System Modeler

Fusion Manufacturing Extension

This feature is part of an extension. Extensions are a flexible way to access additional capabilities in Fusion. Learn more.

System Modeler brings visual scripting to engineering workflows in Fusion. Instead of writing code, you connect nodes on the canvas. Each node performs a specific operation, and data flows through the wires between them. Use it to automate repetitive tasks (such as creating geometry, configuring manufacturing setups, and generating toolpaths) or build reusable engineering workflows.

How System Modeler works

A workflow in System Modeler is called a graph. A graph is built from two building blocks:

  1. Nodes are the individual operations. Each node receives input values, processes them, and produces output values. Nodes cover a wide range: from simple math and list operations to complex geometry creation and CAM configuration.

  2. Wires connect one node's output to another node's input. Data travels along the wires from left to right as the graph runs. The path the data takes is visible on the canvas before you ever run the graph.

The Conditional Logic Error sample graph from the Base package. A Compare node (1) checks two number nodes and sends its result to an If node. Wires (2) carry the values from two Boolean nodes into the If node, which passes its result to a Raise Error node.

Base - Conditional Logic Error

Nodes come from packages. A package is a versioned collection of nodes organized into categories, together with sample graphs you can open and learn from. Fusion provides about 500 ready-to-use nodes in the following packages:

You can also create user packages to store and share your own graphs. See Packages.

Access System Modeler

System Modeler is available in the Automation tab in the Design and Manufacture workspaces. It runs as an add-in, so you need to enable it before it is visible in the ribbon. For steps, see Get started with System Modeler. After you enable it, click the Automation tab in the ribbon, then click System Modeler.

System Modeler button in the Automation tab of the Manufacture workspace ribbon

System Modeler workflow

  1. Browse the Library. The Library panel lists all loaded packages and their category folders. Expand a package to see its categories, then click a category to view its nodes.
  2. Build a graph. Drag nodes from the Library onto the canvas and connect their ports with wires. Data flows left to right, from source nodes through transformations to outputs.
  3. Run the graph. Click Save and run the graph save and run the graph icon on the toolbar, or press Ctrl+R (Windows) / Command+R (macOS). The graph processes the active Fusion document. Graphs can also import, open, or create new documents.
  4. Review results. After the run, each node shows a diagnostic badge. Open the Diagnostics tab in the Details panel for the full list of outcomes and run times.
  5. Save and share. Click Save save icon or press Ctrl+S (Windows) / Command+S (macOS) to save your graph to a user package. Export the package to share it with others or back it up.

What you can do

As your graphs grow, you can:

The same graph you author is the artifact your team runs, reviews, and changes.