How to Use Plane Along Path in Fusion 360
May 03, 2025
Table of Contents
Introduction
The Plane Along Path feature in Fusion 360 is incredibly useful when you need to sketch or place features along complex curves or model edges. Instead of relying on predefined planes or guessing the right angle, this tool lets you define the plane's position precisely—using either proportional or physical distances along any selected edge, spline, or curve.
Why & How to Use Plane Along Path
If you're working on designs with curves, splines, or angled paths—like a sweep, guide rail, or organic surface—you’ll often need to insert a plane partway along that geometry. That’s exactly what Plane Along Path is for.
When to Use It
- ✅ Placing sketches along splines or edge paths
- ✅ Creating sweep profiles mid-curve
- ✅ Building features like holes, cuts, or slots along a path
- ✅ Working with lofted or organic shapes that lack straight reference points
CLICK CONSTRUCT IN DESIGN MENU
CLICK PLANE ALONG PATH
SELECT LINE OR CURVE FOR PLANE
DRAG PLANE OR FILL IN DIALOG FOR PLACEMENT
FILL IN DIALOG THEN CLICK OK
How It Works
Once you activate Construct > Plane Along Path, select the curve or line you want the plane to follow. You'll see a dialog box with two placement modes:
- Physical: Define a distance in mm/in along the edge
- Proportional: Use a value from 0–1 (0.5 = halfway along the path)
You can click and drag the manipulator or enter the exact value in the dialog box.
Tips for Success
- 🟦 Use Proportional for quick symmetry
- 🛠 Right-click on the feature in the Timeline to edit or reposition the plane later
- 📂 Planes appear in the Construction folder in the Browser
- ⚠️ You can’t select a chain of lines—only a single curve or edge
🎥 Watch the Tutorial
Expandable Transcript
0:03 – One of the most powerful tools is Plane Along Path. It lets you create a custom construction plane anywhere along a path. 0:11 – In this example with a series of arcs and lines, I can drop the plane exactly where I want it—or select a specific point along that path. 0:23 – To use this tool, go to Construct > Plane Along Path, then choose your spline or model edges. 0:33 – The dialog lets you choose between: 0:57 – Point Along Path works on splines, curves, or individual angled lines—but not entire chains at once. 1:09 – You can place a plane in the middle of a line, drag it, or specify a distance. 1:18 – All custom planes are stored in the Construction folder in the browser. 1:21 – To edit a plane later, right-click it in the Timeline and select Edit Feature—you’ll return to the original dialog box. 1:32 – Thanks so much for watching!Click to expand the full video transcript (with timestamps)
