• Fusion

Simulating assemblies using bodies

There are times when placing joints or converting all of the bodies to components might not offer any advantage. Learn how bodies or components can be aligned or held together as a group.


Tutorial resources

These downloadable resources will be used to complete this tutorial:


00:03

In a situation where placing joints or converting bodies to components is not necessary, you can assemble bodies without applying joints.

00:12

The Align tool can be used to reposition bodies and components.

00:17

The parts in this caster file are currently in seemingly random positions.

00:22

The problem is that Fusion requires components in order to be able to apply joints and create assemblies.

00:28

However, there are times when you have only bodies in the design,

00:32

perhaps from an old CAD file or from data downloaded from a vendor that is not componentized.

00:38

Often, this type of design does not need to be modified, since you are only inserting it into other assemblies.

00:45

While this caster part is not completely assembled,

00:48

rather than converting the bodies to components and adding joints, you simply want to make sure that things are in the right place.

00:55

This will enable you to easily reuse this design.

00:59

Remember that every design in Fusion is its own component.

01:03

If you bring this caster into another design, it will act as a component, and you can apply joints to it.

01:10

To properly assemble the bodies in this design,

01:13

you can use the Align tool to reposition bodies or components without creating permanent joints.

01:19

Expand Modify and select Align.

01:23

In the dialog, you can choose to align either components or bodies.

01:28

Here, make sure that the Object is set to Bodies.

01:32

To align the bolt, select the underside of the head on the bolt, then select the position of the hole on this model.

01:40

If you need to, you can use the Flip option, either in the dialog or on the canvas.

01:45

Click OK.

01:47

Next, align the caster.

01:50

Repeat the Align tool and select the caster, aligning it to the inside of the model.

01:57

Again, you can click Flip, if needed.

02:01

When this is done, click OK.

02:04

Save the design.

02:06

Once the design has been updated, you can open a new design and then insert this caster into it.

02:12

You can now link the part as a component, and apply joints to it.

Video transcript

00:03

In a situation where placing joints or converting bodies to components is not necessary, you can assemble bodies without applying joints.

00:12

The Align tool can be used to reposition bodies and components.

00:17

The parts in this caster file are currently in seemingly random positions.

00:22

The problem is that Fusion requires components in order to be able to apply joints and create assemblies.

00:28

However, there are times when you have only bodies in the design,

00:32

perhaps from an old CAD file or from data downloaded from a vendor that is not componentized.

00:38

Often, this type of design does not need to be modified, since you are only inserting it into other assemblies.

00:45

While this caster part is not completely assembled,

00:48

rather than converting the bodies to components and adding joints, you simply want to make sure that things are in the right place.

00:55

This will enable you to easily reuse this design.

00:59

Remember that every design in Fusion is its own component.

01:03

If you bring this caster into another design, it will act as a component, and you can apply joints to it.

01:10

To properly assemble the bodies in this design,

01:13

you can use the Align tool to reposition bodies or components without creating permanent joints.

01:19

Expand Modify and select Align.

01:23

In the dialog, you can choose to align either components or bodies.

01:28

Here, make sure that the Object is set to Bodies.

01:32

To align the bolt, select the underside of the head on the bolt, then select the position of the hole on this model.

01:40

If you need to, you can use the Flip option, either in the dialog or on the canvas.

01:45

Click OK.

01:47

Next, align the caster.

01:50

Repeat the Align tool and select the caster, aligning it to the inside of the model.

01:57

Again, you can click Flip, if needed.

02:01

When this is done, click OK.

02:04

Save the design.

02:06

Once the design has been updated, you can open a new design and then insert this caster into it.

02:12

You can now link the part as a component, and apply joints to it.

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