Request for automation logic to detect internal connections between holes in hydraulic/pneumatic manifolds (Inventor Professional)

[pedro_trimailovasTCTY2]

Hello Autodesk team,

One of our clients is working on the design of hydraulic/pneumatic manifold blocks using Autodesk Inventor Professional. During the detailing process in the drawing environment (IDW), they use a hole table to list all drilled features on the block. However, they face a challenge related to the "CONNECTIONS" column ("LIGAÇÕES" in Portuguese), which currently must be filled manually to indicate the functional role of each hole (e.g., A1, B2, P, T, etc.).

We are looking to implement a logic-driven automation, ideally using iLogic or a native Inventor feature, that would allow:

Automatic detection of internal connections between holes in the 3D model.

For example, in the attached image, the green block represents the manifold, and the yellow points highlight intersections between internal holes. In one specific case, hole #4 on face F is internally connected to hole #17, as documented in the hole table.

Automatic population of the "CONNECTIONS" column in the hole table within the drawing.

The goal is for Inventor to automatically detect and display relationships such as “A1 connected to B1” or “Hole 4 → Hole 17” when generating the table.

This would significantly streamline the workflow for future manifold block projects, ensuring consistency and saving time in the documentation phase.

Request:

We would appreciate guidance on the best way to implement this automation:

Is there any native support in Inventor to detect internal geometry connections between features?

Can this be achieved using iLogic, the Inventor API, or another recommended approach?

We’re happy to provide model files if needed to support this request.

Thank you in advance for your help!
Pedro H. Trimailovas

[C_Haines_ENG]

This may be possible with iLogic, can you provide a clearer image of the "Connections" you are referencing?

[pedro_trimailovasTCTY2]

@C_Haines_ENG , thanks for the quick response.

Sure, I can provide that information.

Please take a look at the attached image.

For example:

If you open the .dwg file in the F holes table, the first item shows a connection between hole no. 4 and hole no. 17. Thinking in a more visual way, you can see this in Image 1 (Hole Fit Overview) and Image 2 (Hole Fit: hole_number4 & hole_number17).

I hope these images help clarify what I’m trying to show.

Image1: https://autode.sk/3ZHBSqG

Image2: https://autode.sk/443jU4F

Kind Regards,

[BrianEkins]

This should be possible using the Inventor API. From each feature (a hole in this case), you can get a list of the faces created by that feature. I would also want the feature that created the initial manifold block, so I can get the outer faces of the block. Now, it would involve going through each hole feature, iterating through each of its faces, and then each edge of each face, and checking to see if that edge connects to a face that is not part of the current hole. This case would happen when it connects to an outer face of the block, which you would ignore, and when it connects to the face of another hole, which defines the connection.

[C_Haines_ENG]

Your part file imports as a derived part, so I cant see any of the hole features created in it, and thusly cant create an accurate iLogic rule. What version of Inventor are you using?