iPart Author dialog box

Access: Ribbon: Manage tab Author panel Create iPart

Author overview

Left pane

Shows part attributes, according to the selected tab.

Right pane

Shows selected values and adds a column in the iPart table. Specifies keys to represent the nesting order in the part browser and in the Create iPart dialog box, Key tab. Only columns designated as keys display in the browser.

Right-click an attribute and select Key such as material or size. In the iPart table, a key icon in column headings identifies designated values.

The Key order sets the nesting order. For example, if you select an iPart by its length and then its width, set Length as Key1 and Width as Key2.

iPart table

Contains columns in the order selected. You can also specify some cell or column settings in the right pane.

Note: You cannot designate a column or cell as both a custom value and a key.

Member

Is automatically created as the first column. Its default value is the file name, indexed per member, such as bolt-01, bolt-02. For more information about Member Name and Part Number, click to see Options reference.

If you rename a default member file name, a prompt reminds you that a name change alters the file name and asks you to confirm.

Note: The Member column is the default file name column. If you remove the file name setting, the member file name is based on key names. Key names can result in long file names as all key names are concatenated in the file name.

Rows

Represent individual iPart members. Right-click to specify:

Insert Row Adds a new iPart member.
Delete Row Removes an iPart member.
Set as Default Row Specifies the member that is automatically inserted in an assembly, unless you select a different version when the iPart is placed. The default row has a green background.
Custom Parameter Cell You can enter a custom value when you place this member of the iPart. The cell background is blue.
Specify Range for Cell Sets the minimum and maximum values that limit custom cells. Sets the minimum and maximum values.
Specify Increment for Cell sets the increment for a custom cell. The column type specifies Units, if applicable.

Columns

Indicate the values that are unique for each iPart member. Right-click to specify:

Delete Column removes the selected column.
Custom Parameter Column allows entry of a custom value when placed in an assembly. The column background is blue.
Specify Range for Column sets limits on values of custom columns. Sets the minimum and maximum values.
Specify Increment for Column sets the increment for a custom column. The column type specifies Units, if applicable.
The following columns use attributes set on the Other tab:
- File Name Column specifies the entry in each cell as the file name. Give each member a unique name so that when it is placed in an assembly, the file name is shown in the browser.
- Display Style Column specifies an appearance for each member. The default is the appearance of the active member. In each cell, use the exact spelling of Autodesk Inventor appearances.
- Material Column specifies the material for each member. The default is the material of the active member. In each cell, use the exact spelling of Autodesk Inventor materials.

Buttons

Options: Opens the Options dialog box. You can create or edit part numbers and member names. For more information about Member Name and Part Number, click to see Naming Scheme.
Verify: Checks the table for cell values that are not valid for the column type, improper column headers, and if numeric values have correct units. Cells with errors are highlighted with a yellow background.

Tip: To add different appearances and materials for individual instances, use Microsoft Excel to edit the iPart table. You can copy rows and edit the appearance and material cells. When placing an iPart, you can then change to a different material by selecting a different configuration. If appropriate, you can also set these columns as Keys. Items added in Excel are shown with a red background in the iPart table.

iPart tabs

Specifies the attributes used to define an iPart factory. A row is added for each iPart member, with values specified to differentiate among variations.

The number of columns in an iPart is limited to 256, but usually variations that differentiate among members are limited to a few columns. Columns are added to the iPart table in the order selected.

Parameters

Contains parameters specified when the part was created, such as features, dimensions, renamed parameters, and custom parameters.

Renamed and custom parameters are automatically added as columns to the iPart table, but other parameters can be individually selected.

Properties

Lists summary, project, and physical properties. If an iFeature with Custom properties is present, the iFeature custom properties are included. Properties can be used in drawings and the bill of materials. Useful properties can include:

Part number, so that your bill of materials and parts lists are up to date.
Material, so that you can specify appearance and material for individual members.

Suppression

Specifies individual features to compute or suppress. When creating the part, suppress features and add more features that define members, such as a cut or extrusion. Using this method, you can include multiple variations of a part in one file. Then you can specify the compute or suppression status of each feature for each member in the iPart table.

Depending on the amount of discretion you want to allow when the part is placed, you can:

Specify Suppress or Compute for each feature in each row. When the iPart is placed, you select the member that contains the features you need.
Specify a Custom Parameter Cell or Custom Parameter Column for each feature to compute or suppress. When the iPart is placed, you enter the needed suppression status.

iFeatures

Specifies table driven iFeatures to include in the iPart table. When included, a unique iFeature row can be specified for each iPart row. You can specify the suppression status for the iFeature in each row of the iPart table.

iMates

Specifies individual iMates to include in an iPart member. You can include or suppress, set offset values, specify matching name, and sequence number.

Work Features

Specifies work features to include in an iPart. Work features are useful when you constrain parts in an assembly. For electrical parts, work points that represent pins are included by default. For nonelectrical parts, work features are excluded by default, except the features with associative iMates.

When included in a member, a work feature has the same visibility setting as in the original part. Consider:

For standard iParts, visibility of work features can only be changed using View Visibility Object Visibility User Work Planes, Work Axes, or Work Points.
For custom iParts, you can turn on and off work feature visibility.

Threads

Specifies thread parameters for each iPart member. Define columns for each regular or tapered thread parameter. Include all parameters that vary to match the replacement thread. For example:

Existing thread: Thread1:Family="ANSI Unified Screw Threads" Thread1:Designation="7/16-14 UNC"
Replacement thread: Thread1:Family="ANSI Unified Screw Threads" Thread1:Designation="7/16-18 UNS"

In most cases, this iPart would fail because the Thread1:Class was not added to the table. In the existing thread, three classes are available: 1A, 2A, and 3A. In the replacement thread, only 2A is available. Unless the specified thread is a complete match (both are 2A), it fails because a thread feature cannot be generated.

In this case, select the Class parameter in addition to Family and Designation to prevent this error:

Existing thread: Thread1:Family="ANSI Unified Screw Threads" Thread1:Designation="7/16-14 UNC" Thread1:style-class="1A"
Replacement thread: Thread1:Family="ANSI Unified Screw Threads" Thread1:Designation="7/16-18 UNS" Thread1:style-class="2A"

Sheet Metal

Specifies the optional inclusion of:

Sheet Metal Rule.
Sheet Metal Unfold (if needed due to being different from what is specified in the Sheet Metal Rule).
Named Flat Pattern Orientation as columns in the iPart Factory table.

Other

Creates custom column headings in the table, such as cost per unit, that do not control size or placement of a member. Values can contain text or numeric data.

In the Prompt section, adds a prompt for placement instructions or other information.