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Professional CAD/CAM tools built on Inventor and AutoCAD
Integrated BIM tools, including Revit, AutoCAD, and Civil 3D
Professional CAD/CAM tools built on Inventor and AutoCAD
Any referenced datasets can be downloaded from "Module downloads" in the module overview.
Transcript
00:02
External references and derives.
00:05
After completing this video,
00:06
you'll be able to
00:07
insert an external component,
00:09
use edit in place,
00:11
and create a derive.
00:14
To get started in Fusion,
00:15
we want to open the supplied data sets,
00:17
Joint and motion assemble.F3D
00:19
and mounting plate.
00:21
F3D.
00:22
We're gonna be taking a look at using external references and derives
00:26
and how working with these distributed designs works inside of fusion.
00:31
So to get started,
00:32
the first thing that we want to do is we want to identify the fact that
00:35
all of the components and subcomponents inside of our joints and motion assembled
00:40
are all internal to the design.
00:43
If we want to insert an external component,
00:45
there are 2 main ways that we can do this.
00:47
From the insert menu,
00:48
we can select insert component.
00:51
This will allow us to navigate to another location,
00:53
for example,
00:54
mounting plate and select insert.
00:57
When we insert a new component,
00:58
we have some positioning tools that are available to us right away.
01:02
What we can do is we can rotate a part around
01:05
and get its initial position roughly correct.
01:08
This can help with applying joints later.
01:10
While it's not strictly required that the joint position is perfect,
01:14
it does certainly help,
01:16
and we have the option to ground to parent at this time.
01:19
For now,
01:19
we're gonna select OK.
01:21
The external component has a chain link icon
01:24
because it's not currently in our design.
01:26
If we want to make edits or adjustments,
01:28
what we need to do is use what's called edit in place.
01:31
We'll take a look at that in just a second.
01:34
Another way that we can insert components into our
01:36
design is to find them in our data panel,
01:38
select them,
01:39
and drag them into our assemblies.
01:41
I'm going to hit cancel for this because it's the exact same dialogue,
01:45
but note that this is a secondary method that
01:47
we can use to insert these into our design.
01:50
In the timeline,
01:51
I'm gonna select the component creation and hit delete.
01:55
For now,
01:55
let's minimize the data panel.
01:57
What we'd like to do is position this plate
02:00
so that it goes to our mounting brackets for our cylinder.
02:03
Keep in mind that the pivot bracket is currently fixed.
02:07
To do this,
02:07
let's go to assemble and select joint.
02:10
For the joint motion type,
02:12
we're gonna first start with Revolut.
02:15
The first position will be this hole.
02:17
The 2nd position will be the center location of the backmost mounting point.
02:23
Note that it's positioned properly,
02:25
so instead of Revolut,
02:26
let's go ahead and set this as rigid.
02:28
This means that these two components will be fixed together.
02:31
Since our mounting bracket is fixed or pinned to our environment,
02:35
this means that the cylinder can move up and down.
02:39
The next thing that we want to do is we want to modify the mounting plate
02:43
because currently it's too short for this assembly.
02:46
To do this,
02:46
we need to use what's called edit in place.
02:49
Edit in place is a way for us to share external references
02:53
between our external designs and the assembly which we're working in.
02:56
We have the ability to modify the design by updating its features and sketches.
03:01
Let's go ahead and right click on sketch one and show the dimensions.
03:05
This shows that we have 90 millimeters for our overall length.
03:08
Let's go ahead and increase this length to 150 millimeters.
03:12
We can see now that the 3D model has been updated in the design.
03:16
Let's go ahead and reduce this down to 135 millimeters,
03:20
and then we can finish edit in place.
03:22
Let's go ahead and hide sketch one.
03:25
Minimize the sketches folder
03:26
and collapse the mounting plate.
03:29
So this is a great way for us to use
03:31
external references and to bring them into our current design.
03:36
Keep in mind that external references,
03:38
if we make any adjustments or changes to the design,
03:40
they'll be affected in all their locations.
03:43
We can right click and we have the option to break the link.
03:47
If we break the link,
03:48
this is going to pull all of the features
03:50
used to create that part into our current design.
03:53
Keep in mind also that there is a record of
03:56
where these components are used directly in our data panel.
03:60
So when we're taking a look at our joints and motions assembled,
04:03
if we expand this,
04:04
we'll be able to see which components are used.
04:07
We have uses and used in and as soon as we save this design,
04:11
it's gonna be updated based on the components that are being used.
04:17
So if we expand joints and motions assembled,
04:21
and we take a look at our uses,
04:23
we can see that it's using the mounting plate.
04:26
And used in and drawings would also be populated if there
04:29
were some additional components or places where we put this subassembly.
04:33
Let's go ahead and minimize the data panel.
04:36
One other thing that we do want to discuss is the use of creating a derive.
04:41
A derive is a way for us to take a component out of assembly into its own design.
04:46
Just like external references brought into a current assembly,
04:50
a derive will maintain its link back to its parent assembly.
04:54
Changes made to the derive will not affect the original assembly.
04:58
Let's go to our Create menu and selective.
05:01
In here we can put them into new designs or put them into an existing design.
05:06
We have the option to derive objects or to specifically derive components.
05:10
There are some additional options such as parameters from our favorites
05:14
and our components that can be brought along as well.
05:17
For this example,
05:17
let's go ahead and just bring the cylinder.
05:20
Note that this is using bodies.
05:22
If we change the object to components and select it,
05:26
we'll be bringing in the component information.
05:29
You have the ability to bring in multiple things such
05:31
as the entire air cylinder and its assembly structure.
05:35
This will also bring over joints,
05:36
in this case the slider joint.
05:38
Let's go ahead and say,
05:39
OK,
05:40
and put this into a new design.
05:42
The new design contains the main body as well as
05:45
the shaft and the joints that are relating the two.
05:48
Any changes that we make at this stage,
05:50
for example,
05:51
if we decide to use press pull and increase the diameter of this hole.
05:57
That change is not going to affect the original design.
06:01
Information from the original design,
06:03
however,
06:04
any changes that are made here,
06:06
will propagate down to our derive.
06:08
So if I decide to change the depth of this counterboard,
06:11
for example,
06:13
once again,
06:13
we're going to use press pull,
06:14
which is Q on the keyboard.
06:16
I'm gonna set this at -0.1,
06:19
making a small adjustment.
06:21
I'm gonna save this assembly.
06:23
And navigate back to my derive.
06:26
Now Fusion is telling me that this is out of date
06:28
and there is an update to the version of my part.
06:31
If we select to go ahead and grab the update,
06:34
it'll make that minor change to this area.
06:37
So once again,
06:38
it's important to understand that there are many ways in
06:40
which we can use fusion to design our parts.
06:43
Keeping everything internal to a single design file is certainly a valid workflow,
06:48
but also understanding that external references as well as
06:50
derives are in many cases used in complex assemblies,
06:54
especially during collaboration is an important subject as well.
06:59
Make sure that you understand how to insert an external component,
07:02
make sure that you know how to use edit in place,
07:05
and also understand how to create a derive,
07:07
taking a specific body or component
07:10
out of a large assembly.
07:12
If you want to go ahead and make sure that you save all the
07:14
files that we've been working on before moving on to the next step.
Video transcript
00:02
External references and derives.
00:05
After completing this video,
00:06
you'll be able to
00:07
insert an external component,
00:09
use edit in place,
00:11
and create a derive.
00:14
To get started in Fusion,
00:15
we want to open the supplied data sets,
00:17
Joint and motion assemble.F3D
00:19
and mounting plate.
00:21
F3D.
00:22
We're gonna be taking a look at using external references and derives
00:26
and how working with these distributed designs works inside of fusion.
00:31
So to get started,
00:32
the first thing that we want to do is we want to identify the fact that
00:35
all of the components and subcomponents inside of our joints and motion assembled
00:40
are all internal to the design.
00:43
If we want to insert an external component,
00:45
there are 2 main ways that we can do this.
00:47
From the insert menu,
00:48
we can select insert component.
00:51
This will allow us to navigate to another location,
00:53
for example,
00:54
mounting plate and select insert.
00:57
When we insert a new component,
00:58
we have some positioning tools that are available to us right away.
01:02
What we can do is we can rotate a part around
01:05
and get its initial position roughly correct.
01:08
This can help with applying joints later.
01:10
While it's not strictly required that the joint position is perfect,
01:14
it does certainly help,
01:16
and we have the option to ground to parent at this time.
01:19
For now,
01:19
we're gonna select OK.
01:21
The external component has a chain link icon
01:24
because it's not currently in our design.
01:26
If we want to make edits or adjustments,
01:28
what we need to do is use what's called edit in place.
01:31
We'll take a look at that in just a second.
01:34
Another way that we can insert components into our
01:36
design is to find them in our data panel,
01:38
select them,
01:39
and drag them into our assemblies.
01:41
I'm going to hit cancel for this because it's the exact same dialogue,
01:45
but note that this is a secondary method that
01:47
we can use to insert these into our design.
01:50
In the timeline,
01:51
I'm gonna select the component creation and hit delete.
01:55
For now,
01:55
let's minimize the data panel.
01:57
What we'd like to do is position this plate
02:00
so that it goes to our mounting brackets for our cylinder.
02:03
Keep in mind that the pivot bracket is currently fixed.
02:07
To do this,
02:07
let's go to assemble and select joint.
02:10
For the joint motion type,
02:12
we're gonna first start with Revolut.
02:15
The first position will be this hole.
02:17
The 2nd position will be the center location of the backmost mounting point.
02:23
Note that it's positioned properly,
02:25
so instead of Revolut,
02:26
let's go ahead and set this as rigid.
02:28
This means that these two components will be fixed together.
02:31
Since our mounting bracket is fixed or pinned to our environment,
02:35
this means that the cylinder can move up and down.
02:39
The next thing that we want to do is we want to modify the mounting plate
02:43
because currently it's too short for this assembly.
02:46
To do this,
02:46
we need to use what's called edit in place.
02:49
Edit in place is a way for us to share external references
02:53
between our external designs and the assembly which we're working in.
02:56
We have the ability to modify the design by updating its features and sketches.
03:01
Let's go ahead and right click on sketch one and show the dimensions.
03:05
This shows that we have 90 millimeters for our overall length.
03:08
Let's go ahead and increase this length to 150 millimeters.
03:12
We can see now that the 3D model has been updated in the design.
03:16
Let's go ahead and reduce this down to 135 millimeters,
03:20
and then we can finish edit in place.
03:22
Let's go ahead and hide sketch one.
03:25
Minimize the sketches folder
03:26
and collapse the mounting plate.
03:29
So this is a great way for us to use
03:31
external references and to bring them into our current design.
03:36
Keep in mind that external references,
03:38
if we make any adjustments or changes to the design,
03:40
they'll be affected in all their locations.
03:43
We can right click and we have the option to break the link.
03:47
If we break the link,
03:48
this is going to pull all of the features
03:50
used to create that part into our current design.
03:53
Keep in mind also that there is a record of
03:56
where these components are used directly in our data panel.
03:60
So when we're taking a look at our joints and motions assembled,
04:03
if we expand this,
04:04
we'll be able to see which components are used.
04:07
We have uses and used in and as soon as we save this design,
04:11
it's gonna be updated based on the components that are being used.
04:17
So if we expand joints and motions assembled,
04:21
and we take a look at our uses,
04:23
we can see that it's using the mounting plate.
04:26
And used in and drawings would also be populated if there
04:29
were some additional components or places where we put this subassembly.
04:33
Let's go ahead and minimize the data panel.
04:36
One other thing that we do want to discuss is the use of creating a derive.
04:41
A derive is a way for us to take a component out of assembly into its own design.
04:46
Just like external references brought into a current assembly,
04:50
a derive will maintain its link back to its parent assembly.
04:54
Changes made to the derive will not affect the original assembly.
04:58
Let's go to our Create menu and selective.
05:01
In here we can put them into new designs or put them into an existing design.
05:06
We have the option to derive objects or to specifically derive components.
05:10
There are some additional options such as parameters from our favorites
05:14
and our components that can be brought along as well.
05:17
For this example,
05:17
let's go ahead and just bring the cylinder.
05:20
Note that this is using bodies.
05:22
If we change the object to components and select it,
05:26
we'll be bringing in the component information.
05:29
You have the ability to bring in multiple things such
05:31
as the entire air cylinder and its assembly structure.
05:35
This will also bring over joints,
05:36
in this case the slider joint.
05:38
Let's go ahead and say,
05:39
OK,
05:40
and put this into a new design.
05:42
The new design contains the main body as well as
05:45
the shaft and the joints that are relating the two.
05:48
Any changes that we make at this stage,
05:50
for example,
05:51
if we decide to use press pull and increase the diameter of this hole.
05:57
That change is not going to affect the original design.
06:01
Information from the original design,
06:03
however,
06:04
any changes that are made here,
06:06
will propagate down to our derive.
06:08
So if I decide to change the depth of this counterboard,
06:11
for example,
06:13
once again,
06:13
we're going to use press pull,
06:14
which is Q on the keyboard.
06:16
I'm gonna set this at -0.1,
06:19
making a small adjustment.
06:21
I'm gonna save this assembly.
06:23
And navigate back to my derive.
06:26
Now Fusion is telling me that this is out of date
06:28
and there is an update to the version of my part.
06:31
If we select to go ahead and grab the update,
06:34
it'll make that minor change to this area.
06:37
So once again,
06:38
it's important to understand that there are many ways in
06:40
which we can use fusion to design our parts.
06:43
Keeping everything internal to a single design file is certainly a valid workflow,
06:48
but also understanding that external references as well as
06:50
derives are in many cases used in complex assemblies,
06:54
especially during collaboration is an important subject as well.
06:59
Make sure that you understand how to insert an external component,
07:02
make sure that you know how to use edit in place,
07:05
and also understand how to create a derive,
07:07
taking a specific body or component
07:10
out of a large assembly.
07:12
If you want to go ahead and make sure that you save all the
07:14
files that we've been working on before moving on to the next step.
After completing this video, you’ll be able to:
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