how to unlink multiple copies of a component?

[subversivespeed]

Ok, so, my workflow in this case is as follows:

Make numerous different angled tubes ie piecuts

make numerous various lengths of straight tubing 

take and copy them as I go, joint them together, then turn them on their axis to allow proper routing. 

So, 2 things I have run into:

1) if I delete one of the copies, it deletes ALL of the copies. How do I delete just one? 

2) Can move/copy be modal? Having to select, pick move/copy, select alignment method, etc is very time consuming. and, yes, I tried drag, but, it is a bit awkward. 

[etfrench]

Think of the Copy|Paste command more as Copy|Clone.  Any geometry changes in either the original or in the copy will be reflected in the other.  Copy|Paste New creates a new object based on the original but doesn't change when the original is changed. 

Unfortunately, there is no Repeat Last Command.  Most CAD programs use the spacebar for this.  I haven't seen any reason stated for not implementing this.

[SaeedHamza]

If you want to delete any copy or even the original without affecting the rest, use the Remove command by right-clicking the component from the browser

[SaeedHamza]

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@subversivespeed wrote:
2) Can move/copy be modal? Having to select, pick move/copy, select alignment method, etc is very time consuming. and, yes, I tried drag, but, it is a bit awkward. 

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Could you explain more? I don't understand what you mean

[subversivespeed]

OK, firstly, I noticed that "MAKE INDEPENDENT" did what I wanted, and allowed me to edit a copied component without affecting the parent components. 

Secondly, I have uploaded a video of some suggestions I would like to see if at all possible as far as being able to move/copy modally. 

Hope this helps!! 🙂 

[etfrench]

Make Independent is only available in Direct Modeling mode. 

It would be nice to have an option to keep dialogs open until you want to do a different type of operation.  Using the standard method of repeating the last command by hitting the space bar would be even better.

[subversivespeed]

Tried that spacebar trick.. It doesn't work.. Is that a suggested idea? 

As far as the "make independent", I was able to invoke it while it was in the jointed assembly and was able to then remove it, modify it, then reinsert it back into the assy. I will post a vid of that workflow. 

[subversivespeed]

Ok, so, make independent works here.. 

aaaand... spacebar idea doesn't, as far as I can tell. 

[etfrench]

Correct. Spacebar is wishful thinking

p.s. Direct Model mode is when you're not using the Timeline. You can toggle between the two modes by right clicking on the topmost node in the Browser and clicking on the last item on the context menu, either 'Do not capture Design History'  or 'Capture Design History'.  Clicking on 'Do not capture Design History' will permanently delete the Timeline. A new Timeline will start when you click on 'Capture Design History'. 

You are currently in Direct Model mode as there is no Timeline visible in your screencasts.

[laughingcreek]

holding down the right muse and swiping up will repeat the last command used.  If you are currently using a command, it has the effect of hitting "ok" and then starting a new command.

[subversivespeed]

Ah yes ok that is right. I turn off the timeline because it seems to cause some pretty epic slowdowns.. 

[etfrench]

You can ground components or bodies which will take them out of the compute loop that Fusion 360 does with every edit. When you have a large number of components and/joints, this will speed things up quite a bit.

[TrippyLighting]

How many components and joints does your assembly have ?

[subversivespeed]

Possibly over 60 or so hahah... 

But, this is a very intuitive workflow for a fabrication/welding person. 

So, what happens is, you design the longest run ie the runner that is farthest from the collector. Then, you need to assemble every other runner so that the length matches. The way you do that is you try to use components that add up to the total centerline length of your base runner ie the one farthest from the collector. 

Then, its time to joint them all up and see if you can get it all to fit and still mate up to the collector. This is what takes time. 

I am rather impressed, still, because no way could Solidworks handle this workflow. It crashed. 

[subversivespeed]

If you only understood how important the ability to pull and twist sections of tube and have automatically attempt to resolve their position really is, you would be extremely excited about this right here.