Modeling bodies and components

Step-by-step guide

Basic characteristics of bodies and components

Components are the building blocks that make up assemblies. Components can represent either individual parts or complete assemblies, depending on how they are structured.

Each component contains one or more bodies, as well as its own set of origin planes, sketches, construction geometry, joints, and other elements. Bodies represent the design geometry, while components define the relationships that form assemblies.

Representation of bodies and components in the Browser

Bodies and components are represented in the Browser with the following icons:

 - Component that contains other components.

 - Component that has no subcomponents.

 - Body. Each component contains a Bodies folder that contains bodies.

Move bodies and components

Understanding the movement differences between bodies and components is crucial.

1. Turn on the Origin visibility for a component.
2. On the Design workspace toolbar, click Solid > Modify > Move/Copy.
3. In the Move/Copy dialog box, set the Move Object to Bodies.
4. Move the part to see that the body moves independently of the component origin.

5. On the Application bar, click Undo.
6. Click Move/Copy again.
7. Set the Move Object to Components.
8. Move the part again.

Now, the origin and everything within the component moves together.

When you develop an assembly, work with components and not bodies.

Components and joints

In Fusion, joints specify movement between parts and define relationships between components. A fundamental distinction between bodies and components is that joints focus solely on components, not bodies.

Components and drawings

Components are necessary to create drawings with bills of materials (BOMs). Each component has its own set of properties.

9. Right-click a component and select Properties to assign a part number, part name, and description that will be added to the BOM.

Isolate a component

A component can be isolated, which hides all other elements in the design. Note that bodies cannot be isolated in this way.

10. Right-click the component and select Isolate.
11. Right-click the component and select Unisolate to make the other parts visible again.

Create instances of a component

There are two ways to create instances of components:

12. In the Browser, right-click a component and select Copy.
13. Right-click the canvas and select Paste.
14. Drag the replica away from the original.
15. Make a change to see that changes to one instance automatically update the other.

16. Click OK to end the Copy command.

Alternatively, use Paste New to create an independent copy:

17. In the Browser, right-click the component and select Copy again.
18. This time, select Paste New.
19. Drag the replica away from the original.

Now, changes made to one instance will not affect the other.