What is the ʼCapture Positionʼ button that appears after moving a part in Autodesk Fusion?
Short Answer
In Autodesk Fusion, the Capture Position button appears after you move a component and Fusion detects that its new location is different from the last recorded assembly position. Use Capture Position to save that moved state in the assembly timeline. Limitation: it does not replace proper joints for motion-controlled designs.
What You Need to Know
Warning: If you click Capture Position repeatedly while testing movement, you can clutter the timeline with unnecessary position features and make assembly behavior harder to edit later. A common failure is using captured positions instead of joints, which leads to unstable motion and confusing component relationships.
How to Use Capture Position in Autodesk Fusion
Command: Capture Position
Shortcut: None
Quick Steps:
- In the Design workspace, use Move/Copy from the Solid > Modify panel or right-click a component and move it.
- After repositioning the component, click Capture Position in the prompt that appears if you want Fusion to record that assembly location.
- Confirm the move and check the timeline for the new position feature; if needed, enable the Capture Position prompt during component moves and review the move object type in Move/Copy.
Variables & Settings
Key Setting: Capture Position prompt after moving a component
Expert Setting: This option controls whether the new component location is stored as a timeline position change. In practice, use it when establishing a new fixed assembly state, but leave it unrecorded when only testing fit or checking clearance before applying joints.
Why it Fails
- Cause 1 (Geometry): The moved item is a body instead of a component, so Fusion does not treat it as an assembly position change.
- Cause 2 (layers/Locks): The component may be grounded or constrained by existing joints, preventing the intended repositioning behavior.
- Cause 3 (Command/Logic): The workflow uses free moves and captured positions instead of joints, causing inconsistent assembly motion and timeline confusion.
Quick Fix & Best Practice
- Quick Fix: If the position was only a test, undo the capture or delete the captured position feature from the timeline, then apply As-Built Joint or Joint to define the correct relationship.
- Manager’s Verdict: Use Capture Position only to record a deliberate assembly state change. For professional workflows, rely on joints for design intent, repeatable motion, and cleaner assembly history.
FAQ
Does Capture Position lock the part in place?
No, it records the new position in the timeline but does not replace grounding or joints.
Should I use Capture Position instead of Joint?
No, use joints for proper assembly behavior and use Capture Position only for intentional position recording.
Why does Capture Position not appear after I move something?
It usually does not appear if you moved a body instead of a component, or if the component movement was not treated as an assembly change.
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