Using Joints to lay out multiple components

[Citizen_Insane]

I'm struggling to find the right way to accomplish a layout for a CNC routing operation using joints. I have a series of components which need to be certain distances away from each other in order to make room for the tool paths. Where I'm struggling is that there's a multi-referential chain of mates that are required and I don't want to constrain all DOFs to a single component, I want all the parts to be related to each other.

I come from the world of SolidWorks and the mate features can do exactly what I'm trying to do (same for Creo) in about 5 min flat.

I realize this could be accomplished by modeling all my components in the same assembly (or part, I'm not sure the right nomenclature here) and define their positions via their sketches, but this would mean the components exist only within the assembly, I need to have cascading revision control so if I change a single part, it can be updated in all the assemblies it resides within.

Here's an example of what I'm talking about. The red arrows show the mates I would like to create in order to define the position of all the parts. (Not shown, all parts are mated in Z to the XY plane).

[lichtzeichenanlage]

Fusion Nester might help a bit.

Another solution might be to join your part to sketch points. What's are you douing right now?

[chrisplyler]

This is easily replicated using Slider Joints.

I created a User Parameter called gap. Then I Jointed each appropriate pair of faces with a Slider Joint, setting a Z Offset of gap. Then I can just change that parameter value and all the components get closer or farther apart as desired.

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/community/screencast/2742b928-3fab-43fb-abb8-33a68e18abe5

[Citizen_Insane]

This is interesting but not exactly what I'm actually struggling with. I'm struggling with the actual creation of the joints in the first place. Here's what's a problem:

- I can't create joints between faces, only points on faces. This doesn't work and causes tons of issues with getting parts flipping weird directions.

- When I create 3 planar joints between 2 components, it fails to resolve. I really just need a way to set offsets between faces/planes (and maybe cylinders as well).

- Why am I getting error messages about creating multiple joints to a single other part? I don't want to set the position of a part using just 1 point on each part, I need multiple interactions.

You can see in the image, I'm again trying to lay out parts on a stock for machining, but I'm unable to find good ways to align them. I already had to export each part separately because Fusion insists on the model & manufacture setups to have the same position. This is where a traditional CAD system is much better than Fusion's all-in-one-file part/assembly conglomerate. 

Now that the parts are non prismatic, it's even more difficult to align them as some of the requirements are line-to-plane instead of plane to plane. Really what I want to know is how to use Fusion's system of joints exactly like SolidWork's "mates" feature.

[etfrench]

The only thing I know about Solidworks is it costs more per year than my mortgage payments😀

If your components don't have a joint origin in a suitable place for a joint, then add one using a sketch point.  Otherwise, it's just a matter of selecting which axis the slider joints should use in order to implement what @chrisplyler has shown.  You can also use non-machining helper components to create joints at odd angles.

[TrippyLighting]

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@Citizen_Insane wrote:

Really what I want to know is how to use Fusion's system of joints exactly like SolidWork's "mates" feature.

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Fusion 360 does not use geometric mates as they are used in Solid Works, so shat isn't going to work. You simply have to change your workflow and in this case maybe apply some of the recommended techniques.