Inventor 2022 Ilogic
Inventor 2022 Ilogic
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Autodesk® Inventor® 2022
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iLogic
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Learning Guide
Mixed Units - 1st Edition
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Cover Page
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Authorized Publisher
ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®
Autodesk® Inventor® 2022
iLogic
Mixed Units - 1st Edition
Prepared and produced by:
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ASCENT Center for Technical Knowledge
630 Peter Jefferson Parkway, Suite 175
Charlottesville, VA 22911
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866-527-2368
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www.ASCENTed.com
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Lead Contributor: Jennifer MacMillan
Copyright
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ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge (a division of Rand Worldwide Inc.) is a leading developer of
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AS-INV2201-ILG1MU-SG // IS-INV2201-ILG1MU-SG
C o n t e n ts
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Preface ........................................................................................................... vii
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Practice Files ................................................................................................ xiii
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Chapter 1: Introduction to iLogic ................................................................ 1-1
e EN1.1 Design Automation Overview ........................................................ 1-2
Out-of-the-Box................................................................................... 1-2
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Custom Configured ........................................................................... 1-3
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3.2 Function Overview ........................................................................ 3-10
Adding Snippets .............................................................................. 3-11
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Favorite Snippets ............................................................................ 3-12
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Custom Snippets............................................................................. 3-13
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3.3 Rule Creation Workflow................................................................ 3-15
Parameters vs. Variables ................................................................ 3-22
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Practice 3a Review, Run, and Create Rules....................................... 3-25
Chapter Review Questions................................................................... 3-37
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Command Summary ............................................................................. 3-40
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e EN4.1 Conditional Statements .................................................................. 4-3
If...Then... End If................................................................................ 4-3
If... Then... Else... End If.................................................................... 4-4
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If... Then... ElseIf... Then... End If ..................................................... 4-4
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Color................................................................................................ 4-17
Thread Properties ........................................................................... 4-18
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Visibility Functions........................................................................... 5-13
Color Functions ............................................................................... 5-13
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Replacement Functions .................................................................. 5-14
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MakePath ........................................................................................ 5-17
Add Components ............................................................................ 5-18
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Delete Components ........................................................................ 5-19
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Patterning Components/Features ................................................... 5-19
Manage Components...................................................................... 5-20
Assembly Instance Properties......................................................... 5-20
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5.3 Relationship Functions ................................................................ 5-22
Constraint and Joint Suppression ................................................... 5-24
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iMate Definition Suppression .......................................................... 5-25
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Delete Constraints........................................................................... 5-26
iMates.............................................................................................. 5-26
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5.4 iLogic Components in Inventor Assemblies .............................. 5-27
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Balloons .......................................................................................... 6-21
6.6 Advanced Functions..................................................................... 6-22
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View Suppression ........................................................................... 6-22
Hide a Layer.................................................................................... 6-23
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Model Documents ........................................................................... 6-23
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Model Parameters........................................................................... 6-23
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Practice 6a Automating Drawing Changes ........................................ 6-24
Chapter Review Questions................................................................... 6-45
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Command Summary ............................................................................. 6-47
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Chapter 7: Rule Triggering and Form Creation ......................................... 7-1
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7.1 Event Triggers ................................................................................. 7-3
e EN7.2 iTriggers........................................................................................... 7-9
7.3 Forms ............................................................................................. 7-11
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Document........................................................................................ 8-15
Run Other Rule ............................................................................... 8-16
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Index ...................................................................................................... Index-1
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The Autodesk® Inventor® 2022: iLogic guide teaches you how to use the iLogic
functionality that exists in the Autodesk® Inventor® 2022 software. In this
practice-intensive curriculum, you will acquire the knowledge required to use
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iLogic to automate Autodesk Inventor designs.
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In this guide, you will learn how iLogic functionality furthers the use of parameters
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in a model by adding an additional layer of intelligence. By setting criteria in the
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form of established rules, you learn how to capture design intent, enabling you to
automate the design workflow to meet various design scenarios in part, assembly,
and drawing files.
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Topics Covered
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importance in iLogic.
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• Understanding the iLogic interface components (iLogic panel, Edit Rule dialog
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• Accessing and incorporating the various function types into an iLogic part,
assembly, or drawing file rule.
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Prerequisites
• Access to the 2022.0 version of the software, to ensure compatibility with this
guide. Future software updates that are released by Autodesk may include
changes that are not reflected in this guide. The practices and files included
with this guide are not compatible with prior versions (e.g., 2021).
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• The class assumes a mastery of Autodesk Inventor basics, as taught in the
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Autodesk Inventor: Introduction to Solid Modeling guide. The Autodesk
Inventor: Advanced Part and Assembly Modeling guides are also highly
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recommended.
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• No programming knowledge is required to use the basic iLogic functions, but
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programming experience can be an asset when using advanced functions.
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This guide assumes a standard installation of the software using the default
preferences during installation. Lectures and practices use the standard software
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templates and default options for the Content Libraries.
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Students and Educators Can Access Free Autodesk Software
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and Resources
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Autodesk challenges you to get started with free educational licenses for
professional software and creativity apps used by millions of architects,
engineers, designers, and hobbyists today. Bring Autodesk software into your
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Get started today - register at the Autodesk Education Community and download
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Visit www.autodesk.com/education/home/
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Note: Free products are subject to the terms and conditions of the end-user
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license and services agreement that accompanies the software. The software is
for personal use for education purposes and is not intended for classroom or lab
use.
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With a dedication for engineering and education, Jennifer has spent over 25 years
at ASCENT managing courseware development for various CAD products.
Trained in Instructional Design, Jennifer uses her skills to develop instructor-led
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and web-based training products as well as knowledge profiling tools.
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Inventor and is also recognized as an Autodesk Certified Instructor (ACI). She
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enjoys teaching the training courses that she authors and is also very skilled in
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providing technical support to end-users.
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Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Engineering Degree as well as a Bachelor of Science
in Mathematics from Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada.
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Jennifer MacMillan has been the Lead Contributor for Autodesk Inventor: iLogic
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since its initial release in 2013.
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The following highlights the key features of this guide.
Feature Description
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Practice Files The Practice Files page includes a link to the practice files and
instructions on how to download and install them. The practice files
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are required to complete the practices in this guide.
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Chapters A chapter consists of the following - Learning Objectives,
Instructional Content, Practices, Chapter Review Questions, and
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Command Summary.
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link found on the Practice Files page) prior to starting the first
practice.
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software.
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Autodesk Inventor 2022: iLogic
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Introduction to iLogic
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The Autodesk® Inventor® iLogic functionality provides an easy-to-use interface
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that enables you to automate designs by creating and manipulating rules that
drive the model’s geometry. As opposed to making parameter changes in a single
model, the use of iLogic enables you to set the controls for parameter change to
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build design intent into a model.
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• Understand how the iLogic functionality can be incorporated into a model to use parameters
and equations to build design intent into a model.
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• Describe the workflow for incorporating iLogic automation into an Autodesk Inventor file.
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progression of these solutions is shown in Figure 1–1. As you
progress through the options, the investment in training or
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customized programming increases. The key is to find a solution
that balances a justifiable investment with the requirements for
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the solution.
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Figure 1–1
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Figure 1–2
• Parameters and equations can be used to relate dimensions
or features to one another. The relationships that are
established build intelligence into your design so that the
basic design intent is captured.
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by assigning variable model parameters to a table in which
values are entered to create a specific variation.
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• Parameters can be controlled directly in the software.
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However, a further level of customization enables you to
control the parameter values using a spreadsheet. The
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spreadsheet can be embedded or linked to an Autodesk
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Inventor file to control the parameter values. This is ideal for
users that might not have access to the Autodesk Inventor
software or have limited knowledge of the software.
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• Using iLogic functionality in the Autodesk Inventor software
enables you to incorporate a rules-based design into your
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model that captures and automates an intelligent design
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programming knowledge, but programming experience can
help with the advanced functions. This functionality is the
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focus of this student guide.
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programming knowledge.
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Custom
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Metal environments. in the form of established rules that capture design intent,
enabling you to reuse designs to suit various design scenarios.
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The rules are all incorporated as part of the digital prototype
definition. The rules that define the design intent control the
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model and automate the design workflow to ensure that the
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model reacts correctly. iLogic rules are based on conditional
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statements and functions. Automation functions have been
embedded in the rule creation dialog box enabling you to define
the rules that can accomplish many different results in a design.
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No programming knowledge is required to use the basic iLogic
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functions, but programming experience can be an asset when
using the advanced functions.
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iLogic is VB-based.
Therefore, visual basic
In the example shown in Figure 1–3, iLogic is used to control the
thickness of the connecting rod, based on its length. The rule
code can be used. that controls the geometry indicates the range of values that are
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acceptable and what thickness value is to be used.
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Length = 60 mm
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Length = 90 mm
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Figure 1–3
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iLogic Some things that can be accomplished using iLogic rules include
the following:
Functionality
• Control model and user parameter values to ensure that the
specifications and standards are met. Supports string (Text),
boolean (True/False), and numeric parameters.
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• Activate part and assembly features
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• Control the inclusion of components in an assembly through
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suppression or deletion.
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• Control assembly constraints based on conditional
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statements, or assign assembly constraints.
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• Perform checks (iProperties, dimensions, etc.) in the model
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for design situations.
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in the model.
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values.
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Figure 1–4
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General Steps
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Use the following general steps to create iLogic rules:
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1. Prepare the model/drawing.
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2. Rule creation.
3. Set rule triggers.
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4. Create and edit rules, as necessary.
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information is included for each of these steps as you progress
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through this learning guide.
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Figure 1–5
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model. Rules are written based on this information and without it,
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the rules are not tied to the model geometry. Therefore, when
you design a model, you should always consider the final design
intent.
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• iLogic rules are based on conditional statements and
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functions that capture the design intent, enabling you to
reuse designs to meet various design scenarios.
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• A substantial and varied list of functions are provided that can
be included in a rule.
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Step 3 - Set rule triggers.
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Rule triggers enable you to define when a rule is launched
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(triggered). iLogic provides a list of event triggers to which the
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• The list of triggers varies slightly depending on whether a
part, assembly, or drawing is active.
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that it contains.
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• The order in which rules are listed in the iLogic browser can
affect the resulting geometry. Drag and drop rules in the
iLogic browser to capture the model’s true design intent.
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• Review iLogic rules that have been created in part and assembly
models.
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• Launch and edit an iLogic form to modify the key parameters used to
configure an assembly and its components.
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In this practice, you will open an Autodesk Inventor assembly in
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which iLogic rules and forms have been created in the top-level
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assembly model. A component in the assembly also has iLogic
rules. Using a custom iLogic form, you will make changes to the
model by selecting and entering new parameter values. The
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intent of the practice is to show how multiple design
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configurations can easily be created after iLogic rules have been
incorporated into a model.
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e EN Task 1 - Open a part model and review its parameters.
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1. If the Autodesk Inventor software is not open, select Start>
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This project file is used 3. Click Browse, browse to C:\Autodesk Inventor 2022 iLogic
for all of the iLogic Practice Files\ (or the directory of the installation files if you
learning content. chose a different directory), and select iLogic.ipj. Click
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4. Click Done.
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Figure 1–6
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6. In the Manage tab>Parameters panel, click (Parameters)
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to open the Parameters dialog box. Expand the User
Parameters node, if required. Five key user parameters have
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been created in the model. These have been added to the
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configuration options. For example, the Clip_Color
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parameter enables you to select from five material types to
control the material. This subsequently controls the clip color
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2. Note that the iLogic browser is now a tab at the top of the
Model browser. Ensure that the iLogic browser is active.
3. In the Rules tab in the iLogic browser, note that seven iLogic
rules have been created in the model. Their descriptive
names help to identify their purposes. For example, the
Clip_Color rule controls the clip color based on the material
type that is selected.
5. Select the Forms tab. It contains any forms that have been
created in the model.
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6. Click Clip Configuration to open the Clip Configuration form,
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as shown in Figure 1–7.
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Figure 1–7
Each of the items in the form drives the following changes in
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the model:
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7. Change the model’s configuration by selecting and entering
values for each of the fields.
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8. The model updates with the changes as you make selections
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in the drop-down lists, or when you press <Enter> after
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entering a value.
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9. Click Done to close the form.
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Task 3 - Launch an iLogic form to configure the assembly.
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folder. The model displays as shown in Figure 1–8.
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Figure 1–8
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To set the LOD 2. The assembly should open in the iLogic model state
representation, expand representation. If not, set the iLogic representation as the
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the Model State node in active model state. This representation is required for the
the Model browser and Grip Style iLogic rule to run correctly. This is discussed in the
double-click on iLogic. Assembly functions content.
3. Activate the iLogic browser and select the Rules tab. The
rules provided enable customization of the assembly.
4. Select the Forms tab. It contains any forms that have been
created in the model.
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Figure 1–9
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Each of the items in the form drive changes in the assembly and
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clip models. Many of the options are the same as in the clip
model and the values entered here are pushed to the clip model
to make changes to it. The only item that is unique to the
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assembly is the Grip Style. This controls how the grip geometry
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apply.)
a. .Parameters
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b. .Model States
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c. iParts
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d. .iAssemblies
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e. .iLogic
f. .API Programming
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2. Which of the following best describes why it is important to
ensure that the dimension scheme in a model captures the
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design intent before iLogic rules are added?
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been incorporated into the model.
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b. Features cannot be modified once iLogic rules have been
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programming.
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a. True
b. False
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specified conditions.
d. Drive iFeature, iPart, and iAssembly configurations.
e. Interface directly with a predefined form to assign
parameter values.