There are two types of configurations in Solidworks. One is similar to ipart, the other is similar to the derive feature
I have been trying to virtually prototype the manufacturing process in Inventor which I could do in Solidworks very easily! The configuration tree in Solidworks allows the same part to undergo many changes and to take on different shapes. I need to be able to pull each and every step of the manufacturing sequence and create a print for it. For example, if I am machining something complicated from bar stock, the first configuration would be a bar, the second would be the first turning cycle, the third would be the other side, the fourth would be the milling operation, etc, etc. This is necessary for machine programming and assemblies.
Solidworks has inventor seriously beat in this area. Solidworks uses the configuration tree, where each version of the part is in a tree under one model. The parent child relationship is clear. Any change to an upper level part automatically rolls down to every part below.
Inventor uses the "derive" feature to accomplish something similar. The only problem is now you need to manage many different files. If you undergo 20 different steps, now you have 20 different models. The parent child relationship between files is unclear. Design assistant is not of any help in this area. The only way I have figured out how to manage the files is through how they are named.
Any suggestions?