How to use VEX library parts in assembly

How to use VEX library parts in assembly

arlon.r2
Explorer Explorer
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How to use VEX library parts in assembly

arlon.r2
Explorer
Explorer

I'm trying to create an assembly using downloaded parts from the VEX library but I can't figure out how.

 

I'm new to Fusion 360 but have quite a bit of 3d CAD experience and was able to create new parts and assemblies in a matter of minutes (after I figured out the whole online project structure aspect), which is great. And I managed to download the VEX parts library, unzip it, and upload the parts into my library (after struggling for an hour trying to open them directly from my computer). I see them in my project, but there is no option to insert them.

 

Every answer to this problem says to right click and select "insert", as shown here: 

 

arlonr2_0-1636232001965.png

 

But my right click menu doesn't have an Insert option:

arlonr2_1-1636232099015.png

There is another forum thread that says you have to convert each f3d file by selecting File -> New design from file, but that isn't showing up in my menu either. (Isn't .f3d supposed to be the native format? What kind of program can't read it's own file format?)

 

I suspect this might be because I have the free home use version of the program but I can't find anything that says there is a limitation for this.

 

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davebYYPCU
Consultant
Consultant

Not my area of expertise, I believe,

 

The current design must have been saved / named, 

then Insert to current Design should be available, 

 

the free version does have import / export / collaboration restrictions, 

if the library parts are not native Fusion f3d - then your upload to the Data Panel has not been converted to true F3d due to these restrictions.  

 

That said, see what happens if you open a file from the hard drive, and then Save As to the Data Panel.

 

Might help....

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arlon.r2
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Explorer
Accepted solution

Thanks for the quick response.

 

There seems to be different types of files. I created a new part and assembly and they work as expected but the .f3d file behaves differently:

 

arlonr2_0-1636236132884.png

I'm not able to open them locally. I get this error when I try:

arlonr2_1-1636236225963.png

But I can open them from my project...

 

... and I just figured it out. While trying this again, I saw a new pop-up menu at the top that I must have missed before, warning me that the file is read-only:

arlonr2_2-1636236468703.png

Once I clicked "Make Editable" and saved it as a new copy of itself, it behaves as expected:

arlonr2_3-1636236747777.png

 

The free version limits you to only 10 editable parts and I was a bit concerned for a moment that all parts in the assembly would have to be editable, but I found out that after clicking "Make Editable", I can still change it back to Read-Only and it still works.

 

So, the workflow for inserting a downloaded "native" file is to download it, upload it, open it, make it editable, save it as a new copy, then insert it. Wow. I guess it's free, I can't complain too much!