• Fusion

Working with distributed data

Connect components from a project into a design and share a component for other designs to use.


Tutorial resources

These downloadable resources will be used to complete this tutorial:


00:03

There are several ways to connect and share Fusion components for use in other designs.

00:09

You can export a component from a design to a project folder, link a component into a design,

00:14

and break the link to external data, if needed, to enable local editing.

00:19

For this example, open the 80-20 Frame Fusion archive file.

00:24

You also need the T-Slot Bracket archive file.

00:28

Expand the Data Panel, open your project, and then click Upload.

00:34

In the Upload dialog, click Select Files, select the T-Slot Bracket.f3d file, and then click Open.

00:43

Click Upload to upload the part into the project.

00:47

If you find yourself working on similar designs repeatedly, having the components local to the design can add extra work.

00:55

For example, with this design, nearly all the parts on the canvas were imported directly from an online catalog.

01:02

While it is a convenient method, there are times when having a component part of the design is not very convenient.

01:09

If you know that you are going to use a component repeatedly,

01:12

it is good practice to store that component in the project, or in a folder of common files, and then link that component into the design.

01:20

Since you already have the components here, you can use the 90 degree plate that is already in the design.

01:27

in the Browser, find the plate, which is currently named 47065T271, then right-click and select Export.

01:37

In the dialog that opens, you can export a Fusion archive file, or any number of other file formats to a cloud project folder,

01:45

or you can export it to your computer.

01:47

Select Export to a project in the cloud and deselect Export to my computer.

01:54

Make sure that the cloud folder is set to the correct project.

01:58

Depending on your part naming standards, you can keep the part number or rename it to something like “90 Degree Plate”.

02:05

Once all the options are set, click Export.

02:09

At this point, nothing has changed in the design.

02:13

Now, in the Browser, right-click the plate and Delete it.

02:17

In the Data Panel, you see the 90 Degree Plate part in the project.

02:22

Double-click the part to open it.

02:25

Notice that the bodies are local to the component.

02:28

Next, click to open the 80-20 Frame assembly tab.

02:33

In the Data Panel, right-click the plate and select Insert into Current Design.

02:38

Once inserted, you can position it, apply joints, and work with it as if the part were local to the design.

02:44

In the Browser, a link icon indicates that this is external data.

02:49

As an external component, the plate could be used in dozens of designs.

02:54

If you want to reduce its weight, you might consider adding a hole.

02:59

Switch back to the 90 degree Plate tab.

03:02

From the Create group, click the Hole tool, then click the top face of the plate.

03:08

Make the Hole Type a Simple hole and set the diameter to 1.5 inches, then click OK.

03:15

Once the hole is added, be sure to save the design.

03:19

Change back to the Assembly tab and update the design by clicking the Update option in the File menu.

03:26

The new version shows in the project, and any design utilizing this plate will be updated.

03:31

You will see that the hole has been added and the design is up to date.

03:36

Next, in the Data Panel, right-click the T-Slot Bracket and select Insert into Current Design again.

03:43

You can reposition it and reorient it for a rough placement.

03:47

This component will behave just like the 90 degree plate, with this design being updated any time the component is modified.

03:55

However, if you would like to make a modification that is unique to this design, you can break the link to the external file.

04:03

In the Browser, select the T-Slot Bracket, then right-click and select Break Link.

04:10

Notice that you no longer see the link icon.

04:14

Once the link is broken,

04:15

the component becomes local to the design and can be modified without affecting the source file used in other designs.

Video transcript

00:03

There are several ways to connect and share Fusion components for use in other designs.

00:09

You can export a component from a design to a project folder, link a component into a design,

00:14

and break the link to external data, if needed, to enable local editing.

00:19

For this example, open the 80-20 Frame Fusion archive file.

00:24

You also need the T-Slot Bracket archive file.

00:28

Expand the Data Panel, open your project, and then click Upload.

00:34

In the Upload dialog, click Select Files, select the T-Slot Bracket.f3d file, and then click Open.

00:43

Click Upload to upload the part into the project.

00:47

If you find yourself working on similar designs repeatedly, having the components local to the design can add extra work.

00:55

For example, with this design, nearly all the parts on the canvas were imported directly from an online catalog.

01:02

While it is a convenient method, there are times when having a component part of the design is not very convenient.

01:09

If you know that you are going to use a component repeatedly,

01:12

it is good practice to store that component in the project, or in a folder of common files, and then link that component into the design.

01:20

Since you already have the components here, you can use the 90 degree plate that is already in the design.

01:27

in the Browser, find the plate, which is currently named 47065T271, then right-click and select Export.

01:37

In the dialog that opens, you can export a Fusion archive file, or any number of other file formats to a cloud project folder,

01:45

or you can export it to your computer.

01:47

Select Export to a project in the cloud and deselect Export to my computer.

01:54

Make sure that the cloud folder is set to the correct project.

01:58

Depending on your part naming standards, you can keep the part number or rename it to something like “90 Degree Plate”.

02:05

Once all the options are set, click Export.

02:09

At this point, nothing has changed in the design.

02:13

Now, in the Browser, right-click the plate and Delete it.

02:17

In the Data Panel, you see the 90 Degree Plate part in the project.

02:22

Double-click the part to open it.

02:25

Notice that the bodies are local to the component.

02:28

Next, click to open the 80-20 Frame assembly tab.

02:33

In the Data Panel, right-click the plate and select Insert into Current Design.

02:38

Once inserted, you can position it, apply joints, and work with it as if the part were local to the design.

02:44

In the Browser, a link icon indicates that this is external data.

02:49

As an external component, the plate could be used in dozens of designs.

02:54

If you want to reduce its weight, you might consider adding a hole.

02:59

Switch back to the 90 degree Plate tab.

03:02

From the Create group, click the Hole tool, then click the top face of the plate.

03:08

Make the Hole Type a Simple hole and set the diameter to 1.5 inches, then click OK.

03:15

Once the hole is added, be sure to save the design.

03:19

Change back to the Assembly tab and update the design by clicking the Update option in the File menu.

03:26

The new version shows in the project, and any design utilizing this plate will be updated.

03:31

You will see that the hole has been added and the design is up to date.

03:36

Next, in the Data Panel, right-click the T-Slot Bracket and select Insert into Current Design again.

03:43

You can reposition it and reorient it for a rough placement.

03:47

This component will behave just like the 90 degree plate, with this design being updated any time the component is modified.

03:55

However, if you would like to make a modification that is unique to this design, you can break the link to the external file.

04:03

In the Browser, select the T-Slot Bracket, then right-click and select Break Link.

04:10

Notice that you no longer see the link icon.

04:14

Once the link is broken,

04:15

the component becomes local to the design and can be modified without affecting the source file used in other designs.

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