topic Re: Parmetrized project design (Part 1) in Inventor Forum

Parmetrized project design (Part 1)

GoranBe — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 13:17:26 GMT

Hello,

I am trying to master a parametrized project to maintain a family of parameter-defined products. I have figured out how to use linked parameters and I already made a few parametrized projects in my company. I don't master Inventor (2019) and I don't use it daily therefore please expect I don't know much about advanced Inventor features.

Attached is a simple "box" project I will use to explain what I'm about and to ask you questions. I intend to split my questions to several posts so that posts won't be too long.

Here is my design: I have a no-part part file (namely "TheBoxParameters.ipt") with exported custom parameters that will drive my projects based on values entered. I link these paraameters to every single file in the project and use them to create parts, assemblies, drawings.... So far so good, it all works as a charm.

But there are some "little" issues I don't know how to handle at all. The first and most important one is:

Q1: What tehnique would you use to create a specialized instance of a parametrized project? Meaning, once I set all parameters, they will define a single specialized instance of the generic project which I need to define uniquely. I need to create independent 3D models, drawings, assmebly drawings... for that particular instance that can be used during production and defined later as part of this instance uniqely .

The ideal solution would be that once I decide to specialize the generic project:

1) All "generic" files are renamed to specialized one using some schema, eg "ABox.ipt" to "ABox 100 x 200 x 250 x 2.ipt". Please note that assembly may well use parts that are not generic.

2) Some internal properties eg titles, decsriptions, part numbers... are renamed (or combined with user parameter) using some schema as well.

3) All parts and drawings are automaticaly exported to predefined external format.

AFAIK renamig files automatically (using iLogic or somethingh) and maintaning all assemblies and drawings automaticaly would be very tricky. I suppose exporting everything to some combined name is easier to do, but I don't know (yet) how and where to implement it. Before I investigate further I ask you to guide me what direction may be the best in your opinion.

Any idea where to start from is greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Goran

Re: Parmetrized project design (Part 1)

johnsonshiue — Sat, 05 Jan 2019 08:19:03 GMT

Hi Goran,

If I understood your request correctly, Copy Design might be the workflow you are looking for. You can google the phrase "Autodesk Inventor Copy Design", you should be able to find relevant information or videos showing the workflow. Please let us know if we can help any further.

Many thanks!

Re: Parmetrized project design (Part 1)

GoranBe — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 07:04:38 GMT

Hi Johnson,

thank you very much for your reply. I've checked some tutorials about Copy Design. I must admit I don't use Vault as for now. I'm willing to learn it if it will help. Before I do can you please confiorm my observations: Copy Design will solve a large part of my problem - renaming files while copying while mantaining relationships. I will not be able to automatically update per-file characteristics such as description, partnumber or title though - but that is a question for another post I supppose.

Regrads,

Goran

Re: Parmetrized project design (Part 1)

johnsonshiue — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 10:49:24 GMT

Hi! Inventor Copy Design can be done primarily in three ways. 1) If you use Vault, there is a Copy Design workflow. 2) Or, you can use iLogic Design Copy (start Inventor without opening any file -> Tool -> iLogic Design Copy). 3) You can use Design Assistant, the standalone tool shipped with Inventor (All Programs -> Autodesk -> Inventor 20xx -> Tools).

Many thanks!

Re: Parmetrized project design (Part 1)

GoranBe — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 12:11:10 GMT

Hi,

I was not able to figure out how to use Design Assistant to copy projects / files. iLogic Design Copy does the work, I've tested, with one *big* disadvantage I'm not aware of how to overcome. If I decide to add a prefix and/or postfix to the file name it will be added to *all* files in the project. If there is any way to define which files will be renamed and which won't during copy than I'd be just happy with it. If I understand correctly , I can do this in Vault's Design Copy, right?

Regards

Goran

Re: Parmetrized project design (Part 1)

johnsonshiue — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 15:41:14 GMT

Hi Goran,

Correct! Vault Copy Design allows you to do the same task without the need to launch Inventor. iLogic Design Copy does require Inventor to run.

Many thanks!

Re: Parmetrized project design (Part 1)

GoranBe — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 09:24:56 GMT

Hi Johnson,

thank you very much for your help. I think I get it now, correct me if I'm wrong:

- Vault Copy Design does everything I need to copy the design the way I want - including resuse / copy / skip / replace actions, advanced file renaming, etc.... It can be run as stand alone program.

- iLogic Design Copy can be run from Inventor only. I can use copy/skip actions only, file renaming during copy is very fundamental.

- Design Assistant can not be used to copy projects. It can be used to manage properties withing files of the design.

Regards,

Goran

Re: Parmetrized project design (Part 1)

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 11:32:31 GMT

Come on Autodesk, what a mess!

Design Assistant
Ilogic Design Copy
Vault Copy Design
Copy Component
iAssembly
iCopy
Copy Design tool from the SDK

Get things sorted out please! 1 tool that can do what is needed.... incl. copying, moving, renaming only what's needed, rules, frames, drawings, available for ALL inventor users; Vaulted or not... please!

Re: Parmetrized project design (Part 1)

johnsonshiue — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 20:00:51 GMT

Hi! I got your point. Indeed, these tools have similar names but function somewhat differently. It should have been more consolidated. The only explanation I could come up is that they were built in various stages of Inventor, while massive 2D-to-3D conversion was under way. They served the purposes of filling some gap but the usability of the tools and the workflows were not considered thoroughly. There is definitely room for improvement.

iCopy though is unique among them. It is a modeling tool, not a design managing tool. It helps users to copy a frame along a path (like the railing in a bridge).

Many thanks!