<p>Welcome to SE.3DP! </p>

<p>First off, F360 isn't the best with STL files. If you're having trouble with constraints and dimensions, I would suggest watching this Maker's Muse video first: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b27GKqMn_9U" rel="noreferrer">How to use Constraints! CAD for Newbies with Fusion 360</a>.</p>

<p>Second, Fusion360 is very tricky with importing STL's. My steps below should help.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>In the lower right-hand corner, at the rightmost end of the timeline, you'll see a little gear. When you click on the gear, click the very top option: "Do not capture design history". This puts you into <strong>Direct Modelling</strong> mode.</p></li>
<li><p>In the top left-hand corner, where it says "Model", and select "Mesh" from the menu.</p></li>
<li><p>Along the toolbar, in the "Create" section, click "Insert mesh". When that's done, go back to the top left where it now says "Mesh" and use the menu to go back to "Model".</p></li>
<li><p>Now that you're back in "Model", go to the "Modify" menu. In there, find the "Mesh" section, and in that box, click "Mesh to BRep". That will convert your STL into a Fusion360 file that you can edit.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Now, if you want to use constraints, I would suggest sketching out your object entirely in Fusion, making constraints and dimensions along the way. I know it's annoying, but it'll be easier to modify it in Fusion.
Hope that helps!</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-25T09:12:09.860Z
Correction: Fusion isn't the best to *modify* `stl`files, but it is great to *make* them
Trish
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-26T13:00:21.523Z
Also, if you use "Insert mesh" to load up your model into Fusion360, there should be an "Unit Type" setting in the "Insert mesh" dialog window. Here you can select different units like inch, cm, mm etc. So if you know what units the model was build upon you can select the correct setting here.
LWS-Mo
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-25T00:33:12.150Z
2019-04-25T07:40:52.013Z
2019-04-25T07:40:52.013Z
Levi Giesbrecht
<p>I had imported a <code>.stl</code> file into Fusion 360- from Blender, but I couldn't size it to my required dimensions. Then I tried to make an object in Fusion. It works but when I want to size it (by hitting the <kbd>D</kbd> key) it says:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>[Error: Sketch geometry is over constrained]...</p>
</blockquote>

<p>I realise if I add a sketch, that is flat I can size with <kbd>D</kbd> key but if I extrude it I couldn't size it any more. Same thing if I add a 3D object for example a box. Anyway I add a point on a face of that body (in the middle), then I could size it from that point to a edge but that all.</p>

<ul>
<li>What did I do wrong and why I couldn't I size that body?</li>
<li>How do I suppose to size it?</li>
<li>With the <code>.stl</code> file imported from Blender or with the body made by me in Fusion 360?</li>
</ul>

<p>Please help me understand how this site works with size...</p>

<fusion360>
Trouble with sizing in Fusion 360
ALEX
# Trouble with sizing in Fusion 360

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-04-24)

I had imported a `.stl` file into Fusion 360- from Blender, but I couldn't size it to my required dimensions. Then I tried to make an object in Fusion. It works but when I want to size it (by hitting the `D` key) it says:

> [Error: Sketch geometry is over constrained]...

I realise if I add a sketch, that is flat I can size with `D` key but if I extrude it I couldn't size it any more. Same thing if I add a 3D object for example a box. Anyway I add a point on a face of that body (in the middle), then I could size it from that point to a edge but that all.

* What did I do wrong and why I couldn't I size that body?
* How do I suppose to size it?
* With the `.stl` file imported from Blender or with the body made by me in Fusion 360?

Please help me understand how this site works with size...

**Tags:** fusion360

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-04-25. Score: 5

Welcome to SE.3DP!

First off, F360 isn't the best with STL files. If you're having trouble with constraints and dimensions, I would suggest watching this Maker's Muse video first: [How to use Constraints! CAD for Newbies with Fusion 360](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b27GKqMn_9U).

Second, Fusion360 is very tricky with importing STL's. My steps below should help.

1. In the lower right-hand corner, at the rightmost end of the timeline, you'll see a little gear. When you click on the gear, click the very top option: "Do not capture design history". This puts you into **Direct Modelling** mode.
2. In the top left-hand corner, where it says "Model", and select "Mesh" from the menu.
3. Along the toolbar, in the "Create" section, click "Insert mesh". When that's done, go back to the top left where it now says "Mesh" and use the menu to go back to "Model".
4. Now that you're back in "Model", go to the "Modify" menu. In there, find the "Mesh" section, and in that box, click "Mesh to BRep". That will convert your STL into a Fusion360 file that you can edit.

Now, if you want to use constraints, I would suggest sketching out your object entirely in Fusion, making constraints and dimensions along the way. I know it's annoying, but it'll be easier to modify it in Fusion.
Hope that helps!

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Correction: Fusion isn't the best to *modify* `stl`files, but it is great to *make* them  
> **username_3**: Also, if you use "Insert mesh" to load up your model into Fusion360, there should be an "Unit Type" setting in the "Insert mesh" dialog window. Here you can select different units like inch, cm, mm etc. So if you know what units the model was build upon you can select the correct setting here.  

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