topic Re: Selecting sub-assemblies when tweaking components in a presentation in Inventor Forum

Selecting sub-assemblies when tweaking components in a presentation

ToddPig — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 15:52:09 GMT

I have an assembly file, that has sub-assemblies inside of it. When I tweak the components in the presentation file, I would like the option to either tweak the entire sub-assembly, or a component of the sub-assembly. (similar to SolidWorks) Does Inventor have this option?

Thanks in advance

Re: Selecting sub-assemblies when tweaking components in a presentation

mcgyvr — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 17:47:11 GMT

@ToddPig Sure just have your selection filter on "part" vs "component" (part if you want the individual parts tweaked or component if you want the full sub tweaked) .

That is available in the mini-dialog that comes up when you start the tweak command or in the quick access toolbar or via shift+RMB.

I believe part filter is active by default.

Re: Selecting sub-assemblies when tweaking components in a presentation

ToddPig — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 13:35:32 GMT

This is what make Inventor so confusing and hard to learn. If you take two parts (*.ipt) and put them together they become an assembly (*.iam). But when you want to select and assembly in a presentation file, they use the term "component" instead of "assembly". And to make it worse, just below the selection for "part/component" is another drop down selection for "All Parts / All Components / Single".

If somebody told me Autodesk did things to confuse their users on purpose, I would have a hard time arguing against it.

Re: Selecting sub-assemblies when tweaking components in a presentation

mcgyvr — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 14:47:29 GMT

@ToddPig wrote:
This is what make Inventor so confusing and hard to learn. If you take two parts (*.ipt) and put them together they become an assembly (*.iam). But when you want to select and assembly in a presentation file, they use the term "component" instead of "assembly". And to make it worse, just below the selection for "part/component" is another drop down selection for "All Parts / All Components / Single".

If somebody told me Autodesk did things to confuse their users on purpose, I would have a hard time arguing against it.

@ToddPig When talking about selection filters a "component" can be a part (ipt) or an assembly (iam). (I believe thats is definition too.... basically a part or element of a bigger thing)

"Part" is always a single part (ipt).

My ERP system also uses "Component" to refer to parts or subassemblies.

I'm curious..

How would you perform the same type of functionality in Solidworks? Do they have a part and an assembly selection filter?

How do you quickly select a part and an assembly to apply the tweak or turn of visibility or whatever to both at the same time? (must you switch selection filters to accomplish that task?)

Re: Selecting sub-assemblies when tweaking components in a presentation

ToddPig — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 17:03:38 GMT

Replying to your curiosity ...

This is handled a little different in Solidworks. In SW, there is no need for a presentation file, the exploded view is created in the assembly file.
When adding an exploded step there is a check box for "select sub-assembly parts". So, the default is to exploded a part if you select a part, or exploded a sub-assembly if you select a part that is in a sub-assembly. If you want to exploded a part that is part of a sub-assembly, you have to check the "select sub-assembly parts" check box. This is handled on a step by step basis. It's very intuitive.