Laying out drawers (for example) using Pattern feature but customizing some of their heights

[Anonymous]

I'm trying to figure out the best way to handle this as it's come up a few times and I end up feeling like I'm brute forcing it and there is probably a better, more efficient approach. 

Simplest example is a cabinet with drawers. I model out the frame/shell of the cabinet first. Then create a separate design for a drawer. Then I use the Insert -> Insert Derive feature to bring the drawer into the cabinet design. Position the first drawer relative to the cabinet and then use the Create -> Pattern -> Pattern on Path feature to create several drawers to fill out the rest of the cabinet. 

My questions are around how to handle small customizations to those drawers. For example, say I have 2 deep drawers and 4 shallow drawers. Currently, I've made separate designs for each of those and then inserted each of them into the cabinet design. Is that the best way to do this? 

I've searched for tutorials/tips but have mostly come up empty. If there are any you know of, please share. Thanks in advance!

[jhackney1972]

Please attach you assembly model so the forum users can help you better.  If you do not know how to attach your Fusion 360 follow these easy steps. Open the model in Fusion 360, select the File menu, then Export and save to your hard drive. Then use the Attachments section of a forum post to attach it.

[Anonymous]

Done. Thanks, John.

[barry9UDQ6]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD_B9SB4Mnw 

Go to 11:17

Skeleton, or as Wayne calls it here, envelope is one way. More work upfront but assured results.

[g-andresen]

Hi,

The best way to solve something like this is parametrically.
But that depends on the initial situation.
A simple way could look like this:
You use, for example, your basic drawers, combine the elements into a fixed group and arrange them as shown in the screencast.
For the last drawer, the remaining distance is then determined and a corresponding drawer is created and inserted.

günther

[g-andresen]

Hi,

here is the file.

I broke the links from so it can be attached as f3d.

günther

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Barry! I'll look into this approach some more now that I know what to look for. One downside to this I believe is that the drawers being "components" in the assembly would mean I can't generate parts lists as easily. That's what led me to explore using separate design files for them and linking them. I'll look into whether I've got that right though. 

[Anonymous]

Thanks a ton, @g-andresen! The screencast was super helpful. I hadn't discovered "rigid groups" yet and had forgotten about "joints." Will look into making more use of those. 

Based on responses so far, I'm sensing the Pattern feature really is for identical copies and that what I was doing wasn't too far off track. Thanks again!