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Assemblies commonly contain multiple instances of the same component or slight variations on it. Review you how to duplicate and replicate components in Fusion.
Tutorial resources
These downloadable resources will be used to complete this tutorial:
Transcript
00:03
When working in Fusion assemblies, it is common to need multiple instances of the same component.
00:09
Depending on the needs of your design,
00:12
you can create a pattern of components, place additional instances of a component in your assembly,
00:17
and copy a component to create a unique version of it.
00:20
For this example, from the File menu, select Open, then select Open from my computer.
00:29
Select and open the 80-20 Frame Fusion archive file,
00:33
then save the design to your project.
00:36
While one option for copying components is to mirror them, this creates new components that are truly a mirror image.
00:43
For a design like this, which requires an additional set of clamps and a plate, you need something more like copy and paste.
00:51
Otherwise, you will have screws with reverse threads.
00:55
Here, one option for duplicating components is to create a pattern.
01:00
On the Design workspace toolbar, Solid tab, expand the Create menu and select Pattern > Rectangular Pattern.
01:10
In the Rectangular Pattern dialog, set the Object Type to Components.
01:15
From here, you can select the components directly on the canvas,
01:19
but since the screws and the backing plates are embedded in a sub-assembly, you can select them directly in the Browser.
01:25
You can also select the plate from the Browser or on the canvas.
01:29
Then, set the Directions by selecting one or two edges.
01:34
Drag the manipulator arrows on the canvas to set a distance in one or two directions.
01:40
Here, enter 5 inches for both the Axis 1 and Axis 2 distances.
01:46
Then, in the dialog, set the number of instances for both Axis 1 and Axis 2 to 2.
01:52
Click OK.
01:54
Now, you have four instances of the plate and screw assemblies.
01:58
In the Browser,
01:60
new instances of the sub-assemblies and of the plate are denoted by a colon and number added to the end of the description.
02:07
You can also copy components by right-clicking one in the Browser, such as the first plate, and selecting Copy.
02:14
Then, right-click and select either Paste or Paste New.
02:19
When you use the Paste tool, a new instance is created directly on top of the original, with a manipulator that you can use to relocate it.
02:27
Click OK, and you now have a new instance of the plate, as denoted by the number.
02:32
When you have multiple instances of a component, any edit that you make to one is made to all.
02:38
For example, if you add a hole feature to the new plate, you immediately see the preview of the hole on all other instances.
02:46
Cancel the operation, and this time, right-click and choose Paste New.
02:52
The result looks the same as creating a new instance.
02:55
However, if you move the new one to the side and use the hole tool again,
02:60
you are alerted that the position of this new component has been moved.
03:04
You have the option to capture the position, which add a feature to the Timeline to hold that component where it is,
03:10
or you can revert the position, which returns the new component to where it was originally.
03:15
Here, click Capture Position, and then you can place the hole feature.
03:21
Notice that the hole does not show in the original plate or in any of its instances.
03:27
Changes to the sketches or features of the original design will not modify this component either.
03:33
Also notice that when the part is named, there is a number in parentheses,
03:37
and the suffix is set back to 1, indicating that this is a new part, and not an instance.
03:43
Now you can use the Pattern, Copy, and Paste tools to quickly and easily duplicate components in your Fusion design
03:50
without having to recreate the same set of features.
00:03
When working in Fusion assemblies, it is common to need multiple instances of the same component.
00:09
Depending on the needs of your design,
00:12
you can create a pattern of components, place additional instances of a component in your assembly,
00:17
and copy a component to create a unique version of it.
00:20
For this example, from the File menu, select Open, then select Open from my computer.
00:29
Select and open the 80-20 Frame Fusion archive file,
00:33
then save the design to your project.
00:36
While one option for copying components is to mirror them, this creates new components that are truly a mirror image.
00:43
For a design like this, which requires an additional set of clamps and a plate, you need something more like copy and paste.
00:51
Otherwise, you will have screws with reverse threads.
00:55
Here, one option for duplicating components is to create a pattern.
01:00
On the Design workspace toolbar, Solid tab, expand the Create menu and select Pattern > Rectangular Pattern.
01:10
In the Rectangular Pattern dialog, set the Object Type to Components.
01:15
From here, you can select the components directly on the canvas,
01:19
but since the screws and the backing plates are embedded in a sub-assembly, you can select them directly in the Browser.
01:25
You can also select the plate from the Browser or on the canvas.
01:29
Then, set the Directions by selecting one or two edges.
01:34
Drag the manipulator arrows on the canvas to set a distance in one or two directions.
01:40
Here, enter 5 inches for both the Axis 1 and Axis 2 distances.
01:46
Then, in the dialog, set the number of instances for both Axis 1 and Axis 2 to 2.
01:52
Click OK.
01:54
Now, you have four instances of the plate and screw assemblies.
01:58
In the Browser,
01:60
new instances of the sub-assemblies and of the plate are denoted by a colon and number added to the end of the description.
02:07
You can also copy components by right-clicking one in the Browser, such as the first plate, and selecting Copy.
02:14
Then, right-click and select either Paste or Paste New.
02:19
When you use the Paste tool, a new instance is created directly on top of the original, with a manipulator that you can use to relocate it.
02:27
Click OK, and you now have a new instance of the plate, as denoted by the number.
02:32
When you have multiple instances of a component, any edit that you make to one is made to all.
02:38
For example, if you add a hole feature to the new plate, you immediately see the preview of the hole on all other instances.
02:46
Cancel the operation, and this time, right-click and choose Paste New.
02:52
The result looks the same as creating a new instance.
02:55
However, if you move the new one to the side and use the hole tool again,
02:60
you are alerted that the position of this new component has been moved.
03:04
You have the option to capture the position, which add a feature to the Timeline to hold that component where it is,
03:10
or you can revert the position, which returns the new component to where it was originally.
03:15
Here, click Capture Position, and then you can place the hole feature.
03:21
Notice that the hole does not show in the original plate or in any of its instances.
03:27
Changes to the sketches or features of the original design will not modify this component either.
03:33
Also notice that when the part is named, there is a number in parentheses,
03:37
and the suffix is set back to 1, indicating that this is a new part, and not an instance.
03:43
Now you can use the Pattern, Copy, and Paste tools to quickly and easily duplicate components in your Fusion design
03:50
without having to recreate the same set of features.