Splitting imported part into many parts

[.Klis]

Hi Guys,

As part of our training, our class built a fairly standard version of a Stabiliser Unit. Each member was given a different part to model. However, the pipes were left separate as they were deemed too complicated.

Last week, I undertook a course led by Aveva on PDMS and noticed that the training site had a very similar setup, so with permission I exported the pipe files (.stp) into Inventor and the line-up was almost perfect! 🙂

However, I really need to make some minor adjustments, such as pipe length and angle realignments.

I can't seem to figure out a way of breaking down the associated part into many parts to allow me to manipulate individual bits. Yes, I can create minor edits and extrusions, but because of certain constraints, every slight move or re-join to the correct location seems to affect another part grrrr.

As a last resort, now that I have the pipes, ill probably use them as an example to create my own version, but if there was a way to disassociate parts from a bigger part that would aid me significantly!

Looking forward to your replies.

Using: Inventor 2016 Pro - Student Edition

P.s. Someone in another thread mentioned clicking on the manage tab > make component - However, I can’t find this option in 2016.... 

[Anonymous]

Looks like an imported assembly, look up assembly constraints in help.

[.Klis]

Just to expand on this issue as I don’t think I explained it very well….

1. I’d like to join these pipes to the condenser units
2. I click join
3. The join moves the entire assembly (as expected) – (Removing the pipe assembly relationship doesn’t appear to change this.)
4. I select the entire pipe assembly and click edit.
5. I can now select individual sections. I select the parts I want
6. I click free move and position those parts closer to where I want them, but now the condenser units are ‘hidden’ and I can’t use the join function.
7. Returning from edit mode and reattempting the join on the moved parts still retains association with the rest of the pipe assembly.

What I am hoping to achieve is the ability to select the parts I want, and separate them from the main group. Then be able to move and join them to the appropriate vessel before extending the pipes to recreate a connection.

Hopefully sense can be made from this lol 🙂

[salariua]

Not sure I understand but it seems you need to move the parts from the subassembly around. I would right click on that subassembly and set it to flexible. Becasuse the model was imported they are not constrained and if you set the parrent assembly to flexible they will fload around for you to drag / constrain whereve you want.

[.Klis]

Thanks, this will certainly help 🙂

The only issue with this, is that I can't constrain a moved part back onto the same subassembly. It will only allow me to contrain it to another part which is some what annoying. Any ideas how to fix this?

[JDMather]

Attach your assembly here and end all doubt.

[blair · Accepted solution]

Sometimes imported model come in without any constraints at all. You might be better served to ground all the components in the imported model and then only un-ground and use the constraints function to locate the items that you require relocated.

[salariua]

In addition to what's been answered you might want to consider Demote/Promote to organize them in to logical groups. Two parts from same subassembly can  only be constrained inside that subbasembly, but you can edit the subassembly in place and constrain them

[JDMather]

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@rkliskey wrote:

Just to expand on this issue as I don’t think I explained it very well….

1. I’d like to join these pipes to the condenser units
2. I click join
3. The join moves the entire assembly (as expected) – (Removing the pipe assembly relationship doesn’t appear to change this.)
4. I select the entire pipe assembly and click edit.
5. I can now select individual sections. I select the parts I want
6. I click free move and position those parts closer to where I want them, but now the condenser units are ‘hidden’ and I can’t use the join function.
7. Returning from edit mode and reattempting the join on the moved parts still retains association with the rest of the pipe assembly.

Hopefully sense can be made from this lol 🙂

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I don't think any additional explanation was needed for the pros here.  Bottom line - the assembly can be corrected to whatever is needed.  As you gain experience you will come back to this thread in a year and realize this was a pretty easy question, .....when you know how.

[.Klis]

Thanks for all your replies - Im going to give these new suggestions a go 🙂

However, as requested I have also attached a sample of the files.

The assembly file is called: ADS

With regards to this most likley being very simple, I completely agree and at the same time I truly welcome the critism and just accept it as part of the learning curve - Its the best way too learn! 🙂

[JDMather]

I don't have an rar extractor, but someone will come along and offer a solution.

[.Klis]

Ok, well just in case, ive rezipped the files to .zip

Thanks again 🙂

[JDMather]

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@rkliskey wrote:

... I exported the pipe files (.stp) into Inventor and the line-up was almost perfect! .... 

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I don't understand the source of the files you attached - these are not imported STEP files.

The files you attached are very very poor quality modeling practices - it would probably be easier if they were STEP files.

There are many files missing from the assembly you attached.

It seems to me I have seen this in the Inventor Routed Systems samples somewhere - back in a while if I can find them.

[.Klis]

Thank you Blair! Having gone back into the model and understood how grounding actually works with respect to ungrounded components I was able to resolve the issues.

The final result after rendering turned out looking pretty badass too! 🙂