{"id":4549,"date":"2016-11-09T18:24:25","date_gmt":"2016-11-10T02:24:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/?p=4549"},"modified":"2022-02-24T08:01:39","modified_gmt":"2022-02-24T16:01:39","slug":"november-9-2016-update-whats-new-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/november-9-2016-update-whats-new-2\/","title":{"rendered":"November 9, 2016 Update – What’s New"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This “What\u2019s New” post has its own table of contents because of how much we\u2019ve packed into this update, specifically in Simulation and HSM CAM. This is also the last update before <\/span>Autodesk University 2016<\/span><\/a>, so you know, go big or go home. If you\u2019re in a pinch for time, check the various topics that matter to you the most. Let’s do this.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jump to a topic:<\/p>\n\n\n

Ultimate Subscription<\/a> | Simulation<\/a> | HSM<\/a> | 2D Drawings<\/a> | Modeling<\/a> | Usability<\/a> | API<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n
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Ultimate Subscription is back<\/h2>\n\n\n

You now have 2 subscription options: The Standard subscription tier and the new Ultimate subscription tier. The Ultimate option includes everything that you love about Fusion 360, and packs in additional advanced Simulation and HSM functionality. Yes, it costs more than the Standard tier, but what Ultimate gives you is still way more affordable than the status quo, and is great bang for your buck. Check out the <\/span>extensive comparison chart<\/span><\/a> on our website and decide which tier best suits your needs.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And yes, if you’re on our free student, startup, or hobbyist subscription, you’re automatically getting the Ultimate tier. For free.<\/strong>\u00a0Because sharing is caring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Need some more questions answered? Check out our FAQs<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Simulation<\/h2>\n\n\n

We’ve come a long way since the days when we had to rely on trial-and-error to determine whether the products we design will perform amicably or spontaneously combust into a fiery ball of death.  Software can now help us answer questions during the design process, questions like, “Is this thing going to break<\/span>? Is it going to fit together? Can I make it lighter?” Simulation shows you forces and loads and how they interact with your design, saving you precious time, materials, and headaches of experiencing design faults the hard way<\/a>.  We think Simulation is a key part of the design process, and that if you’re designing something, you should be simulating it so that you can optimize your design, before it gets in the hands of all your customers. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are 3 major areas where we made updates to the Simulation workspace. A solver overhaul, new usability enhancements throughout the workspace, and advanced simulation capabilities available for Ultimate subscription users. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Put your engineering hat on. It\u2019s about to get nerdy.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

Nastran Solver Comes to Fusion 360 <\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n

Autodesk Nastran<\/span><\/a> is now the part of Fusion 360! This allows us to expand on the current study types and provide much more advanced capabilities mentioned below. It\u2019s nice to be part of a family where we can share toys with each other, especially from our older brothers and sisters.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"install-nastran\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

 Note that when you run a local solve study for the first time, you\u2019ll see a quick prompt, letting you know that Fusion 360 will install the new Nastran Solver. After this is done, you\u2019ll have the new solver and will not see this dialog again (unless you uninstall and reinstall Fusion 360 that is).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

New Contact Manager <\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n
\"contacts\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Previously when you automatically generated contacts for your assembly components in the Simulation workspace, there wasn\u2019t a good way to manage all your contacts. If your assembly was very complex, going through the contact type for each part could become very a long and arduous process.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now under the Contact drop-down menu, we\u2019ve added a <\/span>Manage Contacts<\/b> tool where you\u2019ll find all your contacts in a neatly organized list, with contact type, penetration type, and some other info you can edit.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"contact-manager\"<\/figure>\n\n\n

Better Mesh Control and Accuracy<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n

Now when you generate a mesh of your design, you can fine tune the density of that mesh in specific areas so that you can maintain a certain level of detail when needed.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the Manage drop-down menu, there is a new <\/span>Local Mesh Control<\/b> tool. Select the face, edge, or body you want to refine, then use the slider to change the value, and get a quick preview of the new mesh density, represented by the green dots. Once you\u2019re happy with it, click ok and re-generate the mesh. Now you\u2019ll get a more refined mesh around that area you\u2019ve selected.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"sim_local_mesh_refinement\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"screen-shot-2016-10-20-at-5-35-05-pm-copy\"<\/figure>\n\n\n

New Bolted Connections (Ultimate feature!) <\/b> <\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n

Here\u2019s where it gets really fun. Now when you need to solve a study for a design that requires to be bolted onto something else, you can drop some bolts right onto the part with our new<\/span> Constraint > Bolt Connector<\/b> tool. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"bolted<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Once the tool is active, select the edge where the bolt is going to contact, then where the nut is going to be, and then go through the dialog and set the type of preload, preload value, and many other options. You can also set the Bolt Subtype to a threaded version if your design has threaded bolts. Aw snap!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"bolted_connections_sim\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You can see in this example where 3 of the 4 holes are bolted down to the plate, and the last one was left unbolted. The results show that unbolted area would be affected by the upward force applied to the top hole. Once the 4th hole is bolted down, the results got a lot more accurate in terms of where the hinge would experience potential failure. Neat!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"bolted-connections_example\"<\/figure>\n\n\n

New Multiple Load Cases <\/b>(Ultimate feature!) and<\/b> Compare Workspace <\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n

Previously if you had a number of different studies and wanted Fusion 360 to solve for them, you were only able to see the results one at a time. Now you compare results generated from multiple load cases in a workspace conveniently called Compare (<\/span>why complicate things, right?<\/span><\/a>) <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now within each study, you can also have multiple load cases.  This is especially useful when you’re using shape optimization, which I’ll get into later. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"screen-shot-2016-10-21-at-10-51-22-am\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Note that the Compare workspace only appears after you\u2019ve solved your studies and have gotten the results. Here are a couple of tips to start comparing your results:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. The first time you get in, you see a Two Vertical Views layout comparing 2 identical load cases. Go to the <\/span>Layouts<\/b> drop-down and select the view that works best for your needs. <\/span><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \"compare-workspace_viewchange\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    2. Click on each frame to activate it. Within the Load Case drop-down option, change the load to show other loads so you can do a legitimate side-by-side comparison of radness.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"screen-shot-2016-10-21-at-11-44-41-am\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"compare-workspace_rotate\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    3. You can un-sync your views by going to the Synchronize drop-down menu and un-checking Synchronize Camera.You can also decide whether you want to sync\/un-sync by Results Type or Min\/Max.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"screen-shot-2016-10-21-at-11-56-18-am\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    4. The Compare workspace will work with the same study with different result types, same study with multi-load cases, or different studies all together. A visual comparison will also included in the reports you generate. *MIC DROP*. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

    New Structural Buckling (Ultimate feature!<\/b>) <\/h3>\n\n\n
    \"structural-buckling\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Wouldn\u2019t it be great to know how many of your crazy friends your table could support before its legs gave out and the whole thing ended up on YouTube as a fail video? Well now you can! (as in try structural buckling in the Simulation workspace and please don\u2019t try it at home).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Just like any other study, set your constraints, gravity direction, loads, and run the study. Once you have everything set up, the results will show you exactly where the design is prone to buckle, demonstrated by this standing desk (designed by <\/span>Noorul Islam<\/span><\/a>) with a certain load applied on the table top.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"buckling-desk_not_good\"<\/figure>\n\n\n

    New Event Simulation Preview (Ultimate feature!) \u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n
    \"eventsim\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We\u2019ve mentioned Event Simulation before, and now it\u2019s available in the Ultimate subscription as preview functionality for you Ultimate subscribers to play with.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This study allows you to simulate realistic scenarios such as drop tests, snap fits, assembly forces and loads created during use. For instance, using event simulation and by setting up all the necessary study requirements such as distance, material, contacts, and constraints, I can clearly see what part of this buckle mechanism is undergoing the most amount of stress and displacement.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"buckle_event_sim\"
    \nYou can control the in-and-out motion with a simple slider tool once you have your results to see it in action.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Oh, but it gets even better. Since designs are meshed before each study, event simulation also has the ability to remove material to show breakage in real-time when a part has exceeded a certain amount of failure criteria. The example below shows it off pretty well. We\u2019d like to call it “Judo Chop”.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"judo-chop-event-sim\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Behold: we have 5 boards on top of each other, laying on 2 constrained legs, and a part on top of the first board with rigid projectile load going down, and obviously way too much for the boards to handle. Let\u2019s see what happens when we run the simulation. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"judo_chop\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Let\u2019s just watch that a couple of times. Austin Powers would be proud.<\/p>\n\n\n

    New Nonlinear Static Study Preview (Ultimate feature!) \u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n
    \"nonlinear\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    The best way to describe what a nonlinear static study allows you solve for, starts with understanding what linear static stress is first. Linear means proportional, where the stress and strain curve is a straight line. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Nonlinear static stress happens when materials enters a zone that\u2019s beyond its yield strength, in which case, it is no longer linear. As described in this <\/span>Quora answer by a structural engineer<\/span><\/a>, you may see your part showing permanent deformation, cracking, or energy dissipation (heat) when it is in this this nonlinear zone.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"main-qimg-72993e80a339da484f3d0bf9db882cea\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Now in Fusion 360, you can solve for these scenarios and see how your design behaves when it goes beyond its materials\u2019 yield strengths.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

    New Shape Optimization Preview (Ultimate feature!)\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n
    \"shape-optimization\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Also available as a tech preview is Shape Optimization, where given a set of loads, constraints, and mass targets, you can solve for results that help you optimize the shape of the design by \u201clightweighting\u201d. The results can help you understand the areas you can remove material, without affecting structural integrity.  <\/span>Colin Chapman<\/span><\/a> said this best: \u201cSimplify, then add lightness\u201d. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"shape_generator_example\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    This image shows the original part (left) and the optimized solve result (right). Red areas indicate where you should not remove material, whereas green means you are okay to remove that material. Oh yeah, remember the Mesh workspace? Yup. That\u2019s where you can take your simulation mesh bodies and lightweight them with all the mesh tools available. It\u2019s all coming together!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"screen-shot-2016-10-30-at-10-01-08-pm\"<\/figure>\n\n\n

    New Tutorials for Easier On-boarding<\/b> <\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n

    For those of you who are not familiar with simulation and feel a bit overwhelmed with all this simulation mumbo-jumbo, don\u2019t fret, we\u2019ve thought of you. When you get into the workspace for the first time, you\u2019ll be greeted with a Getting Started panel that has simulation specific videos, as well as step-by-step tutorials. Get familiar of what each study type means, how to set them up, and how to make sense of the results. The Getting Started Panel can be found in the Help menu, so you can get it back at any time.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"sim_getting-started\"<\/figure>\n\n\n

    Fixes<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n

    In addition to these great new features, let\u2019s not forget about bug fixes. Here are some notable ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    • Macmanpb<\/span><\/a> reported this issue where if you had a long timeline of features and opened\/closed the data panel, the timeline marker decided that it just had enough and disappeared. It doesn\u2019t get to make that decision. This is now fixed.
      <\/span><\/li>
    • We fixed a buggy experience where the sliding action can get pretty laggy in commands that have a slider with 2 toggles. Now it performs a lot smoother when you drag them.
      <\/span><\/li>
    • We added an angle\/rotation manipulator for Moment, Remote Force, and Linear Global Loads for easier use.
      <\/span><\/li>
    • We fixed an issue where when you turned on DOF view, went under the Contacts drop-down menu and selected Manual Contact, the DOF got turned off. Sorry about that, a squirrel must have chewed on the backend wiring.
      <\/span><\/li>
    • When you changed the load type to Hydrostatic Pressure load in the Structural Load command, selected a surface point on a face as target, and then turned on Point Coordinates, the distances are now no longer related to the Global origin. Another weird bug squashed.
      <\/span><\/li>
    • Before, the stress\/strain tensors showed the directions as Normal XX, YY, ZZ and Shear XY, YZ, XZ. Technically, the order indicates normal and direction vectors, so XZ should really be ZX. Now it is.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
      \n\n\n

      HSM<\/h2>\n\n

      New Fixtures in Samples Folder <\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n

      Under the <\/span>Samples > CAM Samples > Workholding<\/span><\/i> folder in the data panel, we\u2019ve added a number of new fixtures that you can use for the CAM setups. We will periodically add new fixtures in there as they become available, so keep an eye out for them!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"cam_fixtures\"<\/figure>\n\n\n

      3 New Tool Types<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n

      We\u2019ve added 3 new tool types to the tool library: <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      1. Tapered Ball<\/span><\/li>
      2. Facemill with support for corner radius and\/or Chamfer<\/span><\/li>
      3. Thread Mill<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
        \"3-new-tool-types\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        Al Whatmough posted a nice little Instagram <\/span>teaser video<\/span><\/a> a couple weeks back, showing how you can customize the thread count on your Thread Mill by simply scrolling your middle mouse wheel. Neat! <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
        <\/div>\n

        Oh boy, it’s coming… #fusion360<\/a><\/p>\n

        A video posted by Al Whatmough (@awhatmough) on