Autodesk Inventor Questions & Answers

• Beginner-Friendly Tutorials
  • Autodesk Inventor VBA Tutorial Playlist on YouTube by Video-Tutorials.Net: A comprehensive 38-video series covering everything from basic syntax to Inventor-specific API usage.
  • Start with the intro video to get a feel for how VBA integrates with Inventor’s environment.
• Official Documentation
  • Autodesk’s own VBA in Inventor Overview explains how VBA is embedded in Inventor, how to use the API, and the differences between document, application, and user projects.
• Tools & Setup
  • If you haven’t already, make sure VBA is installed. You can grab the latest module from Autodesk’s official download page-they provide versions for Inventor 2021 through 2026.
• Pro Tip
  • Once you’re comfortable with VBA, you might also explore iLogic, which uses VB.NET syntax and is more tightly integrated with Inventor’s parametric modeling features.

However, here’s what is possible:

Custom Icons for Macros or iLogic Rules

• You can assign custom icons to macros or iLogic buttons in the ribbon.
• The icon file must be named using the format: ModuleName.SubName.Size.bmp.
• Example: MyTools.ExportBOM.Small.bmp.
• Place the .bmp file in the same folder as your .ivb file.
• Restart Inventor to see the icon update.

Manual Method

• Activate your sketch.
• Go to the Model Browser on the left.
• Expand the Origin folder under the part or assembly.
• Click the Center Point.
• Click Project Geometry on the Sketch tab.

Use Slice Graphics

This is your best friend for sketch visibility.

• While editing a sketch, press F7.
• This activates Slice Graphics, which cuts away the solid model at the sketch plane, like a virtual section view.
• This does not modify your model. It is only a visual aid.
• Press F7 again to toggle it off.

Step 1: Open the Bearing Assembly

If your bearing is an assembly (.iam) that includes OR, IR, and Ball as separate parts:

• Open the .iam file.
• Right-click each component (OR, IR, Ball) in the browser.
• Choose Open to edit them individually.

Step 2: Edit the Parts

Once each part is open:

• Make your design changes such as dimensions or features.
• Save the updated .ipt files.

Step 3: Create Derived Parts

To use these parts as derived geometry in another part:

• Start a new part file (.ipt).
• Go to 3D Model and then Create, and select Derive.
• Browse to the OR, IR, or Ball .ipt file.
• In the Derive dialog, choose Solids, Surfaces, or Work Geometry as needed.
• You can also suppress features or scale the geometry.

If you're comfortable with .NET, you can create an Inventor Add-In that listens for the OnOpenDocument event: Private Sub m_ApplicationEvents_OnOpenDocument(ByVal DocumentObject As Inventor._Document, ByVal FullDocumentName As String, ByVal BeforeOrAfter As EventTimingEnum, ByVal Context As NameValueMap, ByVal HandlingCode As HandlingCodeEnum) Handles m_ApplicationEvents.OnOpenDocument

If DocumentObject.DocumentType = kDrawingDocumentObject Then.

Run your macro logic here End If

End Sub

Basic Workflow to Create a Rib via API

1. Create a Sketch on a suitable plane with the rib profile.
2. Access the RibFeatures collection from the part document.
3. Use CreateDefinition to initialize a RibDefinition object.
4. Set properties like profile, direction, thickness, and extent.
5. Call the Add method to create the rib feature.

What You Gotta Do:

• Trim the Sector
  • Bust out the Trim tool (T) and get scissor-happy.
  • Keep only the one 'quarter slice' you actually want to revolve.
  • Make sure it forms a closed profile with no gaps or extra bits.
• Turn the Axis Line into a Centerline
  • Right-click the line you want to revolve around → Centerline.
  • This is crucial, otherwise Inventor’s Revolve tool won’t know what's what.
• Revolve That Slice
  • Finish the sketch.
  • Go to 3D Model → Revolve.
  • Select the profile (your glorious pizza slice).
  • Choose the axis (your centerline).
  • Smash that 'OK' and watch it spin.

The short answer is: yes, the iPart member must already exist in the iPart factory table. The AddiPartMember method doesn't generate new members on the fly-it only inserts an existing one based on a valid row reference.

To migrate Inventor 8 files to Inventor 10 using Visual Basic (VB6 or VB.NET) as a standalone program, you need to use the Inventor API via COM interop. The key step is opening each file and saving it, which triggers the automatic migration.