Replace Components and Ilogic

[mdavis22569]

Ok ...so I have a machine that has 3 different conveyor options (open, closed, l-shape) , and a few other options. Save in C:\\cad_data\Inventor

I'm looking for a tutorial (not how to do it, I'd like to learn myself) or somewhere to look of how to make a form to have the designers/sales person etc pick their options..and it would then generate or change the model with those items.

Do they all need to be in it and suppressed?  

I'm believing it'll use the replace component Ilogic option ....

Thank you in advance for the help

Mike 

[Curtis_Waguespack]

Hi mdavis22569,

Thanks for posting here.

So let's clarify some things:

First there is a Place ilogic Component work flow as shown in the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7trTFZKTDg

Then there are is a Replace API call, that is more like using the Component Replace tool in any assembly. There is a simple example here:

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-general-discussion/ilogic-part-insertion/m-p/3667462#M451826

Do you have some idea of which one you'd want to use?

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

[mdavis22569]

not getting it to work 

Lets say I have the following conveyors:

open_0.iam

closed_0.iam

L-shaped_0.iam   

I need the _0 at the end of the names

and I want to make a form/ configurator in Ilogic that will have me pick one of these 3 options

this has been my issue ...

[Curtis_Waguespack]

Hi mdavis22569,

Maybe someone else will read this and offer their thoughts as well, as there might be other ways than those that I've suggested.

But my understanding is that we have an assembly, let's call that Layout.iam, and we want to have a form that allows us to place one of the following into Layout.iam:

• open_0.iam
• closed_0.iam
• L-shaped_0.iam   

There are 2 ways to set this this up (likely more than 2, but let's consider 2 for now):

1. Create a Layout.iam template file that has one of these configuration subassemblies (open, closed, L-shaped) constrained in place using geometry common to all 3, and then use the illogic form to choose one and trigger a rule that uses the Replace API call.

• Then have external rules and global forms that run on the subassembly that controls further refinements (length , color, etc.)

2. Create an illogic configuration assembly, let's call it Conveyor_config.aim, and set that file up allow you to configure the assembly to include configurations such as open, closed, l-shaped, as well as length, color, etc. Then use the Place iLogic Component tool to insert it into any new assembly file (this new assembly would by Layout.aim for our example).

• You would have a multi-value parameter that allows the user to select the overall configuration  (open, closed, L-shaped), and then rules that trigger on that parameter (If Open, then suppress this part, that part, etc.)

Why would you choose one approach over the other?

I'm not sure I can answer that for you, but some often people choose approach 1 when they have the different versions already created, etc.

If I can find time I'll create a really simple example of both approaches using basic blocks, etc.

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

[Curtis_Waguespack]

See attachments (Inventor 2015) and videos for approach 2:

vidoes:

ilogic config assembly 1

ilogic config assembly 2

ilogic config assembly 3

[mdavis22569]

OK ..I see how the 2nd is done ...with the legos ..

It lost me when I want to change assemblies. That are 3 different files ...   

I have a long flight to Germany I can practice with.

The videos' were great btw!    

[Curtis_Waguespack]

---

mdavis22569 wrote: 

It lost me when I want to change assemblies. That are 3 different files ...    

I have a long flight to Germany I can practice with. 

---

Yeah, I didn't get back to this, but I'll make some quick vids showing the other method with 3 separate files.

Enjoy Germany! ( I'm a bit jealous other than the long flight )

[Curtis_Waguespack]

Hi mdavis22569,

Here is a zip file with an assembly that contain a rule that use the API call to replace one assembly with another. This would be an example of method 1, which is what you would use to take advantage of your existing 3 assembly models.

• This rule expects to find the open, closed and L-shaped files in the same folder as the top level assembly.
• This rule uses Inventor's Replace component tool, which can cause constraint failures when we replace components that have not been created by copying one to create the others. Therefor some planning ahead is required, or we constrain to origin planes, etc.

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

[Anonymous]

M,

   Not sure if this method was offered, I placed and positioned all of the options I wanted for this model into one assembly file and then used iLogic to control what shows in the model depending which options and specs were chosen from the iLogic form. The beauty of this method is that the parts list / BOM also reflects the selected options from the form. I've attached my screen cast video of how it works and at the beginning of the video you can see what the iLogic code looks like. Hope this helps. As with most things Inventor, there are many ways to arrive at your destination. For me, this was the best solution for my skill set. And I'm always looking to expand my skill set.

Frank