Modeling the Part
• Start a new part using either the imperial or metric (part) start
• Modeling features must be per the Part Modeling document
• Start a new sketch or use the current active (blank) sketch and draw a 2D sketch of
the structural profile.
• WARNING: The sketch profile must contain the entire shape of the
structure. No additional sketches and/or 3D modeling will be permitted
Example of a completed
after this sketch is extruded. structural shape (Cooper B-Line
• It is also recommended to project the horizontal/vertical origin work planes Channel Strut) sketch
onto the sketch as centerlines and to center the structural profile around
the origin work point and projected centerlines.
• Dimension and constrain the sketch as needed.
• You may elect to setup equations to denote Shape Height, Width, and
Thickness if desired.
• Configuring engineering items later on, such as; Moment of Inertia, Radius
of Gyration, and etc. are optional.
• Exit the sketch and extrude it.
• It is recommended, for the extrusion length, to write the equation as
Length=10 (imperial) or Length= 254 (metric). Example of a structural shape
(Cooper B-Line Channel Strut)
sketch that is not completed.
Meaning the shell (modeling)
commands was going to be applied
after the sketch was extruded
PASS2002688: Global Inventor & SmarTeam Training Manual, Section 4: Content Center – Create a Custom Structural Shape and Publish It 1
Modeling the Part
• Access the fx parameters (Parameters/Manage ribbon panel) and export the parameter Length value.
• Access the IPROPERTIES:
• On the Summary tab describe (extended description) the structural shape per the Part Modeling document
per the Title IPROPERTIES.
• Confirm Author name
• On the Custom tab
• Define ComponentName, DescriptionMfg, MaterialMaster, and VendorPartNumber per the Part
Modeling document.
• Define ComponentName as an acceptable value per the Description field located on the document
management system profile card
• On the Physical tab, define material per the Part Modeling document.
• Select the OK button.
IPROPERTIES Example
PASS2002688: Global Inventor & SmarTeam Training Manual, Section 4: Content Center – Create a Custom Structural Shape and Publish It 2
Modeling the Part
• Access the Document Settings under the Tools ribbon section.
• Select the Bill Of Materials tab.
• Under the Base Quantity (pull-down list), select Length under the Model Parameters
section.
• Select the OK button.
• Confirm the Base Unit (pull-down list) is set to the correct unit of measurement
• Select the OK button
• If the structural shape is purchased as raw material, it is recommend to change the Default BOM
Structure (pull-down) to Purchased
• Save the content center family template master file per the Part Modeling document.
PASS2002688: Global Inventor & SmarTeam Training Manual, Section 4: Content Center – Create a Custom Structural Shape and Publish It 3
IPART Authoring
• Create an IPART (authoring)
• PLEASE NOTE:
• Dimensional entries must always be in decimal form.
• Expressions are acceptable but should be only used in those cases to simplify the population of the column
cell.
• All dimensional entries in a IPART (family) table (cells) must be consistent
• Meaning if the unit of measurement is included in one dimensional cell, then all dimensional cells must have
the unit of measurement. Don’t mix and match….
• Just like sketched and/or model dimensions in a part, its cell (dimensional) values must be based on a scale of 1:1,
nominal value, correct precision/not rounded, and not per any min/max tolerance.
• Meaning 5 3/8 is not 5.38, it is 5.375 and 5 9/16 is not 5.56, it is 5.5625.
• Under the Member column, change the member name per Part Modeling document.
• Confirm or add the required parameters that control the structural shape (sketch).
• If not already present, select and add (>>) the Length parameter to the IPART table.
• Click on the Properties tab
• Scroll down to the Physical section, expand it and add (>>) the Material properties
• Scroll down to the Custom section and add all required custom IPROPERTIES as needed.
IPart Author
Example
PASS2002688: Global Inventor & SmarTeam Training Manual, Section 4: Content Center – Create a Custom Structural Shape and Publish It 4
Structural Shape Authoring
• Exit the IPART table and save the part.
• Before authoring and publishing this shape to the content center
• The proper content center access/authorization.
• If you do not have the rights to publish to the content center, please forward this new structural shape to an
authorized content center team member or your local CAD Administrator.
• A category under the Structural Shape section of the content center must already reside.
• See the Content Center Management document in how to create a category.
• All (origin/user defined) work planes, axis and origins are turned off and the Inventor (screen) background is set to
white.
• Select Structural Shape from the Manage/Author ribbon section.
• In the Structural Shape Authoring dialog, select the structural category (Layout tab) in the Category pull-down list.
• In our example (see below), a category Cooper B-Line Channel was added to the content center prior to authoring
this shape.
• If the base extrusion (extruded structural shape) was done properly the Selection Preview of the Structural Shape
Authoring dialog should appear correctly and the extrusion/default base point definition under the Geometry Mapping will
not required any additional input for the user.
• Though it is not recommended, the Default Base Point may be redefined.
PASS2002688: Global Inventor & SmarTeam Training Manual, Section 4: Content Center – Create a Custom Structural Shape and Publish It 5
Structural Shape Authoring and Publishing
• Select the Parameter Mapping tab.
• Under the Base length mapping select (pull-down list) Length.
• Define other mappings as needed.
• Select the Publish Now button.
• Confirm the (selected) content center library and language is correct for this structural shape.
• Select the Next button.
• Confirm the (selected) content center category is correct for this structural shape.
• Select the Next button.
• Confirm the family column mappings are still the same as originally defined.
• Select the Next button.
• Define at least one key column.
• WARNING: The Length column must be defined as a minimum
• Key columns are those columns used to define the prompts that a user will select from to generate the shape from
the content center family table.
• Key columns can be modified and reorder later on in the editing of the family table.
• Select the Next button.
• Except as noted below define the family properties of the structural shape using the Content Center Management
document.
• Unless associated to a given standard, define the Standard Organization as CUSTOM by typing CUSTOM in the
pull-down list.
• Select the Next button.
• Accept the warning message if the folder name defined is used for existing content center components.
• Review the Publish Guide dialog and select the Publish button.
• Accept the publish successful message.
PASS2002688: Global Inventor & SmarTeam Training Manual, Section 4: Content Center – Create a Custom Structural Shape and Publish It 6
Structural Shape Family Table - Edit
• Select the content center Editor located on the Content Center/Manage ribbon.
• Navigate to the structural shape, RMB on it and select Family Table
• Locate the Length column and RMB on its column header and select Column Properties
• Place a check mark in the Expression option.
• Select the Custom Column option.
• Select the browse […] button at the end of the expression edit box.
• Define the Default (length) value.
• Define the Incr (increment) length value
• Define the Minimum (cut) length and operation.
• Define the Maximum (purchased/cut) length and operation.
• Select the OK button.
• Select the OK button.
• Locate the PartNumber column and RMB on its column header and select Column Properties
• Place a check mark in the Expression option
• Select the Expression Column option
• Define a unique “part number” for each member.
• It is recommended to at least include the (cut) length in the part number name.
• Select the OK button.
• Select the OK button.
• Locate the FILENAME column and RMB on its column header and select Column Properties.
• Define a unique “file name” for each member.
• Since by default the “file name” is using the member name as a expression, add a dash (-) and the Length
parameter to create the unique name.
• Select the browse […] button to access the length parameter.
• Example: {Member}-{Length}
• Select the OK button.
PASS2002688: Global Inventor & SmarTeam Training Manual, Section 4: Content Center – Create a Custom Structural Shape and Publish It 7
Structural Shape Family Table - Edit
• Unless otherwise specified, use the Content Center Management document to define the rest of the family table columns
and rows.
• Assuming the STOCKNUMBER column is not present, RMB on the PARTNUMBER column, and select Add
Column
• For the Column Name edit box, type STOCKNUMBER
• For the Column Caption edit box, type STOCKNUMBER
• Define value based on established practices.
• Use the expression function to assist in populating the family table.
• Please note: The value contained within this cell is used in the creation of the member’s
display name in the frame generator model tree.
• Map the column STOCKNUMBER to the Project.STOCK NUMBER located under the Map to Inventor
Property pull-down list
• Select the OK button.
• Please note: The key columns defined in the family table are used as the structural size selector under
the Frame Generator module.
• Select the OK and Done button.
• Accept any message indicating publish was successful.
PASS2002688: Global Inventor & SmarTeam Training Manual, Section 4: Content Center – Create a Custom Structural Shape and Publish It 8
