How to Create Factory Layouts

Create factory layouts using the default system units

  1. On the ribbon, click Get Started tab Factory Launch panel New Layout .
  2. A new layout file is automatically created using the default StandardFactoryLayout.iam template file.
  3. The file is opened and is assigned a default name. Click Save in either the Quick Access toolbar or the Application menu to access the Save As dialog box to rename and save the file to disk.

Create factory layouts using other system units

When using the New Layout command on the Factory Launch panel a file is created that automatically uses the factory layout template. That template matches the assigned system units for the Inventor installation. It is possible to create a factory layout with an alternate system of units using the New command.

  1. Click New in either the Quick Access toolbar or the Application menu.
  2. In the New File dialog box, Factory tab, click Factory Layout(mm).iam or Factory Layout(in).iam, as necessary.
  3. Click OK.
  4. Use the active Factory tab on the ribbon to design the layout.
  5. The file is opened and is assigned a default name. Click Save in either the Quick Access toolbar or the Application menu to access the Save As dialog box to rename and save the file to disk.
Tip: The Templates tab of the Factory Options dialog box specifies the template file (inch or metric) to be used for creating a new factory layout. It also specifies the template files (inch or metric) to be used when modeling a part or an assembly intended for asset authoring and publishing. If you find yourself consistently using the same template file(s) for your layouts, consider using the Factory Options dialog box to specify the templates for all new layouts, new part assets, or new assembly assets. You can then use the New Layout command on the Factory Launch panel to quickly and easily start new layouts using the desired system of units. For more information, see the Inventor Factory Help topic Set factory options

Create a factory layout from an AutoCAD drawing

A new factory layout can be created from an existing AutoCAD 2D layout. If the AutoCAD layout contains any 2D assets or chainable assets placed from the System Assets library in AutoCAD Factory, the assets are replaced with their 3D equivalents when the drawing file is opened in Inventor Factory.

  1. On the ribbon, click Get Started tab Factory Launch panel New Layout from DWG drop-down menu to display the New Layout from DWG dialog box. If a factory layout is already open, click Factory tab Suite Workflows panel Create from AutoCAD .
  2. If you are working with Autodesk Vault, then click Get Started tab Factory Launch panel New Layout from DWG in Vault .
    Note: This option is only available when the Vault client is installed.
  3. Navigate to the folder that contains the DWG file you wish to use for the new layout. Select the file and click the Open button.
  4. If AutoCAD Factory 2D assets exist in the drawing file, the drawing is placed as a DWG overlay onto the factory floor and automatically populated with 3D assets.
  5. If no 2D assets exist, the drawing file is placed as a DWG overlay only. You can then proceed to manually place and position assets.

Break the link between the DWG and the 3D layout

There is an associative link, called Layout Sync, between the 2D drawing and the 3D layout from which it was created. This link is graphically represented by the icon that appears next to the drawing name node in the browser. You can remove the associativity between the DWG and the factory layout using either the Break Link or the Break Link with AutoCAD commands.

  1. Locate the DWG node in the browser. Its name will be identical to the name of the original 2D drawing.
  2. Right-click over the DWG node and select Break Link from the pop-up context menu.
  3. As an alternative to using the browser, on the ribbon click Factory tab Suite Workflows panel Break Link with AutoCAD .
  4. The browser icon resumes the normal DWG node appearance to indicate that the link is broken.
    5. Note: Once broken, you must create a new layout from the DWG to re-establish the associative link.

Several of the command options available from the DWG browser node pop-up context menu are identical to those available after placing a DWG overlay using the Add DWG Overlay command. These options include:

For more information about the three command options above, see the Inventor Factory Help topic: Add DWG overlays

Also, please refer to the Inventor Factory Help topic: Suite Workflows to learn more about associativity between AutoCAD Factory layouts and Inventor Factory layouts.

How project files work with factory layout files

By default, factory layout files are stored in the assigned directory of the currently active project file. If the Default project is active the files are all stored in the My Documents folder.

To learn more about using, creating, or changing the active project file, refer to the following Inventor Help documents.

Parent topic: Create Factory Layouts