Modeling multiple bodies in one design

[fulcrumusa]

Hi guys,

I am new to Fusion 360 (and CAD, in general) but thanks to the helpful tutorial on YouTube, I've been able to start modeling and practicing with only a few hours of watching YouTube.

One thing that has me a little puzzled is modeling multiple bodies in the same design. When modeling one body, I start all my sketches from the world origin. I do that because no matter what I do I a constant, permanent, globally fixed point in space that I can use as a reference for all the features of the body. I can put sketches, measurement, offset planes, etc. all based on the origin. This works great for a single body.

However, if I want to add a second body, I now have to either layer all the sketches and features on top of the ones for the first body or do the work somewhere else in the design "world". Understandably, I don't wanto to layer one body on top of the other because that gets confusion very quickly. So, I've been putting all the sketches for the second body somewhere else. The problem is that "somewhere else" does not have the same global, fixed origin.

What is the best way to model multiple bodies in the same design?

Thanks for the help.

[HughesTooling]

This thread might help.

[solson]

When you add additional components, you do not have to be so stressed to sketch them in place.  You can add Joints between the components to get the right Assembly/MultiBody design.  Here are Screencasts I made for some college students regarding how Assemblies work in Fusion 360.  It should help you understand the process better.

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/fusion-360/getting-started/caas/screencast/Main/Details/7146a...

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/fusion-360/learn-explore/caas/screencast/Main/Details/7b0d3e4...

[fulcrumusa]

I did find that thread in my search prior to posting but it does not help me as it talks about aligning bodies with respect to each other. What I am trying to find is wheather there is a way to define a new origin per body (or something with a similar effect).

[fulcrumusa]

Thank you for the reply.

I understand how this can be done with components. I could theoretically design each body in separate design documents and then import them all into a unified new design as components. However, I would still have to design them separately, which prevents me from using common dimenssions and parameters. Let me give you an example: if I wanted to design two parts of a joining assembly (one pipe ending that fits inside another pipe ending), it would be much easier to re-use dimenssions between the two body if they were part of the same design document, rather than if they were in different design documents.

I hope I am describing it clearly because it's a bit hard without a visual aid. 🙂

[HughesTooling · Accepted solution]

I don't think you've understood components and how they work, you can make as many components as you like in one design make one for each part, each component has it's own coordinate system. As long as you move the component and not just the body the coordinate system moves with it, here a simple example the document origin is at the bottom.

If you use Move of align make sure you select Component as the Object type.

I've attached the file in the example above.

Mark.

[TrippyLighting]

One of Fusion 360's distinctive features is that it does not make a distinction between an assembly file an a component file. A Fusion 360 file can be either or and there is no need to put components into separate files and insert them into your design. Much if not all of the design work in Fusion can be done in a single file and what you describe woul lead me to believe that you want to design your parts withn context, perhaps referencing of each other. 

The key to do that is really to understand the differnce between bodies and components. 

I'd strongly suggest for you to wath the videos in the Learn section a that will provide you with a good guideline on how to structure a design in Fusion 360.

In fact I would call this Fsuion 360;s RULE #1. the first step in any design should be create a component  and activate it.

With the latest update this Satruday a newly created component is activated automatically.

[HughesTooling]

Not sure why the file didn't attach so here it is. I've added an empty component to demonstrate how you can position a component with a joint origin as well. The main thing to remember is to make the component self contained so it contains all the sketches and features that make it up.

Mark

[fulcrumusa]

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@TrippyLighting wrote:

In fact I would call this Fsuion 360;s RULE #1. the first step in any design should be create a component  and activate it.

With the latest update this Satruday a newly created component is activated automatically.

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You know, now that I am reading your reply, it's all starting to make sense. In a way, each component is a seprate "design world". Of course, I need to try and use it when I get home tonight. Starting by making and empty component and adding sketches and bodies to it would make things much easier.

I think my confusion came from the fact that some (if not all) tutorials say that "a sketch is the basis of all your designs". Naturally, one would think that the first thing you do is make a sketch.

Thanks for the advice.

[TrippyLighting]

Yes, I just requested that that first video needs to explain that. If you wath the video again you'll see that the box cutter acutally contains of components but it is not explained anywhere.

This is a topic that hits experienced as well as new users.

[fulcrumusa]

Thank you for taking the time to create the example. Looking through it's history, I was able to see your workflow. Then, I re-did one of my multi-body designs following your example (create empty component first, activate it, do the complete body inside the component) and, WOW!! What a difference does that make. Not only was it easier to work but the end result came out much better and going back in the history and editing the components was easier.

Thanks again!!