Inventor

Understanding Autodesk Inventor Frame Generator, Bill Of
Materials, and Part Numbers
Issue:
With the help of the Frame Generator you've used Inventor to successfully design a frame. The
problem is in the way that Inventor creates a file for each member, and automatically sets the file
name to the Part Number field. You've tried renaming part files but this seems to break more
than it fixes. Isn't there anyway to get Frame Generator to cooperate and provide a Part's List that
can be used for production?
Solution:
This is a bit of a process, but once you've done it a few times you'll get the hang of it. Also, keep
in mind that you can set up a frame assembly template to have much of this done for you
automatically in the future.
First off, for the most part you can forget about file names when using Frame Generator (FG) ,
and just let FG name the files as it sees fit. You do this by un-checking the File Naming
checkbox as shown:
http://inventortrenches.blogspot.com/2011/03/understanding-autodesk-inventor-frame.html
Typically the only FG files I set the name for are the frame sub assembly and the skeleton part
file.
Example:
UX950.iam = the container subassembly
that all of the frame members will be
placed in
UX950_ skeleton.ipt = the reference file
that geometry is copied to. For instance
when you select an edge to place a frame
member, that edge is copied into the
skeleton part file.
Here is a simple example I'll use to explain

this better. As you can imagine there are many
members of the frame that are identical, and
ideally we'd like to have those members share
a common part number.
Here some identical frame members (the stair treads) are shown in red.
Here the railing members are color coded to show the common members.
The first thing to do is edit the Bill of Material (BOM). Go to the Assembly tab and click the Bill
of Materials button to bring up the BOM editor.
Next, let's talk a bit about the quantity columns in Inventor.

Inventor has 4 of them, Base QTY, Item QTY, Unit QTY and QTY. You can use the Choose
Column button to add them to the BOM for review (this doesn't impact the parts list on the
drawing).
Base QTY = length of the part (reads the G_L iProperty from the part file). Can be changed in
the BOM editor.
Unit QTY= the same as Base QTY, is read only and can't be changed in the BOM editor.
Item QTY = counts the number of parts in the assembly with the same part number
QTY = Base QTY x Item QTY
To add these columns to the BOM editor you can drag and drop columns to the BOM grid. Drop
the item on the header row to add. Drop it anywhere you see the black X to remove it.
Okay, let's get started. I use the Add Custom iProperty Columns button to create custom columns
in order to adjust the BOM to my needs. These custom iProperties will be pushed down from the
assembly and written to the part files.
I'll add two new iProperties, one called Job Number and the other Mark Number.
Once added to the BOM grid you can enter a

value for the Job Number and then use the Fill
function to copy it to all of the cells below it. This
writes the Job Number to each file shown in the
BOM.
Next I'll use the Create Expression button to create an expression in the Part Number cell of the
first member in the frame.
I like to create a temporary expression using the Job Number, Stock Number, G_L and Mark
Number properties. Even though the Mark Number is currently empty.
I then use the Fill function to copy the expression to all of the cells below it, just as I did when
adding the Job Number.
It is at this point, that I like to check and make sure the reference part that I used to select edges
from for the frame is set to be Reference, so that it does not show up in the structured BOM or
impact the mass properties of the assembly.
Once that is done I switch from the Model Data tab to the Structured tab and enable it if needed.
You'll notice that in the structured tab the parts are grouped by part number. This is controlled by
the Part Number Merge Settings. I want this option Enabled.
Because the frame members are being merged by Part Number, and the Part Number consists of
the Project Number, Stock Number and Length (G_L), I'm able to select the members with the
same length as a single line item, and see them highlighted in the model. Here the tread channels
of the ladder are selected:
Since all of these are the same, with none of them being mirrored or having a different hole
configuration, etc. I can apply the same Mark Number to them. Adding the mark# to the Mark
Number cell, automatically adds it to the Part Number, because of the expression in the Part
Number cell.
I then do this for each of the

common member groups as
needed.
But then how do we separate

out the members that are the
same stock profile and the same
length, but are right and left
mirrors such as the sides of the
platform shown?
To do this select the row, and then click the Show button at the top of the BOM editor.
This will expand the group and allow you to add Mark Numbers to each row.
For some reason, the members aren't highlighted on screen when doing this. So if the mark#
needs to be something like P1L (for left) and P1R (for right) I'll typically just mark them both as
P1 at first, and then flip back to the Model Data tab and determine which is the right and which
is the left, and then adjust the mark numbers as needed.
Once the mark #'s are set, use the Clear button at the top of the BOM editor to collapse the
group.
Okay, so once I have the mark numbers set for all of the members, I'll then adjust the part
number expression to use only the Project# and Mark#.
Here the top cell has been adjusted and I used a dash to combine the project# and the mark#.
Then I use the fill function to copy the expression to all of the other part number cells.
Then I'll click on the Part Number header in the grid to sort by part number. You can also use the
Sort button at the top of the BOM editor dialog box.
Once sorted, I'll use the Renumber button to update the Item numbers.
And then I'll add expressions to the Description field to adjust them as needed.
Here is an idea of what the BOM would look like when done. Notice how the quantity columns
reflect different values now. The icons on the far left with the different length bars and an arrow,
indicate the merged rows.
And finally, I'll use a balloon style that calls the Part Number and the Item QTY properties as
shown on the next page.
Of course your company might do this a bit differently, so you might need to incorporate your
variations into the process to get what you need.
This content of this PDF is provided as a supplemental to the Mastering Autodesk Inventor 2012 book,
by the author.

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Understanding Autodesk Inventor Frame Generator, Bill Of

Materials, and Part Numbers

Here is a simple example I'll use to explain

Next, let's talk a bit about the quantity columns in Inventor.

Once added to the BOM grid you can enter a

I then do this for each of the

But then how do we separate

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