Summary: I would like to be able to isolate work features, similar to isolating parts, in an assembly, subassembly, or part file.

Description: Here's my idea:

It would be handy to be able to isolate individual work features from one another, without having to manually turn OFF the visibility on any others present in either a top-level assembly, subassembly, or part. Also, an additional type of representation (ie: "Work Feature Representation"), independent of ViewReps, LODs, and Positionals, would need to be created. The ultimate goal of this wish is to dissociate the visibility status of work features from the visibility status of the parts/assemblies they are contained in. The current workflow, of explicitly opening each assembly/subassembly/part to control work feature visibility at the top-level, is tedious and inefficient, not to mention a hindrance to a Top-Down design philosophy.

Here are my thoughts on a possible alternative workflow (both "A" and "B" are intended to be used in tandem):


Workflow "A":

Without toggling "OFF" the Work Feature Object Visibility globally, the user would be able to right-click or shift-right-click into a context menu and have an "Isolate work feature(s)" option. Upon selecting this option, a dialog box is revealed, allowing the selection of individual work features, sorted by which assembly they are in, and indented for each sub-assembly/single-part. This could be organized similarly to the Assembly BOM (ie: Model Data / Structured / Parts Only).

Inside this dialog, all of the work features (including Origin Planes/Axes/Center Point) of each assembly/subassembly/part would be available for check-box selection. In addition, all Child part/assembly "Work Feature Representations" would be selectable in this dialog. After selecting necessary work features/representations, and confirming the selection (ie: "Apply" Button in dialog box), a new "Work Feature Representation" is created, with the ability to name it upon creation and/or rename it after creation (same as other Representational Types). Selecting the part/assembly parent (in the dialog) would, by default, select all work features contained within that part/assembly. Deselecting the parent (in he dialog) would automatically deselect all work features present in that part/assembly.

New representations of this type would default to "Locked" status upon creation, with the ability to select/right-click and "Edit Included Work Features". Selecting this option would bring the dialog back on-screen, with the previously included work features already pre-selected, ready for additional selections or removals. Additional selections/removals, followed by clicking "Apply", would save these additions/removals to the specific representation. When this representation is then selected (independently of the other representational types), only the work features selected through the dialog would be visible in the modeling environment, regardless of their explicit visibility status (determined on the part-level or subassembly-level). Toggling the Global Object Visibility "ON" or "OFF" would switch the "Work Feature Representation" to "Master" status, allowing for any changes in work feature visibility to remain unsaved.


Workflow "B":

Upon creation of a new work feature of any type, the user is prompted to assign a name to it (through a dialog). The default Inventor naming convention is maintained if the user chooses NOT to name the work feature. However, naming the work features would ensure that working through Workflow "A" would be a more fluidized process (though not absolutely necessary to function). In addition, in the naming dialog, an option would be available to "Add to existing representation", which would give the user the ability to maintain an additive workflow while assigning work features to model geometry (but without restrictions to explicit addition/removal later).

Product and Feature: Inventor - Assemblies

Submitted By: adam.d.jones554334 on 11/15/2016