Advanced Design Automation Techniques for Increased Efficiency

1. Chapter 9Design Automation Techniques

2. Chapter 9 - Objectives • After completing this chapter, you will be able to • Create iMates • Create and place iParts • Create iAssemblies • Create iFeatures • Create Design View Representations • Create Flexible Assemblies • Create Positional Representations • Create Overlay Drawing Views

3. Chapter 9 – Objectives continued • After completing this chapter, you will be able to • Improve Assembly Capacity and Performance • Detect Contact in Assemblies • Mirror an Assembly • Copy an Assembly • Create Assembly Work Features • Create Assembly Features • Work with 2D Components in Assemblies • Locate tools related to the Content Center, Design Accelerator, and Frame Generator

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

5. iMates • Browser entry • Glyph on part • Rename

6. iMates • Insert Component • Use iMate • Match List • Search order

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

8. Publish iMates • Change existing assembly constraints to iMates

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

10. Exercise 9-1 • Creating and Using iMates

11. iParts • 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

12. 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

13. Types of iParts • Standard iPart (Factories) • Values cannot be modified • Features cannot be added • Custom iPart (Factories) • Unique value for at least one variable • Features can be added

14. iParts • Creating iParts • Tools > Create iPart • iPart Author Dialog • Add parameters • Define Keys • Primary • Secondary (Up to 9)

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

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

17. Default iPart and Options • Set default row • Options • Part Number • Member Name

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. Auto-Capture iParts • Create iParts while editing iPart or iAssembly • Edit Member Scope

22. Drawing From iParts • Create drawing view • Model State tab • Select component

23. Table From iParts • Table tool • Select a view

24. Exercise 9-2 • Creating and Placing iParts

25. 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

26. Author Dialog Box • Component tab = lists the components of the assembly with configurable items • Member = configuration • Each row = one configuration

27. Author Dialog Box • Parameters Tab – Include in the factory: • Constraints • Assembly features • Work features • iMates • Component patterns • Other parameters such as user parameters

28. Author Dialog Box • Properties Tab – Allows the inclusion and modification of: • Summary • Project • Physical • Custom properties

29. 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

30. 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.

31. Exercise 9-3 • Working with iAssemblies

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

33. iFeatures • Tools > Extract iFeature • Create iFeature dialog box • Selected Features • Size Parameters • Range and Limit • Position Geometry

34. iFeatures • Insert iFeature tool • Part Features Panel Bar • Insert iFeature dialog box • Select • Position • Size • Precise Position

35. iFeatures • Editing iFeatures • Open the .ide file in Autodesk Inventor • Edit iFeature • View Catalog • iFeature Author Table • Edit iFeature • Opens the Create iFeature dialog box • Cannot change parameters • Can modify size parameters and position geometry • Name • Value • Limit • Prompt

36. 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

37. iFeatures • Table-Driven iFeatures • Inserting • Same as inserting typical iFeatures • Key parameters are a drop-down list • Custom parameters are specified in the dialog box

38. Exercise 9-4 • Creating and Placing iFeatures

39. Design View Representations • Save configurations that show the assembly in different states, stores the following • Component visibility (visible or not visible) • Component selection status (enabled or not enabled) • Color settings and style characteristics applied in the assembly • Zoom magnification • Viewing angle

40. Design View Representations • Create New Design View Representation • Make Active • Rename • Lock • Public vs. Private Design Views

41. Design View Representations • New Design View Representation • Make Active – check mark • Lock – view changes are not reflected in locked Design View Representation

42. Design View Representations • Set Design View when placing an assembly file • Options button • Select Design View

43. Design View Representations • Make Design View in a subassembly active • Select from list

44. Private Design View Representations • Same as a Public Design View Representation buts creates an IDV file • Should accompany assembly file

45. Drawings From Design View Representations • Select Representation from list • Associative – Yes / No

46. Flexible Assemblies • Set Flexible property to a subassembly to allow movement independent from other occurrences of the subassembly

47. Flexible Assemblies • Right-click on the subassembly in browser or graphics window and click Flexible from the menu.

48. Positional Representations • Create a motion study of an assembly model • Based on positional representation

49. Positional Representations • Override Settings for an assembly constraint • Rename • Override

50. Positional Representations • Override Settings for an assembly constraint • Suppression • Value