Custom frame member base qty *Varies* but ISO shows values

[Anonymous]

I think I do everything by the book.

• I create a custom read/write library
• I create a new part with a rectangular sketch as a profile
• I author the part as a Structural shape
• I publish the part and map the base length as "G_L" parameter that the authoring created... or do I use my own extrusion length? Does not seem to make a difference anyway.
• After publishing I can use my custom frame member with the frame generator and make a drawing and add a parts list.

It calculates the total length in the QTY column correctly... but if I add a UNIT QTY column, then the custom frame has a value [*Varies*] while the ISO frame has a value.

What am I missing? Why is my frame acting differently?
Why is my custom frame not showing the UNIT QTY

[mikegreslick6607]

Likely, what is happening, is that parts are being merged in the bill of materials because they have the same part number in their respective iProperty fields. 

There are two ways you can fix this; either tell Inventor not to merge these parts, or change iProperties of the parts that are being combined to have different part numbers.

In order to tell Inventor not to merge these parts in this assembly:

1. Go to the Bill of Materials
2. Click on "Part Number Row Merge Settings"
3. In this dialog box, uncheck "Enable Row Merge on Part Number Match"
4. Click OK
5. Close Bill of materials

Mike

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! I think Mike is right. Please feel free to share an example here so forum experts can take a look.

Many thanks!

[Anonymous]

I am really interested to "Change iProperties of the parts that are being combined to have different part numbers"

I noticed that the ISO frames have the length in the part nr and this is what creates unique rows for them.
My frame does not… It creates a single row that has varying lengths.

I tried to add an expression to the frame member part nr field [=MyPartNumber_&_<B_L>] before authoring as a structural shape… but this expression is lost on the parts that are created through Frame Generator.

I want exactly the same behavior as the ISO frames… how can I do that?
Not merging the rows would make a very-very long parts list.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! To facilitate the discussion, it is better to share an example. There are several options and settings involved here. It is a bit hard to tell what exact behavior you are looking for without seeing the files.

Many thanks!

[Anonymous]

Ok.. I was thinking that my initial post with the shared image was sufficient information.

I attached a file "BoschProfileForFrameAuthoring"

I want to publish this file as a structural shape and after I have used it inside frame generator I want each generated part to have a name that has the length in mm as a suffix... In the iProperties it has "45x45_50mm" as the part nr.

This is how the ISO frame members behave... the dynamic length is in the part nr.

EDIT: I do not see that my attachment is really added to the discussion. I selected a file from my computer and I can press REMOVE or POST... and of course I pressed POST. But where is the attachment?

[johnsonshiue]

Hi Taavi,

I suspect something properties in the custom frame member was not set correctly. The behavior is not right. But, I am not aware of a bug in this particular workflow. Please share the files so I can understand the behavior better and help find a solution.

Many thanks!

[Anonymous]

Hi,

https://www.dropbox.com/s/vlfin4lrjo2vzko/InventorFrameGeneratorDrawingLengthVaries.zip?dl=0 

Under this link is the zip file to the:

• frame member that is used  in the frame generator
• the 3D wireframe
• the assy
• the drawing

I used also ISO frame members to show that they have the two different lenghts on two different rows because they have the dynamic length in the part nr.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi Taavi,

I took a quick look. I think I got better understanding now. The reason why the custom frame members QTY and Unit QTY show Varies, is because they are indeed different. You have pieces in 500mm, 800mm, and 1200mm. When they are merged in one row, the Unit QTY will be various.

To fix it, you need to redefine the expression for Part Number. The Part Number should have length appended like the standard frame. In this way, only the same length members will be merged.

Many thanks!

[Anonymous]

This is what I have been trying to explain.

How can I do that "The Part Number should have length appended like the standard frame"?

Everything that I have been trying to do have failed.

The part number is not dynamic. It creates the same "TEST_50" for every part regardless of its length. And the rows are still merged and still "VARIES"

[Anonymous]

Can somebody just try it with a rectangle as the profile, publish it as a structural element and see if they are able to get the dynamic part numbers with the length value?

For example:
MyPart_300mm

MyPart_475mm

MyPart_1245mm

Because the expression in the family tree column that I use should work… but it is not working.

[mikegreslick6607]

I've created some custom families like this and they all seem to work okay, so I'm not exactly sure what is going on in your specific case.

I have another thought around this that should generate the part number iProperty in a different manner.  You could create a new family template file that has the required parameter in part number iProperty and replace the existing family template with your new one.  Instructions on how to do that (much better than I could ever explain) can be found here:

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/inventor-products/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2014...

Hint: In your new template you'd likely want "=My Part_<B_L>" in the iProperties. Be sure that the parameter B_L has the "Export Parameter" box checked in the parameters dialog box.  Be sure that this works in a dummy part before using as your new template file, that way you are 100% sure it works.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! I don't think you would use B_L here. It is because B_L is like the default length which is the same for all members. You want to link it to G_L, right?

Many thanks!

[Anonymous]

I tried the "expression directly in the iProperties" method before. Didn't work. When using the part from the Content Center… the expression is no longer there.

When creating an expression to the Family Table column, it only takes the parameter once and creates all the parts with the same "_10" in the end... even if you can clearly see from the iProperties that the Extrusion is 1200 mm.

[mikegreslick6607]

I wonder what happens if you try to get other parameters to come in to your part number iproperty? Can you get, say, width and height, thickness, etc?

I think that the issue comes down to what @johnsonshiue pointed to earlier.  I see that your parameter "extrusion" is described as a base length (think B_L).  Take a look at this post regarding what a base length (B_L) is, and how it differs from G_L. 

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-forum/inventor-hss-base-length-properties-b-l/td-p/6844563

In the end, a poster stats that you should always us G_L because of parts list implications.

Edit: I see from your original post that you have already tried G_L. If that's the case, I'm out of ideas. I'm really lost!

[Anonymous]

One thing that is maybe worth pointing out… 
While authoring I can pick my Base Length parameter… And I pick my extrusion length.

Now authoring changes the structure of the part and creates this G_L parameter, Start and End work planes etc.

After authoring I can publish the part to the Content Center... and one of the first steps during publishing is asking me again what parameter I want to use for Base Length. And now I could use the extrusion or I could use the newly created G_L parameter.
The outcome seems to be the same… I am just wondering if there might be a difference whether I use the original extrusion or the G_L parameter.

[Ray_Feiler]

Try,

"TEST_" & {B_L}

Type it exactly like that. You can also use {G_L} like @johnsonshiue suggested.

[Anonymous]

Does it matter if during the initial authoring I pick the "ExtrusionLength" under iPorperties or under Fx Parameters.

 

After authoring and before publishing I have more options.

What do I choose?

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! I don't know what ExtrusionLength does here. It looks like a user parameter you use. Is it linked to G_L? If I recalled correctly, the frame length is always based on G_L. It is not by ExtrusionLength.

Many thanks!

[Anonymous]

Ok. If the way I create the custom frame member and and put the expression in the family tree "part number" column does not result the frame members having a part number "MyPart_123mm" than what is the process that does work?

Are you guys saying that you do everything the same way and get a different result?