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If you need additional control on a position of a component, you can predefine a joint origin to make accurate placement easier. Learn how to create a joint origin and use model parameters to manage the position of joint origins.
Type:
Tutorial
Length:
6 min.
Tutorial resources
These downloadable resources will be used to complete this tutorial:
Transcript
00:03
In Fusion, you can control the position and placement of joints by adding joint origins to a model.
00:10
You can then place the joint origins by entering values directly or by using named model parameters.
00:17
Based on the effectiveness of the placed joints, parameters can be modified to move the joints as needed.
00:23
This design contains a cart base and a caster model.
00:28
Notice the icon on the canvas next to the Caster.
00:31
This is a joint origin, which is one half of a joint that can be placed anywhere on your model, or as seen here, off your model.
00:39
You will use this joint origin to set the caster in from the corner of the cart platform.
00:45
Currently, there is only one point and you need two, one for each upper corner.
00:50
To add a second Joint Origin, on the Design workspace toolbar, Assemble tab, expand Assemble and select Joint Origin.
00:60
A joint origin can be attached to any of the entities that a normal joint would be.
01:05
For this model, select the opposite corner and then set an offset distance.
01:11
Drag the X offset arrow manipulator to the right and the Y offset arrow up a little.
01:17
Notice that this gives you a negative Y offset.
01:20
As an alternative to entering these values, you can take advantage of a named parameter,
01:25
Caster_Offset, which was created previously and is available in this model.
01:31
In the dialog, click in the X Offset box and begin typing the name of the parameter.
01:37
Here, type “C”, and you see the Caster_Offset parameter.
01:41
Select the parameter to use it.
01:45
Then, do the same in the Offset Y box: type “C”, and then select the Caster_Offset parameter.
01:52
This will move the joint origin, but in the wrong direction, so you also need to change the Offset Y parameter to a negative value.
01:60
Click OK, and you now have two joint origins.
02:04
Zoom out and rotate the view to the underside of the model to place your first joint.
02:09
Press J to start the Joint tool.
02:12
Select the left joint origin, then the bottom left corner of the cart.
02:18
Click OK, and you see that a rigid joint has been placed.
02:22
Next, select the Caster, than press Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V to paste another caster instance.
02:30
Roughly position its location, and then repeat Ctrl+V to paste in three more instances, moving them as you create them.
02:38
You want a total of five casters, with one in the middle of the deck as well.
02:43
Set that one off to the side.
02:46
Currently, you might only see one of the origins for each of the copied casters.
02:51
To fix this, in the Browser, expand each of the casters to access the visibility icon for each joint origin.
02:58
Here, the joint origin of the last caster is hidden.
03:03
Then, the other appropriate joint origins are made visible.
03:07
To place the remaining joints, start the Joint tool by pressing J.
03:12
Select the position on the second caster, and then repeat the Joint command from the Marking menu.
03:18
Select the upper-left corner caster and corner, and this time, set an alignment angle that gives you the correct result.
03:26
Continue placing the fourth corner caster, using an alignment to orient it correctly.
03:31
Then click OK.
03:34
Now, place the final caster.
03:37
This shows that having a joint origin in the model does not affect your ability to use joints with regular geometry.
03:44
Find the centroid of the face on the top of the caster and the center of the bottom, then click OK.
03:51
Joints are excellent for locating features like the centers of faces without needing to calculate distances.
03:58
You can modify the deck by changing its size, and the casters will remain offset exactly where they are.
04:05
If you change your mind about the caster positions, on the Solid tab, select Modify > Change Parameters.
04:12
Locate the named user parameter, Caster_Offset, which currently has a value of 20 mm.
04:18
Change it to a more visible value, such as 100 mm, and you see that the casters are now set in from the corner at 100 mm.
04:27
Of course, any expression in Fusion can use any unit, provided that you override it.
04:32
For example, setting the value to 3 inches (76.2mm) shows you the corresponding value.
04:41
This workflow provides a quick and effective way to prepare components related to other components in non-geometric ways,
04:48
and to leverage named parameters inside joints within your Fusion assembly.
Video transcript
00:03
In Fusion, you can control the position and placement of joints by adding joint origins to a model.
00:10
You can then place the joint origins by entering values directly or by using named model parameters.
00:17
Based on the effectiveness of the placed joints, parameters can be modified to move the joints as needed.
00:23
This design contains a cart base and a caster model.
00:28
Notice the icon on the canvas next to the Caster.
00:31
This is a joint origin, which is one half of a joint that can be placed anywhere on your model, or as seen here, off your model.
00:39
You will use this joint origin to set the caster in from the corner of the cart platform.
00:45
Currently, there is only one point and you need two, one for each upper corner.
00:50
To add a second Joint Origin, on the Design workspace toolbar, Assemble tab, expand Assemble and select Joint Origin.
00:60
A joint origin can be attached to any of the entities that a normal joint would be.
01:05
For this model, select the opposite corner and then set an offset distance.
01:11
Drag the X offset arrow manipulator to the right and the Y offset arrow up a little.
01:17
Notice that this gives you a negative Y offset.
01:20
As an alternative to entering these values, you can take advantage of a named parameter,
01:25
Caster_Offset, which was created previously and is available in this model.
01:31
In the dialog, click in the X Offset box and begin typing the name of the parameter.
01:37
Here, type “C”, and you see the Caster_Offset parameter.
01:41
Select the parameter to use it.
01:45
Then, do the same in the Offset Y box: type “C”, and then select the Caster_Offset parameter.
01:52
This will move the joint origin, but in the wrong direction, so you also need to change the Offset Y parameter to a negative value.
01:60
Click OK, and you now have two joint origins.
02:04
Zoom out and rotate the view to the underside of the model to place your first joint.
02:09
Press J to start the Joint tool.
02:12
Select the left joint origin, then the bottom left corner of the cart.
02:18
Click OK, and you see that a rigid joint has been placed.
02:22
Next, select the Caster, than press Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V to paste another caster instance.
02:30
Roughly position its location, and then repeat Ctrl+V to paste in three more instances, moving them as you create them.
02:38
You want a total of five casters, with one in the middle of the deck as well.
02:43
Set that one off to the side.
02:46
Currently, you might only see one of the origins for each of the copied casters.
02:51
To fix this, in the Browser, expand each of the casters to access the visibility icon for each joint origin.
02:58
Here, the joint origin of the last caster is hidden.
03:03
Then, the other appropriate joint origins are made visible.
03:07
To place the remaining joints, start the Joint tool by pressing J.
03:12
Select the position on the second caster, and then repeat the Joint command from the Marking menu.
03:18
Select the upper-left corner caster and corner, and this time, set an alignment angle that gives you the correct result.
03:26
Continue placing the fourth corner caster, using an alignment to orient it correctly.
03:31
Then click OK.
03:34
Now, place the final caster.
03:37
This shows that having a joint origin in the model does not affect your ability to use joints with regular geometry.
03:44
Find the centroid of the face on the top of the caster and the center of the bottom, then click OK.
03:51
Joints are excellent for locating features like the centers of faces without needing to calculate distances.
03:58
You can modify the deck by changing its size, and the casters will remain offset exactly where they are.
04:05
If you change your mind about the caster positions, on the Solid tab, select Modify > Change Parameters.
04:12
Locate the named user parameter, Caster_Offset, which currently has a value of 20 mm.
04:18
Change it to a more visible value, such as 100 mm, and you see that the casters are now set in from the corner at 100 mm.
04:27
Of course, any expression in Fusion can use any unit, provided that you override it.
04:32
For example, setting the value to 3 inches (76.2mm) shows you the corresponding value.
04:41
This workflow provides a quick and effective way to prepare components related to other components in non-geometric ways,
04:48
and to leverage named parameters inside joints within your Fusion assembly.
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