How to create a production floor visualization

[markshancock]

I have been doing concept design a new robot work cell in F360.  It is composed of a LOT of very detailed components including detailed vendor component and our own production components.

Now I would like to show an entire production floor with ten of these systems some of which will have different configurations (like a different robot or different material handling trays).  Is that a way I can do that without a lot of additional work to reduce the design features of the individual components and have something that I can work with on my computer without huge lag times and/or causing my PC to crash?

[jhackney1972]

It is my opinion you could create this floor layout easily with using Derived Assemblies.  I assume you have a top level assembly model of any equipment you want to place on the floor layout.  I also assume you have a key point on each top level assembly that you want to match up to a key point on the floor layout.  On your floor layout, create a simple sketch where you place sketch points at the locations of the derived assembly models.  You can then quickly, using a Rigid Joint position the key point on the derived assembly to a point in your layout sketch.  If you want these points fixed, either dimension them or place a fixed sketch constrain on them.  If you do not, you have the benefit of being able to drag the points, with the top level assemblies, around the layout.  Take a look at my Screencast where I try and quickly demo the possibility.  In the demo I am using the same assembly for speed, you can derive any number of assemblies into the floor layout.  NOTE:  I would leave the Derived assemblies in the layout and not "break the link".  I believe this will keep your plant layout model light and quick as well as all assemblies will update if they get changed in their individual top level model.

[TrippyLighting]

Your shop floor design should be a pure assembly design with the timeline disabled.

It might contain one or more sketches to help locate your robot cell and other subassemblies, but it should not contain any other geometry.

Those subassemblies should be linked, not derived into the main assembly. Linked designs consume fewer resources than derived designs.

[markshancock]

Cool technique, I will definitely try that; but, my primary concern is that one single assembly already has so many details that it struggles at times and if I try to put 10-20 of these into a larger floor layout assembly it is going to bring F360 to its knees if not crash it all together.

I was wondering if F360 had some way of easily reducing details that would not be visible at the larger scale to avoid it from bogging down with irrelevant/invisible details? 

[jhackney1972]

I cannot think anyway of reducing the complexity of a Fusion 360 assembly.  Maybe someday it will have the ability create a Level of Detail Substitute part which you can do in Inventor.  I can only say to try and layout your plant floor assembly and see how it goes.  @TrippyLighting has suggest to used "Linked" assemblies are a better choice to use where I suggested using "Derived" assemblies.  Regardless of which one you use make sure DO NOT BREAK Links to either one of them.