Developing parametric spreadsheets to drive modelling

[kenr]

HI

I have another question regarding Inventor and Excel in the area of developing spreadsheets to drive models.

We are a transport engineering firm in Queensland and I would like to develop a spreadsheet that can formulate cross member distances and recalculate to add or remove cross members.

The basis of this is the overall size of the body we are building.

For example: The maximum width of a body in Australia is 2.5metres overall. Our cross members would be 6 mm shorter than the overall width of the body to allow for 3mm end caps to cover the open ends of the cross members. So the length of the cross member is width minus 6, or , parametrically the length is (overall width - (endcap thickness x2))

The body length is the tricky one. We have a maximum spacing on the cross members. This will vary from size of body to size of body. EG the spacing on the small 2 tonne body will be different to the spacing on the 12 tonne body etc. So lets say we want to have maximum spacing of 450mm and a minimu spacing of 300mm between centrelines of the cross members. The overall length of the body will also determine the number of cross members required.

On top of this there is the front and rear coaming to take into consideration.

So the formula would be ((overall length - front coaming - rear coaming) divided by cross member spacing)) then a check to see if the last space is what and then can we change the cross member size to take up that space without going over the maximum space. We would also need to take into account the width of the crossmember section as well in this calculation.

EG if we have 150mm left at the end we could increase the crossmember centres slightly to take up this additional space without going over the maximum space allowable.

Any assistance would be appreciated. I am struggling with the IF(if(if(if))) statements to accomplish this.

[MingweiGao]

I think you should have/list the clear logic of your design firstly. Did you consider to use iLogic(an add-in in Inventor)? This may help you resolve the logical issue and drive the parameters.

[kenr]

HI MingweiGao

Thanks for your suggestion, but I chose to use Excel simply because, if any changes are needed I do not need to be there. I can simply send the updated spreadsheet to the office and walk someone though the process, and secondly, I have only looked briefly at iLogic and it scares the bejesus out of me.

Ken Russ

Russ Equipment Pty Ltd
192 Beatty Road Archerfield. Q. 4108
Phone: (07) 3275 2233 Fax: (07) 3875 1458
Email: ken_russ@russequipment.com.au
Web: www.russequipment.com.au
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[PaulMunford]

You can do quite a bit of this using patterns. The trick is to handle one bit at a time and build it up.

Check out the Max/Min function too:

http://wikihelp.autodesk.com/Inventor/enu/2012/Help/0073-Autodesk73/0733-Design_O733/Functions,_pref...

You can run this from a spread sheet - but Inventor will have to start up excel and load your spread sheet into memory everytime.

iLogic runs in process with Inventor - so it will be quicker. It's not so bad - jump on in!

If you want some help with the specifics, could you draw upa schamatic or something to help us visualise the patterns/equations?