iLogic: Automate Common Virtual Parts

Posted on by Clint Brown

@ClintBrown3D Autodesk Inventor iLogic virtual parts

If you use “Virtual Parts” in your assemblies, you probably find yourself creating the same parts over and over. This quick blog post shares some iLogic code to create “Virtual Parts” from an Input List Box.

The contents of this Input List Box are created from an Array which you can edit to suit your needs:

'Create Array & Input list box
Dim ClintBrown3D As New ArrayList
ClintBrown3D.Add("Locktite")
ClintBrown3D.Add("Tape")
ClintBrown3D.Add("Carton")
ClintBrown3D.Add("Grease")
ClintBrown3D.Add("Oil")

The Animated GIF below shows how the code works:

iLogic Automate Common Virtual Parts.gif

Note that the code is only designed to run in an assembly, it will return an error stating as much if it is run in a part or drawing file. This version of code will not create a 2nd instance of a “Virtual Part”.

Here’s the iLogic code:

'iLogic code by Clint Brown @ClintBrown3D, adapted from Inventor API sample code found here:
'http://adndevblog.typepad.com/manufacturing/2013/04/create-virtual-component-by-code.html
'this version originally posted at https://clintbrown.co.uk/virtualpart

'Create Array & Input list box
Dim ClintBrown3D As New ArrayList
ClintBrown3D.Add("Locktite")
ClintBrown3D.Add("Tape")
ClintBrown3D.Add("Carton")
ClintBrown3D.Add("Grease")
ClintBrown3D.Add("Oil")

On Error GoTo ClintBrown3D: 'Ignore multiple instances of the Virtual Component
'Check that this is an Assembly
oDoc = ThisDoc.ModelDocument
If oDoc.DocumentType = kPartDocumentObject Then
MsgBox("This only works in Assemblies")
Return
End If

Dim oAssDef As AssemblyComponentDefinition 
oAssDef = oDoc.ComponentDefinition 
Dim oMatrix As Matrix 
oMatrix = ThisApplication.TransientGeometry.CreateMatrix
NameOfVirtualPart = InputListBox("Virtual Part Creator", ClintBrown3D, d0, Title := "@ClintBrown3D ", ListName := "Pick a Virtual Part to Add")

' Create Virtual part 
Dim oNewOcc As ComponentOccurrence 
oNewOcc = oAssDef.Occurrences.AddVirtual(NameOfVirtualPart, oMatrix) 
Dim oCVirtualCompDef As VirtualComponentDefinition 
oCVirtualCompDef = oNewOcc.Definition 
Exit Sub

ClintBrown3D:
Return

I hope this is useful, please enjoy, share, edit, remix and use this code, but please point back to this page if you do.