Configuration Editor - Manage Exported Physical Properties (Model)

In an iPropWiz configuration, you can specify that any of the following physical properties of a part or assembly model be automatically exported as a custom iProperty. Importantly, you can also specify an iPropWiz Custom Property Format Rule (CPFR) be applied to the exported values. This enables you to format the values to meet your company standards. For example, you can chose to export model extents and format the values to show in fractional inches to the nearest 1/64".

Click the button to view a video on creating a Custom Property Format Rule.

Click the button to view a video that demonstrates how setup the export of physical properties..

The following table describes the data that can be exported from an Autodesk Inventor part or assembly document, and the custom iProperty names associated with the iPropWiz generated data.

Exported Data	Custom Property Name(s)	iPropWiz CPFR Units Type
Model extents	ipwModelExtentsX (Extents relative to default XYZ coordinate system) ipwModelExtentsY ipwModelExtentsZ ipwModelExtents1 (Extents relative to specific UCS or principal axes) ipwModelExtents2 ipwModelExtents3 ipwModelExtentsDir1 (Minimum bounding box - Direction 1) ipwModelExtentsDir2 ipwModelExtentsDir3	Length
Mass	ipwMass	Mass
Area	ipwArea	Area
Volume	ipwVolume	Volume

Note: The custom iProperties generated when you export physical properties are updated (only when out of date) as follows..

When the document containing the custom properties is saved. If calculation are causing systems slowdowns, this can be overridden in the iPropWiz Property Editor.

When the user applies changes in the iPropWiz Property Editor.

How to Prepare for iPropWiz Model Properties Export

Prior to applying settings on the Model Properties tab, create one or more iPropWiz Custom Property Format Rules (CPFRs) that define the format for the exported model properties. These format rules are very similar to the Custom Property Format rules that you can define in Inventor. You can create one or more rules for each of the unit types supported in Autodesk Inventor (length, area, mass, force, and so on). See the Configuration Editor - Custom Property Format Rules page for more information on creating CPFRs.

In the following image, four different CPFRs have been created for Autodesk Inventor length parameters. The Size and Feet Inches CFPRs both display fractional values. See the Description column for more information on the different formats. In addition, mass, area, and volume CFPRs are also included in this iPropWiz configuration.

Exporting Model Extents

	Activate model extents export
	Toggle on to turn on the export of model extents. If you toggle off all settings for extents export are lost when you close the iPropWiz Configuration Editor.

CPFR to apply on export

Select the desired Length CPFR from the drop down list. Only Length CPFR names are shown in the drop down list. This CPFR is the primary CPFR.

Note: If you leave the CPFR as None, the exported values are formatted using the document default units and precision..

Activate secondary CPFR

Toggle on to turn on a secondary CPFR for model extents.

Note: You are not required to have a secondary CPFR for any property export.

Secondary CPFR condition and comparison value

The comparison you define here determines if the primary or secondary CPFR is used to format the exported extent values.

Chose a comparison operator that will be used to compare the extents value and the value (with units) specified in the secondary comparison value ( 119.99 inches in the above example ). The operators drop down list includes <, <=, >=, >, and =.

In the above example the comparison is (IF <extents value> is Greater Than 119.99 inches)

If the comparison is true (i.e. the extents value is greater than 119.99 inches, the secondary CPFR will be used to format the exported custom iProperty

	CPFR applied if secondary comparison is TRUE
	Select the desired Length CPFR from the drop down list.

Export ordered extents (low to high)

You can optionally specify that an additional, ordered set of custom iProperties be generated. The following table illustrates the additional custom properties generated when the ordered extents option is toggled on. The ordered extents are always from smallest to largest value.

Primary Extents

Ordered Extents

ipwModelExtentsX = 55.25

ipwModelExtentsY = 15.5

ipwModelExtentsZ = 37.1

ipwModelExtents1 = 15.5

ipwModelExtents2 = 37.1

ipwModelExtents3 = 55.25

Alternate extents calculations (Parts)

When part model extents are exported as custom iProperties, you can specify the orientation of the extents bounding box using one of three methods,

Default

The default method is to use Autodesk Inventor's extents reporting where a bounding box aligned to the part's coordinate system is used to determine the part extents. The extents values in the part's X, Y, and Z coordinate system are exported.

Try Align to UCS

Use this option to align the bounding box to an Autodesk Inventor UCS (if available) that you have identified as one that iPropWiz will use for the model extents calculations. If the UCS is not available, the Principal Axes (if checked) or the default bounding box will be used for the extents calculations.

In each part where you want the extents aligned to a named UCS, complete the following.

1.Ensure that the Try to align to UCS (Part) check box is checked, and a UCS name is specified ( IPW in the above example).

2.In the part model, create an Autodesk Inventor UCS feature and align it to meet your requirements for reporting model extents.

3.Right-click the UCS (in the graphics window or browser) and click Create iPropWiz UCS. The UCS is renamed to match the name specified in the iPropWiz configuration. In addition, the UCS can no longer be renamed, and visibility of the UCS subcomponents is controlled by the iPropWiz application.

Note: If the UCS requires changes, you can use the Redefine command from the UCS context menu. You can also delete a UCS that has been converted to an iPropWiz UCS.

Try Align to Principal Axes

You use this option to align the bounding box to the principal axes of the part. This is a useful calculation in some specific cases, typically where parts are being created from skeleton models or other layout or multi-body modeling methods, and the parts are relatively symmetrical. If this option is checked, the volume of the bounding box aligned to the principal axes is compared to the volume of the standard part coordinate system bounding box (aligned to the part X,Y,Z axes). The results from the smaller range box are used.

Minimum Bounding Box

iPropWiz 7.21 (for Autodesk Inventor 2021) adds a minimum bounding box option. See the iPropWiz 7.21 ( Inventor 2021 ) section for more information.

Click the button to view that demonstrates how to use the optional part model extents bounding boxes.

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Exporting Mass, Area, and Volume Properties

You also manage the export of other physical properties from this tab. As with model extents, you first create appropriate CPFRs for mass, area, and/or volume with specific units and precision. You then activate one or more of the exports and select the appropriate CPFR. All physical property exports support secondary CPFRs in a manner similar to the export of model extents. Review the information on secondary CPFRs above.

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