Editing Sketch Switches Active Component - Multiple Instances

[26-Taylor]

I'm working with a part that has multiple instances. The part is a sub-plate that will be used for multiple manufacturing setups/orientations. Basically I'm grounding a model and pasting new instances of the sub plate around the model in different orientations. By doing this I can make sure none of my locating/fastener holes from one orientation conflict with another orientation. Hope that makes some sense...

The issue I'm having is I need to edit a sketch in orientation (instance) #7. When I activate this instance and edit the sketch, Fusion is changing the active component to the first instance. This changes the orientation of the sub-plate and I can no longer project geometry from my model onto instance #7. This is a proprietary file that I can't share but I did make a screen cast to illustrate my issue.

How do I edit this sketch and keep instance #7 as the active component? Please feel free to ask for more info if needed. Thanks in advance for your input. 

Link to screencast (until I can get it uploaded to the thread): https://autode.sk/2N4a25K

[davebYYPCU]

Copy Paste, will keep all instances the same, Modify any one - they all change

Copy Original component, delete then replace instance 7 with the Paste New command.  You can make subsequent changes to this independent version.

Might help...

[26-Taylor]

Thanks for the reply @davebYYPCU 

I actually want all instances to be the same. In the end I will only make 1 part, I'm only using multiple instances to capture projected geometry from multiple orientations. The issue is when I make edit a sketch on instance #7, the active component is switched to instance #1 and my orientation has changed - I can no longer project geometries to instance/orientation #7. That's a big mess of words but it's the best way I can explain it. 

[davebYYPCU]

After placing your instances, create a new sketch to project instance 7 position.

Might help....

[jeff_strater · Accepted solution]

@26-Taylor - I understand your question, but what you are asking for is not possible.  The reason is because of the timeline and the fact that all instances of a component share all the same data (bodies, sketches, work planes/axes/points).  Fusion executes the timeline nodes in the order that they appear.  So, the first instance of a component, including its sketch, computes first.  So, that sketch cannot reference geometry that does not appear until later in the timeline.  This is the case for local components.   You can, however, get this effect using external components, and Edit in Place.  This works because external components are computed separately, and with Edit in Place, can cache information from the referencing design that happen after the first instance of that component.  Hopefully the screencast below is understandable.  I've also exported and attached this simple example.

[26-Taylor]

@jeff_strater,

Thank you for taking the time to explain that in detail. Now that I take a step back I can see how the timeline would get in the way. At the time my thought process was because the sketch I'm editing is at the end of the assembly timeline, I should be able to edit that sketch without having to go back in the timeline. But I think what you are saying is because the first instance of the component (which the sketch is tied to) IS located earlier in the timeline, editing the sketch will always roll the timeline back to where the 1st instance is located. 

I will have to do some more experimenting with external components & edit in place. Conceptually I can see where this is what I should be using. I'm too far down the path on this project to switch now but I will definitely remember to try it on the next one!

Thanks again, keep up the good work!

PS

@davebYYPCU Good suggestion on projecting the last instance's geometry, I'm going to be using that as a workaround for this part.