Changing a Part to a Virtual Part

[cfralick]

Hello

I used to use Solidworks a lot, and one feature I really miss is the ability to turn a part in an assembly into a virtual part from the right click menu. This would allow you to save parts with an internal reference (for modifying without having to save a new part somewhere, saving an assembly in a new location without having to re-link every part, etc.). Is there anything like this in inventor? I can't seem to find an option for this anywhere.

I know there is something called a "virtual part" in inventor, but I don't think it is what I'm looking for. I want to change an existing part to virtual, not create a new part.

Thanks!

[johnsonshiue · Accepted solution]

Hi! Inventor does have the term "Virtual Component" but it is different from VC in SWX. Inventor's VC is a non-geometry based component in an assembly. It can be used to account for paint or liquid. You can assign properties to the VC but there is no geometry.

SWX's VC is so-called local components. It means the component definition and geometry reside within the assembly file locally. Inventor does not support creating local components yet. We are aware of the requirement and we are investigating solutions. In the meantime, you could consider is to use multi-solid modeling technique. Essentially, you are defining assembly level geometry as multiple solids within a part. Once you are done, you can push the solids into individual parts in an assembly.

Many thanks!

[bradeneuropeArthur]

Any further investigation/progress regading this very good idea/ functionality?

[johnsonshiue]

Hi Arthur,

I believe you want the ability to create local components (similar to SWX's virtual parts). There has been discussion internally but we have not yet found a good solution yet. It isn't a workflow we are looking to support immediately.

Happy New Year!

Many thanks!

[Anonymous]

It's af really great feature, in SW, working with at "virtuel" part within an assembly. I hope you'll speed-up the process of having somthing similar i Inventor.

[bradeneuropeArthur]

Hi,

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@Anonymous wrote:

It's af really great feature, in SW, working with at "virtuel" part within an assembly. I hope you'll speed-up the process of having somthing similar i Inventor.

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With this remark that it will work seemless with Vault-Pro too!

Regards,

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! To avoid terminology confusion, the VC here is the so-called Local Components. Essentially, you have all component definitions within one iam file. It is a little bit like you import a STEP file with Reference option (or open an assembly saved in a newer Inventor version on an older Inventor).

Inventor has its own VC, which is non-geometric based component in an assembly. It can be added without any geometry and you can assign some properties to it. Then it will show up on the BOM table as a component.

Many thanks!

[paul.hadleyEBN96]

Has this been fixed yet?

without being able to create multi body part weldments this is a big draw back.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi Paul,

In general, Inventor does not support local components. If you want such ability, I suggest you look into Fusion 360, which offers more flexible modeling paradigms. Also it has native mesh modeling environment, Tspline environment, Generative Design, CAM simulation, and FEA simulation.

Many thanks!

[jenna_mueller6F9TH]

I'm shocked this is still a conversation that hasn't been resolved.