• Fusion

Using standard components

How to look for standard or manufactured components online, place a fastener in the assembly, duplicate the fastener, and joint the duplicates to the assembly.


00:03

Fusion provides several Insert tools that enable you to access standard or manufactured components online for use in your assembly.

00:12

The Insert Fastener tool also includes settings to streamline your workflow

00:16

by creating duplicate components and jointing them to the assembly automatically.

00:21

This Supercharger design is nearly a complete assembly.

00:25

The only things lacking are three bolts to hold the front cover on.

00:30

It is always a good idea to work with standard parts, as it makes finding and purchasing components easier.

00:37

Fusion offers a couple of built-in options for locating these components.

00:42

The first enables you to look for a manufactured part.

00:45

On the Design workspace toolbar, Solid tab, expand the Insert menu and select Insert a manufacturer part.

00:54

The Autodesk Fusion parts catalog website opens in your default browser.

00:59

Here, you can search dozens of manufacturers and use search utilities to locate components.

01:06

Once you have found the component you need, you can place it into the active design in Fusion.

01:12

Back in Fusion, click Insert again, and this time, select Insert McMaster Carr component.

01:18

This takes you into the McMaster Carr library, right inside of Fusion.

01:23

While not everything in the library includes a 3D model, it provides part numbers required for McMaster Carr,

01:29

as well as excellent search tools.

01:32

You can use the McMaster Carr library to find a wide range of parts, including fasteners.

01:38

However, if all you need are fasteners and related hardware, there is another tool that may be more useful.

01:45

Close the dialog.

01:48

For this task, you need a hex head bolt that is 16 mm long, with an M6 thread.

01:54

Knowing this, you can use the Insert Fasteners tool instead of importing the parts from an external library.

02:01

From the toolbar, click Insert > Insert Fasteners.

02:06

In the Insert Fasteners dialog, you can search and filter to find the correct fasteners.

02:12

Here, expand the filter drop-down and select ANSI, then scroll down and select Metric.

02:21

Next, in the Library drop-down, select Fasteners > Bolts and Screws, and then select Hex Head.

02:29

From the list of bolts that match this criteria, select the Hex Bolt.

02:35

As you move your pointer over different parts of the design, notice that the bolt updates accordingly.

02:41

Position the pointer over one of the holes in the plate, and the bolt changes to accommodate the hole size.

02:47

Click to select the hole.

02:50

Notice that all three holes are added to the position of the bolt, and the size is set to M6.

02:56

This is because Select Similar is selected and the Nominal Size is set to Auto.

03:02

In this case, change the Nominal Length to 16 mm.

03:06

From here, you can set the Material and Finish, add a Part Number, and update the Description, as needed.

03:13

You can also add additional fastener components, like washers and lock washers.

03:19

For now, click OK.

03:21

This adds the three bolts to the design and a Fasteners folder to the Browser.

03:27

Expand Fasteners, and then right-click to edit a fastener, add similar fasteners, or replace it altogether.

03:36

Also note that when the bolts are created, they have a rigid joint added at each insert point.

03:41

This keeps the bolts in place on the assembly.

03:45

Now you can use the Insert features in Fusion to locate and insert a wide range of parts from external and built-in parts libraries.

Video transcript

00:03

Fusion provides several Insert tools that enable you to access standard or manufactured components online for use in your assembly.

00:12

The Insert Fastener tool also includes settings to streamline your workflow

00:16

by creating duplicate components and jointing them to the assembly automatically.

00:21

This Supercharger design is nearly a complete assembly.

00:25

The only things lacking are three bolts to hold the front cover on.

00:30

It is always a good idea to work with standard parts, as it makes finding and purchasing components easier.

00:37

Fusion offers a couple of built-in options for locating these components.

00:42

The first enables you to look for a manufactured part.

00:45

On the Design workspace toolbar, Solid tab, expand the Insert menu and select Insert a manufacturer part.

00:54

The Autodesk Fusion parts catalog website opens in your default browser.

00:59

Here, you can search dozens of manufacturers and use search utilities to locate components.

01:06

Once you have found the component you need, you can place it into the active design in Fusion.

01:12

Back in Fusion, click Insert again, and this time, select Insert McMaster Carr component.

01:18

This takes you into the McMaster Carr library, right inside of Fusion.

01:23

While not everything in the library includes a 3D model, it provides part numbers required for McMaster Carr,

01:29

as well as excellent search tools.

01:32

You can use the McMaster Carr library to find a wide range of parts, including fasteners.

01:38

However, if all you need are fasteners and related hardware, there is another tool that may be more useful.

01:45

Close the dialog.

01:48

For this task, you need a hex head bolt that is 16 mm long, with an M6 thread.

01:54

Knowing this, you can use the Insert Fasteners tool instead of importing the parts from an external library.

02:01

From the toolbar, click Insert > Insert Fasteners.

02:06

In the Insert Fasteners dialog, you can search and filter to find the correct fasteners.

02:12

Here, expand the filter drop-down and select ANSI, then scroll down and select Metric.

02:21

Next, in the Library drop-down, select Fasteners > Bolts and Screws, and then select Hex Head.

02:29

From the list of bolts that match this criteria, select the Hex Bolt.

02:35

As you move your pointer over different parts of the design, notice that the bolt updates accordingly.

02:41

Position the pointer over one of the holes in the plate, and the bolt changes to accommodate the hole size.

02:47

Click to select the hole.

02:50

Notice that all three holes are added to the position of the bolt, and the size is set to M6.

02:56

This is because Select Similar is selected and the Nominal Size is set to Auto.

03:02

In this case, change the Nominal Length to 16 mm.

03:06

From here, you can set the Material and Finish, add a Part Number, and update the Description, as needed.

03:13

You can also add additional fastener components, like washers and lock washers.

03:19

For now, click OK.

03:21

This adds the three bolts to the design and a Fasteners folder to the Browser.

03:27

Expand Fasteners, and then right-click to edit a fastener, add similar fasteners, or replace it altogether.

03:36

Also note that when the bolts are created, they have a rigid joint added at each insert point.

03:41

This keeps the bolts in place on the assembly.

03:45

Now you can use the Insert features in Fusion to locate and insert a wide range of parts from external and built-in parts libraries.

Was this information helpful?