Using a base component to create variants and having those variants be affected by changes to the base model but not vice versa.

[reginaldgaribaldi]

Sorry for the overly complex title. I'm not sure how to word exactly what I want and my searches have been fruitless.

The situation is this:

I have a component that is a wall. It has a regularly spaced brick pattern with a recess between the bricks. Easy enough.

I want to use this component as a base for designing variants on this wall with windows, recessed areas, doors, etc.

I want to be able to reference this original wall model so that, if in future, I decide I want to change the width or depth of the brick spacing, or make any other changes to the base wall design, these are propogated through to my variants.

I do not want the changes made to my variants to affect my base wall design.

I cannot find an effective way to achieve this. Is there one or am I wasting my time and should just create copies of the base component and make any changes across my variants manually?

I hope that makes sense. I've been puzzling over this, searching google, and trying different things for a couple of days now but nothing seems to work the way I want.

[g-andresen]

Hi,

1. rightclick > save copy as (my wall)

2. create and save a new design

3. insert "my wall" from datapanel

4. if needed > rightclick > break link (chain symbol)

5. edit "wall"

günther

[reginaldgaribaldi]

Thanks for your reply Günther!

So is there no way to achieve this without having the base item or variants on a seperate design?

Thanks

Dean

[g-andresen]

Hi,

Just take a look at this Tutorial  by @jhackney1972 

günther

[reginaldgaribaldi]

Having tried both I found Jhhackneys solution not to work. Presumably this is something that changed between software versions.

Your original solution Günther appears to be the only way forward.

Thanks again.

[jeff_strater]

I think what you really want is "configurations".  This will allow you to create a "family of designs" based on a single parametric design.  This capability is currently under development in Fusion.  To get a preview, you can join the Fusion 360 Insider Program 

[reginaldgaribaldi]

Thanks Jeff, this does seem like exactly what I would need but I'd rather wait until it is in a release state than risk losing work by using a pre-release build.

[TheCADWhisperer]

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@reginaldgaribaldi wrote:

I want to be able to reference this original wall model so that, if in future, I decide I want to change the width or depth of the brick spacing, or make any other changes to the base wall design, these are propagated through to my variants.

I do not want the changes made to my variants to affect my base wall design.

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This sounds exactly like Derived Component (not Configurations) to me?  At least how Derived Components work in other CAD software - I have not used in Fusion 360.

[reginaldgaribaldi]

On further review neither of these solutions seem to work.

With your original solution I cannot manipulate the inserted component in any way. I can add onto it but cannot change the geometry of the original part in any way. No cuts, no fillets, nothing. The body may as well not be there for anything other than reference.

I can only manipulate it after breaking the link which defeats the original purpose.

J Hackneys solution does not work either. I followed his steps exactly with a basic shape in a new design and the component created as a result of the boundary fill tool is not in any way affected by changes to the original component.

Back to square one.

If anyone else has any insight please let me know.

Regards

Dean

[TheCADWhisperer · Accepted solution]

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@reginaldgaribaldi wrote:

Back to square one.

If anyone else has any insight please let me know.

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@reginaldgaribaldi 

I just tried Derived Component and it works exactly like described in your problem description.

Any edits to the base source propagate through all Derived Components.

Changes to the Derived Components have no effect on the base source.

So easy. So logical.

[reginaldgaribaldi]

You're right! This is exactly what I needed and I don't know how I missed this function.

You're a lifesaver, thank you.