Trouble updating imported part

[karthur1]

A customer sent me a .step file.  In order to produce the part that I need, I wanted to add some machining to his original part. Os I derived in his part and then added the features that I needed. Just a few tapped holes in one side.

Now, my customer made a few changes to his original part (added some detail) and he has sent me his new .stp file. I did not think it would be any problems if I just overwrote the original stp file with the new one.  But, if I do that, when I open my part, Inventor complains that the updated part is part is not usable.

I tried saving the imported file as a .ipt and then bringing that into an assembly and doing the machining there. But, now when I replace the imported file with the updated version, my features fail.

Is there a workflow that will allow me to update the part that is derived into another part? 

Using 2013,SP3-update3

Thanks,

Kirk

[blair]

Your updated part is looking for the link to the original file. By copying the new file customer file to the old customer file, there must be some geometry changes the is causing the derived link to fail. Most likely you will have to start over with the holes you need on the new model.

[karthur1]

Blair,

I was thinking that I would have to start over 😞 but thats a bummer. There could be some other changes coming with his part.  He is working a different software and pushing the parts out to me via .step format.  I don't want to have to $redo$ my changes evertime he makes a change.

Kirk

[yannick3]

Hi
Do you use save component during load option?

[blair]

They way the both of you are working though, I really don't see any way around it. He pushes you a new part after you have modified the existing part. The idea of using the Derive was nice but the as soon as you save his new file to your parent for the derive, the links will be broken as the model will have changed outside of Inventor. This is where you get into problems with your Derive.

I would just hold off until he has finalized his design.

[karthur1]

I can hold off, but there is some work that I need to complete... based off his part.

I did some testing and found out that if I use "Import" and import the new solid into the original.  I can then select the new solid in my derived part.  If I am careful how I build my features, this will work. Kind of limits what I can do, but at least I can place the new part in and not have to completly start over.

Kirk