IDW Parameters

[Anonymous]

Inventor 2016 here.

I have a completely daft question now. I've just finished a project for a pump. It's looking nice.

I need to draw a process chart. Powerpoint, Autocad, MsPaint, Inventor, doesn't matter. So I picked Inventor and made a nice job of it.

BUT.

I have drawn this process chart - for the sake of uniformity - as an IDW. The idw contains no views, it only contains the customized title block and the sketch with that chart.

I have locked one line at the bottom of the canvas and then related my entire chart to it so that everything is neatly constrained. I have 5 different columns of parts, each having a varying number of processes (as rows). If I want to change the spacing between the rows, I have to edit each spacing dimension manually, on the sketch, because, as far as I can see, there is no way to set parameters in an IDW. So for 20 rows, I have to edit 20 dimensions, on the sketch.

The idw sketch does have a parameter list, but even if I create a user parameter with the right dimension, I cannot use it on the sketch when editing a dimension.

I know, I'm NOT supposed to do this, like this. But I want to do this in Inventor - so that my entire project looks neatly uniform - and this is the only way I could think of how to do it.

In essence my question is this: how do I convince a dimension on an idw sketch to allow me to use user parameter, so that if I need to change the spacing, I only have to edit one parameter rather than individually alter 20 dimensions.

Thank you for your help 🙂

[mflayler · Accepted solution]

I agree that there may be easier ways to to this with the tools you probably already own.

For instance you could do this in AutoCAD or AutoCAD Electrical (which are part of most Inventor subscriptions) then import the DWG as an Underlay if you wanted it to be associative and then place that into a Drawing.  I have clients that do this just because they want it in an IDW.  AutoCAD still updates everything though.  Just a thought and probably involves more discussion to show the exact method for you...

but in regards to your value linking with the parameters, you can't use the traditional parameters box because Inventor doesn't expose that to the Drawing Sketches.  What you could do though is write an equation in the dimensions as you create them.  So let's say your first spacing is .25, for your next spacing dimension you can simply click the previous dimension and it will make it the same value so when you change the first value the linked ones will update.

[Curtis_Waguespack · Accepted solution]

Hi Kamiasahi,

Drawings do not expose sketch dimensions as parameters in the Parameters table, but I think you should still be able to do this. Edit the first of your 20 dimensions and get it's name (d0, d1, etc.) then edit each of the others, and replace the value with the name of the first, or just click on the first dimension and that will set it as the referenced parameter.

Then to update the sketch you can just change the first dimension, and all the others will update as well.

Another thought is to edit your sketch, select everything, and then right click and choose Copy. Then start a new part file, create a new sketch and choose Paste.  Then create a view of this part in your drawing.

I hope this helps.
Best of luck to you in all of your Inventor pursuits,
Curtis
http://inventortrenches.blogspot.com

[Anonymous]

Thank you Mark,

the linking of the dimensions like that is something I did before I learned to name parameters in a normal part file. This is exactly the something I needed to sort out my immediate issue.

I know it can be done in Autocad, I've seen others do it, but I wanted to make it look neat. I didn't know exactly how it can be done, I mean I know that autodesk and inventor can play around with exporting and such but I just wanted it simple: one program, one solution.

I could ofc, transfer my inventor title block into autocad (I suppose it can be done :P) and then just do it all in autocad, but I am not overly fond of all the plotting styles and the printing from autocad. I mean, I know how to do it, it's just that I find it unnecessarily complicated for something as trivial as a process chart.

🙂

But many thanks, your second suggestions was the solution 🙂

[mcgyvr · Accepted solution]

Inventor has a "generic table" too.. Any reason you can't use that?

(I'm not sure that your chart looks like)

[Anonymous]

Hi Curtis

thank you for your help. The first part of your suggestion is exactly what Mark suggested as well and it works quite nicely.

But after dinner I will definitely look at your second suggestion, about setting it up as a part and then making a view of it.

Thank you heaps 🙂

[Anonymous]

Hi McGuyver

thank you for the help 🙂

I know it has atable function, but I cannot use it :(, not for this process overview 🙂

While the objects are arranged in columns and rows, all the items are processes that need to be placed in relation to each other and have different symbols.

Like this:

I need to make the housing of the pump so I have to first cast the item, then transport it from the casting area (whatever you call that in english :P) to the work area where it has to be grated, filed, polished, have a big cavity lathed into it and then have all the holes for the screws drilled in.

Each of those operations lives on its own row in the same column and each must have a circle in front with the process number, the transport operation, requires an arrow.

The operations have to be connected by a vertical line and lines from the other parts of the assembly (similarily set up but in different columns) will flow into it.

So it's a graphical representation of the pump's production process.

But, yes, I will also need to make a table in a bit - that's to list all the components of my project folder 🙂

[mcgyvr]

oh.. ok.. That kind of process chart..

Visio hands down is for that then.. 

But it can certainly be done in Inventor.. Just not nearly as quick/easy.. 

If you have to do this often then I highly suggest taking a look at visio..