When designing a Project, frequently used methods are: creating components in-place, re-using pre-made parts or assemblies as well as creating Frame Generator structures.

While Frame Generator is a powerful tool to design while keeping an adaptive environment, many will find that once this design meets the production stage, combining non-frame generated models and frame generator models into an assembly is nearly impossible.

With the C3DT Flatten app a solution is provided by giving the designer the liberty to restructure the design into new assemblies.

Note that by using the app the original design will remain unchanged, its structure and all its adaptivity and flexibility will be preserved.

The intended use of the App takes place once a project is approved and preferably no dimensions will be changed from that point on.

This because the C3DT Flatten App will create a new assembly, it will place every model on the same level and all the relationships between the separate models will be removed, this is done with all the parts and all the different assemblies.

Important to note is that there will be no adaptivity left in the newly created assembly, but it will be preserved inside the original design.

The functions of the App are located within Autodesk Inventor, on the ribbon within the C3DT tools tab.

The app has 3 main buttons:

1)      Flatten Assy All

2)      Flatten Assy Exclude

3)     Flatten Assy Frame

When using the function "Flatten Assy All" a new assembly will be generated where all models will be grounded and placed on the top level. 

Note that all the constraints between these models will be removed.

Likewise when using the function "Flatten Assy Exclude" the designer can separately select which individual assemblies to exclude from the previously explained process. 

By enabling "Include all instances of selected assemblies" each copy will be excluded.

Within the excluded assemblies all previous levels and constraints will remain unchanged.

As a third option, when using the function "Flatten Assy Frame", a new assembly will be generated where only the models from within the Frame generator assembly will be grounded and placed at the top level.

The constraints and levels of all other models, Parts as well as Assemblies, will remain unchanged.

In conclusion the C3DT Flatten App provides full flexibility in both the designing and pre-production stage. 

When designing, the designer is no longer obliged to anticipate how the project will be constructed.   

Download the free 30-day trial today!

Note: This app uses a custom installer (and not the standard App Store installer).

C3DT Flatten app will allow you to trial the app for 30 days after the first run.

After 30 days you may purchase a 1-year subscription for $50.00 USD.