Creating Assets from Existing Parts, Assemblies, and DWG Solids

Create a part file as factory content

1. If you are working in a Factory Layout, click Factory tab Factory Components panel Create Asset and select Model as Part from the drop-down menu.
2. If you are not working in a Factory Layout, click Factory tab Factory Launch panel Create Asset and select Model as Part from the drop-down menu.
3. Model the new part geometry using standard Inventor commands. For help modeling part geometry in Inventor, review the Features and Parts Help topics.
   Tip: When modeling the part geometry, consider which features will be parameterized when the model is authored as factory content. In the Parameters dialog box, accessed by clicking Parameters on the Create Asset tab, check the Key column to indicate any parameters that can change.
4. Once the part is complete, click Asset Builder on the Factory Assets panel to author the file for use as factory content.

Create an assembly file as factory content

A new assembly model can be created for use as factory content.

1. If you are working in a Factory Layout, click Factory tab Factory Components panel Create Asset and select Model as Assembly from the drop-down menu.
2. If you are not working in a Factory Layout, on the ribbon, click Factory tab Factory Launch panel Create Asset and select Model as Assembly from the drop-down menu.
3. Model the new assembly geometry using standard Inventor commands. For help modeling assemblies in Inventor, review the Assemblies Help topic.
   Tip: When creating the assembly, consider which parameters can be modified when the content is authored as factory content. In the Parameters dialog box, accessed by clicking Parameters on the Create Asset tab, check the Key column to indicate any parameters that can change.
4. Once the assembly is complete, click Asset Builder on the Factory Assets panel to author the file for use as factory content.

Use AutoCAD DWG solids as factory content

1. If you are working in a layout file, click Factory tab Factory Components panel Create Asset and select Import DWG Solids from the drop-down menu.
2. If you are working in a layout file and using Autodesk Vault, click Factory tab Factory Components panel Create Asset and select Import DWG Solids from Vault from the drop-down menu.
   Note: This option is only available when the Vault client is installed.
3. If you are not working in a layout file, on the ribbon, click Factory tab Factory Launch panel Create Asset and selectImport DWG Solids from the drop-down menu.
4. If you are not working in a layout file and using Autodesk Vault, on the ribbon, click Factory tab Factory Launch panel Create Asset and selectImport DWG Solids from Vault from the drop-down menu.
   Note: This option is only available when the Vault client is installed.
5. The Import dialog box displays. Navigate to and open an existing DWG file. If there are multiple solids in the DWG file, they are imported as multi-body parts or as an Inventor assembly (the default) depending on the settings on the Asset Builder tab in the Factory Options dialog box.
   Tip: By default, multiple solids in a DWG file are imported as an assembly. Click the Options button in the Import dialog box if you wish to quickly change the imported solids from an assembly to multi-body parts.
6. If Fusion 360 is installed, you can use the Inventor Edit Solid command to open Fusion 360 and perform additional edits on the individual base solids. When you are finished editing, use the Fusion 360 Return to Inventor command to close Fusion 360 and return to the Inventor session.
7. Once the multi-body part or assembly design is complete, click Asset Builder on the Factory Assets panel to author the file for use as factory content.

Use an existing part or assembly file as factory content

1. If you are working in a layout file, clickFactory tab Factory Components panel Create Asset and select Import Model from the drop-down menu.
2. If you are working in a layout file and using Autodesk Vault, clickFactory tab Factory Components panel Create Asset and select Import Model from Vault from the drop-down menu.
   Note: This option is only available when the Vault client is installed.
3. If you are not working in a layout file, on the ribbon, clickFactory tab Factory Launch panel Create Asset and select Import Model from the drop-down menu.
4. If you are not working in a layout file and using Autodesk Vault, on the ribbon, clickFactory tab Factory Launch panel Create Asset and select Import Model from Vault from the drop-down menu.
   Note: This option is only available when the Vault client is installed.
5. The Import Model dialog box is displayed. Navigate to and open an existing part or assembly file.
6. Continue to model the part or assembly file, as necessary.
   Tip: Ensure that the part or assembly contains all necessary data so that it can be parameterized when authored as factory content.
7. Once the part or assembly design is complete, click Asset Builder on the Factory Assets panel to author the file for use as factory content.

Can I use a weldment assembly as a factory asset?

No. Weldments are not presently supported by the Asset Builder. However, you can derive your weldment into an Inventor part and then use it as an asset. A derived assembly, like a weldment, is a new part that references an existing assembly. Also, you can add features to the derived part or assembly. For more information about the Derive command, see the Inventor Help topic: Derived parts and assemblies.