Frame Generator components in BOMs and cut lists

A bill of materials is a table that contains information about the parts within an assembly. It includes quantities, names, costs, vendors, and other needed information. Quantities on the bill of materials are updated when a part is added or removed from the assembly

The Frame Generator is integrated with the bill of materials and drawing functionality in Autodesk Inventor. Frame members behave like other Autodesk Inventor parts in Bills of Material (BOMs) and Parts List, and support ballooning and cut list roll-up.

The BOM functionality in Autodesk Inventor software supports three of the most common structural frame bills of material:

• A unique part number for frame members with identical stock, length, and cut treatments.
• A single part number per frame stock type. Often, the part number is the stock number.
• All frame members receive a unique part number.

Assigning Part Numbers

When you insert frame members, Frame Generator prompts for Display Name, File Name, and storage location. These values are used as the component part number until you or the administrator override it.

There are two common methods for assigning part numbers:

• In an assembly session, press CTRL and select like members to set identical part number iProperties.
• Use the BOM editor to display columns for cut treatments (CUTDETAIL(n)), Mass, Length, and so on, to organize and manage part numbers and BOM structure.

Assembly Browser

In the Assembly browser, you can manually synchronize the Display Name to the name of the assigned part number. Alternatively, you can use the Rename Browser Nodes command which is a member of the Assembly Tools add-in utility. This add-in is loaded automatically at start-up. Access the Rename Browser Nodes command, as well as the other Assembly Tools, on the Assemble tab, Productivity panel.

Property Expression dialog box

Use the Property Expression building command in Inventor to set a part number as an expression of other properties. For example, part number = (stock number) - (length) - (material). When a property such as length is updated, the expression solves and the part number is also updated.

Cut Lists

A cut list documents components with dimensions and cut treatment information used for fabrication and accounting purposes.

You can manage end treatments and cut treatments in the Assembly browser.

Each treatment on a frame member produces a custom property called CUTDETAIL(n) which you can use to produce manufacturing notes in the cut list. To produce a cut list, use the Drawing Manager Parts List utility to create a parts-only BOM and add appropriate columns, such as Manufacturing Notes.