3D Part Modelling and Assembly – 3D Modelling Software

When creating a design in Fusion 360, the workflow to do so is different from traditional 3D Modelling Software like Inventor or Solidworks, whereby the user would generally identify a singular part of the model to start, then continue to build up a catalogue of parts in the design. The designer or engineer would then create an assembly, where they could place each of the parts that they have modelled up into this new file.

In terms of Inventor, parts are identified using the .ipt file extension while Assemblies are identified using the .iam file extension.

Depending on the size of a design there can be hundreds or even thousands of parts in one assembly. This can cause issues should a link to the original part file ever be broken or should the files go missing or be accidentally deleted, this is one area where I have noticed a real difference in the workflow of using Fusion.

All parts, components, bodies sketches surfaces are all stored in one file which basically acts as an assembly file. I will briefly explain in my opinion the most important rule for 3D part modelling for assemblies in Fusion 360, and the mistake I made in some projects I have been working on over the last few months.

First, I will explain the difference between a Body and a Component. A body is created when for example you draw a rectangle and extrude the rectangle a certain distance, this is a body. A component is made up of bodies but the user has the ability to add motion and joints to the component. When I first started modelling in Fusion 360, I would create bodies then convert them to components when I wanted to add a joint or motion to the component. I learned the hard way that this is the incorrect method of working in Fusion 360 and that you at the start of the design you should create a new component for each part of the design.

The main issue this will resolve will be the for each component there will be an individual timeline, separate to that of the Assembly itself, the timeline for each component can be viewed by activating the component in the browser by double-clicking the component. This works like the 3D part modelling of CAD packages like Solidworks and Inventor as retain the history of each part/component as well as a history of the assembly.

Activating the induvial will also “Ghost” the other components in the assembly. Simply double-click on the Assembly to reactivate.

Interested in learning more about 3D part and Assembly Modeling? Contact us by clicking here and ask to speak with our Fusion 360 Specialist!