Fusion 360 | Master Model Workflow

A master model (top down design) exercise.

Download the master model at the following public share link (generated within Fusion 360):

Check out a previous master model video:

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0:00 Intro
0:56 What should we include in the master model?
3:46 Splitting into components
5:50 Detailing of ear cup
11:03 Detailing of N Frame
13:41 Creating recess in swivel
15:30 Creating pins on ear cup
16:38 Creating pin recess on N Frame
17:53 Adding joints
20:11 Implementing master model approach at a lower level
21:48 Making changes

[modernDEsignwithFusion]

Excellent - As always! Two things I would point out: 1) Fusion 360 works by default in a top-down style. This is unusual for most mechanical CAD systems and can be a source of confusion if one is more familiar with the "bottom-up" workflow used in other systems. No worries however - Fusion 360 can do "bottom-up" and other systems can also do "top-down"....you just have to know how! (new video idea? :-)) 2) Top-down designs are wonderful for designing assemblies with many interlocking parts, and are especially useful for product design IMO - but it does have one drawback: if one designs all the parts in the context of the assembly - you should be aware that if you intend to re-use parts of the assembly in OTHER models - you will have a difficult time of it. Because the parts are all defined in THIS headset assembly - if you tried to re-use any part of it in ANOTHER headset model - you would essentially be inserting the entire headset model into the other headset model as well. One can break the association - but then you lose the ability to edit the model effectively. In general - Top-Down workflows are best for complex assemblies in a company that has few models or variants, or where the variants do not share many parts. Bottom-Up assemblies are useful in companies where part re-use is frequent. Keep in mind that both methods are able to be used TOGETHER in one model with some practice and experience! (PS - this is one of my favorite subjects in you tell?)

[Tonicwine]

These are the very best Fusion 360 tutorials available.

[beonyou]

Real cool process in creation steps. Very usefull. Thanks.

[camwillie]

Incredible work, as always. Thank you.

[dhobbee]

Thanks for the longer video on this! 👍🏼😊

[YeekyYeeky]

really great tutorial, thank you very much

[AW_DIY_garage]

Thank you. I appreciate the master model break down.

[shanerussell]

Your videos have helped me out of several tight spots. Thank you for creating them and keep up the great work.

[joepasqua]

Very good information. Thank you. I appreciate your shorter tutorials, but this long-form video was also great.

[emanggitulah]

Nice workflow. I usually "ground" the first component (right click at component in browser) the only difference is that you will see an anchor at the component in the browser

[gauravmathur]

This is great . It can help move from level 3 to level 5 and above . Thank you 👍

[evilc]

Not a lot of interest to me, however, seeing the colour coded timeline prompted me to do some searches trying to work out what it was. SO GLAD I found out about the "Component Color Swatch" option - this is a HUGELY useful feature!!

[peterglowski]

Very helpful! Thank you. Keep the videos coming!

[warsteelcalgarus]

Love your vids! I may be jumping the gun but can you recreate something more complex from start to finish? I'd love to see a motorcycle helmet or maybe even a simple two stroke engine. Something with a couple moving parts with many components

[DevilZcall]

I don't like how fusion shows all the individual component operations in the master timeline. After going back and forth between components a few times i eventually end up with a mess of time sensitive cross references that is impossible to untangle.
To get around it, instead of creating components in the master design, I use the derive tool to create new parts from the split pieces of the master model. Those separate components can then be assembled in another design once finished. It is a bit more work, but forces you to keep your references clean and the resulting model should also load faster and respond better because you avoid a massive combined timeline.

[FranklyWry]

Absolutely hate all software subscriptions, from Autodesk to Adobe apps.