With Inventor 2012, I would like to construct an assembly with a simplified part model and later switch to a detailed part model.
To achieve this I have created the detailed part [Sheeting.ipt] and derived to create a simplified version [Sheeting (design).ipt]. I added the detailed part as the only item in an assembly [Sheeting (substitute).iam] and created a substitution level of detail using the simplified part. Since iMate appears to be disabled for substitution level of details, I created another assembly [Sheeting (iMate).iam] that contains the substitute assembly and adds iMate functionality. This assembly is then used as desired in the final assembly [Sheeting (application).iam].
Since the part will be required in multiple lengths, materials and colours, I will need four files for each variation of the part. Is there a better way to acheive the result? Ideally parts would support level of detail and substitution, but it would also help if the iMates from the substitute part were available. Is it safe to use this approach - e.g. can I rely on constraining a substituted part or should they only be used as a viewing option?
Regards,
cadull