exporting files to use as dxf

Hey guys I'm losing here big time! I'm assuming this is user error, when i export my file as a dxf its not showing up to correct dimensions or even as the item I've designed. I'm super new to fusion and was pretty excited I put together what i wanted to make but once it exports it shows up almost like all of the components have stacked over themselves and obviously if I tried to put that onto my plasma table it wouldn't go well. I attached the file hopefully it helps. if i had to guess my design process is junk and led to where i am now with a part that "looks" right on fusion but outside of fusion is nothing.

Hey Brent,

Looks like the exported dxf is splitting up into different planes for some reason.

What method are you using to export the dxf? from a flat pattern, or sketch, or drawing, or are you trying to do it directly from the file>export function?

I was trying to use the file export method. I did try to go through all of the post processing stuff but I haven’t been through the videos of that yet so I got pretty mixed up there

yea that's where you'll be running into trouble. If it's a sheet metal "body" in fusion 360 you can quickly create a flat pattern and then export a dxf from there.

Maybe attached a screenshot of your design and I can tell you the best way.

Also are you working on the free or paid version?

I'm working on the paid version. from the videos it looks like I need to create the louvers out of rectangular shapes to extrude them and bend instead or a linear shape. either way when I export this whole design piles up instead of keeping its shape. I use inkscape a lot for art type of stuff but fusion seems way better at getting proper dimensions for parts just gotta get a better hang of it I guess.

It should work fine with the model as it is. Open your sketch for the louvers, project/include the face of the body you already have, then finish sketch.

Right click the sketch and select save as DXF.

If this isn't working feel free to attach you're design file and I can do a quick screen recording to show you

If you could send me a screen recording that would be awesome. I did see the project options I'm sure I'm not using it correctly it doesn't seem to do anything.

I've attached a screen recording and dxf, so check them out.

Seems like you were going down the right track with the components and created the first sketch in the hood base sheet metal component but then created the actual hood base body in the main design component, so your component structure doesn't really work, and therefore simply exporting as a dxf wasn't working.

Exporting as a dxf straight from the file tab also won't include profiles from sketches only from 3D bodies.

Regardless the trick was to check the settings in the sketch palette and select "show projected geometries".

Then you can just right click that sketch and save as a dxf

Another point i'd add is to try to make sure your sketches are fully defined so the lines go black, it'll save you a lot of headaches in the future.

You're the best hope I can get that good at this stuff I really appreciate the help. Under 2 minutes you fixed that up, Thank you!

No stress, just takes time. Can be frustrating sometimes but there's always an answer