Frame Generator and repeat business

[Lents56]

Hi everyone!

 

I have this problem that I can't figure out.

 

I use the FG al lot, it's a powerful tool! I draw a skeleton, add all the frame members, trim and cut then assemble all the parts that go onto the frame and I'm done, print the drawings and send to the shop for fabrication/assembly.

 

 

My problem is that we do a lot of these, they're always similar BUT not exactly alike... So if, for example I create SK1.ipt to make Frame1.iam and then I need the same frame but 15 inches longer :

 

 

If I edit SK1.ipt to reflect the change, it will affect Frame1.iam. I can't do that, I need to keep Frame1.iam for future references.

 

 

If I edit SK1.ipt and save it as SK2.ipt, it forces me to redo ALL the work (on the frame and on the assy) wich is silly as well.

 

 

There MUST be a way to generate a new assembly from an old one that will allow you to edit the frame.

 

 

Please help!

 

 

Ben

[Bishop]

Design Assistant should let you copy your whole design across under a new name, which you should be able to edit as needed.

[kpyoung333]

An easy way to do this would be to save SK1.ipt as SK2.ipt and FRAME1.iam as FRAME2.iam. Before making any changes, select the the assembly part, right click, COMPONENT > REPLACE with the new SK2.ipt, this should keep all of your constraints as the .ipt are the same but just different names. Now when you change SK2.ipt it will reflect on the FRAME2.iam and you have both copies saved and are editable in the future. There is vault stuff you can do but this is the easy, not "techically" correct way to get around it. Hope this helps.