topic Re: A really confused beginner - grappling with parameters, copy, paste new, reference failures and insert in Fusion Support Forum

A really confused beginner - grappling with parameters, copy, paste new, reference failures and insert

nige_harris — Sat, 31 May 2025 16:11:25 GMT

Hi, I'd be very grateful for some pointers. I'm learning to use Fusion, and have created a a model with two components, one board with dovetails and the other board with the interlocking pins. See attached file. The model has parameters defined for most of the variable things, such as the number of dovetails, width, angle etc. I do not claim any credit for this, I've worked through an youtube tutorial!

I want to be able to re-use the components in another file, where I intend to design a wooden cabinet. Critically, I need to be able to modify the parameters for each component independently. I thought that the way ahead would be as follows:- copy, then in the target file, right click and "paste new". This appears to work, but brings up reference failure warnings. Looking at the parameter list in the new component, not all of them have come across. Some of them were computed using the dimensions on the sketch, and as far as I can tell, the sketch doesn't come across?

Having them linked, using a single set of master parameters, is not an option for me as I want to have several boards with different values.

Could someone who knows a bit more than me (!) please offer some advice, it would be appreciated.

Many thanks

Nige

Re: A really confused beginner - grappling with parameters, copy, paste new, reference failures and insert

TrippyLighting — Sat, 31 May 2025 20:42:57 GMT

If you use a paid subscription, you can do this very easily with the Configurations feature set.

You would have one file for the Board with Dovetails, and within that file, create different configurations for each of the various boards.

That board would be an external component, and you would link the different configurations into a design.

If you use a free subscription, Configurations are not available. In that case, you would create as many different board files with different parameters as you need and link those into your design.

Re: A really confused beginner - grappling with parameters, copy, paste new, reference failures and insert

davebYYPCU — Sun, 01 Jun 2025 06:12:34 GMT

You are not using Rule #1

Copy / Paste New will bring all sketches across that are in that Component.

Might help...

Re: A really confused beginner - grappling with parameters, copy, paste new, reference failures and insert

nige_harris — Sun, 01 Jun 2025 13:05:03 GMT

Thank you for taking the time and trouble to help me. It's good to know about the configurations feature.

Re: A really confused beginner - grappling with parameters, copy, paste new, reference failures and insert

nige_harris — Sun, 01 Jun 2025 13:13:36 GMT

Thanks for taking the time and trouble to help me out.

There are rules?! Yes, that makes sense. And it does help, a lot.

I've recreated the component, this time I made sure that it was activated and that the sketch ended up within it.

Now, when I copy and then paste new, each instance works independently and the parameters come across too, suffixed with 1, 2,... for each instance.

I'll leave it there, and have uploaded the amended file in case it is of help to others.

Thanks again.