Create a sub-nest group for additive manufacturing

Ensure that you have an additive setup with a manufacturing model.

On the Manufacture workspace toolbar, click Additive > Position > Sub-Nest Group .

The Sub-Nest dialog opens with the Objects tab selected.

(Optional) By default, the Arrange Components checkbox is selected and Fusion arranges the selected components within the sub-nest volume. To group components without arranging them, deselect the Arrange Components checkbox.

In the Components group, with Select active, on the canvas, click the components you want to include in the sub-nest, or click Select All to select all components in the active setup.

If you deselected Arrange Components, click OK to group the selected components into a sub-nest without arranging them.

Otherwise, complete steps 6 to 12.

Select a Sorting Type to control how components are prioritized during the sub-nest. Choose:

• Priority to specify individual levels of priority for each component.
• Volume to automatically sort components based on their volume, from largest to smallest.
• Manual to specify the exact order in which components are arranged.

If Sorting Type is set to Manual, in the components table, use the up and down arrows to change the order of components.

In the Create Copies group, enter a Global Quantity multiplier.

(Optional) Adjust rotation settings:

1. To rotate the components during the sub-nest process to help improve packing efficiency, select the Rotation checkbox, then choose options for Global X Rotation, Global Y Rotation, and Global Z Rotation.

   Tip: You can override this global setting for individual components in the Rotation column in the component table.

2. When the Rotation checkbox is selected, the Multi-Axis Rotations checkbox is available. Select it to rotate components around more than one axis at the same time. This can result in more orientations and often a higher packing density. Deselect to rotate components around one axis at a time.

   Note: The same option is available per component when you set Rotation to Custom for a component. In the component dialog, use Multi-Axis Rotations to control whether multi-axis rotations are used for that component.

(Optional) In the Spacing tab, adjust the settings:

1. Set Object Spacing to specify the minimum distance between components.

2. Set Voxel Size to specify the smallest unit (voxel) used in spacing calculations. Smaller voxel sizes result in more precise spacing.

3. By default, the Automatic checkbox is selected and Fusion defines the smallest volume possible for the selected components. To specify the volume manually, deselect the Automatic checkbox, then enter values for Width (X), Depth (Y), and Height (Z). Calculated Volume shows the resulting volume based on these dimensions. Volume of Components shows the total volume of the selected components.

   Note: Unlike Arrange, sub-nesting does not use the additive machine's build volume. All selected components must fit within the specified volume. If they do not fit, Fusion displays an error and the sub-nest is not created.

(Optional) In the Solver tab, adjust the settings:

1. To prevent components from interlocking during the sub-nest process, select the Avoid Interlocking checkbox, then select a Method option:

   • Bounding Box to use components' outer dimensions to detect interlocking.
   • Translational to use translational movement to detect interlocking.

2. In the Arrangement Criteria table, use the up and down arrows to change the priority order of criteria. Select the Enable checkbox for a criterion to include it, or deselect the checkbox to ignore it.

   Note: Arrangement criteria are applied only if the Rotation checkbox is selected in the Objects tab.

Click OK.

Fusion arranges the selected components as a sub-nest within the specified volume.