Autodesk Fusion to Flux

Bring your Autodesk Fusion project to Flux and continue it here. Flux edits your imported designs, designs new parts around them, and adds electronics and firmware in the same project.

Import your Fusion designs into Flux

1. In Fusion, open the design.

2. Select File → Export.

3. In Type, select Fusion Archive Files (*.f3d), then select Export. For a design with linked components, Fusion saves a .f3z file.

Then, in Flux:

1. Select Flux menu → Import → Mechanical → 3D part or assembly….

2. In the Import Parts dialog, click Choose files and select the .f3d or .f3z file. You can also click Choose folder, or drop the files or a ZIP file on the dialog.

3. Select the parts to import, then click the Import button. The button shows the number of selected parts, for example Import 3 parts.

4. Flux creates a new part in your library for each design. Drag the part from the Part Library into your project.

Export STEP files from Fusion

You can also export a STEP file and add it to a Flux project as an asset.

1. In Fusion, open the design.

2. Select File → Export.

3. In Type, select STEP Files (*.stp).

4. Select Export. Fusion saves all of the components and their positions in one STEP file.

You can also right-click the design in the Data Panel, select Export, then select STEP.

Import the STEP file into Flux

Attach the STEP file in Chat → Attach File and ask Flux to add it to the project.

To do it in the UI:

1. Open your Flux project, or create a new project.

2. In the Inspector, open Assets, click Manage Assets, then click Add Item.

3. Upload the .stp file. In Assets, Flux accepts .step, .stp, .stpz, .iges, .igs, and .brep files.

4. Open the View panel and use the 3D view to see the model. For an assembly, Flux keeps each part in its original position, with its color and repeated instances.

You can also attach the STEP file to a message in the Chat panel and tell Flux what to do with it.

To add a component with its 3D model to your part library, select Flux menu → Import → Part… and upload the symbol and footprint files with the matching .step or .stp model. See Mechanical Design.

Import your Fusion electronics designs

Attach the .fsch and .fbrd files, or the .f3z file, in Chat → Attach File and ask Flux to import them.

You can also import from the menu. To move a Fusion electronics design, select Flux menu → Import → Project…. Upload the .fsch and .fbrd files, or a .f3z file that contains the electronics design. Each import creates a new project. Then add the STEP file of the mechanical design to the same project.

Fusion electronics libraries (.flbr) import with Flux menu → Import → Part….

What you can do with your design in Flux

Flux is an AI hardware engineer. After the import, your Fusion model is part of a Flux project. Ask Flux to work on it. Flux works on the mechanical parts, the electronics, the firmware, and the manufacturing in the same project.

Turn the imported model into a complete device

Ask Flux to turn the imported model into a complete device.

Use the imported Autodesk Fusion model or assembly as the fit reference for a PCB. Then add firmware for the board and a wire harness for off-board sensors or actuators where the assembly needs one.

1. Ask Flux to design a PCB that fits the imported Fusion enclosure or mechanism. Include its mounting points, connectors, and clearances.

2. Ask Flux to design firmware for the microcontroller and peripherals on the new board.

3. If the assembly has off-board sensors or actuators, ask Flux to design a wire harness between them and the board.

Edit the imported model

Tell Flux what to change. Flux measures the imported model and converts its parts into editable CAD code. It saves each edit as a new model and keeps your original file unchanged in the project. In an assembly, Flux changes the part you name and keeps the other parts where they are.

Design new parts and mechanisms

Ask Flux for custom parts that fit your imported model: brackets, mounts, housings, hinges, and mechanisms. Flux builds them around the real 3D models of your parts and boards. It uses screws, standoffs, and other hardware from the Flux part library.

Build assemblies and complete products

Ask Flux to build multi-part assemblies and complete products, from a handheld device to a robot arm. Flux places the parts by face, edge, or axis constraints, and places the board and its components in the assembly.

Check fit, strength, heat, and mass

Ask Flux to check the fit and the clearances between parts and to find interference. For a part under load, ask Flux to analyze the stress and the deflection. For a part that gets hot, ask Flux to analyze the heat conduction through the part. Flux also calculates the mass, the center of mass, and the inertia. Flux reports the results with numbers and images. See Simulation.

Simulate air flow, liquid flow, and cooling

Ask Flux to simulate the air flow and the temperature inside an enclosure with vents, fans, or heatsinks. Flux also simulates liquid cooling and the pressure drop in channels, and the drag around a product.

Design the electronics, firmware, and cables

Ask Flux to design the electronics, firmware, and cables for your product.

Flux designs the electronics inside your product in the same project. Ask Flux for the requirements, the parts, the schematic, and the PCB layout and routing. Ask Flux to write and test the firmware for the microcontroller. Ask Flux for the wire harnesses between the boards and the other devices, with a quote from a harness manufacturer.

Render your design

Ask Flux for a still render, a turntable video, or an exploded-view animation of your models. You can also ask for a product video of your device.

Export and manufacture

Ask Flux to export your models and to get quotes and orders for the parts and the board.

You can also export from the menu. Select Flux menu → Export → Mechanical → PCB 3D model to export STL, STEP, STEP compressed, GLB, COLLADA, BREP, VRML, or XAO files. Open the STEP file in Fusion to continue the work there.

Ask Flux for 3D-printing quotes from vendors such as Craftcloud, JLCPCB 3D printing, and PCBWay 3D printing, and for laser-cut and sheet-metal quotes from SendCutSend and OSH Cut. Ask Flux to order the 3D-printed parts from Craftcloud. For the board, ask Flux for PCB quotes and orders. See Export and manufacturing.

Fusion concepts in Flux

Related pages

• Mechanical Design

• Mechanical Design FAQs

• Simulation