Frame generator workflow

[drawingsCHR7R]

Hi all,

I have to create the assembly in the attached image. I want to attempt using frame generator as I believe this will be the quickest method.

End goal: I want to be able to have the frame generator create the sections based on the skeleton I provide and then have it so that I can do detailed drawings of the sections when required.

Could someone please assist me in what workflow I should use to attain this end goal.

Thanks

Thanks

[SBix26]

Are the nine 'ring' pieces identical?  What are the frame sections?  I can see that they are probably tubing, but is it rectangular or round?  What version of Inventor are you using?

While this could be done in Frame Generator, I think it could be done even more easily with multi-solid master modeling.  If you can provide dimensions (can't read them from the image), I or someone else here can show you how it can be done using both methods.

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Sam B
Inventor Pro 2022 | Windows 10 Home 2004
LinkedIn

[drawingsCHR7R]

Hi there, 

Yes they are all identical, there are no dimensions apart from the center piece being a Ø127 x 3 x 300 & the mounting pieces being 350mm in length.

The outside and middle members are all 50 x 50 x 5 EQ Angle.

I am using IV 2022.

[drawingsCHR7R]

Hi Sam,

Attached is my attempt using multi-solid body, please see and if possible advise where I can improve, thanks.

I would also like to conduct a FEA study on this, any advice on how to start that? The floodlights this bracket will be taking weigh roughly 10kg each so 90kg in total. 

Thanks

[SharkDesign · Accepted solution]

Could do that in 5 minutes using frame generator + drawing time. 

Frame Generator in a nutshell. 

You draw a frame as a line sketch. 

Save that

Add that part to an assembly

Start frame generator and choose your size

apply to the lines

apply mitres/cuts

Done

Any holes need to be done at part level not assembly level so you need to double click to drill down to just the part you want to drill. 

This will produce an assembly and all the separate parts to go with it. For identical parts there is a reuse button too. 

Just be aware that if you change the size of any of the members at some point, it will create brand new parts, not update the original, this can fill up storage if you do it a lot. 

[drawingsCHR7R]

Hi Sam,

Attached is my attempt using multi-solid body, please see and if possible advise where I can improve, thanks.

I would also like to conduct a FEA study on this, any advice on how to start that? The floodlights this bracket will be taking weigh roughly 10kg each so 90kg in total. 

Thanks

[drawingsCHR7R]

Thank you for the play-by-play, So the support members & mounting member will obviously be re-used 9 times, would that mean that I should only make a line sketch for one of each and then just pattern it?

[SharkDesign]

I try not to use patterns in frame generator. Just use the sketch the the reuse button if they are identical.

[drawingsCHR7R]

Understood, so in this case for what I want to achieve, would I do a line diagram of the final assembly or just of the unique parts and then use reuse for the repeated parts?

[SharkDesign]

You need the sketch to do a reuse

[drawingsCHR7R]

I understand that, what I am asking is does the skeleton sketch need to have all 9 sides that are the same or can I just do one and then reuse to do the other 8?

[SharkDesign]

Sorry, I replied to this a second time to clarify but it didn't post for some reason. 

You need the full sketch. When you click reuse, you'll click the member you want to reuse and then click the sketch line to position it. 

[drawingsCHR7R]

Perfect! Thanks for the information!

[SharkDesign]

If any of these posts solved your issue, please mark as solution. 

Thanks 🙂

[jtylerbc]

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@SharkDesign wrote:

Just be aware that if you change the size of any of the members at some point, it will create brand new parts, not update the original, this can fill up storage if you do it a lot. 

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This is actually no longer true unless you want it to be.

One of the more recent versions (I'm fuzzy on which - I skipped all the way from 2018 to 2021.2) added an option called "Overwrite current file for size change".  If this is turned on, changing the size actually does update the original file (or at least saves over it with the same name).

You no longer get the excess files from size changes, unless you leave that option turned off.