Autodesk Inventor

[#1]

Can't say as I have actually done it, and I am sure your ladder example
isn't as complicated as what you are really trying to do, but what if in
your side rails the rung holes were a array, and in the assembly the rungs
were arrayed using the feature pattern?

Personally I think I would just do it as a Master Sketch 8^)

--
Kent Keller
Member of the Autodesk Discussion Forum Moderator Program

http://www.MyMcad.com/KWiK/Mcad.htm

"Charles Bliss" wrote in message
news:3DF435CC.7030200@cbliss.com...
> But how do I reference part parameters into an assembly. Simple
> example, I have a ladder. The rails have a length. Based on this
> length, I want to set the number of rungs in a pattern. How do I get
> the length of the Rail into the assembly so I can calculate the rung
> count?
>
> I don't see a way of deriving into an assembly such that it will see the
> exported parameters. Excel is not the correct answer.
>
> I have already solved the problem with VBA but I am wondering if I have
> overlooked something obvious.

[#2]

The rungs are welded, no holes. I could have an array of points but
that still wouldn't get the number of rungs required at the assembly
level for a pattern.

I presented a simple question so the problem could be understood. It is
more like the quantity of rungs is based on the overall length of the
ladder but with an OSHA minimum and maximum between the rungs.

If you were doing this as a master sketch, how would you control the
amount of rungs without having a part file which contained all the rungs
in one part? The goal is to have one driving dimension for the ladder
height, one for width and end up with an assembly with the correct
amount of steps. The resulting assembly would then be brought into a
weldment and welded together. The resulting BOM would show the correct
quantity of rungs as well.

Kent Keller wrote:

>Can't say as I have actually done it, and I am sure your ladder example
>isn't as complicated as what you are really trying to do, but what if in
>your side rails the rung holes were a array, and in the assembly the rungs
>were arrayed using the feature pattern?
>
>Personally I think I would just do it as a Master Sketch 8^)
>
>--
>Kent Keller
>Member of the Autodesk Discussion Forum Moderator Program
>
>http://www.MyMcad.com/KWiK/Mcad.htm
>
>"Charles Bliss" wrote in message
>news:3DF435CC.7030200@cbliss.com...
>
>
>>But how do I reference part parameters into an assembly. Simple
>>example, I have a ladder. The rails have a length. Based on this
>>length, I want to set the number of rungs in a pattern. How do I get
>>the length of the Rail into the assembly so I can calculate the rung
>>count?
>>
>>I don't see a way of deriving into an assembly such that it will see the
>>exported parameters. Excel is not the correct answer.
>>
>> I have already solved the problem with VBA but I am wondering if I have
>>overlooked something obvious.
>>
>>
>
>
>
>

[#3]

There is one way (sorta): I was just reading Kevin Schneider's post on
"Pattern of a Pattern" and tried putting a feature on my "rail" then
patterning the "rungs" on that feature pattern. That worked but still
has a couple of drawbacks. First, it requires me to put features on my
rail that I don't want and second, I couldn't do a feature pattern of
workpoints which would have been my preference (they wouldn't add geometry).

It sure would be nice if Inventor just allowed us to import parameters
into assemblies just like it does from part to part.

Charles Bliss wrote:

> The rungs are welded, no holes. I could have an array of points but
> that still wouldn't get the number of rungs required at the assembly
> level for a pattern.
> I presented a simple question so the problem could be understood. It
> is more like the quantity of rungs is based on the overall length of
> the ladder but with an OSHA minimum and maximum between the rungs.
>
> If you were doing this as a master sketch, how would you control the
> amount of rungs without having a part file which contained all the
> rungs in one part? The goal is to have one driving dimension for the
> ladder height, one for width and end up with an assembly with the
> correct amount of steps. The resulting assembly would then be brought
> into a weldment and welded together. The resulting BOM would show the
> correct quantity of rungs as well.
>
> Kent Keller wrote:
>
>> Can't say as I have actually done it, and I am sure your ladder example
>> isn't as complicated as what you are really trying to do, but what if in
>> your side rails the rung holes were a array, and in the assembly the
>> rungs
>> were arrayed using the feature pattern?
>>
>> Personally I think I would just do it as a Master Sketch 8^)
>>
>> --
>> Kent Keller
>> Member of the Autodesk Discussion Forum Moderator Program
>>
>> http://www.MyMcad.com/KWiK/Mcad.htm
>>
>> "Charles Bliss" wrote in message
>> news:3DF435CC.7030200@cbliss.com...
>>
>>
>>> But how do I reference part parameters into an assembly. Simple
>>> example, I have a ladder. The rails have a length. Based on this
>>> length, I want to set the number of rungs in a pattern. How do I get
>>> the length of the Rail into the assembly so I can calculate the rung
>>> count?
>>>
>>> I don't see a way of deriving into an assembly such that it will see
>>> the
>>> exported parameters. Excel is not the correct answer.
>>>
>>> I have already solved the problem with VBA but I am wondering if I have
>>> overlooked something obvious.
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>

[#4]

I agree completely with your statement below. Doesn't seem like it should be
that hard, and it is a needed tool. Maybe as the Assembly features mature,
they will also add the ability to derive into a assembly. And you are right
about the master sketch, it would end up with one part file containing all
the rungs.

--
Kent Keller
Member of the Autodesk Discussion Forum Moderator Program

http://www.MyMcad.com/KWiK/Mcad.htm

"Charles Bliss" wrote in message
news:3DF44A81.1040400@cbliss.com...

> It sure would be nice if Inventor just allowed us to import parameters
> into assemblies just like it does from part to part.