Assembly components can be individual parts or subassemblies that behave as a single unit. For example, a single-part base plate and a multipart air cylinder subassembly are both components when placed in an assembly.
To ensure that they are always available when you open the assembly, add the paths for all components to the project for the assembly.
The behavior and characteristics of a component depend on how it was created.
Autodesk Inventor components
Autodesk Inventor components are created in part files or in the context of an assembly file. An Autodesk Inventor component can be a subassembly with parts that can be modified or a single part with features that can be modified. The sketches used to build part features can be fully or partially dimensioned. Partially dimensioned features are underconstrained and can be designated as adaptive .
Assembly components saved in positional representations capture kinematic "snapshots" to use for motion studies and other analysis. In an open assembly, you can retrieve any positional representation saved in the file.
Place components in an assembly
- Use the Place component command. Tip: Use this method when you want to specify the grounded component or to reorient a component before you place it.
- Drag and drop a component from a file folder into the assembly graphics window.
- Drag and drop a component from a part file or assembly file browser panel into the assembly graphics window.
Place files from other CAD systems
Parts and assemblies from other CAD systems can be placed as components in Autodesk Inventor assemblies. The ability to change the size or shape of the imported components can be limited (See Access files from other CAD systems).
Flexible components
Flexible components are sub-assemblies with one or more degrees of freedom available. Set the sub-assembly component status to Flexible in the browser to enable movement in the parent assembly. Each instance of a flexible sub-assembly can have a unique position in the assembly. For example, you can show one component instance open and another instance closed.
Adaptive components
Adaptive parts and subassemblies can change size and shape to satisfy assembly design requirements. When an adaptive subassembly is constrained to other assembly components, underconstrained geometry in an adaptive part resizes.
After you insert a part or subassembly in an assembly, designate it as adaptive. You can only designate one occurrence of a component adaptive at a time. Adaptive changes to that occurrence drive the size and shape of all other occurrences of the component.
If necessary, you can clear the adaptive status and apply flexible status.
A component cannot be adaptive and flexible at the same time.
Parts created in an assembly
Most assemblies contain a combination of existing components and components (parts and subassemblies) created in the assembly environment.
When you create components in place (in an assembly), you can use geometry from other parts in feature sketches (such as edges and hole centers). Parts based on existing geometry are sized and positioned in relation to that geometry. Parts created in place have an automatic mate constraint applied between the part XY sketch plane and the part face you sketch on. You can define a part created in place as adaptive so that its size and shape changes when the components it is adaptive to change.
Define component placement and behavior
Use Constraints or Joints to set the component degrees of freedom and location. Any part or subassembly in an assembly can have all its degrees of freedom removed. The origin of a grounded component does not move when you place assembly constraints, but a grounded component can still be designated as adaptive. The features on a grounded, adaptive part can change size or shape although its position is fixed.
It is good practice to ground at least one component in an assembly to serve as an anchor for other components. To ground a component when you place it, right-click and select Place Grounded at Origin. If necessary, you can remove the grounded status of a part.