2010

workflow, you design your components in the context of other components.
This method can greatly reduce errors in form, fit, and function.
Some examples of a top-down workflow are:
■ Create new parts or sub-assemblies in the destination assembly.
■ Create multiple solid bodies in a part file and then save the individual
bodies as unique parts.
■ Create 2D sketch blocks in a part file to simulate a mechanism. You can
use the sketch blocks to create 3D components in an assembly that is
controlled by the layout.
Following are questions to consider before you start:
■ Which view of the part best describes the basic shape?
■ Is the part a sheet metal part?
■ Can this part be used as a part factory (iPart) to generate multiple parts?
■ Can a spreadsheet control one or more parts?
■ Can I create the part automatically by using a Design Accelerator?
■ If the part is a component in a structural steel frame, can I use Frame
Generator to create the entire frame?
■ If the part is a common library part, does it exist in the Content Center or
other library?
The following image shows a multi-body part file saved as individual parts in
an assembly. Individual bodies in a multi-body part file can share features
with other bodies such as fillets and holes.
2 | Chapter 1 Digital Prototypes in Autodesk Inventor