Autodesk Inventor

[#1]

I've created an iPart (for this discussion, lets just say a cube..)

with 6 variations of the same part (its height has a choice of 6 different values in the iPart table)..

I've created a drawing (idw) which dimensions the cube in one of the 6 instances..

..Is there any way to replicate the drawing another 5 times, with each referencing each instance of the iPart?

I was imagining copying the drawing 6 times and change each one to look for a different instance (a bit like when you go component - replace in an assembly..) then the drawing to automatically update the altered dimension.. however I don't think this is possible?

Is there anyway to do this? this would save me producing and re-drawing 6 seperate idw files for the same thing where only one dimension changes each time!

Thanks a lot,

Jamie

[#2 · Accepted solution]

Yes, it's definitely possible, and not really all that difficult.  If you go into the Edit View box for the views placed in your drawing (change it on the base view if you have projected views), then go to the Model State tab, you can pick which iPart member you want the drawing to show.

So, make your copies as you suggested, then go through them and set the members as needed to show the 5 parts in their respective drawings.  Unless there are suppressed features or something like that involved that cause differences in edges, all of your dimensions should update when you change the instance setting.

[#3]

Exactly what I was looking for.. just missed the 'edit view' option!

Thanks!

[#4]

You're welcome.

An alternative to this would be use use a tabulated drawing.  Pick one member to show on the drawing, then use the General Table command to create a table of the part numbers, descriptions, dimensions, etc.  You can then use dimensions with overridden text (ex. "DIM A") to match up to the table.

I didn't mention it before because it wasn't really what you were asking for, but it might be something to consider if there's not a real need to have 5 individual drawings.

[#5]

Haha, Thanks.

My manager told me about producing a tabulated drawing about 30mins before you posted. However, knowing how to produce several drawings is extremely useful as the part in question has several parameters and not just a single dimension as a variable!

Jamie