Technical data

Using iParts—Intelligent Family of Parts

When you look closely at some parts in an assembly, many of these parts are nearly identical, differing only

slightly in their size or the number of features. With Autodesk Inventor software, you can use iParts, or intelligent

parts, to design the shape once, and then define many different versions using a spreadsheet. When an iPart is

inserted into an assembly, you are prompted to select the version you want to use.

Note: this functionality requires that Microsoft® Excel be installed on your system.

Before we continue with the design, let’s change the display to a more realistic 3D representation of the

assembly.

To change the current view to a perspective view:

• On the Standard toolbar, click the down arrow to the right of Orthographic Camera and then select

Perspective Camera .

Measuring the Clamp Length for the Fastener

To identify the required bolt length, you need to measure the distance between the two flanges on your sheet

metal part.

1. In the Browser, double-click Clamp_welded:1 to make it the active assembly.

2. In the graphics window, right-click and choose

Measure > Measure Distance.

3. Select the two outside corners of the flanges.

A Measure Distance dialog box appears, showing

that the distance is 18 mm.

4. To close the Measure Distance dialog box, click the X

in the upper-right corner.

You will now use this distance when selecting the size of

the fastener.

INV8_TD_Book5.book Page 54 Tuesday, October 28, 2003 10:51 AM