Oh, my.

I am just so happy.

I am loving the new addition of what Autodesk is calling Model States.  I have been hoping for something like this for quite some time.  And I am sure a lot of people might have been as well.  This new option will allow you to make multiple versions of a part in one single part file.

What do I mean by multiple versions?

Well, in a manufacturing case, you can model a part file by starting with the casting, add a Model State for the turning procedure, add a Model State for the Milling procedure, and finally add a Model State for the final painted part.

If all you have is a bunch of parts in inventory that you make assemblies out of, you could also have a formed bracket at one length and different Model States for each of the other variations that you offer for use in making your assembly.  This makes the one part file as versatile as possible.

In the past, in order to do this one would need to save multiple versions of a Part file.  This really opens up a new world of ease of use and configuring of your parts.  All of these different versions of the one part are now saved in just one Part file.

I am hopeful that you have already explored and mastered the use of iParts and the more intricate iLogic.  iParts is an easy way to make multiple versions of a part file, but it is making multiple part files.  You might have even used iLogic to add different versions of the part, but it is just one part file and you cannot have it represent two or more different versions within an assembly.  The Model State will allow you to do just that.  You could place several of the same part into an assembly, each representing a different Model State, and, essentially, a different part.

You might have even worked with the Shrinkwrap command to make a simplified version of a part.  This is yet one more tool Autodesk has given you to make either your assemblies work more smoothly or just so all the proprietary information isn’t in the file you are giving to your client. Model States can do this as well.

All of these existing tools work.  Don’t get me wrong, this is not a new feature that will replace all the others, but Autodesk does say that it can replace some of them.  This is just another option they are giving you, and it is an awesome one.

One of the first concerns I had was whether the Model States can have their own part numbers.  Yes!  Yes, they can.  Each Model State has its own set of iProperties associated with it.  If you place three different configurations of the one part file into an assembly, the Parts List will reflect each of the Model States and their individual iProperties.

I am excited to start working with it and updating my library with one part file that does all of my 12 different angle brackets.  And the fun begins.

If you are as excited to hear about this as I am, please feel free to look thru the Autodesk Model States Introduction article.