Icons on Design tab ribbon are now grayed out, but the weren't before

[Anonymous]

I have a shaft that I previously put some retaining ring grooves on using the Retaining Ring Groove wizard.  I now need to add another groove, but all of the icons on the Design ribbon, including "Shaft" ,the one I need, are grayed out.

In the overall assembly file,  of which the shaft is a part, the Design tab icons are *not* grayed out.

I don't remember where I got the shaft, but I imported the original from somewhere.  The shaft has a keyway groove on it.  The shaft comprises two files, a .iam file which has the Design ribbon tab, and a .ipt file which does not support the Design ribbon tab, but shows the details of the rings and keyway.

Ideas?

[cbenner]

Are you sure you are at the right level of your assembly to perform this action?  What version of Inventor?  Can you post your assembly (and components - pack n go) here?  At the least, some screen shots or a Screencast video?

[Anonymous]

Thanks for responding.

I've attached a pack and go file, zipped.  At least I *think* that's what I attached.

Inventor 2017.

Note that I'm learning Inventor the hard way, and I'm not a mechanical engineer.  I'm called upon to do designs once in a while.  So when you ask if I'm not at the right level of assembly, I don't know what you are asking.

The shaft I'm talking about  is the axle of this motor.   It should be obvious, I hope.

[TheCADWhisperer]

Look at the size of the zip you attached.

What do you see in that folder?

[kgilham]

Are you in Express Mode?  These commands would not be available if you have loaded the assembly Express.  If that is the case just load the assembly by selecting Load Full and the commands should be available again.

[cbenner]

@Anonymous

Your ZIP file only contains your Inventor Project file (.ipj)  What we would need is your .iam file, the assembly.  And all associated part (.ipt) files.  From your assembly use Save As\ Pack n Go.

But first take a look at @kgilham's post... he may be on to something.

I would also seriously consider asking for some good training, either in person or online.  Inventor is a complex program with a lot of features, diving into the deep end right off the bat is a sure way to get lost and frustrated.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

How do I do that?  If I go to File > Open, there are no options for Full or Express.   I've poked around, but haven't been able to figure out how to do it.

One thing I didn't mention that might be an issue:  I moved these files from another computer that was running Inventor 2013.   Both computers are on a network, so I simply dragged the folder that contains all of the files to the new computer.

[mdavis22569]

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/inventor-products/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2016...

[mdavis22569]

When you dragged it .... did you re-set up the IPJ? or does it cover both areas?

[Anonymous]

No, I simply dragged it.  As far as I know the two installations are completely independent.

[Anonymous]

Thanks.   There was an Express Mode checkbox checked, and I unchecked it.  Here's what it looks like.  Is that the right thing to check?  The instructions you sent said to check an entry called "Express Mode", but there is no checkbox with that exact name.  In any even, unchecking the box shown below did not help.

[mdavis22569]

Now see if you get the greyed out boxes ..

You shouldn't 

[Anonymous]

Wow, you responded fast ... before I had a chance to edit my post to say that unfortunately, the icons are still grayed out.

[TheCADWhisperer]

Can you try again to Pack and Go your assembly 

or

at least post some screen capture images?

[Anonymous]

I finally figured out Pack and Go.   The instructions that I was using were definitely faulty. Sorry it took so long to get it right.  Attached.  The part in question is Shaft.iam, it is the axle of the device.

I'm back on Inventor 2013 where the files originated, and where there is a project that up to now has worked.

Those Icons are grayed out in Inventor 2013 as well.  This is the exact workstation where the parts were drawn.

[TheCADWhisperer · Accepted solution]

In the main assembly right click on the Shaft node and select Edit using Design Accelerator.

Note the special symbol for a Design Accelerator component in the assembly tree.

[Anonymous]

Thanks!

I don't remember doing that when I made the part, but I guess I must have.

[TheCADWhisperer]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Thanks!

I don't remember doing that when I made the part, but I guess I must have.

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You didn't have to do that when you initially made the part, only when Editing the part do you need to edit in this special way.