Converting Assembly Components to Assets

The Convert to Assets feature lets you convert imported CAD models into factory assets. If, for example, you receive component data from a supplier that you want to evaluate or run through collision detection, you can use this feature to quickly convert that data to a factory asset for placement in your layout designs.

The convert process:

• Creates an asset for each selected model
• Publishes the asset to the asset library
• Replaces the selected model with the newly created asset, if indicated

To convert assembly components to assets:

1. Start a new layout.
2. Click Insert Model in the Factory ribbon to import the data.
3. Select the file to import and click Open.
4. Click Convert to Assets in the Factory Ribbon to display a list of parts or sub-assemblies contained within the model that are eligible to convert to assets. You can also right-click on an asset and select Factory > Convert to Assets to access the list.

   
   

   
   
   

5. Select the items to convert under the Model Name heading or click the check box next to the heading to select all items.
6. Change the asset name as desired. The name automatically defaults to the imported model name.
7. Select Simplify to publish an assembly as a single part. Selecting this option can improve performance and simplifies file management because fewer files are created during the convert process and when placing the asset in layouts.
8. Specify a Default Publish Location to publish the selected assets to the same location. To publish a specific asset to a different location, enter the location in the asset's Publish Location field in the model selection list.
9. If you are converting an Inventor assembly file, select the Floor Plane for the new asset so that it orients properly on the factory floor. If your assembly is already oriented to the XY(+Z) plane, you do not need to make a selection here because it is the default orientation for a converted asset. This drop-down is not active if the file is already a Factory layout.
10. Select Replace models in layout with converted assets to automatically replace the model in the current layout with the newly created assets. If you do not select this option, the assets are still created and added to your user asset library, but the model remains in the layout.
11. Click Convert to create the assets.