Chapter 8 iComponents and Parameters

After completing this chapter, you will be able to perform the following: –Create iMates –Change the display of dimensions –Create relationships between dimensions –Create parameters –Create and place iParts –Create and place iAssemblies –Create and place iFeatures Chapter 8 - Objectives

iMates Apply assembly constraints –Matching iMate Create in part file Constraints: Mate, Flush, Tangent, Insert or Motion

iMates Browser entry Glyph on part Rename

iMates Insert Component –Use iMate Match List –Search order

Composite iMates Group multiple iMates into a single, composite iMate Browser – highlight iMates, right-click

iMates alt+Drag & Visibility Alt+drag – displays iMates iMate visibility –Browser –Graphics window

Exercise 8-1 Creating and Using iMates

Dimension Display Dimensional Relationships –Set up relationships between dimensions Dimension Display –Automatically tagged - label “d” and a number (d0, d27) –Five options (Display as..) Value, Name, Expression Tolerance Precise Value –Change dimension display style

Dimension Relationships –Setting relationship between creating and existing dimensions – Edit Dimension dialog box Dimensions label (d#) Prefix fx = value based on parameter or other dimension

Dimension Equations –Can be used whenever a value is required –Example.. (d9/4)*2, or 50 mm + 19 mm prefixes, precedence, operators, functions, syntax, and units –Help system –Invalid expression Red

Parameters –User-defined name assigned a numeric value, either explicitly or through equations –Link parameters depth = length – width –Anywhere a value is required –Four types Model parameters User parameters Reference Linked parameters –Create on the fly whenever a value is needed, “name = value”

Parameters –Parameters dialog box Model Parameters Automatically Reference Parameters –driven dimension User Parameters –manually defined – Column names Parameter Name Units Equation Nominal Value Tolerance Model Value Export Parameters Column Comment

Parameters To use parameters –Any time of a number is required –Type –List Parameters option in most dialog boxes

Linked Parameters –Multiple values & same parameters –Spreadsheet Microsoft Excel

Linked Parameters –Spreadsheet Embedded No link – No updates –Spreadsheet Linked Will update More than one spreadsheet can be linked –Guidelines –Edit

Exercise 8-2 Relationships and Parameters

iParts –Store parameters and properties information –Create unique parts based on stored information –Example - Bushing iPart Single file Table with 3 rows (members) –Unique Hole Dia –Unique Material –Unique Filename

iParts Creation Stage –Design the part –Establish all possible versions in a table Each row of the table is a member Multiple members = iPart Factory Placement Stage –Select a member from the iPart Factory –Insert the member into an assembly

Types of iParts Standard iPart (Factories) –After placing Values cannot be modified Features cannot be added Custom iPart (Factories) –After placing Unique value for at least one variable Features can be added

iParts Creating iParts Manage tab > Author Panel > Create iPart iPart Author Dialog –Add parameters –Define Keys Primary Secondary (Up to 9)

iParts iPart Author Dialog –Working with Members Adding Members > Insert Row Removing Members > Delete Row Modifying Members and Setting Default

Creating iParts iPart Author Dialog –Custom iParts Custom Parameter Column Custom Parameter Cell –Specify a value for the parameter upon iPart placement

Default iPart and Options Set default row Options –Part Number –Member Name

Creating iParts iPart Author Dialog –Click OK The part is converted to an iPart Factory Table saved as an embedded Microsoft Excel spreadsheet Table icon is displayed in the Browser

Editing iParts Operations –Delete table Converts iPart back to a part –Modify parameters & properties –Add or Delete members –Edit Options Edit Table Edit via Spreadsheet –Spreadsheet formulas, conditional statements, etc. are shown as red cells

Placing iParts Place Component tool –Standard & Custom iPart Placement dialog box Custom – enter value from the custom column Folder is created with same name as the iPart Factory Folder is checked for existing members when placed Folder is created in same location as the factory by default

Auto-Capture iParts Create iParts while editing iPart or iAssembly –Edit Member Scope

Drawing From iParts Create drawing view –Model State tab –Select component

Table From iParts Table tool –Select a view

Exercise 8-3 Creating and Placing iParts

iAssemblies iAssemblies are used to group a set of similar designs in a table format –Assembly Configurations –Similar to iParts – Create within an assembly (iam) file

Component tab = lists the components of the assembly with configurable items –Member = configuration –Each row = one configuration iAssemblies - Author Dialog Box

Parameters Tab – Include in the factory: –Constraints –Assembly features –Work features –iMates –Component patterns –Other parameters such as user parameters –Table Replace – iParts iAssemblies - Author Dialog Box

Properties Tab – Allows the inclusion and modification of: –Summary –Project –Physical –Custom properties iAssemblies - Author Dialog Box

Exclusion Tab – Similar to the Parameters list, shows all objects that can be excluded, including components. Can also be set on the Components tab, but provides a more specific way to view and set the exclusion property iAssemblies - Author Dialog Box

iMate, BOM and Other Tab –iMates Lists each iMate with offset value, include/exclude, matching name, and sequence number available for configuration –BOM Specify bill of material specific properties –Other Specify a custom column that can contains a string value. Custom columns can be designated as keys or as a filename. iAssemblies - Author Dialog Box

Placing an iAssembly Place Component tool – Place iAssembly dialog box –Folder is created with same name as the iAssembly –Folder is checked for existing members when placed –Change Component –Generate files

Drawing From iAssemblies Create drawing view –Model State tab –Select an iAssembly Member

Parts List From iAssembly Edit Parts List –Select members –Column Chooser

Exercise 8-4 Working with iAssemblies

iFeatures Capture design intent –Name –Size –Position Include Placement Help Represented with Custom Icons Stored as separate files (.IDE)

iFeatures Manage tab > Author panel > Extract iFeature Extract iFeature dialog box –Selected Features –Size Parameters Range and Limit –Position Geometry

iFeatures Insert iFeature tool –Manage tab > Insert panel –Insert iFeature dialog box –Select –Position –Size –Precise Position

iFeatures Editing iFeatures –Open the.ide file in Autodesk Inventor Edit iFeature View Catalog iFeature Author Table –Edit iFeature Opens the Edit iFeature dialog box –Cannot change parameters –Modify size parameters & position geometry »Name »Value »Limit »Prompt

iFeatures Table-Driven iFeatures –Open the.ide file in Autodesk Inventor –iFeature Author Table iFeatures behave similar to iParts –Main difference: No File Name, Display Style or Material column designations

Exercise 8-5 Creating and Placing iFeatures

Applying Your Skills Skill Exercise 8-1

Checking Your Skills 1.True__ False__ iMates are created while inside of a part file. 2.What needs to be selected to have a single component containing iMates be placed and automatically constrained in an assembly? a.Automatically Generate iMates on Place b.Place Component with iMate c.Interactively Place with iMates d.Use Composite iMate 3.True__ False__ When creating parameters in a spreadsheet, the data items must be in the following order: parameter name, value or equations, unit of measurement, and, if needed, a comment. 4.What is the difference between a model parameter and a user parameter? 5.True__ False__ Multiple versions of an iPart can be placed in an assembly. 6.True__ False__ When you make changes to an iPart factory, the changes are updated automatically in iParts that have been placed in assemblies. 7.Which tab of the Place iPart or iAssembly dialog box can be used to create a new member of the factory during placement in an assembly? a.Keys b.Table c.Tree d.None of the above 8.True__ False__ You can add features to standard iParts after they have been placed in an assembly. 9.True__ False__ Named parameters are added automatically as Size parameters during iFeature creation and cannot be removed. 10.What happens when you create a table-driven iFeature and one of the original parameters contains a list of values for the parameter?