Creating components with no package for schematic only purposes

[luis.moreiraLEUNF]

Hi All,

Once in a while, for clarity I need to introduce a component into the design, that will only have a symbol and no package. One of the ways to do this is to declare the pins as PWR which then doesn't require a package.

What I would like to have is the ability to get an existing component from any library import it into my project lib and just remove the package and have some way of saying, this is just a symbol. when placed, it would allow assignment of a value, and everything else that would make sense on a schematic but would not require a package.

I tried to pick up a component from a library, import it to my project lib, removed the package, defined the pins as PWR, which should be enough but when trying to add it to the schematic it throws an error that the component has no package assigned. It is remembering it somehow. I looked everywhere, that I can think of, but can't get ride of the error.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Best Regards

                Luis 

[luis.moreiraLEUNF]

Hi All,

It actually defining the pins as SUP that will allow the component not to require a package when placing it on a schematic.

Best Regards

                 Luis

[jorge_garcia · Accepted solution]

Hi @luis.moreiraLEUNF,

That's one way but it could create a bunch of useless ERC errors. The recommended approach is to create a component that only contains the symbol you are interested in using. Then in that component create an attribute whose name is _EXTERNAL_, that will let Fusion Electronics know that a footprint and 3D model are not necessary.

Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,

[luis.moreiraLEUNF]

Hi Jorge,

This is exactly what I needed, it works as I would expect it. Should have asked earlier as it would have saved me a lot of time trying to make it work in other ways.

What I find is that although Fusion 360 has all the features, perhaps is not as intuitive to use them. I would never figure that out on my own. perhaps on the tutorials on component creation a small note about this feature would be something worth while. 

Anyway, Thank you very much for the great help.

I can say that both your direct customer service team or the support you guys give here on the forum, in my experience, you are by far the best on customer support that I ever had. 

Best Regards

                Luis

[jorge_garcia]

Hi @luis.moreiraLEUNF,

Thank you for the kind words, I'm glad that everything is sorted. I will pass this along to our documentation team.

Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,

[QBranch]

Jorge.

Where can I get some instructions detailing how to do your suggestion?  I'm interesting in building components for electrical wiring diagrams only and not building PCB's.

All the best,

Tony

[luis.moreiraLEUNF]

Hi Tony,

I use it for exactly that.

create a new component and pass it your symbol then just right click the component and select "View Attributes" a attributes window will pop up click new and enter an attribute with name _EXTERNAL_  and no value  then click OK, and it is done.

this is similar to software that doesn't have a variable definition  because it will be supplied from another file and it will allow compilation to a certain point where that variable definition will be supplied.

My opinion is that this process has been made unnecessarily confusing, but when you look at the fact this software was not made for the use then it makes sort of sense...

I use it this way because I really dislike AutoCAD Electrical and for what I do Fusion using this little trick works well.

Hope it helps

Best Regards

                 Luis

[QBranch]

Thanks, Luis!

Question:

What do you mean by: "...pass it your symbol..."?

I selected to make a new component.  Then, I made a symbol.  But I don't see where to "pass" the symbol to the component.

What does that mean?

All the best,

Tony

[luis.moreiraLEUNF]

Hi Tony,

see tutorials on creating components, that will steerer you in the right direction.

When you are in the library, there are components, symbols and packages.

A components is a collection of symbol(s) for schematic, package for PCB and even a 3D package.

So you can't use the symbol directly, you need to create a components and then when you double click on the component, you get on the top menu a orange icon that looks like a opamp and you had the symbol you created l, or any other to it.

I found that is crucial that you get the way the libraries and component import or creation works, if you get that, then everything else is much simpler. When creating either a project with only schematic for electrical drawings or a project to produce a PCB, I always start by creating the library with all the components required and then design the circuit.

Hope this helps.

Best Regards 

        Luis