How to subtract from referenced body?

[feklee]

 I want to subtract the box from the sphere, but I cannot select the sphere as a target body.

[TrippyLighting]

Youcannot use the combine tool directly on a linked component.

is there a reason you need to work with a linked component ?

[feklee]

The reason that I want to use the linked component is that I want the design to update when the linked component changes.

In fact it is possible to subtract the sphere from the box, just not the other way round. As far as I understand it, the problem is that subtracting the box from the sphere would modify the linked component. But I found a solution:

Create a copy of the sphere, and subtract from that.

The copy updates when I change the linked sphere.

[TrippyLighting]

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@Anonymous.klee wrote:

The reason that I want to use the linked component is that I want the design to update when the linked component changes.

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The reason why I asked the question is that very many new users overuse linked components. You can design a complete assembly in Fusion 360 without the use of a single linked component.

Everything will update parametrically.

[feklee]

The linked component I import from Rhino. It's not modeled in Fusion.

However, now I have issues with the imported component. I somehow cannot copy the body in its reference.

[TrippyLighting]

1. You can and probably should break the link.

2. A moel inserted from Rhino is might be a surface body, not a solid body otherwise referred to as BRep.

If it's a surface body you might nee to such it into solid body or use the Boundary fill tool. Both command are in the Patch workspace.

[feklee]

Breaking the link is what I did as a workaround for now. Still I would like to have the design update automatically when I update the imported model. May investigate another time why I cannot copy it.

The model is a BRep. It is imported as a body which - once the link is broken - I can subtract from.

[HughesTooling]

What I do is use boundary fill to create a copy of the linked design as a component then hide the linked design. If you need to update the model from Rhino in the linked design, use Import New Version in the data panel. If it breaks the boundary fill it's quite easy to reselect and fix the model.

Mark

[TrippyLighting]

Mar's suggestion is what I would also have suggested. Please post back here if the Boundary fill does break. IMHO it should not but in Fusion 360 many things break that should not.

[HughesTooling]

Here's an example from a mould I'm making at the momment. I've used Boundary Fill to copy and create a component from the linked design, added a shrinkrate to the copy then built a core using projected sketches and Combine cuts. If I edit the linked design all should update in my mould tool design.