I have an Inventor .itp but I can't edit it?

[Ste1978]

I have been sent as assembly but it is on one file, and .ipt file. The problem is, although the assembly looks fine, I need to edit bits of it and modify it slightly. It seems the people who sent me this have saved as some kind of read only? I'm confused, is there any way to edit this .ipt or convert it with something so I can at least do something with it?

[shift1313]

is the IPT composed of multiple bodies. In the feature tree is there a folder that says "solids" and has multiple solids in it? You can break this down from the Manage tab.

 

Actually, what version of Inventor are you running?

[Ste1978]

is the IPT composed of multiple bodies. In the feature tree is there a folder that says "solids" and has multiple solids in it? You can break this down from the Manage tab.

 

Actually, what version of Inventor are you running?

 

Hi,

 

Sorry, I'm using Inventor 2010 pro.

 

I've attached a screenshot of what is in the feature tree. I can't see any folder that says solids?

[Ste1978]

Oh wait, there is a solid bodies folder? How do I break this down using the manage tab?

[shift1313]

That little icon next to the CK is the combine icon meaning he made all the pieces into one solid.

 

what modification do you need to make? what else is in the feature tree if you collapse(minus sign) CK 15/15.400

[Ste1978]

That little icon next to the CK is the combine icon meaning he made all the pieces into one solid.

 

what modification do you need to make? what else is in the feature tree if you collapse(minus sign) CK 15/15.400

 

I'll have a look, I've shut it all down now. If he has made it all into a solid, is there any way to undo this? I need to take 'blocks' of this without having to redraw it. Unfortunately there is no way I can get in touch with the guy who created this.

[JD Mather]

It is a Derived Component from an assembly with the Link broken. They might also have used shrinkwrap to remove some details and fill voids between solids.

 

This process is normally done to offer some measure of protection of intellectual property.

 

You might be able to separate some parts with clever uses of Split or Sculpt, but it depends on how much detail was lost in the combine, how much is known about the actual geometry (what is this thing), ... ... in any case probably not a job for someone with so little experience using Inventor that they do not recognize a Derived Component....

 

Your best bet is to contact the owner of the intellectual property. Why is it not possible?

[Ste1978]

.. ... in any case probably not a job for someone with so little experience using Inventor that they do not recognize a Derived Component....

 

 

Well if I took that attitude I would never learn anything. I'm sure there was a time when you didn't know this either...

 

Thanks for your help, I guess the guy who drew this (he was a contractor who is no longer with us unfortunately). Didn't want people to be able to re-engineer his work.

 

Never mind, it looks like I will have to redraw the model.

[JD Mather]

I'm sure there was a time when you didn't know this either...

 

There was, and I had the attitude to learn my way through - based on that experience I'm simply trying to give my honest opinion, the truth as best I know it. I see too many people (especially software vendors) try to paint a rosey picture that it is as simply as pressing an "Easy Button". In this case there most likely isn't an easy button unless you can locate the original data. Fortunately - it looks like this geometry is pretty simple from what little can be seen in a picture.

 

Can you zip and attach the file here? Perhaps I can give you some pointers to solve the problem.

[Ste1978]

There was, and I had the attitude to learn my way through - based on that experience I'm simply trying to give my honest opinion, the truth as best I know it. I see too many people (especially software vendors) try to paint a rosey picture that it is as simply as pressing an "Easy Button". In this case there most likely isn't an easy button unless you can locate the original data.

 

Can you zip and attach the file here? Perhaps I can give you some pointers to solve the problem.

 

I tried to zip the file but it was too large to upload. I could email you if have the time, what is your email address? Or, alternatively, drop me an email at ukcads@googlemail.com and I can reply to you...

 

I appreciate you were giving your honest overview, I did not mean to sound like I was having ago. I just really want to learn and to be honest, forums like these with experienced users like yourself are a gold mine. I genuinely appreciate every bit of advice I get on here.

 

One of the main reasons I wanted this to be an assembly c/w with parts etc was so I can educate myself how the draughtsman put it all together and how he created the parts etc.

 

Thanks again.

[shift1313]

Ste, when someone shrinkwraps an assembly its meant to provide a simplified version to help reduce memory consumption(in most cases). For instance if you have a large assembly that includes a number of sub-assemblies, but these sub-assemblies are really only needed for scale/placement purposes, you could shrinkwrap a simplified "dumb" version of these. If you look at the image there are a few options. At the top you can see the combine icon which i left the cursor on so you could see the description. This assembly is another users assembly but i felt it was a good example. The second image shows after the combine. Pretty much the only thing there is the case. So even if you were able to split things apart there is no way for you to decipher how he made the parts or put them together really(unfortunately).

[JD Mather]

I tried to zip the file but it was too large to upload.

 

Find the red End of Part marker at the bottom of the browser. Drag the EOP as high as it will go - hiding all features.

Save the file in a rolled up state.

 

Right click on the filename and select Send to Compressed (zipped) folder. Attach the resulting *.zip file here if it is now small enough.

[Ste1978]

Find the red End of Part marker at the bottom of the browser. Drag the EOP as high as it will go - hiding all features.

Save the file in a rolled up state.

 

Right click on the filename and select Send to Compressed (zipped) folder. Attach the resulting *.zip file here if it is now small enough.

 

I tried that but it didn't work (Well, it worked but the file size was still too big!)

 

I have uploaded the file in zip format to here if you want to take a look. It's 9mb.

 

http://rapidshare.com/files/385368321/10-000428.zip.html

[Ste1978]

Bump for JD Mather

[JD Mather]

Well this one could be broken down pretty quickly.

 

Change your selection filter to Feature Priority.

This will allow you RMB delete to remove parts - repeat to drill down to part you want.

Repeat from fresh file as needed.

Fortunately there is a lot of symmetry in the model so that will reduce the work.

 

Of course there will not be a feature tree for the resulting parts - but you can use Feature Recognition add-in to build a feature tree.

 

Much of this is built from off-the-shelf parts (some parts would actually be purchased sub-assemblies) so I'm not sure exactly what your need is in having the assembly broken down.

[Ste1978]

Well this one could be broken down pretty quickly.

 

Change your selection filter to Feature Priority.

This will allow you RMB delete to remove parts - repeat to drill down to part you want.

Repeat from fresh file as needed.

Fortunately there is a lot of symmetry in the model so that will reduce the work.

 

Of course there will not be a feature tree for the resulting parts - but you can use Feature Recognition add-in to build a feature tree.

 

Much of this is built from off-the-shelf parts (some parts would actually be purchased sub-assemblies) so I'm not sure exactly what your need is in having the assembly broken down.

 

Thanks JD, that worked a treat!