Create a distributed design

00:02

In this lesson, we will create a distributed design.

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After completing this lesson, you'll be able to demonstrate how to create a derived part and create a distributed design.

00:15

In Fusion 360, we want to make sure that we have both multi-axis multiple setups as well as a soft jaw fixture data sets uploaded.

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I do want to note that the multi-axis multiple setups is the same design that we were working with before we started applying the multi-axis contour.

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Also note that the soft jaw fixture is a similar fixture to what we're working with.

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However, it has an attached set of soft jaws on top.

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What we want to talk about is the workflow needed in order to create both derived and distributed designs and when you might use one over the other.

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So to get started, we first want to go back to our design workspace,

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and we want to understand what a distributed design is as opposed to a derived design.

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The first thing that I want to note is we have our fixture assembly, we have our stock, and we have this stock prep fixture that is inside the design.

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The stock prep fixture is used to hold the stock and allow us to cut the features needed to clamp it into its final fixture.

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So the stock pipe fixture isn't needed for most of our machining at this point, but it is something that still handy to have inside of this design.

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When we talk about creating a distributed design, that means that we have externally linked designs inside of the design we're working on.

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That is similar to how the fixture assembly in the stock pep fixture came to be inside of this assembly.

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They were dragged and dropped and placed in here and then ultimately the links were broken.

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To do this, we simply need to go into our data panel, we need to find the design we want to insert and simply drag it into the canvas area.

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When we do this, it's placed in the design, and it automatically initiates the move copy tool.

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In our case, if we rotate this around and we take a look at the positioning,

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the fixture and the soft jaws are actually at a correct orientation for the link that we need to machine,

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which means that we don't need to do any moving or adjusting of its position.

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As long as we rotate it around, and it looks like it's positioned correctly.

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We can say ‘okay’.

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This is one of the benefits of having the parts designed in their appropriate locations.

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Now that we have it in here, you'll notice that we have a link icon.

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The link icon means that there is a link to an external design.

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Also note there is a pencil icon because we have what's called edit in place functionality.

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We can actually edit this design in place without breaking the link.

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However, when we're using fixtures, especially a soft jaw fixture, and we want to talk about making those adjustments to any geometry.

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In this case, the soft jaws.

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We don't want to have that link back to the original design if it's going to be used over and over again in this manner.

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So in this case, what I like to do is go back and actually break the link.

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An alternative method that we could use is to simply have a fixture,

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and then the soft jaws be their own components that we drag in and we break the link to.

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That would be a more usable method of doing this process over and over again.

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When we break the link, what we're actually doing is bringing all of the different design elements.

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In this case, the sketches, the features, the components directly into our design.

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This means that we can move this around freely.

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We can explore any joints that have been applied at a specific level of the design.

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You'll notice that there are linked sliders, there's jaw distance, there's all kinds of things in here,

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and we can revert its position back and work with it in this static position.

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Now that we have all those elements in, we do want to make sure that we saved us but now we want to talk about what a derive is,

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and in order to talk about a derive, I'm going to work inside of the soft jaw fixture.

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This has a single component which has subcomponents in it, the front and rear jaws.

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This again is free to move about inside of here but we could take the sub plate, for example, and ground it.

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And then we could take a look at some of the joints that are applied to this design.

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What we really want to focus on, however, instead of joints is deriving some of these components out to their own file.

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So in our case, the soft jaw is going to be the critical element here, so I'm going to select it, go to Create and select Derive.

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It tells us that we need to make sure that we're saved and currently up to date in our design,

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so we'll save and continue and then drive is going to initiate one of two options.

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We can either create a new design or we can add it to an existing design.

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If we wanted to place the soft jaw, for example, in our multi-axis setup,

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we would simply select Add-To Existing Design and determine which design we wanted to place it in.

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However, in this case, we want to just create a new one, so we understand what's happening.

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We already have our front soft jaw selected,

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and we can even determine if we want to bring in any parameters that are saved in the component or the favorites.

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These are going to be things like user parameters that were created under the modified change parameters dialog.

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For this example, we're simply going to say ‘okay’.

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Now you'll note that we have a new unsaved document and inside of it is single component, which is our front soft jaw.

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If we expand this, we have bodies, we have a sketches folder which shows the initial sketch,

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but what we don't have is control over any of those design elements.

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Now, what happens when we create a derive is a little opposite to what happens when we create a distributed design.

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A derive means that we're pulling a design element out of a bigger assembly and placing it in its own design.

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When we do this, we're free to make modifications to it.

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We can add additional cuts to it, we can make adjustments and still retain that link back to the original.

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So this is why I said a derive is likely a good option for a soft jaw,

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because you can maintain the link to the original size, any design, location type features, thread sizes.

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All of these elements can be linked back to original designs,

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and then we can have this updated derive where we add our specific cuts that will help us hold our complex parts.

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The workflow that you should consider is really going to be dependent upon your starting point.

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If you're given an individual design that has one body in it, then making a derive or distributed design doesn't necessarily make sense.

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However, if you're starting with a larger complex assembly and you need to pull out individual pieces to machine,

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making that derive is a great way to maintain that link to the original.

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We can also right click on this and break the link, just like we did originally when we were talking about using that distributed design.

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When we break the link, we no longer can relate back to that original,

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but now it will bring in more design elements that were used to create this geometry.

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In our case, we're not going to be saving that derive.

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You’re really focused on making the distribute design, pulling in that soft jaw fixture.

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Once we make sure that this design is saved, I want to go back to my Home view, and then we can move onto the next step.