Best way to create connectors for models?

[alphatester77]

Hi all,

Just looking for some general advice - I've been using Fusion 360 to create loads of 3d print models and increasingly I'm finding myself recreating 'connectors' for models that have multiple parts and need joined together - ie simple pegs, domino-style fittings, click fit plugs and so on.

Currently I'm manually creating these models each time, but I'm getting to the point where I'm comfortable doing this, but it's pretty amateurish and inefficient! 

How would you experts approach this? I'm wondering if there's some equivalent of an 'include' function/ability in Fusion 360 where I could create a master file with my click fit pegs and then just include it whenever I want one?

Thanks in advance for any tips!

[g-andresen]

Hi,

The prusa slicer has various such connectors

günther

[alphatester77]

Yes aware of that, so is it best to just not use Fusion 360 for this sort of thing?

Surprised there's not a plugin or approach for it...!

[TheCADWhisperer]

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@alphatester77 wrote:

Surprised there's not a plugin or approach for it...!

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@alphatester77 

I would use Autodesk Inventor Professional > Partition command for this...

Inventor 2024 Help | Working with Partitions | Autodesk

[davebYYPCU · Accepted solution]

Yep Fusion can do it,

Library of parts. In the current file, insert (them) into current design 

If you break the link, they will be independent of the Library after that.

If you keep the link and change the library part, you are given the option to update to current version.

Place / copy / Joint the new components, and they / it can be utilised in the Combine Command as desired.

Might help…..

[alphatester77]

Ah brilliant, knew there'd be an expert trick!

I'll look into this, but sounds like it'll be perfect!

[g-andresen]

Hi,

Creating such joints in the slicer during cutting avoids the need for cuts in Fusion and automatically takes into account the available volume of the printer.

günther

[alphatester77]

Yeah, only works for very basic and limited use cases though (ie multitude of different slicers, clearances and tolerances, so can't share files easily/sell STLs.3mfs) - likewise doesn't work for more complex stuff - eg click lids, click dominoes etc which I've just done with the above approach!

As I say, I already use the Prusaslicer ones for simple connections!