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How to move up or down a work plane in the model tree?

morgana_h72
Explorer

How to move up or down a work plane in the model tree?

morgana_h72
Explorer
Explorer

In the assembly I have parts and work planes. I would like to change the sequence of these parts and planes in the model tree but it is not possible.

 

I defiend another plane and moved constraints to the new plane. It is time- cosuming as I have many parts and planes. But if I want to change the hierarchy again, I have to create new planes again šŸ˜ž

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CCarreiras
Mentor
Mentor

Hi!

Usually, there's no problem to move planes, axis etc across the assembly browser:

GF19.gif

 

Can you share the model to test?

CCarreiras

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morgana_h72
Explorer
Explorer

Hey CCarreiras šŸ¤— thanks for the reply.

 

I have Inventor version 2020 at work and 2023 in my personal computer. I can't move planes in none of them. But I can see that you are using version 2024, do you reckon that is the reason?

 

I have attached a video to show the little banned icon which I get when I want to change the sequence (  I haven't put any constraints either). Sorry for the video quality.

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JDMather
Consultant
Consultant

@morgana_h72 

There is no change in behavior from earlier releases.

 

Click those plus symbols + what dependencies do you have?

Attach your assembly here.

 

BTW it is highly unusual to have Workplanes created at the assembly level.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Autodesk Inventor 2019 Certified Professional
Autodesk AutoCAD 2013 Certified Professional
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dwiSHLMX
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

I use work planes in assembly all day. Nothing unusual.

We've been able to move planes since at least 2010 or earlier. UNLESS...you've got some form of 'student' or 'freeware' version; those tend to be limited.

ONLY limitation is if another step (revolution, extrusion, hole) relies on that plane; you cannot move 'past' that point...

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CCarreiras
Mentor
Mentor

There's no limitation for student or free versions (trial), the installer is the same, only there's a different license method.

@morgana_h72 , if you share your files we can try to test it and check what's happened in your files.

CCarreiras

EESignature

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morgana_h72
Explorer
Explorer

Here is a part of the assembly. Planes can't be moved between parts. This is created by a licenced one version 2020.

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A.Acheson
Mentor
Mentor

Hi @morgana_h72 

You will need to attach the assembly and parts for the model to be usable. Go to the assembly in windows and choose pack and go and send to zip folder. Remove any confidential info. 

 

If this solved a problem, please click (accept) as solution.ā€Œā€Œā€Œā€Œ
Or if this helped you, please, click (like)ā€Œā€Œ
Regards
Alan
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morgana_h72
Explorer
Explorer

hey A.Acheson,

please see the attached zip file.

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3D4Play
Collaborator
Collaborator

General tip: a workplane canā€™t be moved up in the tree above something it depends on for its definition. In other words, a workplane dependent upon an origin plane should move anywhere in the tree, but a workplane dependent upon something (else) just above it in the tree, wonā€™t move above that thing. 

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morgana_h72
Explorer
Explorer

@3D4Play I created planes depends on origin plane. Still it doesn't allow me to move.

I also deleted all constraints but no success.

 

@CCarreiras would you be able to open up my model and check it please? I am curious how you moved user planes in your assembly.

 

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CCarreiras
Mentor
Mentor
Accepted solution

Hi @morgana_h72 

 

Is that kind of moves you need?

GF26.gif

 

I used Inventor 2024.2

I did nothing special, only moved the planes by dragging them across the browser.

CCarreiras

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morgana_h72
Explorer
Explorer

@CCarreiras 

Then It seems like only new version has this capability.Thanks for checking. appreciate it.

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CCarreiras
Mentor
Mentor

Hi believe your version can do that also.

Check if you have all the updates installed.

CCarreiras

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MatthijsAstratec
Enthusiast
Enthusiast
Highly unusual to have workplanes at assembly level?

In the assemble tab there is a whole category named "work features". I suppose you can make the link between a assembly file and the assemble tab. It's there to be used, no?

Since you are a SW and Inventor "Certified Professional", whatever linkedin-level self gratification that is, you should explain why it's unusual, and you should also explain what could happen if you use them and why.
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SBix26
Consultant
Consultant

I don't believe @JDMather is participating on this forum any longer, but he is truly the expert from whom many of us learned the finer points of Inventor.  He was a college-level instructor, teaching SW, Inventor, and Creo, if I recall correctly.  His Certified Professional designation is not self-aggrandizement as you very uncharitably suggest-- it means he passed the rigorous Professional testing required by Autodesk for that status.

 

Now, why would he have said that about assembly workplanes?  Good modeling practice finds very little use for assembly workplanes.  They are quite different from part-level workplanes-- they are, in effect, separate components, and need to be constrained in much the same way that parts and assemblies are.  With that being the case, why not just use part-level workplanes, or part origin planes?

 

In my twenty-some years of Inventor use, I can't recall ever using assembly workplanes.  However, I'm certainly willing to learn new techniques and would be interested to hear about situations where assembly work features could be beneficial.


Sam B

Inventor Pro 2025.1.1 | Windows 11 Home 23H2
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MatthijsAstratec
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

What I'm saying is if a college teacher of SW, Inventor, Creo, may he teach them all, tells someone x is a bad practice, he should explain why, he should give alternative methods, and he should explain why these methods are better. If he doesn't do that, he is not a teacher. If he can't do that, this Autodesk certifying may be very overrated, and probably not rigorous at all. If we pay a lot of money to use Inventor, I expect some competence from the community who sound like self proclaimed masters of design.

 

And now I'm raising the question to see if you really have what it takes to be a Certified Super Extra Ultra Elite Inventor Grandmaster.

 

(below is really what this topic is all about, not sure how this defensive, empty approach is actually relevant to the discussion at hand)

 

Why are assembly level work features not good?

Why are part level work features as a component in an assembly so much better?

Why would I create an extra file (reference part), if I can just create a work feature in the assembly?

Why does it exist if it's such a bad practice?

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