Most designers have stock designs that they use repeatedly. The designs can differ by size, material, or other variables, although the same design works in many models. You can create these designs as iParts, and then use one or more of the variations, called members, by selecting it from a table.

If you determine that you need a different member than has been defined, you can add a row to represent a new member in the iPart factory, change the pertinent values in the row, and save the file. You can add a new member by editing the iPart table or by creating a member when you place the iPart into the current assembly.

How is an iPart used in an assembly?

Use an iPart factory if you need access to multiple variations of the same design in an assembly. When design requirements change, you can change the member you inserted.

To place an iPart member in an assembly:

Start with a new assembly or open an existing assembly.
Use the Place Component command to select an iPart factory. (Autodesk Inventor detects which components are iPart factories.)
In the Place iPart dialog box, identify the iPart member you want to use.
In the graphics window, select the placement location for the part.

What happens to iParts in assemblies if an iPart factory changes?

An iPart factory can be edited, but the changes may not automatically update iParts that were placed in assemblies. When an assembly opens or updates, Autodesk Inventor compares the key values in the factory with the key values used in the member when it was created.

If the iPart factory table has a row that matches the iPart member, the member is automatically updated when the assembly updates. However, if the iPart factory does not contain a row that matches key values in the member, right click the table icon in the browser, and then select Change Frame Members to get the correct iPart member.

In an assembly, click the down arrow on Update command, and then select Global Update.
In the browser, iParts to update are marked with an Update symbol.
Right-click the table icon in the browser, and then select Change Component to get the proper member of the revised iPart factory.

Procedures

Place an iPart in an assembly

You can select an iPart factory or member for placement in an assembly. If you select a member file, it is placed directly in the assembly like any other component, but if you select a factory, you select the member from a table, and then place it in the assembly.

Standard iPart factories and custom iPart factories use tables to represent unique members of iParts. For standard iParts, each row in an iPart table is a member of a factory.

A Standard iPart Factory specifies all values in columns. A standard iPart member can only be modified after placement by editing the iPart table in the factory or in the Excel spreadsheet.
A Custom iPart Factory has one or more columns identified as a Custom Parameter Column. When placing a custom iPart member, custom parameters can be specified in the Place iPart dialog box.

In the browser, a unique icon is displayed on a placed iPart member.

Place a standard iPart in an assembly

On the ribbon, click Assemble tabComponent panelPlace.
Browse to the folder that contains the iPart factory, and then click Open to open the Place Standard iPart dialog box.
NoteAutodesk Inventor detects which components are iPart factories.
Click in the graphics window to place an instance of the default member or click the Table tab to specify a different member:
- Optionally, right-click, and then select Sort Ascending or Sort Descending to reorder the rows.
- Click in a row to select a member of the iPart.
- Click in the graphics window to place a member.
If you prefer, use the Keys tab on the Place Standard iParts dialog box to specify a unique iPart member. It lists primary and secondary keys in the order specified in the iPart factory.
- Click the first key to insert the value. If multiple key values were defined, click All Values, and then select from the list.
- Click the next key value, if available, to select from the values. Notice that the value selected for the primary key filters available values for the selected key.
- Continue to select key values until the part parameters are, as needed.
- Click in the graphics window to place a member.
Continue to place multiple instances of the member or click a row to place a different member. When finished, right-click and select Done.
When finished, click Cancel to close the dialog box.

NoteYou can create an iPart member in the Place Standard iPart dialog box. On the Table tab, a new row is created at the top of the table. Insert needed values and click New Row.

Place a custom iPart in an assembly

On the ribbon, click Assemble tabComponent panelPlace.
Browse to locate the iPart factory, and then click Open to open the Place Custom iParts dialog box.
NoteAutodesk Inventor detects which components are factories.
Click in the graphics window to place an instance of the default member or click the Table tab or Tree tab to specify a different member:
- Click in a row or tree node to select a member of the iPart.
- Click in the graphics window to place a member of the custom iPart.
If you prefer, use the Keys tab to set values. The left column lists primary and secondary keys in the order specified in the iPart factory. The right column lists custom parameter keys.
In the left column, select the value of the key to specify a unique iPart member:
- Click the first key to insert the value. If multiple key values were defined, click All Values, and then select from the list.
- Click the next key value, if available, to select from the values. Notice that the value of the primary key filters available values for the selected key.
- Continue to select key values until the part parameters are, as needed.
In the right column, enter custom values for the keys.
- Click the first key and enter the value.
- Continue to select keys, if available, and enter values.
When you finish defining the custom iPart, click in the graphics window to place the member.
Continue to place multiple members of the iPart, as needed. Right-click and select Done.
When finished, click Cancel to close the dialog box.
To change members of a custom iPart, right-click the table icon in the browser, and then select Change Member.

NoteYou can accept the default name of the custom iPart or specify a different name.

Create new member files when placing an iPart or iAssembly

If one of the iPart or iAssembly members does not meet the requirements, you can create a row in the Place Standard iPart dialog box.

On the ribbon, click Assemble tabComponent panel Place.
In the Open dialog box, browse to locate the iPart or iAssembly factory and click Open.
In the Place Standard iPart dialog box, click the Table Tab.
A New row is added at the top of the table. Click in the Member column of the row and enter a new name. When you enter a value in a cell, other table members are filtered to show only the members that match that value.
In each column, enter values to differentiate the new member from other members and then click New Row.
Select the member you want to place and click in the graphics window.
Continue to place instances of the member or select another member. Continue to place members and then right-click and select Done. Click Cancel to close the dialog box.

References

iPart and iAssembly Placement

Places a standard or custom iPart member or an iAssembly member in an assembly.

Parts published from a Standard iPart Factory have predefined values. Standard iParts cannot be modified.
Parts published from a Custom iPart Factory contain at least one Custom Parameter. Custom iParts have designated parameters or properties that have values specified at placement time. You can modify a custom iPart by adding features.
iAssembly members can be parts, iParts, or assemblies.

Access:

Ribbon: Assemble tab

Component panel

Place

Browse to the folder where the iPart or iAssembly is located and click Open.

In the dialog box, click the Table tab and select the version. For Custom iParts, enter designated values. Click in the graphics window to place the member. Click to continue to place instances and then right-click and select Done.

Keys tab

The Keys tab shows the parameters names designated as keys and their associated values. Keys are nested in the model browser after the part is placed.

For iAssemblies, member names are shown in the browser. If appropriate, right-click a member name and select List by Key.

Name

Shows the key parameter names.

Value

Shows the value for the parameter. Click a value to list all defined values and click to select.

Tree tab

The Tree tab shows the keys in the hierarchy defined in the iPart or iAssembly Author. Click to expand the tree.

Table tab

The Table tab shows all iPart or iAssembly members in the factory. Click in a row to select, and then click in the graphics window to place an instance of the selected iPart.

If appropriate, create a member, and then click New Row. You can immediately place the newly created member.

Click a column heading and select Ascending or Descending to change the sort order.

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