Best practice workflow for design workholding fixture?

[HelmholtzW]

I'm a new Fusion360 user and had a pretty basic workflow question. I've been reviewing the tutorials on the autodesk youtube channel but haven't come across this topic. 

What is the best way to design workholding fixtures for an existing model? 

Let's say we have a component that will be machined on 6 sides. We're going to make two 8-out fixtures. One to machine 5 sides of the component, and the second to face the 6th side. 

Do you design/model the two fixtures in a new design file and reference the component? How do you make sure that any changes to the original component are propagted downstream to the fixtures?

as a follow up how would you model an 8-out fixture so that all stations get updated? I'm assuming the pattern function? 

I want to make sure I don't make errors in my workflow that make it unfeasible to make changes later.

I'd love to hear the recommended method for keeping a project like this organized. If you have advice, please be pretty specific. I'm still learning where everything is. 

thanks!

[TrippyLighting]

I blieve the reason no one has answered your question yet is because it is a broad question to explain.

When done reading through this post, the first thing you should do is to watch all of the 60 minutes of video tutorials in the learn section. Some of what I write here will make more sense 😉

1. You can keep the product, an both fixtures in the same design file. Fusion 360 is differnt from many traditional CAD packages in that it does not diferentiate betwen a part and a assembly file. This will alow you to conveniently mantain associativity between all the different components, meaning if you use a component multiple times in your design and need to change it, the changes propagate to all identical components.
2. Work with components! Many new users, CAD newbies as well as seasoned CAD veterans step into this trap and start their workflow with only with scetches and bodies. Fusion 360 R.U.L.E #1 is: Create a component and activate it. Here is a little video tutorial created by @keqingsong explaining the advantages of working with Components. Also, here is a link to a Class held at Autodesk University 2015 held by Sachlene Singh and Phil Eichmueller that is loaded with valuable tips. 

    

That should put you on the right track and avoids me having to write a novel 😉

[HelmholtzW]

Yes, I realized that it was a broad question, but of course, many workflow questions are. I did find my answer after communicating with Lars Christensen. He had two videos that answered the question, at least a large part of it.

You are 100% correct about needing a better understanding of how to work with components. I fell into this trap as many of the basic tutorial videos begin sketching and modeling, but never tell the new fusion user to always create a component first!

In case someone comes across this, these two videos will have you making parts quickly with fusion360:

How to hold on to complex parts in your mill

https://youtu.be/6mdp5n40YWE

Make your life easier with CAM component pattern

https://youtu.be/YOUnCDH9cko

Thanks for that link to the AU. I was unaware of that resource. As a new fusion360 user, I'd love to see a a training series 'from concept to CAM' that really goes through the necessary workflow processes to avoid productivity traps! perhaps I'll find one on the AU website. Thanks for those links.