Import a reference file in Inventor

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You can import a file into an Inventor assembly as a reference model, to maintain a link to the selected file,

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which enables you to monitor and update as the model changes.

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To begin, from the Quick Access Toolbar, click Projects.

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In the Projects dialog, click Browse, navigate to where you saved the project files

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and select Base Assembly - Import Projector.ipj then click Open.

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In the Projects dialog, click Done.

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From the Quick Access Toolbar, click Open.

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Select Base Assembly - Import Projector.iam and click Open.

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With the Base Assembly - Import Projector assembly open, from the ribbon, Assemble tab, Component panel,

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expand the Place drop-down and select Place Imported CAD Files.

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Navigate to the Vendor > Sliding Projector Assembly folder located in your downloaded files,

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and select Sliding Projector Assembly v11.SLDASM.

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In the Import dialog, on the Options tab, set the Import Type to Reference.

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You may be working with your vendor and know that there will be some changes made to the projector model assembly.

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By selecting the Reference option, Autodesk AnyCAD technology can be used to update the Inventor model

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if changes are made to the SolidWorks model.

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Switch to the Select tab.

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Click Load Model to preview and select the geometry you want to import into the assembly.

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Expand the Projector sub-assembly folder,

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and notice that there is a Main and Auxiliary PCB board fully modeled in this assembly.

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Since you do not need to have all of this detail listed in the assembly,

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click the status icon to change the status of these two items to exclude them from the import.

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Click OK to place the part into the assembly.

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Right-click to open the Marking menu,

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and select Place Grounded at Origin to correctly locate the part.

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From the Marking menu, select Cancel to close the Insert Part command.

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One of the changes that might be coming to the projector is to the mounting tabs on both sides.

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You can set up the model so that if any changes are made to the projector,

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they are also reflected in your Inventor assembly.

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In the Model Browser, double-click the Base Molding:1 part.

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Expand Mounting Boss and double-click Sketch7 to edit it.

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Click the center point of the unconstrained circle, then drag it away from the boss temporarily.

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On the ribbon, in the Sketch tab, Create panel, click Project Geometry.

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Select the tab face.

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Right-click to activate the Marking menu, and select the Line command.

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Sketch a line between the two midpoints on the slot outline.

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From the Marking menu, click OK to exit the Line command.

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Still in the Sketch tab, in the Constrain panel, click Coincident Constraint,

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and then create a coincident relation between the circle’s center and the midpoint of the line you just sketched.

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Click Finish Sketch to exit the sketch, and then click Return to return to the main assembly.

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Next, replace some files to simulate an update to this import.

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In Windows File Explorer, navigate to the Vendor > Updates folder, and copy the two files to your clipboard.

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Navigate to the Vendor > Sliding Projector Assembly v11 folder and paste the copied files, choosing to replace existing files.

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In the Inventor Model Browser, a lightning bolt indicates that an update has been made to the imported CAD file.

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To complete the update, from the Quick Access Toolbar,

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click Update to apply the updated geometry.

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The boss in the projector assembly automatically updates to match the change to the imported geometry.

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Save the assembly.