• Fusion

Applying a joint origin

If you need additional control on a position of a component, you can predefine a joint origin to make accurate placement easier. Learn how to create a joint origin and use model parameters to manage the position of joint origins.


Tutorial resources

These downloadable resources will be used to complete this tutorial:


00:03

In Fusion, you can control the position and placement of joints by adding joint origins to a model.

00:10

You can then place the joint origins by entering values directly or by using named model parameters.

00:17

Based on the effectiveness of the placed joints, parameters can be modified to move the joints as needed.

00:23

This design contains a cart base and a caster model.

00:28

Notice the icon on the canvas next to the Caster.

00:31

This is a joint origin, which is one half of a joint that can be placed anywhere on your model, or as seen here, off your model.

00:39

You will use this joint origin to set the caster in from the corner of the cart platform.

00:45

Currently, there is only one point and you need two, one for each upper corner.

00:50

To add a second Joint Origin, on the Design workspace toolbar, Assemble tab, expand Assemble and select Joint Origin.

00:60

A joint origin can be attached to any of the entities that a normal joint would be.

01:05

For this model, select the opposite corner and then set an offset distance.

01:11

Drag the X offset arrow manipulator to the right and the Y offset arrow up a little.

01:17

Notice that this gives you a negative Y offset.

01:20

As an alternative to entering these values, you can take advantage of a named parameter,

01:25

Caster_Offset, which was created previously and is available in this model.

01:31

In the dialog, click in the X Offset box and begin typing the name of the parameter.

01:37

Here, type “C”, and you see the Caster_Offset parameter.

01:41

Select the parameter to use it.

01:45

Then, do the same in the Offset Y box: type “C”, and then select the Caster_Offset parameter.

01:52

This will move the joint origin, but in the wrong direction, so you also need to change the Offset Y parameter to a negative value.

01:60

Click OK, and you now have two joint origins.

02:04

Zoom out and rotate the view to the underside of the model to place your first joint.

02:09

Press J to start the Joint tool.

02:12

Select the left joint origin, then the bottom left corner of the cart.

02:18

Click OK, and you see that a rigid joint has been placed.

02:22

Next, select the Caster, than press Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V to paste another caster instance.

02:30

Roughly position its location, and then repeat Ctrl+V to paste in three more instances, moving them as you create them.

02:38

You want a total of five casters, with one in the middle of the deck as well.

02:43

Set that one off to the side.

02:46

Currently, you might only see one of the origins for each of the copied casters.

02:51

To fix this, in the Browser, expand each of the casters to access the visibility icon for each joint origin.

02:58

Here, the joint origin of the last caster is hidden.

03:03

Then, the other appropriate joint origins are made visible.

03:07

To place the remaining joints, start the Joint tool by pressing J.

03:12

Select the position on the second caster, and then repeat the Joint command from the Marking menu.

03:18

Select the upper-left corner caster and corner, and this time, set an alignment angle that gives you the correct result.

03:26

Continue placing the fourth corner caster, using an alignment to orient it correctly.

03:31

Then click OK.

03:34

Now, place the final caster.

03:37

This shows that having a joint origin in the model does not affect your ability to use joints with regular geometry.

03:44

Find the centroid of the face on the top of the caster and the center of the bottom, then click OK.

03:51

Joints are excellent for locating features like the centers of faces without needing to calculate distances.

03:58

You can modify the deck by changing its size, and the casters will remain offset exactly where they are.

04:05

If you change your mind about the caster positions, on the Solid tab, select Modify > Change Parameters.

04:12

Locate the named user parameter, Caster_Offset, which currently has a value of 20 mm.

04:18

Change it to a more visible value, such as 100 mm, and you see that the casters are now set in from the corner at 100 mm.

04:27

Of course, any expression in Fusion can use any unit, provided that you override it.

04:32

For example, setting the value to 3 inches (76.2mm) shows you the corresponding value.

04:41

This workflow provides a quick and effective way to prepare components related to other components in non-geometric ways,

04:48

and to leverage named parameters inside joints within your Fusion assembly.

Video transcript

00:03

In Fusion, you can control the position and placement of joints by adding joint origins to a model.

00:10

You can then place the joint origins by entering values directly or by using named model parameters.

00:17

Based on the effectiveness of the placed joints, parameters can be modified to move the joints as needed.

00:23

This design contains a cart base and a caster model.

00:28

Notice the icon on the canvas next to the Caster.

00:31

This is a joint origin, which is one half of a joint that can be placed anywhere on your model, or as seen here, off your model.

00:39

You will use this joint origin to set the caster in from the corner of the cart platform.

00:45

Currently, there is only one point and you need two, one for each upper corner.

00:50

To add a second Joint Origin, on the Design workspace toolbar, Assemble tab, expand Assemble and select Joint Origin.

00:60

A joint origin can be attached to any of the entities that a normal joint would be.

01:05

For this model, select the opposite corner and then set an offset distance.

01:11

Drag the X offset arrow manipulator to the right and the Y offset arrow up a little.

01:17

Notice that this gives you a negative Y offset.

01:20

As an alternative to entering these values, you can take advantage of a named parameter,

01:25

Caster_Offset, which was created previously and is available in this model.

01:31

In the dialog, click in the X Offset box and begin typing the name of the parameter.

01:37

Here, type “C”, and you see the Caster_Offset parameter.

01:41

Select the parameter to use it.

01:45

Then, do the same in the Offset Y box: type “C”, and then select the Caster_Offset parameter.

01:52

This will move the joint origin, but in the wrong direction, so you also need to change the Offset Y parameter to a negative value.

01:60

Click OK, and you now have two joint origins.

02:04

Zoom out and rotate the view to the underside of the model to place your first joint.

02:09

Press J to start the Joint tool.

02:12

Select the left joint origin, then the bottom left corner of the cart.

02:18

Click OK, and you see that a rigid joint has been placed.

02:22

Next, select the Caster, than press Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V to paste another caster instance.

02:30

Roughly position its location, and then repeat Ctrl+V to paste in three more instances, moving them as you create them.

02:38

You want a total of five casters, with one in the middle of the deck as well.

02:43

Set that one off to the side.

02:46

Currently, you might only see one of the origins for each of the copied casters.

02:51

To fix this, in the Browser, expand each of the casters to access the visibility icon for each joint origin.

02:58

Here, the joint origin of the last caster is hidden.

03:03

Then, the other appropriate joint origins are made visible.

03:07

To place the remaining joints, start the Joint tool by pressing J.

03:12

Select the position on the second caster, and then repeat the Joint command from the Marking menu.

03:18

Select the upper-left corner caster and corner, and this time, set an alignment angle that gives you the correct result.

03:26

Continue placing the fourth corner caster, using an alignment to orient it correctly.

03:31

Then click OK.

03:34

Now, place the final caster.

03:37

This shows that having a joint origin in the model does not affect your ability to use joints with regular geometry.

03:44

Find the centroid of the face on the top of the caster and the center of the bottom, then click OK.

03:51

Joints are excellent for locating features like the centers of faces without needing to calculate distances.

03:58

You can modify the deck by changing its size, and the casters will remain offset exactly where they are.

04:05

If you change your mind about the caster positions, on the Solid tab, select Modify > Change Parameters.

04:12

Locate the named user parameter, Caster_Offset, which currently has a value of 20 mm.

04:18

Change it to a more visible value, such as 100 mm, and you see that the casters are now set in from the corner at 100 mm.

04:27

Of course, any expression in Fusion can use any unit, provided that you override it.

04:32

For example, setting the value to 3 inches (76.2mm) shows you the corresponding value.

04:41

This workflow provides a quick and effective way to prepare components related to other components in non-geometric ways,

04:48

and to leverage named parameters inside joints within your Fusion assembly.

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