This unit will help describe how an assembly can be simplified and released as assets which can be used during the factory layout process.
Transcript
00:05
Let's dive a bit deeper into assets.
00:07
I call them 3D building blocks of the factory layout previously and that is exactly what they are.
00:12
You use these assets to populate your layouts,
00:14
building a library of commonly used equipment, helps catalyze a transformation for asset reuse and interoperability.
00:23
In inventor language, they are simplified version of Part/Assembly.
00:26
They can either be native inventor files or models coming from other tools,
00:31
suppliers, vendors, machine catalogs via AnyCAD.
00:35
By defining certain parameters as key parameters, you can set an asset up for being configurable.
00:41
We can also pre-create different varieties of an asset that might be used frequently.
00:45
For example, a conveyor with different lengths and widths, cranes with different heights, etc.
00:52
On top of that, You can unlock further automation by using a ilogic rules,
00:56
which allows for user friendly scripting in the design context.
00:59
Throughout the preparation process of any asset, you have the chance to define one or multiple connectors,
01:05
the point or points at which one asset will be attached to another one.
01:09
This takes away the need to manually create constraints as you populate the layout.
01:14
And lastly, there is another layer of automation you can tap into which is called asset chaining.
01:19
Imagine you have a certain route within your factory where a conveyor system would run through.
01:23
By configuring an asset chain,
01:25
you can simply create a poly line in AutoCAD for the route or a sketch within inventor
01:30
and have it be populated with assets automatically.
01:33
Sounds good. Let's look at the creation of an asset in more detail.
01:37
We are looking at a packing machine assembly model within Inventor here.
01:41
You can see that it is a fully detailed representation containing all necessary parts including nuts and bolts.
01:46
We don't necessarily need that level of detail in the factory planning process.
01:50
So the first step is to create a simplified representation of this assembly.
01:54
For that, we start to simplify command from within the assemble tab in the ribbon.
01:58
In earlier versions, called Shrink wrap.
02:00
Within the dialogue,
02:01
we can quickly remove large chunks of detail by excluding certain components based on their size,
02:06
use presets for simplification, accessing the design views and more.
02:12
Apart from that,
02:13
we also have the possibility to take out actual geometric complexity by removing features such as Fillets,
02:20
Holes or Pockets as we see fit.
02:23
After choosing the type of the derived instance,
02:27
in this case, is going to be a part file and giving it a meaningful name to it.
02:39
We can finish up the simplification process by selecting any advanced options and confirming everything with okay.
02:51
This is as much as we are going into detail in terms of simplification today.
02:59
These capabilities can also be used on any third party models coming from other CAD tools.
03:09
Now that our simplified instance of the packing machine is generated,
03:13
we can give it an initial save and start the asset builder from the factory tab in the ribbon,
03:17
which will take us into its dedicated space.
03:20
You will notice that the asset builder space promotes a left to right
03:23
workflow somewhat guiding you through the setup and publishing of the asset.
03:27
The first step is to define a landing surface,
03:30
the plane on which the asset will be placed later on relative to the factory floor.
03:35
Optionally click the Insertion Point button to specify a vertex,
03:39
work point or sketch point as the insertion point or points for the model.
03:43
This insertion point represented by a gold sphere measure can be used to help you accurately locate the model on the floor.
03:49
Multiple insertion points may be defined.
03:53
Next. It is time to create one or multiple connectors.
03:55
As mentioned before, this help assemble components on the factory floor reducing manual user input.
04:02
Connectors allow snapping between specific points on each component and aligning them based on the axis of the connector points.
04:09
In our case,
04:10
there's some preparation needed to be done to identify the exact location where we want this machine to connect to other assets.
04:16
We therefore create the necessary work geometry and user parameters.
04:21
We also use some of these user parameters,
04:24
exposing them as key parameters for demonstration purpose.
04:28
These will show up in the panel on the bottom left
04:30
and allow us to control different instances of this asset in the factory space easily.
04:48
Once the connector is correctly defined,
04:51
by selecting the Work Point from the model browser,
04:57
we can correct position and orientation
05:01
the asset will have by connecting it to another one.
05:05
In this case it's already correctly predefined and we can also optionally select a Connector Class for this asset.
05:14
We won't go too much into detail for that today as it's already a bit more advanced functionality.
05:21
Within the asset properties, we can enrich the model with factory specific metadata,
05:27
process analysis relevant information and predefined a layer for our asset.
05:42
These would be the main steps to prepare a model for publishing it as a factory asset.
05:46
So we can go ahead and initiate the publishing from the ribbon command.
05:55
Within the publish dialogue,
05:60
we can choose where we want to store our asset,
06:02
in a local asset library, in the cloud or test drive, or in a Vault library.
06:07
We also give the asset a meaningful name
06:09
and on the next tab we can choose which other representation should be generated automatically.
06:17
On the third tab,
06:18
you can define how any instance of this asset will be appearing within the Bill of Materials by default
06:23
we now start the publishing process and with that conclude the basic asset creation workflow.
06:28
All the information will be stored within .faf file.
06:33
Within the chosen library and any user with access to it can place instances of this asset within their layouts.
06:40
But you may say now we have thousands of models going through this process
06:44
for each to build up this library will cost too much time.
06:47
Yes.
06:48
Building up an asset library is the line share of effort that needs to happen initially.
06:52
So here are a few tips.
06:54
You can go through the out of the box library of system assets that comes with the factory design utilities installation.
07:00
There are many pre-existing models that might already be useful for you or niches slight modifications.
07:06
Also, there are models of different vendors already included. For example, for industrial robots.
07:13
Also, it is always helpful to perform a brief assessment of which models will be most needed as an asset to get started with
07:20
and which ones might be okay to be published at a later time.
00:05
Let's dive a bit deeper into assets.
00:07
I call them 3D building blocks of the factory layout previously and that is exactly what they are.
00:12
You use these assets to populate your layouts,
00:14
building a library of commonly used equipment, helps catalyze a transformation for asset reuse and interoperability.
00:23
In inventor language, they are simplified version of Part/Assembly.
00:26
They can either be native inventor files or models coming from other tools,
00:31
suppliers, vendors, machine catalogs via AnyCAD.
00:35
By defining certain parameters as key parameters, you can set an asset up for being configurable.
00:41
We can also pre-create different varieties of an asset that might be used frequently.
00:45
For example, a conveyor with different lengths and widths, cranes with different heights, etc.
00:52
On top of that, You can unlock further automation by using a ilogic rules,
00:56
which allows for user friendly scripting in the design context.
00:59
Throughout the preparation process of any asset, you have the chance to define one or multiple connectors,
01:05
the point or points at which one asset will be attached to another one.
01:09
This takes away the need to manually create constraints as you populate the layout.
01:14
And lastly, there is another layer of automation you can tap into which is called asset chaining.
01:19
Imagine you have a certain route within your factory where a conveyor system would run through.
01:23
By configuring an asset chain,
01:25
you can simply create a poly line in AutoCAD for the route or a sketch within inventor
01:30
and have it be populated with assets automatically.
01:33
Sounds good. Let's look at the creation of an asset in more detail.
01:37
We are looking at a packing machine assembly model within Inventor here.
01:41
You can see that it is a fully detailed representation containing all necessary parts including nuts and bolts.
01:46
We don't necessarily need that level of detail in the factory planning process.
01:50
So the first step is to create a simplified representation of this assembly.
01:54
For that, we start to simplify command from within the assemble tab in the ribbon.
01:58
In earlier versions, called Shrink wrap.
02:00
Within the dialogue,
02:01
we can quickly remove large chunks of detail by excluding certain components based on their size,
02:06
use presets for simplification, accessing the design views and more.
02:12
Apart from that,
02:13
we also have the possibility to take out actual geometric complexity by removing features such as Fillets,
02:20
Holes or Pockets as we see fit.
02:23
After choosing the type of the derived instance,
02:27
in this case, is going to be a part file and giving it a meaningful name to it.
02:39
We can finish up the simplification process by selecting any advanced options and confirming everything with okay.
02:51
This is as much as we are going into detail in terms of simplification today.
02:59
These capabilities can also be used on any third party models coming from other CAD tools.
03:09
Now that our simplified instance of the packing machine is generated,
03:13
we can give it an initial save and start the asset builder from the factory tab in the ribbon,
03:17
which will take us into its dedicated space.
03:20
You will notice that the asset builder space promotes a left to right
03:23
workflow somewhat guiding you through the setup and publishing of the asset.
03:27
The first step is to define a landing surface,
03:30
the plane on which the asset will be placed later on relative to the factory floor.
03:35
Optionally click the Insertion Point button to specify a vertex,
03:39
work point or sketch point as the insertion point or points for the model.
03:43
This insertion point represented by a gold sphere measure can be used to help you accurately locate the model on the floor.
03:49
Multiple insertion points may be defined.
03:53
Next. It is time to create one or multiple connectors.
03:55
As mentioned before, this help assemble components on the factory floor reducing manual user input.
04:02
Connectors allow snapping between specific points on each component and aligning them based on the axis of the connector points.
04:09
In our case,
04:10
there's some preparation needed to be done to identify the exact location where we want this machine to connect to other assets.
04:16
We therefore create the necessary work geometry and user parameters.
04:21
We also use some of these user parameters,
04:24
exposing them as key parameters for demonstration purpose.
04:28
These will show up in the panel on the bottom left
04:30
and allow us to control different instances of this asset in the factory space easily.
04:48
Once the connector is correctly defined,
04:51
by selecting the Work Point from the model browser,
04:57
we can correct position and orientation
05:01
the asset will have by connecting it to another one.
05:05
In this case it's already correctly predefined and we can also optionally select a Connector Class for this asset.
05:14
We won't go too much into detail for that today as it's already a bit more advanced functionality.
05:21
Within the asset properties, we can enrich the model with factory specific metadata,
05:27
process analysis relevant information and predefined a layer for our asset.
05:42
These would be the main steps to prepare a model for publishing it as a factory asset.
05:46
So we can go ahead and initiate the publishing from the ribbon command.
05:55
Within the publish dialogue,
05:60
we can choose where we want to store our asset,
06:02
in a local asset library, in the cloud or test drive, or in a Vault library.
06:07
We also give the asset a meaningful name
06:09
and on the next tab we can choose which other representation should be generated automatically.
06:17
On the third tab,
06:18
you can define how any instance of this asset will be appearing within the Bill of Materials by default
06:23
we now start the publishing process and with that conclude the basic asset creation workflow.
06:28
All the information will be stored within .faf file.
06:33
Within the chosen library and any user with access to it can place instances of this asset within their layouts.
06:40
But you may say now we have thousands of models going through this process
06:44
for each to build up this library will cost too much time.
06:47
Yes.
06:48
Building up an asset library is the line share of effort that needs to happen initially.
06:52
So here are a few tips.
06:54
You can go through the out of the box library of system assets that comes with the factory design utilities installation.
07:00
There are many pre-existing models that might already be useful for you or niches slight modifications.
07:06
Also, there are models of different vendors already included. For example, for industrial robots.
07:13
Also, it is always helpful to perform a brief assessment of which models will be most needed as an asset to get started with
07:20
and which ones might be okay to be published at a later time.
