Parts Library

[SGoldthwaite]

I'm new to Fusion 360 and I have a question about parts/components library.  I'm using threaded inserts (hot insert) with me 3D printer.  The threaded inserts need a specifically sized tapered hole.  Of course, the different size inserts need different sized holes.  I'd like to an object for each insert size.  Then when I need to use a threaded insert I'd get the appropriate object and perform a cut operation with my model.  What's a good way to do this?  Does Fusion have some sort of custom part library I can add parts too?

[MichaelAubry]

Hi Scott,

Welcome to Fusion!

Fusion doesn't support custom libraries yet (on roadmap though!) but we've got a really slick way of inserting content directly from McMaster Carr.  Check it out!

Insert McMaster Carr into Fusion 360:

http://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/fusion-360/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/ENU/Fusion-F...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOQMrwywE0c

If you're setting up your own custom library, one thing users are doing today is creating a Project for custom content. As long as all your teammates are added to that project that can be a great way to start a repository of custom stuff.

Let us know how it goes.

Best,

Mike

[SGoldthwaite]

I know about the McMaster feature, that's really cool.  But that won't work for what I want for the threaded inserts because the shape of the tapered hole is not the same as the shape of the insert.  The hole is smaller and the plastic melts around the insert as you insert it.

Your first sentence says you don't suppport custom libraries, bet then you go on to say "If you're setting up your own custom library, one thing..."  So here are you referring to how it will work in the future. 

How would you recommend I do this.  Should I just make the parts in a file, then copy and paste into my model?

[MichaelAubry]

Hi Scott, 

Yeah, there is a bit of inconsistency in my reply. Copy and paste works.

The workflow I'm talking about is using "insert" from the data pannel.  You'd have a dedicated project where content is and you'd use insert to place content.  

The nuance about what's a "library" really just boils down to read-only permissions. In cad terms typically "libraries" are "read only" spaces where only designated content adminstrators have permissions to add content and/or make edits. Fusion doesn't do that yet.  What users have done though in Fusion is to have designated "Projects" (and/or folders/searchable tags/ etc) for people to create repositories for organized and searchable content.  In projects anyone who is added to those projects can edit or make changes to the content.  

Does that help?

Mike

[SGoldthwaite]

I created my first part I want to use in a threaded insert "library".  It's the hole shape for a 10-32 heat-set threaded insert:  I shared it here: http://a360.co/1afmx4M

I used the revolve tool to create it, this worked very well.

As a test I tried to insert my "hole object" into another drawing with the intention having it cut out a hole in my object.  But I couldn't get it to work  I had two problems: First I had trouble just positioning it in general.  Second I couldn't get it to intersect with my object.  

Ideally I'd want to grab it on the center of the top circle, and position it so the top of the threaded insert hole was even with the top of the part I'm trying to cut out. 

I haven't used the move command very much, so maybe the problem is my lack of experience with the move tool.

[daniel_lyall]

try move point to point you have to select your object first

[SGoldthwaite]

I tried it again and it worked fine.  Not sure why it didn't work the first time.  Perhaps I didn't have the body selected like Daniel suggested. 

So I drew a 1" cube and inserted my threaded insert hole shape into it.  But now I can't figure out how to cut it out.  This is probably super simple, but I'm looking at ll the modify tools (in model workspace) and it's not clear which one will do this.  It's kind of the opposite of the combine tool.  Here's my 1" cube: http://a360.co/1JGSQWX

[SGoldthwaite · Accepted solution]

I found a solution on this screencast: http://autode.sk/1Cff5nk

You use the combine tool with the cut option.