Sub-assemblies

[Anonymous]

I am new here and to A360. Is there a way to link a subassembly to a project so when it is modified that will be reflected in the main project file? For example I am working on a project with a  large assembly and several sub assemblies. Can I open the sub assembly only and work on it and have those changes reflected on the one in the main project? I hope I am being clear ... I come from using Alibre Design and am used to being able to open a single part, modify it and when I open the assembly the new part is updated. 

Thanks and sorry if there is simple answer but I couldn't find it 🙂

[CGPM]

Not yet but the next update on June 20th, ISH, then it will be supported by what is called X-Refs.

[promm · Accepted solution]

NeilR001,

Welcom to Fusion 360, you did a great job explaining your question.  Fusion takes a different approach on assemblies and subassemblies. You can create bodies and then create components from bodies or you can start by creating a new component, then activating the component to create bodies. Fusion 360 creates a composite design using one workspace. You can insert other designs into your current design by right clicking on the model in the data panel.  We are working on distributed designs where the insertion of other models be referenced data that you can update. From your question this is what youare looking for, it is slated for our June 20th update.  Let me know if you would like to do a screen share where I can walk through the process with you.

Cheers,

Mike Prom

[Anonymous]

Thank you guys for the response. Promm I have figured out the sketch>bodies>components after a little frustration, that is after I reviewed many of the learning vids and then was able to wrap my head around the differnt proccess. The distributed method is nice so I can focus on just the one set of parts without having to have the entire assembly running and using system resources.

[Zero__]

Hi Mike,

Hope it's ok for me to hijack this topic - the question is very similar to my own and I think I just need some clarification on the last statement.

So I'm coming from a background in NX 8.0/Unigraphics. Also some solidworks. So when I create an assembly, I create individual part files (these almost never consist of more than one body, but that might be my personal take on CAD) and then put them together in a separate assembly. I've created a few different designs (which I think are analogous to parts) and was planning on creating a new Design and inserting the other designs into that one. Mimicking the parts into assemblies style I'm used to.

So I'm planning on :

• Creating the different components of my assembly in different Designs, which I will call component designs.
• Creating another Design, which I'll call my assembly design. I won't sketch or make any bodies in this assembly design, I'll just use the Insert command to put in my component designs, then Joint them together.

Is this acceptable, or do I need to switch my method?

[Anonymous]

THis is the method I use and it works well A360 doesn't seem to care weather a component is added or created in the main assembly. That being said once in the assembly it is a new and separate part from the original that you created so any modifications will not automatically be updated onto the the original part or visversa if you modify the one in the asembly the original part remains unchanged. I found there is some good and some bad to that and had to change my workflow a bit but most importantly I now rename an imported part so I know they are not the same and it keeps me aware of the changes I make.