Autodesk Inventor

[#1]

Hi Group,
Sure could use some brain power help on best (least work) strategy for
creating a new version of a product assembly. I am not sure how to go about
it.
What are some hints for the best way to create a new, longer version to
leverage all the work already done on the original version incl IPN & IDW?

I've got the following:
Main Asy with several sub asy inside,
1 IPN file
1 IDW file-has all views of parts & subs.
1 Project name: 'Short Version' (most parts are in the workspace except
fasteners etc)

Now I need to create a new product that is longer.
It will use most of the same parts as the short version.
The couple parts that get stretched have holes & one is a weldment subasy
with linear corresponding holes so I can use parameters.
Just a couple other parts have to be different.
Only 2 sizes required.

I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks...

Gary Cross
gcross@crossdesign.com

[#2]

copy all files to a new directory copy the ipj and rename the ipj in explore and make sure that in project of the old ipj file the use relative paths is true. then edit the project from the project editor to make sure that all files are pointing to the new directory. It always works for me.

[#3]

I'll give it a try . Thanks!

--
Gary

href="mailto:gcross@crossdesign.com">gcross@crossdesign.com

style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">

"jiml" <jiml@cadd.com> wrote in
message
href="news:f12109f.0@WebX.maYIadrTaRb">news:f12109f.0@WebX.maYIadrTaRb...

copy
all files to a new directory copy the ipj and rename the ipj in explore and
make sure that in project of the old ipj file the use relative paths is true.
then edit the project from the project editor to make sure that all files are
pointing to the new directory. It always works for
me.

[#4]

Gary:

I just did one of those (you'll have to forgive me, it was done in 5.3
so I hope I don't get voted off the island). The steps I took were:

1/ Create the new project folder for the longer version.
2/ In the ipj for the new folder, include the source path as a Local.
3/ Copy the General Assembly to the destination folder and rename the file.
4/ Open the GA. It will find all of the sub-assemblies and parts in via
the 'Local' path reference.
5/ For every assembly that needs modification, copy it to the
destination folder, open, do a Save As to its new filename (in the new
folder).
6/ In the GA, replace the assembly with the new one. With luck you
won't lose any constraints since you really didn't make any changes.
7/ Close the assembly, open its replacement and edit as required.

You can follow steps similar to 5-7 to replace parts. Just make sure
you replace in the assembly before modifying.

For the drawings, I expect using DA would be the best. I still haven't
cracked that nut effectively but the next time I will.

The reasons I follow step 2 are
a/ It reduces duplication.
b/ I'm a firm believer that a part number refers to 1 part. The minute
you have the same part in two places, it's only a matter of time before
you modify one instance. Now when you specify the part, which version
is correct?

The exception I allow is with drawing files. Lets say that in the
shorter version you need two widgets and in the longer you need 4. It
is good practice to have the quantity on the drawing. I therefor have a
copy of Widget.idw in each folder, that is based on Widget.ipt in the
source folder. The model is the same, the detailing is the same but the
quantity is different.

Hope these suggestions are helpful.

Richard

Gary Cross wrote:
> Hi Group,
> Sure could use some brain power help on best (least work) strategy for
> creating a new version of a product assembly. I am not sure how to go about
> it.
> What are some hints for the best way to create a new, longer version to
> leverage all the work already done on the original version incl IPN & IDW?
>
> I've got the following:
> Main Asy with several sub asy inside,
> 1 IPN file
> 1 IDW file-has all views of parts & subs.
> 1 Project name: 'Short Version' (most parts are in the workspace except
> fasteners etc)
>
> Now I need to create a new product that is longer.
> It will use most of the same parts as the short version.
> The couple parts that get stretched have holes & one is a weldment subasy
> with linear corresponding holes so I can use parameters.
> Just a couple other parts have to be different.
> Only 2 sizes required.
>
> I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks...
>
> Gary Cross
> gcross@crossdesign.com
>
>
>
>
>