# Fusion 360 Cheat Sheet

A quick reference for designing parts in Autodesk Fusion 360. This is the handout from the **Fusion 360 Basics** class; see **Classes and Instructors: Fusion 360 Basics** for the class itself.

## The core workflow

This is the process you will repeat for almost everything you build:

1. **Sketch** a 2D shape on a plane or face.
2. **Extrude** it into 3D (add material).
3. **Sketch** on a face of your 3D object.
4. **Cut** to remove material (extrude inward).
5. **Fillet** to round edges and finish.
6. Repeat steps 3 to 5 to add detail.

## Keyboard shortcuts

| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| **S** | Search bar (find any tool by name) |
| **L** | Line |
| **C** | Circle |
| **R** | Rectangle |
| **D** | Sketch Dimension |
| **E** | Extrude |
| **F** | Fillet |
| **Q** | Push/Pull |
| **M** | Move/Copy |
| **Ctrl+Z / Cmd+Z** | Undo |

**Tip:** press **S** and type the name of any tool. It is the fastest way to find anything.

## Mouse navigation

| Action | Control |
|---|---|
| **Orbit** | Middle mouse button |
| **Pan** | Shift + middle mouse button |
| **Zoom** | Scroll wheel |
| **Reset view** | Click the house icon on the view cube (top right) |

## Practice project: phone stand

The class project. Dimensions are included so you can rebuild it at home.

### Step 1: Base

1. **Create Sketch** on the XZ plane (the floor).
2. Draw a **Rectangle**: 70 mm x 80 mm.
3. **Finish Sketch**.
4. **Extrude** (Symmetric): 10 mm.

### Step 2: Back support

1. **Create Sketch** on the back face (the 70 mm x 10 mm face).
2. Draw a **Rectangle** from the top-left corner: 70 mm wide x 60 mm tall.
3. **Finish Sketch**.
4. **Extrude**: 10 mm (away from the base).

### Step 3: Phone slot

1. **Create Sketch** on the top face of the base.
2. Draw a **Rectangle**: 50 mm x 4 mm, positioned 5 mm from the back wall.
3. **Finish Sketch**.
4. **Extrude** as **Cut**: -8 mm (leaves a 2 mm floor).

### Step 4: Fillet

1. Select **Fillet** (or press **F**).
2. Click the top edges of the back support; radius **5 mm**.
3. Optionally fillet the bottom edges of the base: **3 mm**.

### Dimensions reference

| Feature | Size |
|---|---|
| Base | 70 x 80 x 10 mm |
| Back support | 70 x 60 x 10 mm |
| Phone slot | 50 x 4 mm, 8 mm deep cut |
| Fillets | 5 mm (top), 3 mm (bottom) |

## Stuck? Check here first

| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Can't see my sketch | Click the **Home** icon on the view cube |
| Extrude is grayed out | Click **Finish Sketch** first |
| Extrude didn't cut | Undo, redo the extrude, and change Operation to **Cut** |
| Sketch lines are still blue | Add dimensions to fully constrain the sketch (it still works if you don't) |
| Can't select a face | Zoom in and hover until the *face* highlights, not an edge |
| Model disappeared | Check the eye icons in the Browser panel (left side) |

## What to learn next

1. **Components:** organizing multi-part models.
2. **User Parameters:** named variables for dimensions.
3. **Patterns:** repeating features in circles or grids.
4. **STL Export:** File, Export, STL, so you can 3D print your design.

## Resources

- **Product Design Online** (YouTube): beginner-friendly Fusion 360 tutorials.
- **r/Fusion360**: a Reddit community for questions and inspiration.
- **The makerspace:** come in and practice, and ask in #general on Discord if you get stuck.