At present, see the need to maintain *three* copies of all CAD parts: 1) copy for capturing 2D blueprint layout, 2) copy for capturing 2D CAM/cut-file layout and 3) copy for capturing 3D virtual assembly layout. For example, when a new part is drawn in the 2D blueprint layout, it is copied to the 2D CAM/cut-file layout in preparation for production. (Parts to be cut from the same material are grouped to minimize waste.) The part is also copied to the 3D virtual assembly layout to check fit with other parts.

This approach will work, but maintaining three copies of each part is error-prone. For better configuration management, it would be more elegant to maintain one copy of each part, simply including it at different locations, orientations, etc. on each layout via a virtual copy. A simple update to the "master" layout would automatically be reflected in each virtual copy.

Thoughts on how to achieve this?