How to make PCB component virual

[armansesar]

Hi all, I have been enjoying learning fusion 360 PCB design tool. I have so far been able to figure out most things expect how to change a component into a virtual component. I would like to keep the component in the schematic for clarity and test purposes, however, this is an off board component (specifically a motor, along other items).

In the 2D PCB design environment, the properties section has a 'populate' checkmark that cannot be unchecked, I have also tried adding a DNP (do not populate) attribute within the component library. I am not sure if I'm utilizing attributes correctly but nothing I have tried has removed the 3D or the 2D footprints of the motor...etc from the 2D or 3D PCB environments. I am not sure if I can completely remove the pads, however, before doing this, I'm curious if I can retain the original library and simply switch off the component in the PCB designer.

Please let me know what you think as I have not found any information on this online.

Thank you.

[Evert_2N3055]

In Autodesk Fusion Electronics, you cannot change the Populate checkbox through the normal component properties. It is fully controlled by the Assembly Variant system.

So the correct workflow is:

✅ Setting Populate via Assembly Variants

1. Go to Document → Assembly Variant.

2. Click New Variant.

3. Open the Variant Manager.

4. There you can set per component:

   • ✔ Populate (placed)

   • ✖ Not populated (DNP)

5. Activate the desired variant to use it.

[armansesar]

Thanks, this should correct it, although I haven't yet had a chance to try it, will try and get back to you asap. Thanks for your response.

[rosie_lucas1]

Hello @armansesar, 

Did the information provided by @Evert_2N3055 help you and answer your question?

If yes, please click on the "Accept Solution" button on the post(s) that solved your problem. This will assist other community users in finding and benefiting from this information.

If not, please do not hesitate to give an update in this thread so all community members receive an update on the progression of your question, and can suggest next steps that may be helpful for you to achieve what you're looking for.

All the best,

Rosie | Community Manager

[armansesar]

Hi @Evert_2N3055 thank you for your response, unfortunately, this did not completely resolve the problem. I was able to create a new variant (named 'DNP') and check off the necessary components as needed.

I found this short video that explained in more detail how to activate the newly created variant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SQ_2Tl3TOI&t=209s

However, once activating the new set, this crosses off the unchecked components from the schematic, but does not appear to remove pads from the 2D or 3D PCB environments.

You can further see that in the PCB design environment, you receive an error when attempting to update "the Update command can only be used in the base assembly variant"

Any further help with this would be appreciated, as currently, the components seem to have been crossed off only in the schematic.

Thanks!

[jorge_garcia]

Hello @armansesar ,

I hope you're doing well. There is another way to achieve what you want. If this is a component that will always be off the board then it's better to make it an external component. This is done by going into the library, make sure the component does not have a footprint associated to it. Then create an attribute called _EXTERNAL_ , this will let Fusion know that you don't need a footprint for this component.

This component will essentially then only exist on the schematic with nothing associated on the 2D PCB. Perhaps this is more what you are looking for.

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

Best Regards,

[lauri_barnhart]

Hello, @armansesar,

Did the information provided by @jorge_garcia help you and answer your question?

If yes, please click on the "Accept Solution" button. This will assist other community users in finding and benefiting from this information.

If not, please do not hesitate to give an update in this thread so all community members receive an update on the progression of your question, and can suggest next steps that may be helpful for you to achieve what you're looking for.

All the best,

Lauri | Community Manager

[armansesar]

Thank you, I did attempt what you described, but unfortunately it did not work for me, it is possible that I made a mistake executing what your described, but I moved towards deleting all components not on the PCB. I wanted to keep these components on the schematic for reference but nothing that I tried worked, thanks for your response.