topic Arrange / Align Irregular Shaped Components in Fusion Design, Validate & Document Forum

Arrange / Align Irregular Shaped Components

john.n.johnson — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 22:25:38 GMT

For my project (woodworking), I am using scraps/off-cuts from other projects to make a creative “artistic” collage of colored shapes and arrange/mount them on a wooden backer board. Most of the pieces are of differing dimensions for both circles and rectangles. To get a rough prototype/mockup, I used Fusion 360 to estimate (manual move) the layout and dimensions and alignments of the scrap pieces.

My challenge now, is how, in Fusion 360 paid version, should I approach this so that I can dimension, arrange and align the pieces such that they all lay out with "precision”, on the backer board (distances between components correctly and symmetrically laid out).

For info, I included the following material, which will quickly show what I am planning to do.

Exported “mock-up rough layout” of the project (F3D)
Dimensioned drawing (layout and alignment using manual move command) (JPG)
Colored rendering of what the final project would look like (JPG)

Thanking you in advance.

Re: Arrange / Align Irregular Shaped Components

jhackney1972 — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 22:43:27 GMT

The Fusion 360 Arrange command is designed to arrange bodies and components, in a defined area, it the most efficient way to use the defined area space within your spacing criteria. I do not think you can tell it to arrange in a desired "artistic" layout you have in mind. I do not think it is the tool you are looking for.

Re: Arrange / Align Irregular Shaped Components

laughingcreek — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 23:39:51 GMT

I would be inclined to drive the arrangement with the sketch for something like this-

Re: Arrange / Align Irregular Shaped Components

TrippyLighting — Sat, 08 Jan 2022 00:31:52 GMT

@laughingcreek wrote:

I would be inclined to drive the arrangement with the sketch for something like this-

Yep. Add a rigid group joint, and that's all that is needed to lock things into place.

Re: Arrange / Align Irregular Shaped Components

john.n.johnson — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 03:32:21 GMT

All, thanks for the input/feedback. Given that this was a rapid prototype project that I quickly put together using multiple components of varying shapes/sizes, I thought there may be a way to arrange the components as needed. A sketch, using constraints, dimensions, etc. is the best way to approach this. Many thanks once again for your valued support.

Re: Arrange / Align Irregular Shaped Components

john.n.johnson — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 03:35:50 GMT

Thanks John. I plan to see how the sketch approach using constraints and dimensions would work for this project.