This is really a continuation of my excitement from my last post.  I really can’t express how happy I am with this latest batch of updates to Inventor.

My last post was on Model States in the part file.  Today I am going over the new Model States in the Assembly.  This is potentially a game changer for me.  Now I can not only make different versions of a part all captured within that part file, not an iPart, but I can do the same with an assembly.  Yes, I can make different versions of an assembly, but it also incorporates the different Model State in the part files as well.

Now I can have a different model state for the different options that I might be offering a client or all the different options that are available and save it as a template.  I can, for example, add multiple model states to illustrate the different guard rail options for a conveyor.  You can make a different model state for each variation of design within multiple families of parts/assemblies.  You can even have a different model state for each stage of assembly, in you would like.

Inventor records all the suppression states of each model state and allows for a quick switch over to another model state.  The existing iParts and iAssemblies are still very useful and I don’t want you to forget about them.  Use them with the model states.  It could be a very powerful tool to use in conjunction with the iParts you already have.

Like I mentioned, these can be used for multiple representations of your design.  Use them to show your design intent.  This is definitely a great tool to make simplified versions of your assemblies/parts.  There are many reasons that you might want a simplified version of your parts and assemblies.  You might want to make a simplified version of your assembly as to keep your intellectual property safe.  Maybe you have a large assembly and it may be running a bit sluggish.  If you use simplified versions of the part files used in the assembly, you can then make a simplified version of the assembly that uses all of the simplified part versions.

Autodesk has even allowed you to add custom properties for each assembly model state.  You can adjust BOM information for location, order of fit, or give it a unique service number.

Lastly, this new feature is fully supported by the API and iLogic.  This could be a huge game changer for automated assemblies.

Please take a look at their video explaining all of this and more.