Adding Features to Linked Components
yes, Edit in Place: ASM-EDIT-IN-PLACE will allow you to edit inserted geometry in the context of the owning assembly. However, this feature is only available for commercial and education subscribers.
Jeff Strater
Engineering Director
This is the world I live in- electronics boards inside cases. Best strategies may vary depending on the complexity and the desired goal, but I've found it easiest to work out in the enclosure design where things need to be located, then transfer that information back to the PCB / electronics design. For me, that's an iterative process, as electronic components may place limitations on physical dimensions and placement of more mechanical elements.
I'll usually start with a physical enclosure design- that's the most critical for me because of the nature of the products. I'll put a bare board or boards into that design as components that can be exported to the electronics side of things (I'm not the one doing the electronics design or layout). The electronics designer (to whom I am married...) will tell me where I need to change. We work it out, but keeping things in separate files that are linked and updated. In our situation, it's the physical, mechanical design that primarily drives everything. Your situation may be different.
I rarely ever use edit in place, though it can be very valuable in some situations. I find it helps me keep more organized if I keep design changes in each design file. Sometimes this means I create a sketch in one design, referenced to origin, and transfer those dimensions to another sketch in the other design file- which I have made sure has the origin in the same relative spot. That may be cumbersome, but it might be a workaround if you don't have edit in place.
Mostly Mac- currently M1 MacBook Pro
In my experience with Fusion, I think some of the most important insights are just how critical the "big picture" organization of your approach to a design is. Especially with complex designs or those that contain disparate elements, like electronics and mechanical parts.
It's really helpful to think through what it will be like to edit and make changes downstream. That usually means structuring distinct design elements as components or subcomponents, and others as separate files with links.
My guess is that rebooting the process and exporting the PCB is something you will thank yourself for down the line. If you need to make changes (and in my experience changes are always needed) it will be a lot easier to let them flow to linked files.
Mostly Mac- currently M1 MacBook Pro
Time traveling or cross file traveling is fairly straight forward. Create a new component in your main assembly file under the top node. Create a sketch on a plane on which the changes/positions can be projected. Make sure Projection Link is unchecked. Exit the sketch and you will be able to move it earlier in the Timeline or copy it to a different file. Move the Timeline back to the beginning in the new file before pasting (use Paste New) it. Delete the component in the assembly file when you're done with it.
Another option is to use the same parameters in both files. The easy method is to use the add-in, Parameter IO, to move the parameters between files. Insert Derive may also work for this.
ETFrench
