Fusion 360 and BSF, BSW and BA threads

[Matt C BeechParticipant @mattcbeech]

Hi everyone,

I’ve scratched an itch today and written a tool (available in github, both as source code and a fully operational tool) to download the XML configuration files you need for Fusion 360 to have a full set of Whitworth and BA threads for modelling in CAD.  I’ve worked them out from first principles based on the British Standard papers.

Tool here:

https://matthewmcneill.github.io/FusionThreadsGenerator/

Source code and documentation here:

https://github.com/matthewmcneill/FusionThreadsGenerator

M

[DC31kParticipant @dc31k]

I am not a Fusion user, so do not know the answer to this: does it do BSP (ISO 7) pipe threads out of the box?

As you now have the code for the proper geometric shape of Whitworth threads, it might not be too much extra to add BSPP (G) threads. Taper ones might need a little more effort, but the parallel ones would seem an easy win.

Would we see BSCy and PG this time next year?

On a modelling note, related to 3D printing of threads, would it make sense to use the aerospace versions of metric and UN threads (MJ and UNJ) as they have rounded roots, for less stress concentration?

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

BSP, G and ISO pipe threads as standard though funny enough I can’t see NPT on my list maybe it is set for UK use.

Given the average layer height of 3D prints I doubt the crests and valleys will have that well a defined radius to make a lot of difference.

[Matt C BeechParticipant @mattcbeech]

I could do pretty much any threads you want, but we should check if Fusion 360 already has them in the XML definitions.  This is what comes by default:

ACMEScrewThreads
AFBMAStandardLocknuts
ANSIMetricMProfile
ANSIUnifiedScrewThreads
BSPPipeThreads
DINPipeThreads
GBMetricprofile
GBPipeThreadswithoutseal
GOSTSelf-tappingScrewThread
InchTappingThreads
InchTappingThreadsForPlastics
ISOMetricprofile
ISOMetricTrapezoidalThreads
ISOPipeThreads
JISPipeThreads
makeWebThreadUiData.js
MetricFormingScrewThreads
MetricTappingThreadsForPlastics

Or are you just wanting the tool to do all these ones too for previewing od copying out?  It’s a bit of work, I need to find the specs and the various thread permutations for each thread.  I’m not sure if Fusion can Model tapered threads.

It’s relatively easy for me to add more threads, just need to know what to concentrate on to be useful.

Matt

[Swarf MakerParticipant @swarfmaker85383]

That thread generator works really well Matt and is much appreciated.  As an archivist, my main use of Fusion is in reverse engineering old motorcycle parts and the native thread restrictions of Fusion are a signifcant inconvenience.  I have just tried your software and it will improve my workflow very significantly.  A full set of BSCy (CEI) threads as used by the cycle and motorcycle industries through the 20’s/30’s and beyond would be very welcome indeed!

Thanks again and Happy New Year.

[Matt C BeechParticipant @mattcbeech]

Implemented.

M

[Alan Wood 4Participant @alanwood4]

Thank you Matt.  This has made my Christmas.

Alan

[paul1956Participant @paul1956]

Thanks for that, a useful add-on.

Although those installation instructions match Autodesk’s own, finding the right folder in a Windows 11 installation was tricky as there’s an extra level of folders to navigate through at the moment not mentioned.

C:\Users\<my_user_name>\AppData\Local\Autodesk\webdeploy\production\2b84ec48843dc39cc73fec4274fad44f45968ec2\Fusion\Server\Fusion\Configuration\ThreadData

Note the second Fusion folder in the server layer

Also the ‘version’ folder isn’t the most recent, so I had to search through every version folder until I found one that had a matching folder structure.

[Swarf MakerParticipant @swarfmaker85383]

Thank you so much Matt!  I had not revisited the topic and had never anticipated that you would have introduced the new 26tpi standards so quickly.  Your effort is truly appreciated – and just now – being put to good use.

[Matt C BeechParticipant @mattcbeech]

Glad it’s of use.  I’ve been tweaking it so I can create custom threading charts that are optimised for the drill sets I own in my workshop too.

M

[Alan Wood 4Participant @alanwood4]

Hi Matt

I like the tables you have created.  Thank you.

In the ‘black bar’ header for each thread could you add the thread angle for those of us who can’t remember ?

Thanks

Alan

 

 

 

[Matt C BeechParticipant @mattcbeech]

Yes, I was actually going to add a whole section of columns for external threading, so if you are screwcutting on the lathe you have the nominal diameter to turn the bar to and also the depth on either (a) plunge depth of the cross slide, or (b) the compound depth and angle needed if you are cutting using the compound.  That’s the key things you need to know for the external threading I think.

I assume that’s why you’d be interested in the thread angle?

M

[Matt C BeechParticipant @mattcbeech]

Done.  I’ve also added some external threading data for the chart.  There’s a detailed document in the docs folder here on the considerations for the external threading data if you are interested in single-point threading.

https://github.com/matthewmcneill/FusionThreadsGenerator/blob/main/docs/THREAD_CUTTING_GUIDE.md

As usual, lots of different approaches to debate the details of.

M

[Paul LousickParticipant @paullousick59116]

I have worked as a mechanical draftsman for most of my life. First using Autocad, then Pro-Engineer and Solidworks and have very rarely modelled screw threads on a part. They require a lot of computer power to calculate the form and can slow down the model. Especially if there are multiple threads in a large assembly.

3D threads are only required if you are sending the model to a CNC machine or 3D printer. A note on the drawing is all that is needed to specify a thread. A typical drawing of the thread could be added to the drawing but it is normally up to the machinist to make the thread to the thread standard.

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