Chapter 8iComponents 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

• 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•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•Parameters

–User-defined name assigned a numeric value, either explicitly or through equations –Multiple parameters

•depth = length – width –Anywhere a value is required–Three types

•model parameters •user parameters •linked parameters

Parameters•Parameters

–Parameters dialog box •Model Parameters

–automatically •Reference Parameters

–driven dimension •User Parameters

–manually defined – Column names

•Parameter Name •Units •Equation •Nominal Value •Tol •Model Value •Export Parameters Column •Comment

Parameters• To use parameters

– Any time a number is required

– Type– List Parameters option in most dialog boxes

Linked Parameters• Linked Parameters

– Multiple values & same parameters

– Spreadsheet • Microsoft Excel

Linked Parameters• Linked Parameters

– Spreadsheet Embedded• no link – no updates

– Spreadsheet Linked• will update• more than one can be linked

– Guidelines – Edit

Exercise 8-2

• Relationships and Parameters

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

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)– Values cannot be modified

– Features cannot be added

• Custom iPart (Factories)– Unique value for at least one variable

– Features can be added

iParts• Creating iParts• Tools > 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

Author Dialog Box

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

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

• 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

Author Dialog Box

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.

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 iAssemeblies

• Create drawing view– Model State tab– Select an iAssembly Member

Parts List From iAssemblies

• 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• Tools > Extract iFeature

• Create iFeature dialog box– Selected Features– Size Parameters

•Range and Limit– Position Geometry

iFeatures• Insert iFeature tool– Part Features Panel Bar

• 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 Create iFeature dialog box–Cannot change parameters–Can modify size parameters and 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

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

Exercise 8-5

• Creating and Placing iFeatures

Applying Your Skills

• Skill Exercise 9-1