AnyCAD referenced Geometry and Harness question

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I am using the AnyCAD feature to use geometry that is currently being kept and modified from Solidworks. Thus I am not converting the files to Inventor part files I am using them as referenced geometry. I want to add pin connections to some of these parts for use with the cable and harness tool with Inventor. Is this possible? 

Thanks,

Grant Chapman 

[PaulMunford]

What happened when you tried it!

I suspect that you won't be able to edit a referenced file unless you convert it.

How about adding the pins in a sub assembly to start with?

[Mark.Lancaster]

If you reference a part (using ANYCAD) from another CAD system, no modifications can be done on the part since its under the control of the other CAD application.   Use this article as a reference and check out the FAQ in the article: http://synergiscadblog.com/2015/08/19/inventor-2016-anycad-technology/

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Mark, 

Thanks for the info. I think I have found a work around, I can make a new inventor part, that I leave as just a sketch and project the geometry I want to use as the Pin reference. Then I can make that sketch invisible and just reference those points when I am in the Harness tool. I have yet to see if when my coworker updates the model if everything blows up. But I have a feeling 50% of the time it will work as intended, and 50% of the time Inventor is going to loose the reference geometry and I'll have to go back and make the sketch again. 

Thanks,

Grant Chapman

[PaulMunford]

Thanks for posting the solution Grant. AnyCAD is pretty new, so this sort of feedback is extremely useful.

Please do check back in and let us know how reliable the workflow is!

Paul