topic Re: BOM Member Count Error for variable Rectangular Component Pattern in iAssemb in Inventor Forum

BOM Member Count Error for variable Rectangular Component Pattern in iAssembly

Maxim-CADman77 — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 11:05:06 GMT

I suffer that "Member Count Error" in the Structured "All members" BOM of the simplest iAssembly that has a "variable" Rectangular Pattern of components.

Steps to reproduce:

0. Download and install Legacy samples for Autodesk Inventor 2019and active the samples.IPJ

1. Open that only Legacy iAssembly sample (C:\Users\Public\Documents\Autodesk\Inventor 2019\Samples\Models\Assemblies\Engine MKII\Flywheel.iam).

2. Make sure variable Qty is shown properly for all member-columns while in the above-mentioned BOM mode:

3. Delete the Circular Pattern (make sure to keep Pivot Pin component itself).

4. Select the Flywheel Pivot Pin and create a new Rectangular Component pattern (use any direction, "QTY=4" value for Column Count and any valid value for Column Spacing).

5. Edit iAssembly Factory Table: - from the Parameters Tab add QTY as a new table-column and edit values for each line accordingly (not necessary but would be smart to also delete columns for Circular Pattern parameters: d35 and d36). All in all you should get something like this:

6. Finally, open the iAssy BOM in a Structured "All members" mode and make sure there are red Member Count Error is dynamically present for the all but active members:

AFAIK there is no any declared limitation of Rectangular Pattern in compare to Circular yet they behave different.

What I'm missing?

Re: BOM Member Count Error for variable Rectangular Component Pattern in iAssemb

Maxim-CADman77 — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 12:36:08 GMT

Just in case the workaround for the issue is a file generation (creation of an actual Configuration Member IAMs).

Re: BOM Member Count Error for variable Rectangular Component Pattern in iAssemb

johnsonshiue — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 21:54:43 GMT

Hi! I could be wrong but I believe that is the correct workflow. You do need to generate iAssembly members in order to see the proper structured BOM quantity. If you need Part Only BOM view, you need to insert the iAssembly member to another assembly and check the BOM table there.

Many thanks!

Re: BOM Member Count Error for variable Rectangular Component Pattern in iAssemb

Maxim-CADman77 — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 07:21:11 GMT

I don't want to waste time for any arguing but the real life is not that structured like you've written.

Anyway, iAssembly Factory table contains ALL the variable data, right?

Why should user expect any difficulties with it?

If costy smart-pretending system "thinks" that something should be udpated it is expected either update it automatically or CLEARLY ask user to do this if it can't be done automatically (for example if Configuration Members are read-only because of being vaulted etc).

Showing a non-informative Error instead seems too childish for CAD with 20+ years spend for development.

I posted this here to speed up those users who also feels under-informed.

Re: BOM Member Count Error for variable Rectangular Component Pattern in iAssemb

johnsonshiue — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 19:42:23 GMT

Hi! I am not trying to argue with you. I am just providing technical facts. Inventor isn't perfect. There is a lot of room for improvement. There are indeed some issues unresolved for many years. The same can be said in almost every product though.

iAssembly/iPart was designed to create library components (well-defined on the table with variations). The members need to be generated and locked up. I have seen people using iAssembly/iPart for showing model states. It works in some cases but it can create confusing behaviors in others.

Many thanks!