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Any referenced datasets can be downloaded from "Module downloads" in the module overview.
Transcript
00:08
In this presentation, we'll take a look at how you can incorporate parametric modeling in your current asset development process.
00:22
The true power of the factory design utilities is the ability for users to create their own library of custom assets,
00:28
that represent their unique machines and capabilities that they provide.
00:33
These assets can be simple representations of equipment or complex parametrically enhanced machines,
00:39
that can be adjusted to any size during placement.
00:42
In this lesson, we'll focus on these three objectives:
00:46
using parameters while modeling, defining key parameters and exporting them for future use, and linking parameters to iProperties of the model.
00:58
Assets come in many different shapes and functional forms.
01:02
The exact process you used to publish them will vary based on the type of asset and the desired functionality.
01:08
There are two basic types of assets, static and dynamic.
01:13
Static assets represent a single unchanging form or shape.
01:17
Equipment and machines that never change shape can be modeled and published as a simple static asset.
01:23
It is also possible to download models from numerous CAD sources and use these designs as static assets.
01:31
Dynamic assets are designed to parametrically represent forms that will constantly change.
01:37
Equipment that adjusts in length, width, or height each time it's inserted can be published as a dynamic asset.
01:45
Dynamic assets must be developed in Autodesk Inventor to include the desired parametric functionality.
01:52
Creating assets from native Inventor models offers many additional advantages and functionalities.
01:58
You can use name parameters to control key features.
02:01
These parameters can be marked for use when the asset is placed in a layout.
02:05
The factory properties palette allows you to easily modify any key parameter, updating the asset automatically.
02:12
It is also important to note that typical Inventor parametric practices are all that's needed to create fully functional assets.
02:20
iLogic can be used to provide additional functionality and it will be discussed in the following lesson but it is not required by default.
02:29
Anyone familiar with basic Inventor parametric modeling can easily produce layout assets.
02:37
All parameters can be marked key and exported.
02:41
Key parameters designate values that will be available for control when publishing the asset.
02:47
Exporting parameters, links the value to a corresponding custom property in the iProperties of the file.
02:55
Fields in the iProperties can be linked to various parameter values used to create the asset.
03:01
It is possible to map these parametric driven values to other iProperty fields.
03:06
Ensuring the iProperty information reflects the accurate settings for each iteration of the asset.
03:13
One major benefit of exporting parameters is that they can be mapped to various iProperty values such as description.
03:20
To map an exported parameter to an iProperty, you simply place an equal sign,
03:27
any static text you desire, and then the parameter name between the less than and greater than symbols.
03:36
I've opened up the file "Shelf Heavy Duty" from the "Models" folder in the data set.
03:41
This model represents a heavy duty shelving system that we're going to use as an example for asset development.
03:50
Now, I want you to focus on the browser first.
03:53
I want you to notice that this model is not very difficult.
03:57
It looks like an assembly, but actually, it's created with multiple solid bodies.
04:08
If I drag the end of part up, you can actually see how I started the part and each feature used to create it.
04:28
I've opened up a new file and I want to show you how easy it is to incorporate parameters while you're modeling.
04:35
I'm going to start off modeling the first feature of our shelf.
04:40
I'm going to start a sketch and select the XY plane and I'm simply going to draw a rectangle.
04:47
I'm going to make sure that that midpoint at the bottom rests at zero.
04:53
Now, I need to add some dimensions.
04:56
The first dimension I'm going to add is the length of the shelf.
04:59
These shelves are typically 8 ft long.
05:02
Now, instead of just typing in the number 8 ft, I'm going to type in a parameter name, length.
05:09
Notice that the text is red.
05:12
Red indicates that Inventor does not know what I'm talking about.
05:17
I'm going to finish the expression with an equal sign and then I'll type in 8 ft.
05:23
Now you see the text turn black.
05:25
Inventor now understands that this dimension, which is initially called d0, will now be named length and that it equals 8 ft.
05:37
Our first dimension scales the sketch.
05:41
Our second dimension is going to reference the height of the shelf.
05:45
Just like before, I'm going to type in height, I'm going to set that equal to 6 ft.
05:56
It is that easy to incorporate parameters while you're modeling.
06:02
Let's finish our sketch and add our first feature.
06:08
I can use an extrude here.
06:10
I'm going to extrude symmetrically and for the distance in the dialogue box again, I'm going to add a parameter name.
06:18
In this case, I'm going to type in depth.
06:23
And I'm going to set that equal to 24 inches.
06:33
Now, here you can see the first feature I created as I was developing that shelf,
06:38
and I wanted you to see how I could incorporate the parameters as I'm modeling.
06:44
If I go to the parameter table, you'll see the parameters that I used to develop the future.
06:53
Now I'm back in our shelf file and I'm going to activate our parameter table here.
06:60
You can see the length, height, and depth parameters that I showed you earlier.
07:05
But I want you to focus over here on the key column and the export parameter column.
07:12
Length, height and depth are going to be critical parameters for the future use of this shelf asset.
07:17
If you want the end user to be able to manipulate those values with the factory properties palette, you need to mark these parameters Key.
07:28
I've also chosen to export these parameters, that actually takes the value of the parameter and links it to an iProperty.
07:41
Now, while I have the parameter dialogue open, let's go ahead and modify some parameters.
07:47
I want you to notice my depth parameter here.
07:50
I've already turned this into a multi value parameter.
07:54
These shelving units come into three different sizes.
07:57
As far as depth goes 24 inches is default, but sometimes they come in the 18-inch variety or a 28-inch variety.
08:09
You'll notice that I can easily toggle between the valid sizes of the shelf.
08:18
Let me show you how to make a multi-valued parameter.
08:21
To do this, you simply right-click on the parameter and you select "Make Multi Value",
08:27
you then type in the additional values you want in the drop-down list,
08:37
you click "Add" to add the values and then click "Ok".
08:42
Now I have a drop-down list that controls the length of our shelving system.
08:47
And as before these shelves typically come in an 8 ft length, but sometimes we order a 6 ft variety, and they even make a 4 ft variety.
09:05
Now, I want to focus a little closer on the value of exporting parameters.
09:10
You've noticed here that I have exported length, height, and depth.
09:15
I've also exported some user parameters down here, the number of shelves required.
09:23
Let me show you what happens when you export a parameter.
09:28
I'm going to right click on the top part node in the browser and I'm going to select "iProperties".
09:34
Here are the properties of the file, and I'm going to jump straight to the "Custom" tab.
09:40
Here, you'll see any of our exported properties listed.
09:45
You can see the depth, the height, and the length.
09:48
You also see in this case, the number of shelves.
09:52
But now these parametric values are listed here as iPproperties.
09:58
This means that we can map these values to other fields in the iProperties dialogue.
10:06
You typically use this on things like the description.
10:10
Here, you can see my description.
10:12
It's a shelf, heavy duty.
10:21
Now let me show you how I was able to map those values into this description.
10:27
You see this little option right here.
10:30
This is the symbol that signifies that I have mapped these values.
10:36
And if I want to edit them, I simply need to click this.
10:39
So here is the formula to use when you're mapping iProperties.
10:45
You can see that I started this entire value with an equal sign.
10:49
I then use some static text for shelf heavy duty.
10:53
And then I included my parameter name inside of the less than and greater than symbols.
11:03
Now, this value is inherently parametric.
11:08
Let me show you that.
11:10
Going to select "Close" and I'm going to go back to our parameters.
11:18
Let's say I want a 6 ft shelf with 18-inch depth shelves.
11:28
I'll click "Done" and then I'll go check out the description in the iProperties.
11:36
Here, you can see I have a 72 inch by 72 inch by 18 inch shelving system with three shelves.
11:49
Well, this is going to conclude our initial lesson on parametric modeling.
11:54
I hope you've seen how including parameters can make your model so much more intelligent.
11:59
And I hope you see that including parameters is actually a fairly easy thing to do.
Video transcript
00:08
In this presentation, we'll take a look at how you can incorporate parametric modeling in your current asset development process.
00:22
The true power of the factory design utilities is the ability for users to create their own library of custom assets,
00:28
that represent their unique machines and capabilities that they provide.
00:33
These assets can be simple representations of equipment or complex parametrically enhanced machines,
00:39
that can be adjusted to any size during placement.
00:42
In this lesson, we'll focus on these three objectives:
00:46
using parameters while modeling, defining key parameters and exporting them for future use, and linking parameters to iProperties of the model.
00:58
Assets come in many different shapes and functional forms.
01:02
The exact process you used to publish them will vary based on the type of asset and the desired functionality.
01:08
There are two basic types of assets, static and dynamic.
01:13
Static assets represent a single unchanging form or shape.
01:17
Equipment and machines that never change shape can be modeled and published as a simple static asset.
01:23
It is also possible to download models from numerous CAD sources and use these designs as static assets.
01:31
Dynamic assets are designed to parametrically represent forms that will constantly change.
01:37
Equipment that adjusts in length, width, or height each time it's inserted can be published as a dynamic asset.
01:45
Dynamic assets must be developed in Autodesk Inventor to include the desired parametric functionality.
01:52
Creating assets from native Inventor models offers many additional advantages and functionalities.
01:58
You can use name parameters to control key features.
02:01
These parameters can be marked for use when the asset is placed in a layout.
02:05
The factory properties palette allows you to easily modify any key parameter, updating the asset automatically.
02:12
It is also important to note that typical Inventor parametric practices are all that's needed to create fully functional assets.
02:20
iLogic can be used to provide additional functionality and it will be discussed in the following lesson but it is not required by default.
02:29
Anyone familiar with basic Inventor parametric modeling can easily produce layout assets.
02:37
All parameters can be marked key and exported.
02:41
Key parameters designate values that will be available for control when publishing the asset.
02:47
Exporting parameters, links the value to a corresponding custom property in the iProperties of the file.
02:55
Fields in the iProperties can be linked to various parameter values used to create the asset.
03:01
It is possible to map these parametric driven values to other iProperty fields.
03:06
Ensuring the iProperty information reflects the accurate settings for each iteration of the asset.
03:13
One major benefit of exporting parameters is that they can be mapped to various iProperty values such as description.
03:20
To map an exported parameter to an iProperty, you simply place an equal sign,
03:27
any static text you desire, and then the parameter name between the less than and greater than symbols.
03:36
I've opened up the file "Shelf Heavy Duty" from the "Models" folder in the data set.
03:41
This model represents a heavy duty shelving system that we're going to use as an example for asset development.
03:50
Now, I want you to focus on the browser first.
03:53
I want you to notice that this model is not very difficult.
03:57
It looks like an assembly, but actually, it's created with multiple solid bodies.
04:08
If I drag the end of part up, you can actually see how I started the part and each feature used to create it.
04:28
I've opened up a new file and I want to show you how easy it is to incorporate parameters while you're modeling.
04:35
I'm going to start off modeling the first feature of our shelf.
04:40
I'm going to start a sketch and select the XY plane and I'm simply going to draw a rectangle.
04:47
I'm going to make sure that that midpoint at the bottom rests at zero.
04:53
Now, I need to add some dimensions.
04:56
The first dimension I'm going to add is the length of the shelf.
04:59
These shelves are typically 8 ft long.
05:02
Now, instead of just typing in the number 8 ft, I'm going to type in a parameter name, length.
05:09
Notice that the text is red.
05:12
Red indicates that Inventor does not know what I'm talking about.
05:17
I'm going to finish the expression with an equal sign and then I'll type in 8 ft.
05:23
Now you see the text turn black.
05:25
Inventor now understands that this dimension, which is initially called d0, will now be named length and that it equals 8 ft.
05:37
Our first dimension scales the sketch.
05:41
Our second dimension is going to reference the height of the shelf.
05:45
Just like before, I'm going to type in height, I'm going to set that equal to 6 ft.
05:56
It is that easy to incorporate parameters while you're modeling.
06:02
Let's finish our sketch and add our first feature.
06:08
I can use an extrude here.
06:10
I'm going to extrude symmetrically and for the distance in the dialogue box again, I'm going to add a parameter name.
06:18
In this case, I'm going to type in depth.
06:23
And I'm going to set that equal to 24 inches.
06:33
Now, here you can see the first feature I created as I was developing that shelf,
06:38
and I wanted you to see how I could incorporate the parameters as I'm modeling.
06:44
If I go to the parameter table, you'll see the parameters that I used to develop the future.
06:53
Now I'm back in our shelf file and I'm going to activate our parameter table here.
06:60
You can see the length, height, and depth parameters that I showed you earlier.
07:05
But I want you to focus over here on the key column and the export parameter column.
07:12
Length, height and depth are going to be critical parameters for the future use of this shelf asset.
07:17
If you want the end user to be able to manipulate those values with the factory properties palette, you need to mark these parameters Key.
07:28
I've also chosen to export these parameters, that actually takes the value of the parameter and links it to an iProperty.
07:41
Now, while I have the parameter dialogue open, let's go ahead and modify some parameters.
07:47
I want you to notice my depth parameter here.
07:50
I've already turned this into a multi value parameter.
07:54
These shelving units come into three different sizes.
07:57
As far as depth goes 24 inches is default, but sometimes they come in the 18-inch variety or a 28-inch variety.
08:09
You'll notice that I can easily toggle between the valid sizes of the shelf.
08:18
Let me show you how to make a multi-valued parameter.
08:21
To do this, you simply right-click on the parameter and you select "Make Multi Value",
08:27
you then type in the additional values you want in the drop-down list,
08:37
you click "Add" to add the values and then click "Ok".
08:42
Now I have a drop-down list that controls the length of our shelving system.
08:47
And as before these shelves typically come in an 8 ft length, but sometimes we order a 6 ft variety, and they even make a 4 ft variety.
09:05
Now, I want to focus a little closer on the value of exporting parameters.
09:10
You've noticed here that I have exported length, height, and depth.
09:15
I've also exported some user parameters down here, the number of shelves required.
09:23
Let me show you what happens when you export a parameter.
09:28
I'm going to right click on the top part node in the browser and I'm going to select "iProperties".
09:34
Here are the properties of the file, and I'm going to jump straight to the "Custom" tab.
09:40
Here, you'll see any of our exported properties listed.
09:45
You can see the depth, the height, and the length.
09:48
You also see in this case, the number of shelves.
09:52
But now these parametric values are listed here as iPproperties.
09:58
This means that we can map these values to other fields in the iProperties dialogue.
10:06
You typically use this on things like the description.
10:10
Here, you can see my description.
10:12
It's a shelf, heavy duty.
10:21
Now let me show you how I was able to map those values into this description.
10:27
You see this little option right here.
10:30
This is the symbol that signifies that I have mapped these values.
10:36
And if I want to edit them, I simply need to click this.
10:39
So here is the formula to use when you're mapping iProperties.
10:45
You can see that I started this entire value with an equal sign.
10:49
I then use some static text for shelf heavy duty.
10:53
And then I included my parameter name inside of the less than and greater than symbols.
11:03
Now, this value is inherently parametric.
11:08
Let me show you that.
11:10
Going to select "Close" and I'm going to go back to our parameters.
11:18
Let's say I want a 6 ft shelf with 18-inch depth shelves.
11:28
I'll click "Done" and then I'll go check out the description in the iProperties.
11:36
Here, you can see I have a 72 inch by 72 inch by 18 inch shelving system with three shelves.
11:49
Well, this is going to conclude our initial lesson on parametric modeling.
11:54
I hope you've seen how including parameters can make your model so much more intelligent.
11:59
And I hope you see that including parameters is actually a fairly easy thing to do.
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