Top Down Modeling in Autodesk Fusion 360

Top down modeling in Fusion 360 has many advantages.  

• The assembly components are modeled associative to other components so changes to one updates related components.
• Components can use sketches and features from other components similar to using  the derived process of modeling
• Components are normally modeled "in place" allow the use of As-Built Joints to join them together.
• Designs are easier to visualize since components are modeling in direct relationship to other components.

In this video I created a lidded box with seal using top down modeling which I hope to demonstrate this effective modeling method.

 NOTE: This modeling method is not available to Fusion 360 Personal License users since the Edit in Place functionality is not present.

Creating Top-Down Design Linked Components in Assemblies

In my last video I talked about the Save As and Replace function that can be used on linked components in an assembly. I got a little push back as some said you could not create top-down designed components and still have linked components. This video will show you a method of overcoming this.  It entails a few more clicks but it preserves the use of linked components as well as allows you to use top-down design to create them.

Top Down Design in Autodesk Fusion 360

I first want to be sure that everyone understands what I mean by "Top Down Design".  When you have an assembly, containing one or more components, and you need to design a new component that needs to match another component, in some fashion, that is top down design.  For example, if I need to design a plate that will bolt to the top of the blue component of my assembly, I do not want to have to measure the hole spacing for the tapped holes, I want to design in directly on top of the component and graphically pick up the hole centers.  

In my last article I showed you two methods of creating an assembly by either using "Linked" or "Contained" components.  In this article I want to show you how to design this top plate in both environments.  With either method, the top plate will be "adaptive" which means if the hole locations, in the blue component, move the tapped holes in the top plate will automatically update their position to match.  Of course at any time you can break this "adaptive" link and the hole locations in the top plate will become static. 

 My first video will be of the top down design of the top plate in a "Contained" assembly.  If you did not read the previous article, this is an assembly which contains all of the components internally.

My second video will be of the top down design of the same plate in a "Linked" assembly.  If you did not read the previous article, this is an assembly which contains components that are only linked, as separate component files, to the assembly.

If you watched both methods you have probably noticed that creation of a top down design component is easiest in a "Contained" assembly but if the link needs to be broken, the process is a lot harder than in a "Linked" assembly. 

You also have the ability to created a top down designed "Contained"  component in a "Linked" assembly and visa versa if you would like but don't get yourself too confused.