Coming from Solidworks to Inventor - help with using the same part twice

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I am trying to setup some 'templates' in inventor. I want to be able to model the part once then use it as many times as i want but with slight differences such as the length. Much like a dynamic block in ACad.

I have a standard extruded profile. I would like 1 file that sits in a template folder so that when i start new projects i can use it in a new job, without it effecting the 'template' file.

In solidworks, the way i would do this is:

1. Sketch profile
2. Save as template
3. Start a new project / job
4. Use weldments and then i can insert as many as i like at different lengths

How do i go about doing this in inventor?

I know inventor doesnt use weldments or has no feature similar to it.

I think it may have something to do with Parameters. Ive played around with a few things but it doesnt seem to be exactly what im looking for. The end result must be something as follows:

1. Start new project / job (assembly)
2. Place part
3. Use part as many times as i want at different lengths

Hopefully ive made sense. Any help would be appriciated. TIA

[JDMather]

..to elaborate a bit on the second question.

In the real world a part is a part.

A part cannot be both 100mm in length and also 200mm in length.

So Inventor mimics the real world in creating two different parts from the iPart as it is physically impossible in the real world to have a part that is both 100mm and 200mm in length.

Think of the iPart as a long piece of stock out on the shop floor stock rack.

You pull down the piece of stock and cut off lengths as needed.

Out on the shop floor - each individual length has its own part number for tracking.

[chris]

Here's another option for you as well:

iParts and iLogic Parts as templates