In this tutorial we will show you four different ways to use the Move/Copy tool in Fusion 360. With this tool you can copy sketches and components from one to another.

Use the numbered list above to scroll through the solutions to these questions:

  1. How to use the Move tool to copy a sketch.
  2. How to copy an element to a new layer.
  3. What is Sketch mode.
  4. What is the Activate Sketch feature for.

I will be switching between three ways of copying and pasting:

  • Go to the Sketch tab > Drop-down Modify Menu > Click Move/Copy > Check Create Copy (Shortcut: M).
  • Hold down CTRL + press “C” > Hold down CTRL + press “V”.
  • Right-click element > click Copy > Activate a different layer > Right-click view > click Paste or Paste New.

Want to make a hundred copies of a sketch? Save your time by learning how to use patterns in Fusion 360.

Copy Sketch

Activate the sketch mode and then use the Move/Copy tool to copy sketches.

Select the sketch entities you want to replicate in the viewport with a cursor selection or by holding down the CTRL key while selecting the sketch entities. You can also select the sketches from the Browser Tree or Timeline.

Steps

  1. Right-click the sketch > Click Edit Sketch.
  2. Select the lines or profiles to be copied.
  3. Go to the Sketch tab > Drop-down Modify Menu > Click Move/Copy.
  4. In the Move/Copy window, check “Create Copy”.
  5. Use the XYZ arrow to move the copied sketch.
  6. In the Move/Copy window, click OK.
how to duplicate sketch

✨ Tip: The Move/Copy window sometimes opens without the Create Copy option being displayed. Click Cancel and then try again.

Copy Component

Copy a component to a dependent new component.

Steps

  1. In the BROWSER window, right-click the component layer > Click Copy.
  2. Deselect the component (click on the background).
  3. Right-click > Click Paste New.
  4. Move the component using the XYZ arrows.
  5. In the Move/Copy window, click OK.
paste new in fusion 360

✨ Tip: Use this method to transfer a body from one design to another.

Sketch to Sketch

Activate the second sketch to which you want to copy the current sketch.

Steps

  1. Right-click the first sketch > Click Edit Sketch.
  2. Select the lines or profiles to be copied > Hold down the CTRL key and then press “C”.
  3. Right-click the target sketch > Click Edit Sketch.
copy sketch to sketch
  1. Hold down the CTRL key and then press “V”.
  2. In the Move/Copy window, click OK.
duplicate sketch in Fusion 360

Sketch to Component

Copy geometry from an active sketch and paste it into another sketch under a component.

Sketches cannot float in space in Fusion 360 designs. You must create a new sketch on one of the origin planes or a construction plane where you paste the sketches.

If you already have solids, you can create a new sketch on one of the existing planar faces by selecting it after clicking Create Sketch, and then pasting your copied sketch on that face.

Steps

  1. Right-click the sketch > Click Edit Sketch.
  2. Select the lines or profiles to be copied > Right-click lines > Click Copy.
  3. Click Finish Sketch.
  4. In the BROWSER window, move the mouse pointer over the component.
  5. Click Activate Sketch (white dot next to the name).
activate component in Fusion 360
  1. Go to the Solid tab > Create panel > Click Sketch.
  2. Select a plane or surface from a component.
  3. Right-click the background, and then click Paste.
copy sketch to component
duplicate component in Fusion 360

✨ Tip: Always check your active component.

If you want to model a sphere like this one, see our earlier post on how to wrap text on curves.

When you copy and paste sketches into other Fusion 360 design files, they are pasted as “Paste New” by default.