Projects, Components Best practices

[Anonymous]

I'm working on a new product that is basically just comprised of two pieces of Plastic.  One piece screws into another.  They have to be designed "unscrewed".  Both to be 3d printed.  I have some questions that I don't have the answer for.

1.  Top down design?  Does that mean I should have started with the top piece first.  I didn't.  I started with the bottom piece because it was harder.  Is there a way to correct this?   Or, does it really even matter?

2.  Multi Projects.  Should I be creating each component in a separate project? Or, should I have each component in its own project?

3.  Is there a way to take a completed component from one project and import the whole thing has a completed assembly into the second project?

4.   Assuming Q#1 was done incorrectly and I was suppose to start with the top piece.   How do I go about creating a design plane on top of the bottom component that has a second (3d) 3-quadrant measurement grid on it so I can build the top piece with its own floor.

Ultimately 2 additional pieces will be user provided but I will probably draw those in to create the video rendition tool on how the whole thing comes together.

[macmanpb · Accepted solution]

Hi Mike,

#1: Top down design. Here is a good Video that explane that. https://youtu.be/PueGtovfrSE or https://youtu.be/HHL8xvC3W1c.

#2: No, you can create all components in one design. Look at the beginner's section on the Fusion360 Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/AutodeskFusion360/

#3: Yes, you can import a hole assemby as a reference and the linking keeps that up to date.

#4: Look at point 1 😉

Hope i can help you....

[TrippyLighting · Accepted solution]

I would also hotly recommend this recorded session from Autodesk University exploring the differeces between Top down and Bottom Up design.

In general, if you have two parts that both are designed to fit toether I'd suggest creating two components but keeping those in the same file.
If you want to re-use these componets in other designs, make sure you are following the Fusion 360 RULE # 1:

Create a component and acivate the component. That will ensure that everythign pertaining to that component, all sketches, features, jount origins, everythin is stored in that component. On "save as" that will store the entire parametric in the component.