Aligning a component along a non-XYZ axis

[martin_spurin]

Summary: I want to align the attached rod to a particular point on a custom axis and can't work out how to

Full context:
I am modelling a badminton shuttlecock. It has 16 feathers inserted into a cork, angled such that, when placed with the cork at the top, it looks like a teepee.

I planned to model one feather, copy it, align each one correctly, and then combine them with the cork. (To save extruding holes into the cork at complex angles).

However, I am really struggling to align it. I made a simplified model which has a base, a shaft, and sketches showing 10 points on a circle at two heights. One signifies where the tops of the shafts will go, one signifies where they will enter the base.

With this simplified shape, I can align a flat edge to the construction axis I created between two of the parts. But I have problems:

1) That does not position the top at the correct height and .If I try to align again, the orientation is lost. I could "Move" it, but would have to eyeball the height.

2) I want the middle of the shaft to be there, not an edge

3) In any event the shape of the feather in the real model doesn't have any nice straight edges, though it does have a small flat top and bottom.
4) Each feather will need to be rotated about its major axis such that they overlap each other in a smooth circle.

I am starting to think it would have been easier to create construction planes so the first feather could be create in situ. But it strikes me that as I get to using Fusion for more complex models I will want to use components that have been created elsewhere. Surely it must be possible to align components flexibly and accurately. 

[TheCADWhisperer]

@martin_spurin 

The Attached should give you some ideas.

[martin_spurin]

Thanks, that is helpful. (Only just noticed the pattern bit by the way, will look at that in a bit).

Generally speaking I can see how it works. But how did you get the axis-axis constraint? I couldn't select an axis on the component. Is there a way to attach extra geometry to the component to reference when constraining? I tried constructing an axis between the middle points of the two end-faces, but if I reference that in the constraint it moves and leaves the component behind. 

(With the test-file, selecting the face of the cylinder worked ok, but the real version isn't simple and symmetrical, so it doesn't work there.) 

[TheCADWhisperer · Accepted solution]

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@martin_spurin wrote:

1.  But how did you get the axis-axis constraint? I couldn't select an axis on the component.

2. but the real version isn't simple

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1. Order of selection is critical.  Switch the order of selection and then you will be able to select both axis.

2. Attach real problem here or sample that exhibits same behavior as real problem for real solution.

[martin_spurin]

Ah! I was trying to select some aspect of the body within the component rather than one of the component's origin axes. Using the origin axis works and solves my problem in the real file too. Thanks!