2D Drawing Itemised NIGHTMARE

[adnan-psr]

I was hoping if someone could help me out on this. I have a 2D drawing of an aseembly containing more than 2000 refractrory bricks. 

The first sheet conists of a custimised Parts list i.e. each type of part used, is given a predefined item number which is based on our product catalogue.

1. Now problem is if I Autoballoon it puts ridiculous amount of balloons all over the place even going outside sheet area. Rerranging them takes huge amount of time and is not worth it.

I want the balloons to be placed in the middle of each brick

2. Second option (which I uses) is to go into individual sheet and manually balloon every single brick part i.e. in excess of 2000 parts per drawing file. 

This process takes days if not weeks. I am hoping if someone could ease my pain as this is not what I expected from Inventor. It is supposed to speed up the Process but when compared to AutoCAD its taking me 3 times longer to do the same task.

Many Thanks

[JDMather]

Why would you model the individual bricks rather than simply the geometry form and do a simple calculation for the number of bricks?

[adnan-psr]

Those refractory bricks are part of the overall 3D assembly which made of various subassemblies including refractory bricks i.e. course by course. Plus I need to show crosssectio view etc HENCE I appreciate you surgesstion but its not an option.

[kstate92]

Would be impractical to emboss or decal the brick (bricks?) with the predefined item number on the face(s) that could be an analogue of a centrally-placed balloon?

[Daniel248]

>"I want the balloons to be placed in the middle of each brick"

Just thinking laterally here, for a moment:

- one idea would be to "Stamp" the brick part models with a small embossing or a bitmap, uniquely identifying the part. If your drawing is big enough that a balloon would fit in the middle of the brick, this "Stamp" will also be visible;  Then, use custom numbers in the table to match...

- another idea is to to use a colour scheme for the bricks (all bricks the same = same colour), no numbers, then a Legend for cross-reference, no balloons....

How many identical bricks in this 2000 lot?

How many types of identical bricks?

(I've never used autoballoon, nor intend to do so in the future...)

[Daniel248]

Glad to see we think alike kstate92 - only saw your post after I've pushed the button ;-))

Cheers,

Danny

[kstate92]

Heh.  I thought you beat me.  I forgot to mention when he wrote refractory brick, I thought of the Space Shuttle and how each tile is (was ) unique and had their individual part number stamped on the face.