{"id":56002,"date":"2023-05-12T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-12T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/?p=56002"},"modified":"2024-03-18T18:40:59","modified_gmt":"2024-03-19T01:40:59","slug":"get-smart-with-fusion-360-3d-modeling-terminology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/get-smart-with-fusion-360-3d-modeling-terminology\/","title":{"rendered":"Get Smart with Fusion 360 Part 1: 3D Modeling Terminology\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Part 1 of this series will cover the Autodesk Shape Manager and some key 3D modeling terminology to have in your vocabulary.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this series, \u2018Get Smart with Fusion 360 Modeling\u2019, we will find out how Fusion 360 generates shapes for us. As a result, we’ll gain a better understanding of how we can achieve the geometry we want. For example, Did you create a sweep with Autodesk Fusion 360 today? That’s a trick question! I know you did, but you may not have used the sweep command to do it. Stay tuned to find out what I mean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the meantime, Part 1 will cover the Autodesk Shape Manager and some key 3D modeling terminology to have in your vocabulary.<\/p>\n\n\n

Introducing the Autodesk Shape Manager (ASM) <\/h2>\n\n\n

To generate 3D shapes, Fusion 360 calls on the Autodesk Shape Manager (A.S.M). ASM is a modeling \u2018Kernel\u2019 \u2013 a software component that calculates 3D shapes. Fun Fact: ASM is also used by AutoCAD and Autodesk Inventor (among others). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ASM uses the Boundary Representation (Brep) method of calculating shapes. Breps are shapes based on Vertices. Two vertices can define an edge. A loop of edges can define a face. A collection of edges defines a volume (a 3D shape). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we create 3D forms In Fusion 360 from commands such as Extrude, Sweep, or Loft \u2013 we are using the Fusion 360 user interface to pass coordinates to ASM, which calculates the Brep and passes it back to Fusion 360 to be shown on your screen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Important terminology <\/h2>\n\n\n

Let\u2019s make sure that we are all using the same language when we talk about shapes inside Fusion 360. <\/p>\n\n\n

Geometry & Topology <\/h3>\n\n\n

Geometry can be thought of as the shape we want to create. Topology is how we get there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same geometry can be created using different topology. The same topology can be used to create very different geometry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n