Top FAQs for CAD automation in Inventor using iLogic and Tacton

How should you create user-friendly design rules in Inventor using iLogic?

iLogic rules, forms, external rules and wizards facilitate creating user-friendly design rules for design customization and automation. Using VB and .Net, the designer can monitor and control features, parameters and components.

Rules: iLogic implements automation by embedding rules into CAD models of various parts, assembly, and drawings. These rules are controlled by defining design parameters. With a full-control of these variables, engineers can freely define the behavior of component model, feature and attributes.

Forms: For creating custom user interface of design, forms are used to define properties, rules, parameters of drawing, part or assembly originally created in inventor. The user interface also doesn’t demand any special programming skills as you can use drag and drop method along with ease of modifying design forms.

Wizards: Wizards are a systematic set of macros deployed to create rules for specific tasks. You can create Wizards by using Edit Rule dialog box such as:

• Create rule for a Dialog – To drive rules with a custom dialog box for specifying parameter values
• Capture current view – To capture values of view orientation and zoom display values
• Message box – To create a rule that displays a Windows message box
• Parameter limits – To set up minimum and maximum parameter values

What is the difference between Inventor iLogic & Inventor API?

iLogic is designed to create need-based configurations of model or drawing. For example, when you change one of the design parameters of the model, the geometrical configuration changes. Rules in iLogic run automatically when the value of Inventor design parameters change and are saved within the document. External Rules and global forms are supported by iLogic that are not saved in the document. iLogic is inbuilt into Inventor and can be found under Manage Tab.

But iLogic has some limitations. The iLogic interface lacks the powerful IntelliSense capabilities of Visual Studio. Also, it doesn’t have direct debugging capabilities as it doesn’t execute the code line-by-line. Hence we have Inventor APIs.

Inventor APIs offer access to a library of object classes, variables, and functions to the user. Through this the user can communicate and take control of all Inventor applications.

There is a full unifying documentation process guide under Information drop-down → Help pop-out → Programming/API Help.

With the API Help Documentation you can discover all the object classes, methods and properties in Inventor Automation Programs through the detailed description for each object. It is a well-explained document that shows examples and syntaxes to avoid any ambiguity for using functionalities.

How does Tacton’s constraint solving configurator help increase sales?

Tacton is essentially a platform that can create a constraint-based, AI-powered product configurator with following capabilities that make it a very competitive solution:

• It captures overall technical requirements with all design and regulatory compliances. It performs sales functions with higher efficiencies by integrating customer needs and manufacturing needs to ensure profitable sales bid.
• Each design and price/cost rules are managed through constraints aligned with cost margins and technical requirements.
• Tacton CPQ solutions with 3D visualization uplifts sales experience for customers to offer a real-time update. It allows you to sell your products from various digital devices like mobile, tablets, etc.
• Tacton seamlessly integrates with business legacy systems like PLM, CAM, ERP and CRM to improve collaboration and enable accurate information flow.

Why are product data & configuration rules maintained separately in Tacton?

Tacton philosophy, of treating each parameter separately makes it more flexible and controllable. All user interface, product data, and configuration rules are stored separately. It improves rules management and operates only on one area, leaving other areas unaffected. With it, you can introduce new product features and meet market requirements.

Some features of Tacton CPQ include:

Tacton implementation offers following benefits:

• Optimize organization’s investment in CAD
• Create dynamic and configured 3D CAD models
• Get optimal designs
• Reduce rules for constraint-based algorithms

How to run design automation projects in batches using Tacton

Tacton has an active plugin called TactonWorks Batch, which offers the user to run automation projects in batches. It is a rich client application to generate CAD files in batches with CAD tools running on the same machine. You will need a license and an installation to perform the operations.

TactonWorks Batch is basically a Windows OS application to generate CAD files and images for several configurations specified by users. Based on the inputs, it creates configured 3D models and manufacturing drawings within the constraint range.

Tacton design automation batch generates documents using:

• Wizard to receive all customer specifications which are within range
• A set of input files in Tacton that indicates all permissible configurations and documents
• Integrated external systems for capturing data along with information such as CAD documents, product details, inventory data and other information from ERP, CRM, PLM etc.

Based on configuration results, TactonWorks Batch can:

• Update design parameters in 3D models and 2D drawings
• Save customized 3D models and corresponding 2D drawings in different file formats at the specific path
• Automate generation of manufacturing and sales documents in MS Word/Excel/PDFs along with Bills of Materials