Cabinetry Modeling

[sayerdesign]

Hello, all.

I've been messing around with Fusion 360 for creating cabinetry designs.

I'm curious if there's a way to create either a frame and panel door body or component that I can create once, and then re-use in models going forward.

The idea being to spend time creating one, thorough, detailed door, and then insert multiple and unique instances of it into a model, and map it's driving dimensions to the model, so that when the model changes, the door will update to the new dimensions.

Anyone figured out a good work-flow for doing that?

[landon.hillyard]

I too am curious about that same idea. I oftentimes have many versions of basically the same part. I guess I am looking for multiple versions of the same part. 

[sayerdesign]

I'm glad I'm not alone in wondering about this.

One thought I've had, is to create a sketch profile and make a sweep along an opening.  That gets the basic profile relative to the opening, but leaves a void where the panel goes.  Also, that doesn't allow for representing the grain orientation difference between stile and rails.

What makes the most sense to me is to create a generic frame and panel door assembly and include user parameters for the opening size, then import the door sub-assembly into the parent cabinetry assembly, and then map the opening sizes for that particular instance of the door sub assembly to the particular opening it is intended to fit.

[landon.hillyard]

Yes, I agree. Either way it will take a little extra work. The other thing
you could do, is have the dimensions of the sketches linked to the
dimensions of the cabinet they are being mounted to. You would still have
to go in and link the dimensions but at least you wouldn't have to
re-dimension every time. Worst case you make multiple copies of the same
door panels and eventually you will have a library of every shape and size.

--
Landon Hillyard

[m_soriano]

I was wondering the same thing about re-using parts over and over since I'm learning Fusion for woodworking, what I did was create a folder called sources on A360, where I save almost every part I make that can be imported when needed, wish for a on-screen palette so I can just drag and drop from it.

[michallach81 · Accepted solution]

Hi all, below you will see a basic approach to how to use components, this method have some pros and cons but should give you some starting point:

[sayerdesign]

That's a fantastic starting point, Michal, thank you.

I'll try that soon, and send some feedback.  It looks like breaking the link is key, and that when that step is taken, it allows for 'mapping' the door parameters to existing model parameters.

[daniel_lyall]

It's realy easy to do once you get use to doing parametric Cabinet making designs. the Parametric part is the hard bit.

And you can very easily make base models of cabinets, bookshelves, tables, doors, face frame even the odd kikker, and only do one of each, in each type of jointing of materials. 

Just for fun you can just do a cabinet base design and make it into a bookshelf or a cupboard even a pantry, or a draw.

It takes time to get use to it, I spent about 1 year working on this, to get the work flow down to where a whatever does not fail if you do a change to a user paramater what you use to drive the model.

There a few Vids on my youtube channel about doing just this. they are a bit ruff but you should get the idea.

To make a new size say a cupboard I just do a save as rename it, do the change hit save finished. 

[petermurpheyhadadog]

WOW THAT VIDEO WAS CRAZY AWESOME! I just started to learn about about CAD and I am really interested in it. You must have a ton of experience. Do you have a YouTube channel? 

[steveVPSCS]

Thanks, 
Daniel.  I am brand new to Fusion.  Looking to help with woodworking design and 3D printing.  Yours is the first video I've watched. much to learn but could follow the logic of what you did.  Thank you!