Copy and Paste Sketches and Components in Fusion 360

In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to copy sketches within a sketch, to other sketches, and to other Fusion 360 files. I’ll also show you many problems that users face when trying to copy sketches in Fusion 360.

Second, we’ll take a look at copying bodies and components, including the difference between “Paste” and “Paste New” in Fusion 360.

TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Copy and Paste Sketches, Bodies, or Components in Fusion 360
0:43 - Copying a sketch within a sketch
3:30 - Selecting sketch geometry tips
4:43 - Copying one sketch to another sketch
7:50 - Copying a sketch to another design file
10:21 - Copying a body in the same file
11:00 - Copying a component - "Paste" option
12:14 - Copying a component - "Paste New" option
13:00 - Copying a body to another design file
14:27 - Copying a component to another design file
15:00 - Linking components between design files
16:00 - Summary of copying sketches, bodies, components

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QUESTION
Have a question about Fusion 360? Post it in the comments section of this video!

DISCLAIMER
This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. This helps you support the channel at no extra cost to you and allows me to continue to make videos like this.

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[ProductDesignOnline]

What video topics would you like to see me cover next??
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*TIMESTAMPS*
0:00 - Copy and Paste Sketches, Bodies, or Components in Fusion 360
0:43 - Copying a sketch within a sketch
3:30 - Selecting sketch geometry tips
4:43 - Copying one sketch to another sketch
7:50 - Copying a sketch to another design file
10:21 - Copying a body in the same file
11:00 - Copying a component - "Paste" option
12:14 - Copying a component - "Paste New" option
13:00 - Copying a body to another design file
14:27 - Copying a component to another design file
15:00 - Linking components between design files
16:00 - Summary of copying sketches, bodies, components

[tomgray]

1:40 Right click and select Copy - No, dammit, you can't because that option is not there. "Notice how when you paste it opens the Move/Copy dialog" - No, it doesn't. That would just be too easy.
EDIT: You neglected to mention that you are in Edit mode -- note the green check in the top right corner. If this check is not present, you can't copy and paste. For us beginners, it's really important that you tell ALL the steps.

[timothygould]

I just want to say thank you so much. The copy and past of this program has been so frustrating for me for years. You have the best explanation ever. Thank you thank you thank you.

[textorijum]

finally!!! a video explanation that actually works!
Can't believe they made Copy-Paste option so obscure and difficult.

[CGVega]

dang dude, slow speaking, clear and concise explanation, time stamps in the description? This is amazing

[beyondfossil]

Thank you. This video finally allowed me to copy sketches! Here in mid-2022, I think Fusion 360 could've been smarter about it though.

As in when pasting without an active layer, it should be smart enough to bring up a dialog informing the user as such. Then provide option to automatically create a new sketch.

Example: If user uses CTRL+V without an active sketch, then Fusion 360 brings up a dialog with message "An active sketch is required to paste a sketch. Create a new sketch?" The user then should have the options of OK or CANCEL. Would save sooo much confusion around the world!

[bspiegelman]

Great tutorial. As a newbie in this modeling space, the vagaries of how to do things which are simple in other software (eg copy and paste) can be very frustrating. I appreciate the clear explanations of WHY and how to proceed. Thank you for the content!

[TapticDigital]

The fact that Fusion 360 has been around this long and still can't get a simple, intuitive method of copy and pasting things is pretty sad. Autodesk used to make good products.

[ykcwimh]

Man, you and lars are my go-to for clearing up any confusion I have in this goddamn program. Clear and accurate, unlike the autodesk forums...

[chrisnurse]

2021 - This content is still amazing and valuable, especially to complete beginners like me.

[TNSR-Destiny]

It is so very helpful to have you calling out the key strokes as you go along! I have so much to learn and you pack it in there perfectly. Every 3 minutes a list of knowledge widgets.
THANIKS!

[crossthreadaeroindustries]

Great vid pointing out a difference between components and bodies I don't normally think about - component is the whole package, body is just a body...

[Seth-mbnt]

This is really helpful for newbies I'm sure, and though I've used Fusion a lot I was definitely surprised to see what you can do with pasting sketches after turning off design history. I almost never work with design history off. One of my biggest complaints about Fusion is the inability to link mirrors like you can with component instances/copies. Solidworks allows you to create an "off-hand" mirror which is linked to the original component and updates with any changes to the original. Really wish you could do that with Fusion instead of needing to roll back in time to before you mirrored the part to make changes that update the mirrored version. Copying sketches seems to universally have the same issue.

[sunpeter]

This series is a gold mine to me, no matter how many times I watched.

[TheDaveOutlaw]

Kevin
I did not realize how important it was to understand the nature of sketches and it’s relationship to how it reacts like a word document . That was very helpful . Not sure I remember you explain it in any of the beginners videos, but seems to be a key point newbies need to understand . I am a little reluctant to give advice as I never want you to think all the other training videos were not appreciated . I know these video take a lot of work and it is very difficult to teach something with so many interdependent concepts plus you may have covered it and I was not focused .

[zachmarker]

Finally found the info I needed around the 10:00 mark. I was copying a sketch and was unable to edit it. Thank you!

[dogyerf]

THANK the trying to paste into space without selecting a plane was killing me for 40 min.

[dominicread]

I came here to find out why I couldn't copy a sketch (and now I can) and then I also learned a ton more. I could have done without the non-parametric workarounds (who does that anyway?) - but with multiple rewinds I was able to grasp it all. Thanks

[new_comment]

I've come to the conclusion that copy/paste doesn't exist in Fusion 360. I have watched every tutorial, I have followed them to the letter. I have still never been able to copy and paste anything, in Fusion.

[ioglass]

the "copy" selection is apparently no longer in the updated version of fusion 360? i've tried looking at evey area in this video, the option isn't there. control c or v does nothing