topic Re: Changing Parameters of a Derived Component in Fusion Design, Validate & Document Forum

Changing Parameters of a Derived Component

kentYAEW5 — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 20:38:33 GMT

Hello,

I've looked around a little bit and can't seem to find a direct answer. It's looking like what I want to do might not be possible, but Im fairly surprised this isn't a more popular request:

In essence, I'd like to be able to have a "main" design template, then create different occurrences of that design with different parameters. The construction will all be the same, but dimensions will vary.

I understand that I can derive a component and its respective parameters to another design, so that when I update parameters in the "main" design all of its derived versions get updated as well. This is not what I'm looking for.

What I'd like is to be able to insert a templated version of a component into a design, then change its parameters from there. I don't want those changes to be reflected in the original version of the part.

This seems like a fairly straightforward feature. I'm surprised more folks don't have use for this sort of thing. Even if I derive and break link, there's still no way to go back and edit those parameters that I used for modeling the thing in the first place.

Am I missing something? Does this all make sense? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Jason

Re: Changing Parameters of a Derived Component

jeff_strater — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 20:50:56 GMT

What you are after is called "Configurations". It was released in October, and works like you describe. However, it is only available for paid, commercial users.

Fusion Configurations

Re: Changing Parameters of a Derived Component

davebYYPCU — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 20:54:37 GMT

In general Derived characterised as

Changes to Parent will change children when updated, children can not send changes to the parent.

Independent changes are allowed to the children.

How that doesn’t work for you is not clear.

Configurations were just released, where parent and children exist in the one file, there are fine print terms and conditions.

Might help….

Re: Changing Parameters of a Derived Component

Alessandrodap — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 04:08:34 GMT

I understand what you are saying. If I understood correctly, you want to have a blank design, then link in other designs/parts/components into your blank design, then be able to change the parameters of the linked in part without altering the original file. I believe that is what you said.

I am surprised too that others don't find this as a useful feature. I've never seen it mentioned until now.

What I do is drag and drop a part from the side panel into my new design and simply break the link. I'm then able to see all the parameters of that part. Only issue is that the component is no longer linked in, and if I ever make changes to the linked in part, I would have to repeat the drag and drop process to have the updated version in my design.

Fusion should think about adding this sort of feature. It's a very fundamental feature that designers use all the time. It's included in other softwares. I think fusion is just still very young.

Re: Changing Parameters of a Derived Component

vaino_komulainen_ax — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 08:00:05 GMT

This is exactly the kind of feature that we would also like to use when we make furniture assemblies.

For example, we have an assembly of a clothes rail, which includes the pole and brackets. We always have to break link when we bring it to the assembly and after that we get to change the length of the clothesline from the parameters.
If the parameters of the derived component could be changed so that they would not change to the original component, this would make our working methods much easier. Sort of like override derived component parameters.

If the original derived component assembly is modified, it would however change any other changes in the assembly where the derived component has been imported, but parameters would stay overrun.

This is a bit hard to explain, but I totally understand what the thread starter means.

Re: Changing Parameters of a Derived Component

Alessandrodap — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 12:58:32 GMT

Looks like we’re facing the same challenge here. I am also using it for furniture assemblies. Maybe we have to take this to the idea board.

Re: Changing Parameters of a Derived Component

betteridge_max — Thu, 29 May 2025 21:54:31 GMT

I think I have the same problem. I have an aluminium extrusion that is used in various assemblies. I want to be able to assemble it at many different lengths. I was hoping I could update the parameter of the derived part to recalculate at the required length (and ideally this could be linked to my assembly parameters), but I don't think this is possible.
My workaround at this stage is to insert the derived part and then Press Pull to extend it to the length I need. This way I don't need to make the extrusion a configured part and I can derive the part multiple times in the same assembly and have each one at a different length.

Re: Changing Parameters of a Derived Component

billbedford — Sat, 31 May 2025 12:01:50 GMT

If the derived file only contains sketches, it can be imported and then used for any length of extrusions.