iLogic pattern

[tds_301]

I am working on an assembly of plates. I only have two kind of plates. Every 5th plate is different, so it would look like this:

xxxxKxxxxKxxxxKxxxx...

I though i was going to solve this by using pattern for the first four X plates and then mate one K plate on top. And then make a new pattern of X plates. After that i planned to use iLogic to hide all plates not relevant. But this would result in me first making a lot of patterns and mating a tall stack. 

I would appreciate if someone could please help me by pointing me in a direction to solve this.

[tds_301]

I am working on an assembly of plates. I only have two kind of plates. Every 5th plate is different, so it would look like this:

xxxxKxxxxKxxxxKxxxx...

I though i was going to solve this by using pattern for the first four X plates and then mate one K plate on top. And then make a new pattern of X plates. After that i planned to use iLogic to hide all plates not relevant. But this would result in me first making a lot of patterns and mating a tall stack. 

I would appreciate if someone could please help me by pointing me in a direction to solve this.

[AndrewHumiston]

Are you asking for an ilogic rule to set up the pattern? then be able to suppress specific instances you don't want to see?

[AndrewHumiston]

Are you asking for an ilogic rule to set up the pattern? then be able to suppress specific instances you don't want to see?

[tds_301]

Sort of. In the end I would like to just enter a number, lett say 7. That could generated 7 X and then deleted X number 5 and replaced it with a K. 

[tds_301]

Sort of. In the end I would like to just enter a number, lett say 7. That could generated 7 X and then deleted X number 5 and replaced it with a K. 

[AndrewHumiston]

Would you send me two sample part files, and spacing parameters. i think i under stand what you are asking, but it might require configuriing the parts to have the right planes to make the swapping easier.

[AndrewHumiston]

Would you send me two sample part files, and spacing parameters. i think i under stand what you are asking, but it might require configuriing the parts to have the right planes to make the swapping easier.

[Curtis_Waguespack · Accepted solution]

@tds_301 

See the attached Inventor 2023 files and code below, for an example using logic to place and constrain as a pattern, vs using an Inventor feature pattern.

Dim oCount As Integer

'get user input
Try
	oCount = InputBox("Enter # of plates", "iLogic", Parameter("PlateCount"))
	Parameter("PlateCount") = oCount
Catch
	Exit Sub
End Try

oPrefix = "Plate"

ThisAssembly.BeginManage("Plate Group")

If oCount = 0 then exit sub

pad = "0"

'add the first plate and ground it
Dim oComp1 As String = oPrefix & pad & 1
Components.Add(oComp1, "Plate_X.ipt“, , True)
oOffset = Parameter(oComp1, "Thickness")

'add each remaining plate and costrain it to the assembly origin planes
For i = 2 To oCount

	If i > 9 Then pad = ""
	Dim oCompName As String = oPrefix & pad & i

	If i Mod 5 <> 0 Then 'if not divisible by 5
		Components.Add(oCompName, "Plate_X.ipt")
	Else
		Components.Add(oCompName, "Plate_K.ipt")
	End If

	'constrain the plate
	Constraints.AddMate("", "", "XY Plane", oCompName, "XY Plane")
	Constraints.AddMate("", "", "YZ Plane", oCompName, "YZ Plane")
	Constraints.AddFlush("", "", "XZ Plane", oCompName, "XZ Plane", offset := oOffset)

	oOffset = oOffset + Parameter(oCompName, "Thickness") 'update offset to include this plate
Next
ThisAssembly.EndManage("Plate Group")
ThisApplication.ActiveView.fit 

[Curtis_Waguespack · Accepted solution]

@tds_301 

See the attached Inventor 2023 files and code below, for an example using logic to place and constrain as a pattern, vs using an Inventor feature pattern.

Dim oCount As Integer

'get user input
Try
	oCount = InputBox("Enter # of plates", "iLogic", Parameter("PlateCount"))
	Parameter("PlateCount") = oCount
Catch
	Exit Sub
End Try

oPrefix = "Plate"

ThisAssembly.BeginManage("Plate Group")

If oCount = 0 then exit sub

pad = "0"

'add the first plate and ground it
Dim oComp1 As String = oPrefix & pad & 1
Components.Add(oComp1, "Plate_X.ipt“, , True)
oOffset = Parameter(oComp1, "Thickness")

'add each remaining plate and costrain it to the assembly origin planes
For i = 2 To oCount

	If i > 9 Then pad = ""
	Dim oCompName As String = oPrefix & pad & i

	If i Mod 5 <> 0 Then 'if not divisible by 5
		Components.Add(oCompName, "Plate_X.ipt")
	Else
		Components.Add(oCompName, "Plate_K.ipt")
	End If

	'constrain the plate
	Constraints.AddMate("", "", "XY Plane", oCompName, "XY Plane")
	Constraints.AddMate("", "", "YZ Plane", oCompName, "YZ Plane")
	Constraints.AddFlush("", "", "XZ Plane", oCompName, "XZ Plane", offset := oOffset)

	oOffset = oOffset + Parameter(oCompName, "Thickness") 'update offset to include this plate
Next
ThisAssembly.EndManage("Plate Group")
ThisApplication.ActiveView.fit 

[tds_301]

Exactly what I had in mind! In the version 2 of the file you have also read my mind. 

Thank you for your knowledge and time.

[tds_301]

Exactly what I had in mind! In the version 2 of the file you have also read my mind. 

Thank you for your knowledge and time.