Building Smarter Digital Factory Assets

The ability to build intelligence into your Factory Assets has never been greater and more accessable. Before we dive into this topic, lets make one thing clear. Every Factory Assets will require a different level of Intelligence. Very few assets require the highest levels of Elaborate design rules and logic. But, it is the top levels of Design Rules and Elaborate Logic, that we want to discuss in this post. Lets start off by defining the four general levels of asset intelligence.

Static Assets
Static Assets never change size, form, or shape. Beyond standard iProperty information. there is usually no additional level of "intelligence" added to these assets. Static assets can be downloaded from any CAD source and published for immediate use with the Factory Utilities. Assets like the forklift, office chair, printer, and palette, shown here, never change size or shape. Models like these can be downloaded from most any CAD source and published as Factory Assets. Grabcad.com or the manufacture's website are great sources for downloading the 3D model files of the equipment you need to include in your layouts.

Dynamic Assets
Dynamic Assets change size, form, or shape each time they are placed into a layout. These assets utilize parameters for concepts like Length, Width, or Height. This initial level of "intelligence" is quite a common design practice for most Inventor users. Parametric modeling is a cornerstone of Inventor's 3D modeling capabilities. Because parameters are required, Dynamic Assts must be created in the Autodesk Inventor application. It is important to note that most Factory Assets fall into this category. The assets shown in this image have one major thing in common. They each contain parameters that control design aspects like the length, width, and height of the component. If you need to include parametric control of your assets, they must be developed in the Inventor application. 

Dynamic (Logic) Assets
Dynamic (Logic) Assets include an additional level of intelligence. These assets include Design Rules that control the sizes, colors, suppression, and meta-data for various features based on a set of pre-defined criteria held in an iLogic code. iLogic code allows you to "easily" generate these design rules and include them in you assets so critical guidelines are always followed or crucial workflows and checkpoints are never missed. Many veteran Inventor users have never worked with iLogic and its use in asset creation may represent a temporary barrier. However, a brief bit of training with this functionality will yield a great benefit of amazing new functionality for your models and Factory Assets. The conveyor asset in this image requires a different drive motor depending on the length and incline angle of the conveyor. The design rule governing the motor selection was developed using iLogic and is built directly into the asset. This design rule ensures that the correct motor size is included whenever the asset is placed. 

Dynamic (Elaborate Logic) Assets
Dynamic (Elaborate Logic) Assets include the highest level of intelligence often including multiple design rules and advanced API functions. These assets often require additional features and functions like Custom User Forms or Connections to external data sources. These external connections allow easy access to things like the machine manufactures website or critical documents like the Owners and Operators manual. These connections also allow you to actually establish a direct link between the digital asset and the actual piece of equipment on the shop floor. This connection makes "real time Digital Twinning" possible with the Autodesk Factory Design Utilities. The CNC asset shown in this image utilizes some of the most advanced intelligence capabilities available. A user form was created to allow easy access to the multiple design rules present in the design. There are buttons on the user form that allow the following...

1. Accessing the Manufacturers Website
2. Accessing the Purchasing Information for the Unit
3. Accessing the Owners Manual
4. Accessing the Operators Manual
5. Accessing the Design Specifications and Dimensions
6. Automatic Updating for the shop's central Excel asset list

Accessing the actual machine on the shop floor and displaying its current status and operating display
The ability to link to various sources and display the contents in your local web-browser provides immediate access to critical design and operational information. This ability elevates your Inventor Factory Layout to the main hub for equipment information for your factory floor. 

Establishing a direct connection to your actual machine and having near real-time access to its status, is a central requirement to the "Digital Twinning" workflow. This connection allows your Factory Layout to become the "Digital Twin" of your factory floor
Where do you learn how to achieve this level of intelligence for your Factory Assets? Publishing Static and Parametric assets for the Factory Utilities is covered in the IMAGINiT Factory Design Utility Class. Creating general iLogic Design rules, is the focus of the IMAGINiT iLogic class. This class will also demonstrate how to develop user forms. The top Parametric (Elaborate Logic) level of intelligence comes from working with one of IMAGINiT's talented developers. This level often requires you to access Inventor's API. It is worth noting that many AI tools already speak Inventor iLogic. These AI tools can be used by anyone to create complex iLogic code that includes VB and API components. To begin your learning experience with IMAGINiT, click the following link!
IMAGINiT Course Catalog

About the Author

Manufacturing Solutions Consultant<br><br>Rusty provides implementation, training, and support services at every level for all Autodesk Manufacturing products. His specialty involves the integration of 3D design practices into manufacturing production environments. As an instructor and mentor, IMAGINiT regularly receives outstanding reviews of his impact to their customer’s organizations.

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