Overriding quantity at part level

[Anonymous]

At my company, we use blank part files to automatically populate BOMs with various untracked items like grease, zip ties, void plugs, and so on. We put them in sub assemblies, so that any time a sub assembly that requires one of these items is placed in a larger assembly, they show up on the parts level BOM. The problem is that they show up with a quantity matching their number of instances throughout the assembly, which we have to manually override on the drawing to say AR (As Required).

I've been looking for a way to make these parts automatically populate with a quantity of AR whenever they appear in a BOM. I've delved into iProperties and Document Settings, and the forums for inspiration and can't find a way to make them always populate with an AR quantity, removing the need for us to override their quantity in every drawing. 

As further background: our blank part files are simply part files with no solid bodies or faces. Using these instead of virtual parts makes it easy to track where they are used in our PLM software. It also lets us update descriptions and other iProperties globally by editing only one part. Please don't suggest using virtual parts, instead. 

Anyone have any ideas? We use Inventor 2016.

[Cadmanto]

Basically you are wanting your virtual parts to show the quantity of AR versus an actual number.

Short of iLogic, what you are doing is the only method currently.

See the attached link that might help you from an iLogic stand point.

https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/202020361-Autodesk-Inventor-iLogic-Auto-Update-...

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[johnsonshiue]

Hi Nathan,

If I understood your request correctly, you would like to have context-based occurrence quantity. Unfortunately, I don't think Inventor is able to do that at the moment. The quantity of any given component in a BOM aggregates from the bottom. In your case, you would like to have different quantities of sub-components depending on where the sub-components are.

We are working on a project called Alternative Representations. I believe it could help address your requirement. If you are interested in learning more, please sign up Inventor Beta (https://bit.ly/InventorBeta). You can try an in-development build on a no-install required environment and then give feedback to project teams.

Many thanks!

[Greatwhitenorth · Accepted solution]

If it's only the assembly drawing Parts Lists' you're wanting this on, you could create a Custom iProperty called 'QTYoverride' and set it to the 'AR' value for your non-existing parts.  Your Parts List QTY column would have to have a value Substitution set to use QTYoverride, if it exists.

Not sure if it would work in your situation though.

[Anonymous]

Thanks. This is the closest to what I was hoping for. It would have been nice if I didn't have to change anything in the BOM of each print, but that was always unrealistic. I can at least incorporate it into the template for future drawings.

It looks like iLogic could also get me here, but that's a whole other kettle of fish.