Help with work in Simulation workspace

[j.han97]

Hi all,

I majorly work in Simulation workspace to simplify my model, then transfer it to Design workspace to extract the internal fluid volume. I have faced a few problems which I hope to get some help from here.

1. 'Replace with primitives' function

While it is very useful to simplify a complicated structure, there is a huge limitation: the reference axes of the primitive body are always the world's axes. When the structure is not aligned to the world's axes, the primitive bodies are no way near the desired result.

The images below demonstrates this problem clearly.

 Is there any way to change the reference axes of the primitive bodies?

2. Transferring simplified model to Design workspace

After simplifying my model, I will transfer it to Design workspace to use the 'Fluid volume' function there. However, simply switching the workspace does not bring over the simplified version of model. Instead, the original, un-simplified model remains at Design workspace. Therefore, every time I have to export the model in Simulation workspace, and import it to Design workspace as a new model, which is time consuming.

I am looking for tips or help to simplify this process.

3. Show all items

This issue is not limited in Simulation workspace. Every time when I hide some items (either with 'Isolate' or 'Hide' functions), it is cumbersome to reveal all items afterwards. I have to select both 'Show all components' and 'Show all bodies' to ensure all items are shown, and this process involves 4 precise mouse clicks (2 left clicks & 2 right clicks), which is not convenient at all.

While I have seen similar discussions regarding this issue before, I hope to mention this again because this is really important especially when the model is huge (Not to mention that I have to scroll all the way to find the root component).

In case I am doing this wrong, is there any way to quickly reveal all items (including bodies and components) conveniently?

Thank you very much. All discussions are welcomed.

[jhackney1972]

Please attach your model.  If you do not know how to attach your Fusion 360 model follow these easy steps. Open the model in Fusion 360, select the File menu, then Export and save as a F3D or F3Z file to your hard drive. Then use the Attachments section of a forum post to attach it.

[j.han97]

Dear John,

Thank you for your reply.

I believe that you want to try the 'Replace with primitives' function. I have attached the model here.

[jhackney1972]

I will attempt to answer the first and third questions, in your original post, as I do not think I understand your second question enough to comment.  In the Screencast I first turn on Capture Design History as I think this is a better method to use Fusion 360.  Model is attached that I used in the video.

[j.han97]

Hi John,

Thank you for your help! Perhaps I should make my questions clearer in the text below. I will also try to demonstrate my workflow to show you what I am trying to do but unfortunately I cannot post a screencast at this time.

1.  The objective is to simplify the geometry, therefore I cannot move the piece freely. If I align the piece to the origin, I will have to transform it back to original position, which I think is not the most convenient solution.

My thoughts: Instead of aligning the piece to the origin, can we create an additional set of origin, align it with the piece, and ask the 'Replace with primitives' function to take this additional set of origin as reference axes?

2. I will demonstrate this problem in my next post. Hope it will clarify my question.

3. The 'Isolate' and 'Unisolate' pair works fine in most cases. However, when 'Show/Hide' function is involved, the 'Unisolate' function becomes unreliable on showing all items. 

Example 1: I use 'Isolate' on a number of components. They are basically a group of objects in contact, therefore I would like to inspect them as a whole at first. Then I might need to hide one of them to better view the others, therefore I used 'Show/Hide' on it. Now, when I want to reveal all items, 'Unisolate' fails to do it. The object hidden by 'Show/Hide' function is still hidden.

In short, 'Unisolate' does not work perfectly when a combination of 'Isolate' and 'Show/Hide' exists. Therefore we need a function to 'Show everything' which literally shows every item regardless of which function is used to hide it.

Example 2: This is relatively simple: No 'Isolate' is used, but the 'Show/Hide' function used repeatedly. This situation is not common but still exists. In this case, we have to know the exact selection priority when we hide the item.

--> If 'Component' is selected to be hidden, we have to select 'Show all components' later

--> If 'Body' is selected to be hidden, we have to select 'Show all bodies' later

--> If both 'Component' and 'Body' are selected (or we just can't remember which selection priority we have used earlier), both 'Show all components' and 'Show all bodies' should be executed

Unfortunately, the latest case is more likely to happen.

I hope my explanation make sense to you. In my next reply, I will demonstrate my workflow in the form of text+screenshots. Thank you very much for your time and patience.

[j.han97]

Here is the brief workflow. Since I cannot do a screencast now, I hope screenshots are sufficient to explain the problems and do not cause too much trouble for viewers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for your time to read this. Sorry if any inconvenience is caused.

Any discussion/guide/tips/help is highly appreciated!