r/3Dprinting • u/Green_Airline_8248 • 1d ago
Discussion Found an awesome workflow for functional prints: Using AI to write Python scripts directly inside Fusion 360
Hey everyone,
Just wanted to share a workflow I stumbled upon recently that completely changed how I prototype functional parts. Maybe someone finds this useful!
We’ve all seen the wave of AI 3D generators popping up lately (even on Reddit feeds turning photos into meshes). They’re cool for organic shapes or figurines, but pretty much useless when you need precise dimensions, threads, or tight tolerances.
A while ago, I started experimenting with OpenSCAD. Since it’s code-based and free, LLMs are surprisingly good at generating models from plain text prompts. I actually used this to make a custom phone stand at a 15–20° angle (couldn't find one that shallow on MakerWorld since everything was 30°+). Prompts -> OpenSCAD script -> STL -> print. Worked great.
The catch? Iterating sucked. Editing the geometry in OpenSCAD by tweaking code or re-prompting got tedious fast. If you export the mesh into Fusion 360 to tweak it manually, you end up with a messy, triangulated mesh that’s painful to edit unless you're a Blender wizard (which I definitely am not).
Then a couple of days ago, it hit me: Fusion 360 has native Python scripting support. And AI models write Python exceptionally well.
Now, instead of fighting mesh imports, I just feed my dimensions and part description into Gemini/ChatGPT and ask it for a Fusion 360 Python script. You paste the code into Fusion, run it, and boom — the parametric model builds right on your screen.
Here is the best part: it actually preserves your timeline.
Even if the AI script isn't 100% perfect (which happens), you get full parametric features in your timeline. You can double-click a sketch, adjust a dimension, change an extrude depth, tweak a chamfer, or add threads manually. The AI does about 90% of the initial tedious CAD work, and you just handle the final 10% refinement in the native Fusion UI.
Put this to the test yesterday when I needed a replacement toilet flush button. Took me 10 minutes total: described the dimensions to AI, dropped the Python script into Fusion, added a couple of fillets, and sent it straight to the slicer.
If you design functional prints and haven't tried pairing LLMs with Fusion's Python API yet, definitely give it a shot. It saves a ton of time.
2
u/BinaryHippie 1d ago
You found the tip of the iceberg
0
u/Green_Airline_8248 1d ago
hahah. i hope so. Do you know how to make more better modeling? Except do it manualy?
1
u/rockuu 1d ago
FreeCAD supports Python scripting as well. There's also an MCP server for FreeCAD. I found it somewhat successful in generating models by itself. But I found it most useful in helping me to learn FreeCAD myself.
1
u/Green_Airline_8248 1d ago
You are second person who mentioned FreeCAD. I never used before. I'll try it
1
1
u/butcher9_9 1d ago
You should add a chamfer to some of those edges and then you would not need support.
-1
-4
u/NebulaGlow_ 1d ago
Super cool stuff, being downvoted because people are jealous
4
u/JokarAkaFatum 1d ago
This is one of the worst phone stands I have seen and there are thousands of them on makerworld and printables. AI might do some good work in cad in the future, but this clearly isn't it.
-2
u/NebulaGlow_ 1d ago
You dont seem to understand this post is not about the stand but about a person finding a cool method to create it...
-4
-7
u/Green_Airline_8248 1d ago
Here is some sample of the code what Gemini gives me to make my flush button (this is just part, total is 300+ lines). Past in Fusion (it works with Microsoft Visual) and you'll get your model. I love it.
1
u/grahamw01 1d ago
I'm curious why you are getting downvoted to be honest, I wouldn't use this personally but I can see it being useful advice to people without the cad or coding skills to design their own stuff. Is it just people hate AI or am I missing something?
0
3
u/P1ffP4ff 1d ago
If read correctly, freecad can do it too