More advanced parametric modeling (with ability to select options)

[hazymat]

Hi all

When I first bought my 3D printer, I downloaded a program called OpenSCAD. Amazingly I could specify options in the left sidebar, for example

- number of screw holes in a hinge

- type of countersink.

etc.

I couldn't imagine using anything but Fusion360 now, and although I make extensive use of Parameters, they only allow me to specify numbers for measurements (or number of repetitions for e.g. patterns).

By GROUPING features in the timeline I can also effectively turn on or off certain design features, this might allow me to specify whether e.g. what type of countersink I want. Useful for making templates where you need to pull up different options.

But I'm looking for something a bit more. Ideally I'd be able to code options as select boxes to choose between different features, tick boxes to turn things on and off, or input boxes to mimic the parameters that Fusion360 already has.

Am I missing something? Does Fusion360 already have this? Is there a module or addon that I can use to do this?

I use Fusion360 for 3D printing things like mechanisms, special project boxes with different fixing and opening options, that kind of thing.

NOTE: I'm really keen to be able to do this because I am now having to track about 6 different versions of a box that I have designed. However I just ran a 3D print overnight to find that I forgot that the version I selected didn't have little lugs to open the box, now I have to print the whole thing again. Yes it was my fault and I should have checked more thoroughly, but advanced parametric modeling would really help track the difference between changes in design and changes in requirements of an instance

[TheCADWhisperer · Accepted solution]

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@hazymat wrote:

...but advanced parametric modeling would really help ...

Autodesk Inventor Professional

• iFeatures
• iParts
• iLogic
• iAssemblies

[TrippyLighting]

This is one of the many, many threads where a user with apparently no experience in any other commercial and full-featured CAD system describes a feature set that is implemented in any other competing CAD systems I am aware of, for example SolidWorks, Alibre Design,  ZW3D, and Onshape this is called Configurations.

As @TheCADWhisperer points out in Autodesk Inventor this is accomplished with iParts etc.

[hazymat]

This is one of the many, many responses where a user with apparently no experience in the art of human conversation deems it appropriate to show off his superiority whilst at the same time belittling others. If your response had anything of additional substance then I might have given you some leeway but as it was otherwise useless and confirmatory, I can definitely say your response was more wrong than my question. Have a great day, schmuck!

[hazymat]

Thanks @TheCADWhisperer for the useful response.

[TrippyLighting]

I think you completely misunderstood my post!

I am not sure why you assumed that my intuition was to belittle you. You could not be more mistaken.

I've had many discussions with the Fusion 360 team in pointing out that configurations are a required feature set for software that wants to compete in the mechanical and machine design space.

IMHO this is a blatant development oversight years after they committed to competing in that market segment

Many users coming from other CAD systems ask directly for configurations. Such users know exactly what they are asking for and usually describing the feature set as you did isn't necessary. It is so ubiquitous in the CAD world that it does not need explanation. As such, I perhaps mistakenly assumed you were not familiar with the usual name of this feature set.

[hazymat]

In that case, sincere apologies as I misread the tone of your message.

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@TrippyLighting wrote:

Many users coming from other CAD systems ask directly for configurations. Such users know exactly what they are asking for and usually describing the feature set as you did isn't necessary. It is so ubiquitous in the CAD world that it does not need explanation. As such, I perhaps mistakenly assumed you were not familiar with the usual name of this feature set.

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I am not familiar with the usual name of this feature set. I haven't come from any other CAD systems and I'm brand new to 3D design. I have learnt everything from posting online here and from Youtube (and a couple of decades of experience managing IT systems, which means 3D design comes pretty easily to me).

I had assumed that because the version of Fusion360 I am using allows me to set parameters (Modify > Change Parameters) that was the only form of parameter setting that the software supports. Many applications that reserve feature sets for paid / different versions usually include them in the menu system but grey them out so you know it's possible but not in that version. (Flip side is that this can be frustrating for users who have bought software only to be taunted by the features of the more complete licence they didn't pay for....)

Thanks