I have a 3d model assembly of a door linked to multiple excell spread sheets. The door has vertical and horizontal members that create the frame.
As the door size gets bigger, the frame has more horizontal and vertical members.
I can easily change the spreadsheet values, which will then change the length, width and height of the door, but I am trying to figure out a way to link a spreadsheet function to the model that will allow me to change the amount of horizontal or vertical members needed, and have the model automatically update with these members?
The frame is built with the frame generator- so the skeleton of the frame is a 2d sketch. I am not simply adding members using the "place" command.
I thought that maybe if I went into the sketch, I could create a rectangular pattern in which the value for the amount of features to be patterned could be linked to a spreadsheet value.
the problem with this, is that Inventor allows me to "list parameters" in the "count" value box, but once I select a parameter, the count value box turns red because the parameter's title is in letters and not numbers.
I tried to then make the title of my parameter a number, but then for some reason inventor wont link a excell value that has a start cell that is a number.
Any idea how I could do this?
From what you describe this should be easy to do. Is it possible for you to share your excel spreadsheet.
Also which version of Inventor are you running?
You're on the right track using pattern. Without seeing the assembly, I cannot say for sure if you would use pattern sketch, pattern features, or pattern components.
I'm guessing that the Count field is red due to mismatched units (the parameter is length units (mm, in, etc) and count is expecting unitless (ul)). You can specify units in the Excel file, but I would skip the step of using Excel and set count = length / spacing. This will resolve the units issue and eliminate the need for Excel.
Eliminate the need for excell totally?
The reason that we are linking a excell spreadsheet to our model is because we want to be able to update our door size very quickly to produce drawings for clients, and also for non inventor users to be able to do this without having a big knowledge of inventor.
I would like to show my model and excell spreadsheet somehow- is there a good FTP site that I could use to host it online? its about 13MB.
It saves so much time to have the model linked- because if a client wants 3d drawings of one of these doors in a different frame breakup or size- to manually build the frame and tracks to the correct length takes a while.
I am confused with what you are saying:
"but I would skip the step of using Excel and set count = length / spacing. This will resolve the units issue and eliminate the need for Excel."
How do I change the count to length/spacing? And what does that mean specifically?Are you saying that you can have the count value = some forum of units? (mm, in etc?) or what?
I was stating you did not need Excel to calculate the pattern. It now sounds like you are using it for other reasons, so let's ignore Excel for now.
To create the pattern, first create parameters called height (this is the height of the door) and spacing (distance between pattern members). When you create the pattern (sketch, feature, or component), enter "height / spacing" in the Count field and enter "spacing" in the Spacing field.
I attached a sample that's in Inventor 2013 (it's all I have installed) and a couple screenshots that hopefully describe it better.
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