Aligning parametricly defined objects

[georgehautodesk]

I've been searching threads for a solution to this, and can't find anything. I hope someone has a suggestion for something I've missed other than "it can't be done". 

Basically, to simplify the scenario, imagine you have two overlapping cylinders that have been shelled out. Their sizes are parametrically defined, and you want them to overlap each other at some parametrically-defined offset related to their size. You want one of the cylinders intact as a shell, and the other one "stuck" onto it at the defined spot. (Basically, not overlapped like a Venn-diagram. In admittedly terrible ASCII art, like this -> CO vs (0)  ...)

From what I can tell, moves can't be set with parameters. The threads I've found have suggest if you need to use parameters to position two bodies, create components from them and use a rigid joint, which can be set with parameters.

The problem with that is you can't define, as far as I can tell, any binary operations between the components (ie, subtract a component) -- it just overlays them on each other. If I was doing this by hand, I'd create probably create three cylinders, shell the first, align the second and third at the right point on top of each other, subtract the second from the first, shell the third and then combine the first and third via a join. 

Is this just not possible with Fusion 360? Worst-case I might just create the object I need in something else like OpenSCAD and import it into Fusion 360, but I'd be stuck using STL imports, and they're pretty much terrible in Fusion360. 

Any suggestions?

[TheCADWhisperer]

Can you File>Export your *.f3d file to your local drive and then Attach it here to a Reply?

[TrippyLighting]

You might have spent your time better watching introductory tutorials in Support & Learning section rather than searching for a solution to your specific design problem.

omce you understand the concepts on which Fusion 360 is build that sort of design problems is very quickly solved and there are at least two solutions that come to my mind.

[TrippyLighting]

Is this the thing you're after ?

[georgehautodesk]

Edit: I apologize for the snotty response. I'll have to watch it and see... 

[mavigogun]

Sooooooo fluid, Peter!    That was bitchen!

[georgehautodesk]

So that was basically exactly what I described, but I realize now in the interest of keeping it simple, I oversimplified. That works and does exactly what I laid out though. 

In reality I need an offset on two axis -- so the second cylinder is offset to the side and raised up. 

I was able to figure out how to do what I needed with that hint, though. I basically used the sketch to position the extrusions, and then did what I said in my first post -- extruded the second one twice, and used the first one to cut the other cylinder, and then laid the second one in its place. By setting all the parameters of the second to the first, they're guaranteed to slice things out precisely. That did it the way I needed.

I'm guessing if you were going to do something funkier like you wanted the second cylinder angled relative to the first -- like, say 45 degrees inwards for whatever reasons -- you'd create a plane, create a sketch along the plane and do the same? (It seems like Autodesk supporting variables in moves would make some of these thigns a lot less work...)

Thanks!

[TheCADWhisperer]

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@georgehautodesk wrote:
....

I'm guessing if you were going to do something funkier like you wanted the second cylinder angled relative to the first -- like, say 45 degrees inwards for whatever reasons -- you'd create a plane, create a sketch along the plane and do the same? (It seems like Autodesk supporting variables in moves would make some of these things a lot less work...)

Thanks!

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Can you File>Export your *.f3d file to your local drive and then Attach it here to a Reply that uses the workflow that you just described?

I'm guessing that there actually is a technique that requires a lot less work.

[mavigogun]

Peter, if you share the link to the screencast, will there be an option there to save it locally?

[TrippyLighting]

I don't really know, but I don't think so.