic bottom fillet (0.5 mm radius; fully customizable)
- Multiple holes at once - Select multiple sketch points to create several holes in one operation
- Timeline grouping - All operations grouped with descriptive names for easy management
- Direct integration - Holes are cut directly into your part, no manual combine operations needed
- User-friendly interface - Button in SOLID > MODIFY menu with intuitive dialog
- Windows: Fully tested
- macOS: Expected to work; not yet fully verified due to lack of hardware
- Code uses cross‑platform paths (
os.path.join) - No Windows‑specific APIs
- Icon loading and geometry creation should behave identically
- Code uses cross‑platform paths (
- Download this repository (Code → Download ZIP)
- Extract the
ThreadMeisterfolder - Copy the folder to your Fusion 360 Add-Ins directory:
- Windows:
C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\Autodesk Fusion 360\API\AddIns\ - macOS:
~/Library/Application Support/Autodesk/Autodesk Fusion 360/API/AddIns/
- Windows:
- Restart Fusion 360
- Go to Utilities → Add-Ins → Scripts and Add-Ins → Add-Ins tab
- Find
ThreadMeisterand click Run - Optional: Check Run on Startup to load automatically
ThreadMeister is also available on the Autodesk App Store (pending approval).
The App Store version installs automatically and updates cleanly.
cd "C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\Autodesk Fusion 360\API\AddIns\"
git clone git clone https://github.com/AndreasOKircher/ThreadMeister.git ThreadMeister- Create a sketch and place sketch points or use existing line/arc endpoints where insert holes should be created.
- Finish the sketch
- Click the "ThreadMeister" button in SOLID → MODIFY menu
- Select your target body (the part to add holes to)
- Select one or more sketch points
- Choose your insert size (e.g., M3 x 5.7mm standard)
- Choose Blind Hole or Through Hole
- Enable/disable top chamfer and bottom fillet (recommended: enabled)
- Click OK
All dimensions follow CNC Kitchen's official recommendations:
| Insert Size | Hole Diameter | Insert Length | Min Wall Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|
| M2 x 3mm | 3.2mm | 3.0mm | 1.5mm |
| M2.5 x 4mm | 4.0mm | 4.0mm | 1.5mm |
| M3 x 3mm (short) | 4.4mm | 3.0mm | 1.6mm |
| M3 x 4mm (short) | 4.4mm | 4.0mm | 1.6mm |
| M3 x 5.7mm (standard) | 4.4mm | 5.7mm | 1.6mm |
| M4 x 4mm (short) | 5.6mm | 4.0mm | 2.0mm |
| M4 x 8.1mm (standard) | 5.6mm | 8.1mm | 2.0mm |
| M5 x 5.8mm (short) | 6.4mm | 5.8mm | 2.5mm |
| M5 x 9.5mm (standard) | 6.4mm | 9.5mm | 2.5mm |
| M6 x 12.7mm | 8.0mm | 12.7mm | 3.0mm |
| M8 x 12.7mm | 9.7mm | 12.7mm | 4.0mm |
| M10 x 12.7mm | 12.0mm | 12.7mm | 5.0mm |
| 1/4"-20 x 12.7mm | 8.0mm | 12.7mm | 3.0mm |
Note: For blind holes, the add‑in automatically adds 1 mm extra depth for clearance by default.
In the config.ini file you can:
- Add your custom inserts.
- Set fillet and chamfer dimensions.
- Set blind hole extra depth
Easy configure hole according insert spec
Bore is associated with sketch dimensions
- Autodesk Fusion 360
- Python support (built into Fusion 360)
- Windows or macOS
- Print orientation matters: Test hole sizes for your specific printer and orientation
- Wall thickness: Always ensure adequate wall thickness around holes
- Multiple holes: Select multiple points to create several holes efficiently
- Timeline: All operations are grouped - you can easily undo or suppress the entire set
Button doesn't appear:
- Make sure the add-in is in the AddIns folder (not Scripts folder)
- Restart Fusion 360
- Check that the add-in is running in the Add-Ins tab
Inserts or holes are the wrong size:
- Add your own insert specifications to the config file (or change existing definitions)
Chamfer or fillet radius missing:
- The chamfer and fillet radius can be selected in the config menu
Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit issues or pull requests.
- Developed by: Andreas Kircher
- Code assistance: CAI‑assisted coding using Perplexity / Claude
- Insert specifications: CNC Kitchen
This project is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 (GPL‑3.0). See the LICENSE file for details.
This add-in is not affiliated with or endorsed by CNC Kitchen or Autodesk. All insert specifications are publicly available from CNC Kitchen's documentation. Use at your own risk and always verify dimensions for your specific application.
If you find this add-in useful, consider:
- ⭐ Starring this repository
- 🐛 Reporting issues or suggesting improvements
- 🛒 Supporting CNC Kitchen by purchasing their high-quality inserts
Fusion 360 may fail to create through‑hole extrusions in certain situations. This typically occurs when the sketch or target body contains complex or ambiguous geometry that prevents Fusion from resolving a clean cut.
Symptoms include:
- Missing through‑hole cut
- Partial cut that stops before exiting the body
- “Profile not found” or “Operation failed” errors
Common causes:
- Complex or thin‑walled bodies
- Ambiguous extrusion direction
- Overlapping or poorly defined profiles
Workarounds:
- Simplify the geometry around the bore location
- Ensure the target body has clean, manifold geometry
- Move the bore point into a separate sketch
Fusion 360 may fail to create the bore, chamfer, or fillet if the sketch contains too many intersecting lines around the selected sketch point. When ThreadMeister creates the inner bore circle, Fusion automatically detects all enclosed regions (profiles). If this area contains more than ~15 profiles, operations may fail.
Symptoms include:
- Bore not extruded as a clean cylinder
- Chamfer operation fails
- Fillet operation fails
- “Profile not found” or “Operation failed”
Common causes:
- Dense or complex sketches
- Many crossing lines near the bore location
- Imported DXF geometry
- Leftover construction lines or unused sketch elements
- Parametric sketches with heavy constraints
Workarounds:
- Simplify the sketch around the bore location
- Isolate the bore circle on a separate sketch
- Remove or convert unnecessary lines to construction geometry
- Avoid overlapping sketch elements in the bore region
Happy 3D printing! 🎉