FEA: component names contain the same index

[Anonymous]

I copied this simulation from a model made in 2017 and wanted to rerun it after a few slight adjustments. It was working fine back then, so why was the extra constraint on the component names introduced?

I will of course rename the parts in question, but it feels very much as an unnecessary nuisance.

[JDMather]

Can you zip and Attach the assembly here?

I normally don't include fasteners in analysis.

I normally don't include welds in analysis.

[Anonymous]

No, I cannot attach the assembly here, the local directory is 1.73 GB and you would need most of it.

The assembly contains no fasteners, only frame parts.

The assembly contains no welds, only a subassembly where they were removed long ago.

Also, I fixed the problem by updating the component names (which was a chore, as they were hidden several subassemblies deep) and then copying the study, as the component names were not updated in the current study.

[shaun.burrowsM4SN7]

Same problem.

Not sure attaching the assembly will help, as this occurs often with frame generated models.

Know problem, so called fix in 2021.1 update:

"Resolved a problem in stress analysis when two or more parts have the same name by adding a new error message:"

This does not resolve the problem, nor give any help to solve it. Recreating all the problem parts (change beam type, then change back) ensuring the names are different can fix it. I have a further problem as Inventor frame generator doesn't want to do this either.

[shaun.burrowsM4SN7]

Figured out a solution. (Much faster than my previous work around of replacing the parts.)

Go to the iPropeties of each component listed and change the Part Number (in the project tab) of each component so they are different. There will be multiple components with the same name to cause the error, change them all. I simply add a different letter. (I also changed the displayed name in the tree, but don't think this made a difference.)

Why Inventor couldn't do this automatically when it's a known problem is beyond me!

[SCSJ2200904]

Hi Shaun, I am facing the same error as yours and I have tried your solution. I have changed the part number (in project tab) for each frame component by adding a different letter. But still facing same error. I'm unable to change display name in the tree (I have right-clicked the component in tree but there's no "rename" option), may I ask how do you change the display name in tree?

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! I believe this might be due to naming collision. Try using Rename Browser Nodes in Productivity panel to make names unique before running the simulation.

Many thanks!

[cookie]

Hi, this is becoming quite frustrating when we've tried various methods to rename browser nodes, restart Inventor, creating new studies. and the simulation will still not run.

Please help with a good workaround method.

[pcrawley · Accepted solution]

With FG assemblies, there are a few reasons you get this error.  "Reuse" is brilliant at modelling duplicate FG members quickly (that's what it's for after all!) but the duplicates cause this error in Inventor's FEA tool.  There are a few other FG modelling processes that cause the problem... I just can't remember what they were sorry!  (I'll go back through a model and see if I can find them all.)

"Frame Analysis" (the free-body analysis tool) is great for quick analysis regardless of the tools you used to build the frame.  If you need to use FEA, then the best solution I could find was generating a simplification of the design - exporting it as STEP - then importing it back into Inventor for the study.  It's certainly not "ideal" and I'm not suggesting it as the answer - but in some respects it was better because I now have independent snapshots of the model as was at the time of the analysis.  (And it was certainly quicker than tracking and fixing all the naming issues!)  The Simplification tool is also great at deleting small fillets, patching holes etc - so you actually end up with a "better" (better/cleaner/less complex/faster - not sure of the right term here!) model for analysis.

Changing the Part Number iProp breaks the BOM grouping, and therefore the Parts List.  So, while you might get the analysis working - you probably trashed your drawings.

[CS_W · Accepted solution]

https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Process-Weight-Ana...

[dcleveland5]

This is still happening in the 2026 version...