To add or modify a part family

Add or modify a part family in the Parts Editor

1. Open a part catalog in the Part Editor.
2. Click Structure.
3. Select a part family from the Navigation Panel.
4. For example, click Rectangular Frame M01 in the Surface Structure part family category for the Drainage Structure domain.
5. Click Duplicate in the Parts tab to create a copy of the selected part family.
6. Enter a unique Part Family name in the Part Family Properties tab.
7. If you are creating a new part family, you must specify a part category and part class as well.
   Note: If you are modifying an existing part family, Category and Class are read-only values.
8. Click Next.
9. You can use the Shapes tab to specify a different parametric shape for the selected part family.
10. Hover on a shape template to view key dimensions that have been defined for the part shape.
11. Click New Shape Template if you want to import a shape template in .IPT format.
12. Shape templates can be authored with the Infrastructure Modeler plugin for Autodesk Inventor.
13. Each tab of the Part Editor has additional instructions that you can expand or collapse.
14. Click Next.
15. The Detailed Properties tab lets you input additional attributes for your parts family. Most fields in this tab are optional.
16. For Surface Structures, you have the option to specify an inlet form and whether there is a curb inlet.
17. Click Next.
18. The Parts Editing tab is where you can create or modify size variations for the selected part family.
19. Use the Part Editing table to customize part sizes for your part family.
20. Each column in the sizing table represents a size dimension that is defined by the shape templates for the part family.
21. Click Add Row to create a new part size, then modify its dimensions in the sizing table.
22. You also have the option of clicking Export to Excel to edit the sizing table in Microsoft Excel.
23. Once you have exported this sizing table to Excel, you can import an updated version with the Import From Excel button.
24. Use the scrollbar to review or modify the dimensions of the selected part size.
25. You can click into any individual cell to modify an existing value or enter a new value.
26. For example, I will specify 2100 mm for the port length and port width dimensions, and keep the other values the same.
27. This modifies the new part size to have an Underground Structure port that is 300 mm longer and wider.
28. If at any point you don't recognize the column names, hover your cursor over a column header for more information.
29. Make sure to review each column in the sizing table for every part. If you forget to input a value, you may encounter errors later on.
30. Click Add Properties to review a list of key dimensions in the shape template.
31. Checkmark dimensions to show or hide them in the Part Editing table.
32. For example, checkmark Part Size ID to add it to the table, then click OK.
33. Part Size ID is now active in the sizing table.
34. Click Add Properties again and un-checkmark Part Size ID to remove it from the sizing table once again.
35. As a best practice, we recommend giving each new part size a unique name.
36. Remember that you can click Delete Row to remove a part size from your part family.
37. When ready, click Next.
38. The final step is to visually validate part sizes in the Size Validation tab.
39. Click Done when you are finished validating part sizes for your part family.
40. You can now move on to creating an assembly.