You will need to spend a little time with the Manual Explode tool to move all the components around into the starting positions for the assembly. The Manual Explode function allows you to select a component in your assembly and move it away from the rest of the assembly.

To move the components, use the Manual Explode command from the Transform menu in the ribbon. With the scrub head at the beginning of the Timeline, we can move the components around or change their visibility and the animation will begin with the components in the positions we set now. Move the scrub head to the far left side of the Timeline by clicking on this curtain icon. On the far left side of the timeline, there is a red curtain icon. In the Timeline, you can move the scrub head forwards and backwards in time as we create the assembly. Now that we are familiar with the Animation workspace, we will begin creating the assembly animation by setting the initial position of the components. The ribbon menu contains controls for creating the animation. These animated assembly guides can be saved as videos, allowing the addition of narration or other voice-overs, or they can be published as animated GIFs. In this post, we will learn how to use Autodesk Fusion 360 to create assembly animations for products designed using the software.

Rather than using static assembly images, videos and GIFs can be used to convey much more meaning and make the assembly process easier to understand. Online instruction manuals have so much more potential than paper manuals though. Some companies are beginning to transition to online instruction and assembly manuals but these are often just PDF versions of the paper manuals included in the box. We’ve all also purchased many of these products, opened their boxes, and discovered that the assembly instructions provided by the product manufacturer are confusing at best, and sometimes are so unintelligible as to be completely worthless. Flat-pack furniture, kid’s toys, shelving kits, smart home products, small appliances, and many other products are delivered in pieces to be put together at home, or at the very least require the consumer to install the products in their home by hand. We’ve all purchased products requiring assembly or installation at home we’ve all probably purchased many such products.

Animation in fusion 360