Assembly repeated component placement

[superfunnytogo]

Hello,

This is my first time using the forum so bear with me if I use it incorrectly.

In an assembly lets say I am placing 20 screws that fit into different holes but have the same constraints just to different spots.  Is there a way i can copy and paste a screw and all I do is select the two constraints on a new spot and it constrains the component?

I am sorry If I am being unclear, I ask this question because in the past when i have used Creo 2.0 you could copy a component and select constraints you want to use again, simply redefining them.

Thanks

[cbenner · Accepted solution]

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@superfunnytogo wrote:

Hello,

This is my first time using the forum so bear with me if I use it incorrectly.

In an assembly lets say I am placing 20 screws that fit into different holes but have the same constraints just to different spots.  Is there a way i can copy and paste a screw and all I do is select the two constraints on a new spot and it constrains the component?

I am sorry If I am being unclear, I ask this question because in the past when i have used Creo 2.0 you could copy a component and select constraints you want to use again, simply redefining them.

Thanks

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Welcome aboard!

First thing is, always post what version of ths software you are using, and details like wether you use Vault.  In this question I would ask if these fasteners came from the Content Center?  With library parts like that, I usually say NEVER copy and paste.  Sometimes (most of the time) parts from the Content Center that are copied and pasted,... cannot be deleted.  Yeah.

Look into using the Bolted Connection wizard found on the Design tab.  Look for some tutorials, or Youtube videos, and then play around with it in some dummy assemblies to get a feel for it.  It can take up a lot of memory and slow down a large assembly, but saves a lot of time creating the connections.  Level of Detail can help with the speed issues later if it becomes a problem.

Otherwise, if they are from CC... do not copy and paste.  If they are just parts you created and live in a regular file folder someplace.... that should be ok.

[mcgyvr]

sadly this is one of those things Inventor "should" do MUCH better. It doesn't ..

Try kwiksert. http://www.kwikmcad.com/icode/KWiKSert_64/KWiKSert_64.aspx

Its well worth the cheap cost if you place lots of screws/bolts,etc..

WHY this isn't as simple in Inventor is beyond me. 

[karthur1]

use Kwiksert like mcgyvr said..... or use copy/paste like you mentioned.  Thats about the only way to populate the assembly.

A note about copy/paste. In versions prior to 2014, you can pick the part you want to copy, then start the constraint command.  While inside the constraint command, you can press Ctrl-V and place another instance.... then add your constraint.  To quickly place the a bolt in a hole, use the insert constraint.  It will fix the component in 2 dofs (rotation is usually not important).