MECH 2202 – Engineering Graphics 2

iParts

What are iParts?

iParts are Autodesk Inventor’s method to create a “family” of similar parts. An example of
an iPart is a model of a bolt. Similar bolts are available in a range of diameters and lengths,
and are also made from different materials. In place of creating a separate part for each
version of the bolt, you can create a single iPart factory part that contains an embedded
table that describes all variations of the part.

Another method (used by other 3D modelers) is to create configurations of a model within a

single file.

iPart Author table

When the iPart factory is place in an assembly, you can select which version of the part is
actually inserted. You can also change the placed instance of the part by selecting a
different version from the table.

Different versions placed in an assembly

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Creating an iPart Factory

An iPart factory starts off as a standard Autodesk Inventor part. You create the iPart factory
by adding the iPart table, and filling it with data to describe the part variations.

To create an iPart Factory, you:

 Start with a new or existing part.
 Determine the portion of your design that changes with each instance.
 Use the Create iPart tool to define the table rows that represent instances of the
part, specifying variations of its parameters, properties, thread information, iMate
information, feature suppressions, and included work features.
Note: We will not cover all possible variations in iPart versions.
 Save the part, which is automatically saved as an iPart Factory.

iParts provide the ability to:

 Change the size and position of features by changing parameter values
 Suppress specific features in different versions of the iPart
 Change property values (for example, specify a unique part number per version)
 Assign different materials or colour overrides
 Specify iMates (1/2 of an assembly constraint)
 Specify work features and thread information

Standard and Custom iPart Factories

You can create two types of iParts, standard and custom.
Standard iPart Factory: All values for every version are stored in the table. After you
place a version of the iPart in an assembly, you cannot edit or add features to it. You can
however, change the placed iPart by editing it and selecting another version from the table.
Custom iPart Factory: One or more columns in the iPart table are marked as custom
columns. When you place a custom iPart factory in an assembly, you are prompted to enter
values for the custom variables. You can add features to a placed custom iPart.

How To (Standard iPart Factory)

1. Create a standard or sheet metal Autodesk Inventor part. Add all features that occur
in all planned variations of the part. Suppress features as required to enable
inclusion of all features.
2. Ensure that geometry that varies between iPart versions is controlled by dimension
values (i.e. has associated parameters).
3. Rename model parameters that will be included in the iPart factory. Renamed model
parameters and user parameters are automatically added to the table.
4. On the ribbon, on the Manage tab, click Create iPart.

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5. In the iPart Author table, add any of the following that are required to describe the
iPart versions.
 Parameters that control the size and position of features in the different iPart
versions.

Named parameters automatically added as iPart columns

Note: You can add and remove parameters from the list with the add and
remove buttons between the feature list on the left and iPart parameter list
on the right.

 Properties that vary between versions. The Part Number property is added by
default. Material can be added to include versions of the part made from
different materials

Material Property Added to Table

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 Features that are suppressed in one or more versions.

Extrusion feature added to suppressed features list

 iMates, work features, and thread features (we won’t cover these).

 User defined columns that can specify colour style and other variables used to
differentiate iPart versions.

Appearance column specified

Note: It is good practice to have a FileName column in all iPart factories. The
Member column is added by default and is assigned as the File Name Column.
It generates an incremental file name but you can change this in the table or
write a formula in Excel to format the name from other column data.

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iPart Keys
iPart keys identify the columns that are used to specify the version when the iPart is placed
in an assembly. You can add up to eight (8) keys to an iPart factory, but two (2) or three
(3) keys are more typical. The keys create a hierarchy of iPart versions. The user placing
the iPart in an assembly narrows the selection by making selections from key columns.
 The primary key [1] determines the first selection.
 Subsequent keys narrow the selection to a small set of iPart versions.
You add keys to the iPart table from the context menu for the variable.

Primary key added to iPart table

Secondary key (parameter) added to iPart table

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Adding iPart Versions

Once you have added the required columns and specified the keys, you are ready to add
iPart versions. You can add rows and edit cell values in the table shown in the iPart Author
dialog box. A second (and better) approach is to make the edits in Microsoft Excel. To edit
the table in Excel:
1. Close the iPart Author dialog box.
2. In the browser, right-click Table and select Edit via Spreadsheet
In the spreadsheet, you can use all of the tools available in Excel to generate new iPart
versions.
 Each version is defined by a row in the spreadsheet.
 Use copy and paste to copy one or more rows, and then edit the cells in the
new rows.
 Some columns are automatically placed in the spreadsheet:
i. Member column (Filename) – a unique file name for the variation
ii. Part Number – from the model iProperty
iii. Any renamed model parameter (not dxx), and user parameters
iv. Suppressed features.
 Use Excel functions such as CONCATENATE() to build unique file name values
or part numbers.
 You can add additional columns in the spreadsheet. They are added to the
Other tab of the iPart Author dialog box.
 Enter Compute or Suppress in the columns that control feature suppression.
 Pay particular attention to the key columns. The combination of all key values
describes a unique version of the iPart.

To complete the edits, close Excel completely.

Finally, expand the table in the browser and test each version of the iPart. Double-click each
version in the list, or right-click and select Activate.

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