Fusion 360 workflow organisation

[Kev T]

I'm drawing a small loco in F360. I've started a project and in that I've made a drawing for the smokebox. Within that drawing I've drawn a component for the smokebox door.
I'm wondering if this is the best way of using the programme. Should I have the whole loco in one drawing with lots of different components, or should I have several sub-assemblies each in its own drawing. Say, footplate and associated bits, cab, boiler each with separate components, e.g. footplate with components for sandboxes, toolboxes, splashers. Cab with components for doors, roof etc.
I'll be printing this off at some stage and when I need to re-draw some of the components in the light of what I learn, I won't want to impact on a lot of other parts.

What's the best way of organising so that when I make a mistake it impacts as little as possible, while making it easy to see it all together.

Kev

 

[david bigcheeseplant]

I tend to create things that are going to repeat or move are best as components brought in to the main assembly.

I would draw most of the loco starting from the frames.

I would also draw one wheel, then import this into another assembly of two wheels and axle, then this assembly in to the main design.

 

[Kev T]

I tend to create things that are going to repeat or move are best as components brought in to the main assembly.

I would draw most of the loco starting from the frames.

I would also draw one wheel, then import this into another assembly of two wheels and axle, then this assembly in to the main design.

If I've understood this correctly, you only have one drawing with multiple components associated with it

 

[Paul_H]

I'm still a novice at Fusion, but all the tutorials I've watched have said best practice is to keep everything in one file. With different parts drawn as individual 'assemblies'.
This allows you to reference other part's dimensions in new assemblies. That also means (when done correctly) that if you change one part's dimensions that are referenced in other assemblies the dimensions will follow. You can also assemble the assemblies and make joints etc.

No doubt that this can make big complex files with many parts that can be daunting to work with initially, but is regarded as best practice and once you've understood it can make the process more productive.

 

[NickB]

If I've understood this correctly, you only have one drawing with multiple components associated with it

My strategy is to keep everything in a single file. At the top level I have a set of components which are containers for the major parts of the engine. So, underframe, wheels, footplate, smokebox, boiler and firebox, cab would be typical for your average British steam loco, but it could vary depending on prototype. Then individual components for frames, stretchers, boiler fittings, cab fittings, etc go in the relevant container. And so on down. A chimney, for example, would have separate sub-components if the base, stem and cap were identifiably different.

That makes it easy to work on one part of the design by turning off the visibility of other parts, and also makes it easy to ensure that holes in one component line up with holes in other components, and such like.

Also, I only draw those bits I know I'm going to need. I don't make a nice picture of the whole engine. If using stock parts or commercial castings for some parts, I see no point in drawing them.

Nick

 

[Kev T]

Thanks all.
I've placed the smokebox centre on the origin and will work from there.
Kev