How do I make all the instances of a part in an assembly the same?

[Anonymous]

I've created an assembly using the same parts, but added them at different times as I created it. Inventor creates a new instance each time I insert a part unless I insert all the copies at the same time. That would tremendously clutter up my assembly while I'm creating it. I want all the parts to be the same, so I only have to edit one part if I need to make a change. How do I make inventor use the same instance of a part throughout?

[jtylerbc]

You can't just click "Place", as shown below?

I'm not sure how your Content Center is set up, but none of the parts you are having trouble with are Content Center components anyway, as far as I can tell.  So even if your CC setup is completely absurd, it's not related to the problem you're asking about here.

As far as I can tell, any odd federal rules about file structure aren't really coming into play.  It looks to me that you're simply using a specialized version of the "Place" command, instead of the basic one that would be more appropriate to the result you want.

[JDMather · Accepted solution]

Now that I (think) I know what you are doing, I think that you should either use iParts or Save Copy As, edit as needed and place in assembly.