Modeling components for linear stock

[oliveri.richard]

What's the best way to model a component representing a specific profile of linear stock?

I'd like the component to be a short extrusion of the profile, with a length parameter. I want to be able to include multiple instances of the component in a number of models, with each instance potentially having a different length.

 I have accomplished this to some degree. I've created a component from an extrusion with a length user parameter, setting the expression for the AlongDistance model parameter to length. Then, saving the component to a file. The issue I have is when I use the component. After including an instance of the component in a model, I have to break the link between the component and it master. I'm then able to access the length user parameter from the model's global parameter list. When a create another instance, another user parameter is added to the global list length_1. Given a complex model, with many such instances, modifying the length of an instance through a long list of user parameters would be very cumbersome. It would also make it difficult to create a bill of materials that includes the length of each item.

Is there a better way to accomplish this? Ideally, I'd like to be able to modify component-specific instances of the length parameter. It would be even better if visually editing the length of the extrusion updated the parameter accordingly.

I was able to implement something very much as I described in Sketchup, using Sketchup's dynamic components, but Sketchup has no assembly functionality, making it more difficult to use overall.

Thanks.

[jeff_strater]

Hi @oliveri.richard,

You are right, there is no great way to do this in Fusion today.  Break Link is about the only way to do it.  To manage the different lengths, the only advice I would give is to make instances of versions that are similar lengths.  Using a 2x4 example, if your basic stock is 8ft pieces, and you cut your first one down to 6ft, then change the component name of that to something meaningful, like "2x4x6".  Then, the next time you need a 6 ft piece, just copy/paste that component to create a second instance (2x4x6:2).  That will help with BOM management.

Component configurations are something Fusion will eventually get to, but we're not there yet.

Jeff

[oliveri.richard · Accepted solution]

Thanks Jeff,

I was worried I was going off in the wrong direction. Your suggestion seems to be a workable solution. I'll give it a try.

Thanks again!

Rich

[Anonymous]

You articulated the questions very well.  It is what I am struggling with every time I try and use F360.  You are also right in that Sketchup does some of this stuff better.

I do not however, think that the 'solution' is workable.  It is all great in the 'example' world where you decide the table legs are 30 inches and the stretchers are 60 inches.  But it all fails when you sit down and try to design something that doesn't have pre-determined lengths of stock.  And heaven forbid you try and change something as your design matures and suddenly your table is 23.625 inches tall.

This said, I know people are doing it, and in probably 3 or 4 different work flows.  I have seen Lars version where he creates planes and cuts pieces.  Great, until you reveal the bug in creating mid planes like I did, rendering this useless (Yes there is an active bug report).  This is also less than helpful if your model starts to morph.  I plan to ask the community.

P.