Frame generator - BOM Problem

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I have created a frame using the frame generator. The frame is symmetrical.

For some stupid reason, my bill of materials is showing two different member details for the same member !

I have checked the dimension and the difference in length for the two identical members is 0.001mm !!!!

This seems to be crazy and is driving me insane - It must be a back end programming problem or something to that effect.

Is anyone able to help me with this problem ?

Thank you in advance.

[Lewis.Young]

Would it be possible to share a zip folder containing the files for the frame?

Also what version of Inventor are you using?

Lewis Young
Windows 7 x64 - 32GB Ram
Intel Xeon E5-1620 v2 @ 3.70GHz
nVidia Quadro M2000 - 4GB
Inventor Professional 2017.3
Vault Basic 2017
3ds Max 2018

[Sergio.Bertino]

Hello @Anonymous,

Welcome to the Inventor forum and thanks for posting this request about the Frame Generator BOM.

As @Lewis.Young mentioned, a sample dataset would be helpful for us to understand where the cause of this behavior is.

Please create a pack and go of the assembly and attach it on your next reply: To Use Pack and Go to Package Files

[Anonymous]

Please see attached file.

[jhackney1972]

I removed the two outside frame miters using the "Delete with Frame Generator" command then reapplied them using the same criteria as used before in the Miter command.  Then I took a measurement of each top member using the measure tool to a high precision.  They measure exactly the same.  I also show a screen capture of the BOM to  show the identical length.  I had to turn of Row Merge (red arrow) to get all to show since they merged before.

I am not sure why it makes a difference for me to remove and replace the miters but it did.  Maybe it has something to do with the Haunch Bracket bolt holes which were removed when I remove the Miters during the process.  I am using Inventor 2019.1.2

[Anonymous]

I don't understand why you need to re-apply the miter connections? That would be silly and a waste of time.... Imagine if the assembly was more complex and had several other members.

The model is parametric. It should all work. I also use the "Rebuild All" function.... still no change.

[jhackney1972]

My reply was not to say you should have to follow my process in the original design, I am just trying to illustrate that something during the original design went wrong when applying the originals Miters.  I also took your skeleton and created the exact same frame with all the same Miters, from scratch in a new assembly, and got the same results the first time.  By doing this, I can pretty much say that your first attempt, that gave your varying lengths, had some quirk in the process.  I do not know what or I would tell you.  Have you tried the frame generator again, maybe just using the rectangle tube without the holes, does it do the same thing as your first attempt?  I am betting it does not and works as mine did the without error.

[Anonymous]

I see your point. But this is the second time this has occurred with me. (Previously on a different model)

Once again, i don't understand why i need to rebuild the skeleton frame or re-apply the miters. I should be able to go back to the skeleton frame, make adjustments as required, and have the model update to resolve the issue.

Please don't get me wrong, I appreciate your help in trying to fix the problem - however i want to know exactly why my model had behaved the way it has so that in future i don't make the same mistake. On this particular model, fixing this problem by re-building the model would not be a time-exhaustive process. However on a much larger scale model this would definitely pose a massive problem. 

To me it feels like the software has a back-end problem with the programming with respect to rounding/precision/tolerance. 

[Anonymous]

Note - i tried to use the FG without the holes and members only; Still the same outcome.

[jhackney1972]

If you can give them an frame generator assembly process that they can take and repeat the issue consistently, then they will probably track down the problem and fix it.  If they take your assembly and, following your process, cannot repeat your issue, they probably will not pursue the issue.  In my many years working with Autodesk, or any software company, if they cannot reproduce the error using your defined process, then they usually contribute the error to either, user equipment error or user error, and move on.

Like I said, if I can take your skeleton, create the Frame Generator Assembly using the exact same steel components from the Content Center, and not get your issue, then they will probably not be able to reproduce the error.  I can see their point, they cannot chase ghost.  Is your Inventor version 2019.1.2, if not, maybe that has a bearing on your issue.

[Anonymous]

Yes i am using version 2019.1.2.

Please do me a favor; Change the skeleton frame dimensions (Height & Width) in the new model you created, allow the model to update, and advise me if you see issues with your BOM. (Try this a number of times - say 2 or 3 times using different measurements & leave miter end treatments as they are) 

This is where i think you will see this behavior.  

[jhackney1972]

I used the Frame Generator assembly I created which  uses your skeleton.  It uses the exact same Content Center steel rectangle tube and the same miter joint offsets.  I change the center height, the frame total width and the outside leg dimensions numerous times.  Between each major dimensional change, I updated the skeleton (Local Update) as needed by the application, switched to the frame generator assembly and also selected the local update icon so the frame would adjust to the new skeleton.  I then took measurements as well as inspected the BOM.  I all cases, I did not see a difference in the matching steel tubes on each side of the assembly.  I could not replicate the error you are seeing.  I did not use the "Rebuild All" command at any time.

[Sergio.Bertino]

Hi @Anonymous,

I cannot reproduce the behavior either.

Do you have a step by step procedure to follow, starting from scratch, in order to be able to replicate the issue on other machines?

[johnsonshiue · Accepted solution]

Hi Guys,

I suspect the user is trying to reuse the same frame subassembly in a different context. To do it properly, he will need to use Copy Design workflow to create a different dataset. If he just place the frame subassembly into another assembly, the associativity between the frame and the skeletal model may be broken leading to failing end treatments. It is better to see the files in order to confirm behaviors. But, I think I have seen similar cases before.

Many thanks!

[Sergio.Bertino]

Hi @Anonymous,

Hope you're doing well. I wanted to ask you whether the answers you received on this topic were helpful or not.

Please hit the Accept as Solution button if a post or posts solves your issue or answers your question or let us know if you need additional help.

Thanks
Sergio Bertino