Content Center - Select Alternative Parameters

[Anonymous]

Hey,

So I'm creating a custom library for bolts in my Content Center. Right now, the content center that comes default with Inventor is pretty great. It's divided up by shape, and when you go to your assembly to "Insert from Content Center," you can then choose from a few lists the bolt diameter, length, and thread type (UNC or UNF, in my case).

In my custom family for Hex Heads, I'm going through our company's database and picking out the part number we have for each bolt type and adding it to the Family Table for Hex Heads. However, my company uses bolts of different materials, coatings (zinc or other such), and thread lengths (fully threaded or partially threaded). Originally, I had only noticed the materials and coatings properties, so I was just going to create several different families (Hex Head - ASTM A325 - Plain, Hex Head - ASTM A325 - Zinc Coated, etc) and have the user select them at that point. However, since I've noticed that we need fully/partially threaded as well, it occurs to me that we may want a more elegant solution.

Is there a way to add "selectable" parameters to each family? When I say "selectable," I mean the parameters you can select when you try to "Insert from Content Center" into an assembly. Like I said above, right now, in that window, you can choose nominal diameter, nominal length, and thread type. I would prefer it if my users could choose from:

Nominal Diameter
Nominal Length
Material
Coating
Thread Length

As a side note, as it may or may not be important, after I select the Nominal Diameter right now, different Nominal Lengths and Thread Types become available depending on my diameter selection. I'm thinking that feature will be necessary all the way down the chain for my new, 5-parameter, ideal setup.

Lastly, sorry for not knowing all the jargon here. Some of these windows don't really have titles, so it's hard to get the right name for everything. Also, establishing the difference between libraries and families and other categories...it gets confusing.

Thanks in advance,

  -Luke