Derive Style is always a Surface

[CAD-One]

I have ipt file that I am trying to derive into another part file. The "derive style" is set to surface only. solid icons (top most row icons) are all disabled/greyed out. But actually the part i am trying to derive oesnt have any surfaces.

Why does inventor force the derive to be surface only?

If i continue to dereive, I am seeing that the "move bodies" icon is also greyed out.

[CAD-One]

Let me give more details so it give better meaning to my question. I download a step/iges format of a PEMnut from  a website. Open it in inventor and save it as an IPT file. Its all fine till this time. I can see that there is 1Solid body. Just to make sure that its really working, in that same PEMnut file  i create a circle and extrude a little cylinder (With new body option).  Now I see 2 solids. Now that this is working fine, I delete the extruded cylinder feature and save this file.

In another sheet metal file, I am trying to derive this PEM nut ipt file into a sheetmetal part. The problem I am having is, after I bring the PEMnut into the sheetmetal part, its always a surface body and not a solidbody. I prefer it to be a solid body.

I tried editing the derived style. But the sold related buttons are greyed out. Why? I know there is a solid in the source file, then Why this strange behaviour?

Anways, Can one of you try deriving a PEM nut (say part# BSO-832-22ZI) into a sheetmetal part and let me know what you find out? Do you see anything different from me?

Thanks in advance.

[alessandro.gasso · Accepted solution]

If I’ve understood correctly your question, you cannot derive a part as solid body in a sheet metal part that already contains a solid body, because the sheet metal cannot be a multi body part.

I hope the attached video can clarify what I’m writing.

Kind regards,

Alessandro

[CAD-One]

Ale,

You have understood my question perfectly. Thanks.

Thanks for clarifying with this video. Looks like I should switch the Sheetmetal to a Standard part.

Too bad we cant have a Multi body in sheetmetal yet. Practically we install metallic inserts (PEM inserts) onto sheetmetal parts. This is a makes the PEM insert permament attachment to sheet metal. Typically we dont want to use a assembly modeling for this. Instead prefer to keep it a part level.

Thanks

C1