Indented parts list containing sub-assemblies

[Anonymous]

Before I find I’m chasing something that isn’t available, can anyone state that it is possible to use AutoCAD Mechanical (or not) to produce an indented parts list of more than one sub-assembly?  In this case there are 5 major sub assemblies, with an additional one that forms part of another sub-assembly.

What it appears is necessary so far, unless there’s a better solution, is to use MS Excel to manually create each sub-assembly from what’s available using the parts list AcadM provides, and so on downward for additional sub-assemblies within another.

There are a lot of fasteners in this project, so counting them would be a big help.  I’ve looked for a youtube example, but haven’t found one so far.

[cheryl.buck · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous,

Since Excel is a dedicated spread sheet application, it more configurable in this way than the AutoCAD Mechanical parts lists or tables. I believe this is why Excel has been used to create indented sub assemblies at all my previous jobs. 

If a post answered your question or resolved the issue, please click the Accept Solution button.

Likes are always welcome.

All the best,

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

I suspected as much since I couldn't find an example showing anything different. However, it is a bit more intense and for that reason probably more rare to find an example I may have missed.

I'll try to follow the ANSI standard parts list as a guide in creating my own version using Excel.

I probably should take a look to see if Inventor does a more complete job for a planned future project.

Thanks for your reply.

WORKSTATIONresearch,

[cheryl.buck]

Hi @Anonymous,

I seem to remember seeing some articles relating to sub parts in BOMs for Inventor, or possibly Fusion if that helps.

Either way, I can see how this could be a really useful feature for AutoCAD and encourage you to use this Product Feedback link to submit the idea for future consideration. 

All the best,

[Anonymous]

I have used attributes to track parts some time ago in vanilla AutoCAD. However these were relatively simple assemblies that had many parts, however. I imagine there’s a way to bring these together into one main indented parts list in a project that has a top assembly.

I haven’t used these for some time, but online AcadM help seems to suggest that this could be a way to further automate the process of creating assembly parts lists. I haven’t any idea exactly how to proceed with this, but the following is a link that suggests what I just referred to:

https://www.autodesk.com.au/campaigns/autocad-tutorials

I don’t see cost details on any of this but am sure it’s hiding somewhere.

Incidentally, our Autodesk dealer had webinars (in that case it Inventor was used) one of which was of a rather large processing facility that had many sub assemblies. I was able to get a download of the webinar. However they stopped providing these. What was valuable about that was that the webinar could be stopped at any point because I had the download and could take time to understand the details within. Unfortunately I can’t post this as there is no URL available to do so.

I suspect that getting good information on this issue would get in the way of paid learning and thereby compete with it. As John D. Rockefeller is quoted as saying, “Competition is a sin.” Personally I consider that to be short sighted in regards to where it could lead to generally positive results, especially to those who are the providers as a kind of “loss leader”.