19752684 Autodesk Inventor Getting Started

Autodesk Inventor™

5

Getting Started

20805-010000-5000a July 17, 2001

Copyright © 2001 Autodesk, Inc.All Rights Reserved

This publication, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form, by any method, for any purpose.

AUTODESK, INC. MAKES NO WARRANTY, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIEDWARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, REGARDING THESE MATERIALS AND MAKESSUCH MATERIALS AVAILABLE SOLELY ON AN “AS-IS” BASIS.

IN NO EVENT SHALL AUTODESK, INC. BE LIABLE TO ANYONE FOR SPECIAL, COLLATERAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIALDAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF PURCHASE OR USE OF THESE MATERIALS. THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVELIABILITY TO AUTODESK, INC., REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF ACTION, SHALL NOT EXCEED THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THEMATERIALS DESCRIBED HEREIN.

Autodesk, Inc. reserves the right to revise and improve its products as it sees fit. This publication describes the state of this product at thetime of its publication, and may not reflect the product at all times in the future.

Autodesk TrademarksThe following are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries: 3D Plan, 3D Props, 3D Studio, 3D StudioMAX, 3D Studio VIZ, 3DSurfer, ActiveShapes, ActiveShapes (logo), Actrix, ADE, ADI, Advanced Modeling Extension, AEC Authority (logo),AEC-X, AME, Animator Pro, Animator Studio, ATC, AUGI, AutoCAD, AutoCAD Data Extension, AutoCAD Development System, AutoCADLT, AutoCAD Map, Autodesk, Autodesk Animator, Autodesk (logo), Autodesk MapGuide, Autodesk University, Autodesk View, AutodeskWalkThrough, Autodesk World, AutoLISP, AutoShade, AutoSketch, AutoSurf, AutoVision, Biped, bringing information down to earth, CADOverlay, Character Studio, Design Companion, Design Your World, Design Your World (logo), Drafix, Education by Design, Generic,Generic 3D Drafting, Generic CADD, Generic Software, Geodyssey, Heidi, HOOPS, Hyperwire, Inside Track, Kinetix, MaterialSpec,Mechanical Desktop, Multimedia Explorer, NAAUG, ObjectARX, Office Series, Opus, PeopleTracker, Physique, Planix, Powered withAutodesk Technology, Powered with Autodesk Technology (logo), RadioRay, Rastation, Softdesk, Softdesk (logo), Solution 3000, TextureUniverse, The AEC Authority, The Auto Architect, TinkerTech, VISION*, WHIP!, WHIP! (logo), Woodbourne, WorkCenter, and World-Creating Toolkit.The following are trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries: 3D on the PC, 3ds max, ACAD, Advanced User Interface,AME Link, Animation Partner, Animation Player, Animation Pro Player, A Studio in Every Computer, ATLAST, Auto-Architect, AutoCADArchitectural Desktop, AutoCAD Architectural Desktop Learning Assistance, AutoCAD Learning Assistance, AutoCAD LT LearningAssistance, AutoCAD Simulator, AutoCAD SQL Extension, AutoCAD SQL Interface, Autodesk Animator Clips, Autodesk Animator Theatre,Autodesk Device Interface, Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk PhotoEDIT, Autodesk Software Developer’s Kit, Autodesk Streamline, AutodeskView DwgX, AutoFlix, AutoSnap, AutoTrack, Built with ObjectARX (logo), ClearScale, Colour Warper, Combustion, Concept Studio,Content Explorer, cornerStone Toolkit, Dancing Baby (image), Design 2000 (logo), DesignCenter, Design Doctor, Designer’s Toolkit,DesignProf, DesignServer, DWG Linking, DXF, Extending the Design Team, FLI, FLIC, GDX Driver, Generic 3D, gmax, Heads-up Design,Home Series, i-drop, Kinetix (logo), ObjectDBX, onscreen onair online, Ooga-Chaka, Photo Landscape, Photoscape, Plasma, Plugs andSockets, PolarSnap, Pro Landscape, Reactor, Real-Time Roto, Render Queue, SchoolBox, Simply Smarter Diagramming, SketchTools,Sparks, Suddenly Everything Clicks, Supportdesk, The Dancing Baby, Transform Ideas Into Reality, Visual LISP, Visual Syllabus, VIZable,Volo, and Where Design Connects.

Third Party Software Credits2000 Wise Solutions Inc. © All rights reserved.ACIS® Copyright © 1989-2001 Spatial Corp. All rights reserved. Anderson, et. al. LAPACK Users’ Guide, Third Edition. Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, 1999.COPRA MetalBender © 1989-2000 data M Software GmbH. All rights reserved.dBASE is a registered trademark of Ksoft, Inc.Portions licensed from D-Cubed Ltd. DCM-2D and CDM are trademarks of D-Cubed Ltd. DCM-2D Copyright D-Cubed Ltd. 1989-2001. CDM Copyright D-Cubed Ltd. 1999-2001.Portions of this software are based on the work of the Independent JPEG Group.Licensing Technology Copyright © C-Dilla Ltd. UK 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000.MD5C.C - RSA Data Security, Inc., MD5 message-digest algorithm Copyright © 1991-1992, RSA Data Security, Inc. Created1991. All rights reserved.Microsoft® HTML Help Copyright © Microsoft Corporation 1999.Microsoft® Internet Explorer 5 Copyright © Microsoft Corporation 1995-1999. All rights reserved.Microsoft® Windows® NetMeeting® Copyright © Microsoft Corporation 1996-1999. All rights reserved.Objective Grid ©, Stingray Software a division of Rogue Wave Software, Inc.SMSLib © 1998-2001, IntegrityWare, Inc., GeomWare, Inc. and Solid Modeling Solutions, Inc.Typefaces from Payne Loving Trust © 1996. All rights reserved.TList™ 5 Active X control, Bennet-Tec Information Systems. Typefaces from the Bitstream® typeface library copyright 1992.uuencode/uudecode Copyright © 1983 Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.Visual Basic® and Visual Basic logo (graphic only) Copyright © 2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

GOVERNMENT USEUse, duplication, or disclosure by the U. S. Government is subject to restrictions as set forth in FAR 12.212 (Commercial ComputerSoftware-Restricted Rights) and DFAR 227.7202 (Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software), as applicable.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Introducing Autodesk Inventor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Who should use Autodesk Inventor? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2What’s in this manual? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Key Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Modeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Information Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

User Interface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Browser. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Tools and Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Context Menus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Sketch and Select Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Cursor Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9File Templates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Projects in Autodesk Inventor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Creating New Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Opening Existing Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Specifying Path Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Finding Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Importing and Exporting Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16AutoCAD Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Autodesk Mechanical Desktop Files. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17SAT Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17STEP Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18IGES Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Design Support System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Learning Autodesk Inventor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Where to Go for Additional Help and Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

iii

Chapter 1 Sketches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

What is a sketch? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26Why create sketches? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26When do I use the sketch environment? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27Where do I find sketches?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Key Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27Work Flow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Sketching Shapes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28Sketch Geometry Styles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28Entering Precise Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29Modifying Sketches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29Adding or Removing Constraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30Placing Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Sketching Tools and Symbols. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32Sketching Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32Constraint Symbols. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

Working Smarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36Efficient Sketching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36Shortcuts for Sketching. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36Shortcuts for Refining the Geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37Advanced Constraint Techniques. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

Chapter 2 3D Sketches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

Why use the 3D sketch environment? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40Where do I find a 3D sketch? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40


Planning Your Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41Sketching 3D Paths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42Creating Bends in 3D Paths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43Positioning 3D Paths. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

3D Sketching Tools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44Working Smarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Chapter 3 Part Models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

How do I create a 3D part model? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46What is a feature? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46When do I use the part modeling environment?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47Where do I find a part model? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

iv | Contents

Key Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47Work Flow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Planning Your Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48Creating New Parts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49Creating Base Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50Creating Work Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50Viewing Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51Modifying Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52Adding Sketched Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52Adding Placed Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53Creating Patterns of Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54Splitting Faces or Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Part Modeling Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55Feature Creation Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55Viewing Tools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Working Smarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Chapter 4 Base Solids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

When do I use the solid modeling environment?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60What can I do with solid models? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60Where do I find a solid model? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60


Planning Your Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61Importing Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61Editing Base Solids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Solids Editing Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62Working Smarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Chapter 5 Sheet Metal Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

How do part modeling and sheet metal differ?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64What makes sheet metal a design environment? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64How do I create a flat pattern?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64How can I create stamped features?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64


Planning Your Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65Changing to the Sheet Metal Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66Setting Sheet Metal Styles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66Creating Faces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67Creating Punches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Contents | v

Creating Cuts and Holes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68Creating Flanges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69Creating Bends and Seams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70Creating Flat Patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70

Sheet Metal Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72Working Smarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74

Chapter 6 Assemblies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76

What are assemblies? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76When do I use the assembly environment? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76What are adaptive assemblies and parts? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76How do I design parts in-place? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77What are derived parts? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77What are derived assemblies? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77What are iMates?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77


Planning Your Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79Creating or Placing the First Component. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79Positioning Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80Adding Components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81Creating Patterns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82Replacing Components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82Adding Constraints to Components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83Using Drive Constraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86Adding Constraints to Adaptive Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86Creating 2D Layouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88Checking for Interference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89Creating Design Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90Restructuring Assemblies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91Producing Bills of Material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92Packaging Assemblies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92

Assembly Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93Working Smarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95

Loading and Updating Components Faster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95Managing Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95Using Efficient File Structures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95Managing Assembly Constraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96Navigating with the Browser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96

vi | Contents

Chapter 7 iFeatures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

What is an iFeature?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98Why use iFeatures?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98Where can I use iFeatures?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98


Planning Your Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99Creating iFeatures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100Viewing the Catalog of iFeatures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101Inserting iFeatures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Working Smarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

Chapter 8 Presentation Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

What are presentation documents?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104How many views can I have?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104How can I show partial assemblies?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104How can I animate the exploded view?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

Key Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104Work Flow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Creating Presentation Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105Changing View Vectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106Tweaking Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106Editing Tweaks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107Editing Trails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108Animating Tweaks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

Presentation Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110Working Smarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

Chapter 9 Drawings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

When can I create a drawing? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112When do I use the drawing environment? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112How do I revise a part from the drawing? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

Key Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113Work Flow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

Creating Drawings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114Customizing Drawings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114Creating Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

Contents | vii

Rotating Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116Adding Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116Using Model Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117Creating Dimensions in Drawings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117Changing Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118Annotating Drawings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119Hole Tables in Drawings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120Parts Lists in Drawings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120Creating Sketch Overlays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120Printing and Plotting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120

Drawing Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121Drawing Management Toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121Drawing Annotation Toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122Sketch Toolbar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124

Working Smarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127

Chapter 10 Collaboration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130

What is collaboration? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130What is the Engineer’s Notebook? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130What is Design Assistant? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130

Key Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131Collaborative Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .132

Using Microsoft Windows NetMeeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .132Accessing Assemblies Concurrently . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133Reserving Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133Prioritizing Paths in Project Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .134

Engineer’s Notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .134Creating Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .134Opening Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135Organizing Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135

Design Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136Design Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .137Creating Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .137Tracking Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138

Design Assistant Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139Working Smarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140

Engineer’s Notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140Design Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

viii | Contents

In This Chapter

Introduction

■ Introduction to Autodesk Inventor

■ User Interface

■ Projects

■ Design Assistant

■ Importing and exporting data

■ Design support system

■ Learning Autodesk Inventor

Autodesk Inventor™ software is a 3D mechanical design

system built with adaptive technology and solid

modeling capabilities. It provides all of the tools you

need to execute design projects, from the first sketch to

the final drawings, whether you are a single designer or

a member of a collaborative design team.

This chapter provides information to help you get

started using Autodesk Inventor 5 software. Subsequent

chapters provide overviews of the Autodesk Inventor

work environments and functionality. References to

specific information in Help are provided throughout

the manual.

1

Introducing Autodesk Inventor

The Autodesk Inventor software includes features for 3D modeling, information management, collaboration, and technical support. With Autodesk Inventor, you can

■ Create 3D models and 2D manufacturing drawings.

■ Create adaptive features, parts, and subassemblies.

■ Manage thousands of parts and large assemblies.

■ Use third-party applications, with an Application Program Interface (API).

■ Use VBA to access the Autodesk Inventor API. Create programs to automate repetitive tasks. From the Help menu, choose Programmer Help.

■ Import SAT, STEP, and AutoCAD® and Autodesk® Mechanical Desktop® (DWG) files for use in Autodesk Inventor. Export Autodesk Inventor files to AutoCAD, Autodesk Mechanical Desktop, and IGES formats.

■ Collaborate with multiple designers in the modeling process.

■ Link to Web tools to access industry resources, share data, and communicate with colleagues.

■ Use the integrated Design Support System (DSS) for help as you work.

Who should use Autodesk Inventor?

Autodesk Inventor is a feature-based, solid modeling tool for designers who create mechanical models in a 3D environment.

What’s in this manual?

This manual presents information about the Autodesk Inventor work environments. Each chapter is built on four categories of information:

Key Features An overview of the unique features of the environment.

Work Flow An overview of the functionality within a particular work environment, along with references to exact locations of detailed information and instructions in Help.

Tools and Symbols

Illustrations and explanations of the toolbuttons and symbols particular to the environment.

Working Smarter

Tips to help increase your productivity.

2 | Introduction

Key Features

Autodesk Inventor software integrates functionality for 3D modeling, information management, and support.

Modeling

The following are key features for modeling in Autodesk Inventor 5.

Derived parts Create parts from other parts. Use derived parts to explore alternative designs and manufacturing processes. See chapter 3, “Part Models.”

Solid modeling Integrate surfaces with solids to create complex shapes. Autodesk Inventor uses the latest version of Spatial Technologies ACIS™ geometric modeler. See chapter 3, “Part Models.”

Sheet metal Create sheet metal parts and features using both part modeling and sheet metal tools. See chapter 5, “Sheet Metal Design.”

Adaptive layout

Use work features (planes, axes, and points) to assemble 2D “parts” associatively in Autodesk Inventor. Use an adaptive layout to optimize an assembly by focusing on function before form. See chapter 6, “Assemblies.”

Adaptive parts and assemblies

Make parts and assembly components adaptive. Adaptive parts change in response to changes in other parts. Edit parts anywhere in a model in any order. See chapter 6, “Assemblies.”

iFeatures Create features, sketches, or subassemblies, and save them as iFeatures in a catalog for reuse. Place, size, and modify these features later. See chapter 7, “iFeatures.”

iMates Define and reuse constraint pairs called iMates to specify how parts connect in an assembly. See chapter 6, “Assemblies.”

Collaborative engineering

Use the Projects, Engineer’s Notebook, and Design Assistant tools in an environment where multiple users work simultaneously in the context of the same assembly and share information. See chapter 10, “Collaboration.”

Key Features | 3

Information Management

The following are key features for information management and communication in Autodesk Inventor 5.

Projects Organize your work into projects before you start so that Autodesk Inventor can always find files and referenced files, and you can share files with a workgroup. See “Projects in Autodesk Inventor” on page 11.

Drawing Manager

Use a template for drawings or customize your drawings to document your work. Add multiple sheets, and create views, annotations, and tables. Drawing Manager includes ANSI, BSI, DIN, GB, ISO, JIS, and custom standards. See chapter 9, “Drawings.”

Design Assistant

Search for and manage part files using properties such as part number, material, and cost center. Create reports, such as Hierarchy or Design Properties. See “Design Assistant” on page 136.

Engineer’s Notebook

Capture and annotate design data and attach “notes” to help communicate the details and history of your design. See “Engineer’s Notebook” on page 134.

Support

The Design Support System (DSS) in Autodesk Inventor 5 provides several types of support. See “Design Support System” on page 19 for information about Help, online Getting Started, What’s New, Visual Syllabus™, Design Doctor™, and online Tutorials in the DSS.

The Inventor Support Assistance Help, available from the Help menu, provides a database of technical support information in an issue and solution format.

Autodesk Online, available from the Help menu, provides Web links to the the Autodesk Inventor Home Page, Autodesk® Point A, Autodesk Streamline™, RedSpark™, and Big Fix. Big Fix is the Point A pro-active support service for Autodesk Inventor. For more information, see “Autodesk Streamline,” “Autodesk Point A,” and “RedSpark” on page 21.

4 | Introduction

User Interface

The standards in Autodesk Inventor are like those in Microsoft® Windows®. The user interface elements in Autodesk Inventor are common to most Windows-based applications.

There are two main elements in the user interface for Autodesk Inventor.

Application Window

Displayed when you open Autodesk Inventor.

Graphics Window

Displayed for each open file. When multiple files are open, the graphics window you are working in is called the active window.

This illustration shows the application window with a standard part file template displayed in the graphics window.

Standard toolbar

Panel bar in Sketch mode

Browser toolbar

Browser

Command bar

Status bar

Visual Syllabus Autodesk Point A

Autodesk Streamline

User Interface | 5

Browser

The browser shows the structure of parts, assemblies, or drawings in the active file. It is unique to each environment. This illustration shows the browser and the browser toolbar in the assembly environment.

You can drag the browser to a new location.

Tools and Commands

Autodesk Inventor uses Windows-style toolbars and the Autodesk Inventor panel bar. The panel bar is displayed above the browser by default. You can display Windows-style toolbars, the Autodesk Inventor panel bar, or a combination of the two. The toolbars are dockable, which means that you can drag them to different locations. Toolbars are displayed at the location in your window where you last used them.

Autodesk Inventor displays only the toolbars that are relevant to the active graphics window and environment. For example, if you are in an assembly and you activate a part, Autodesk Inventor switches from the assembly toolbars to the appropriate part modeling toolbars. Each environment shares common buttons and tools, like New or Help, but also has its own unique tool set.

The following example is the Features toolbar that is displayed in the part modeling environment.

You can drag a toolbar to any location on the application window. You can drag the corner of a toolbar in the application window to change its shape. You can use the View menu to turn toolbars on and off.

Help Contents Getting Started ➤ Using Inventor ➤ Set up your work environment

Help Index browser ➤ assembly ➤ Change the display of the assembly browser

toolbars ➤ Set up and use toolbars and menus

Filter button

Design View button

Browser toolbar

6 | Introduction

Autodesk Inventor tools open dialog boxes when necessary. For example, when you click a sketch tool you can draw without additional steps, and when you click a feature modeling tool a dialog box is displayed. Dialog boxes open on your window at the location where they were last used.

When you work in Autodesk Inventor, you can usually select either an object first and then click the tool to perform an action, or select the tool first and then the object.

Click a sketch tool...

...and start drawing

Click a feature tool, and provide information

Select the action...

...and then the object

OR Select the object...

...and then the action

User Interface | 7

Context Menus

Context menus are displayed when you right-click the mouse. The options displayed in context menus are specific to the task you are performing.

Sketch and Select Modes

Autodesk Inventor uses the Select and Sketch modes to tell the system when you want to sketch or select objects. When you first open a part file, Autodesk Inventor automatically activates the Select and Sketch modes.

You can control the Sketch and Select modes using the buttons on the Command bar, as shown in the following illustration.

Help Index context menus ➤ To use context menus

Help Contents Getting Started ➤ Creating parts ➤ Create a sketch ➤ About the sketch environment

Select mode button expanded Sketch mode button Expanded

8 | Introduction

Cursor Symbols

As you use Autodesk Inventor, small symbols are often displayed beside the cursor. These symbols are cues indicating that you can do something in your model or perform a related operation.

For example, this parallel symbol is displayed when you sketch parallel lines. See “Constraint Symbols” on page 35.

File Templates

Templates are provided for five of the file types you can use in Autodesk Inventor. You can identify each file type by its icon and file extension.

Part files are also used for catalog parts.

You can create your own templates with your corporate standards, geometry, file properties, or other basic information.

Help Index Templates ➤ Create assembly templatesTemplates ➤ Create drawing templatesTemplates ➤ Create part templatesTemplates ➤ Create presentation templatesTemplates ➤ Create sheet metal templates

Sheet Metal.ipt(sheet metal)

Standard.iam(assembly)

Standard.ipn(presentation)

Standard.idw(drawing)

Standard.ipt(part)

User Interface | 9

When you click the option to open a new file, templates for the different file types are displayed in the Open dialog box. The Default, English, and Metric tabs contain file templates that use appropriate units and drafting standards. The units and drafting standards in the Default tab are those you select when you install Autodesk Inventor.

Autodesk Inventor New File Templates

Location of template Template name Description of template file

Default tab Sheet Metal.ipt Default sheet metal part

Standard.iam Default assembly

Standard.idw Default drawing

Standard.ipn Default presentation

Standard.ipt Default part

English tab ANSI (in).idw Drawing using inches

Catalog (in).ipt Part Catalog using inches

Sheet Metal (in).ipt Sheet metal part using inches

Standard (in).iam Assembly using inches

Standard(in).ipt Standard part using inches

Standard.ipn Presentation using inches

Metric tab BSI.idw Drawing using BSI standard

Catalog(mm).ipt Part Catalog using metrics

DIN.idw Drawing using DIN standard

GB.idw Drawing using GB standard

ISO.idw Drawing using ISO standard

JIS.idw Drawing using JIS standard

Sheet Metal(mm).ipt Sheet metal part using metrics

Standard(mm).iam Assembly using metrics

Standard(mm).ipt Part using metrics

Standard.ipn Presentation using metrics

10 | Introduction

Projects in Autodesk Inventor

In Autodesk Inventor 5, a system of Projects is used to manage files. You create projects before you begin working. When your files are organized into projects, Autodesk Inventor always knows where to find files and referenced files, and they can be shared among multiple designers. Using Projects, you can

■ Share standard and custom libraries.

■ Share files with a workgroup.

■ Work on different aspects of the same assembly at the same time.

A project consists of the following:

Projects folder Contains shortcuts to all of your project home folders. You have only one Projects folder.

project home folder

Contains one file (.ipj) that specifies paths to folders containing all the files that are connected to the project. You have a project home folder for each project you set up. Shortcuts to these project home folders are stored in the Projects folder.

workspace A specified primary location where you work on the project. Each project has one workspace. You usually save new files in your workspace.

files connected to a project

Can be local or network files connected to or referenced to a project. Paths to these files are stored in the .ipj file in the project home folder.

Although you can create files without setting up projects, it is recommended that you set up projects first. Set the location for the Projects folder, and then set up the project. After you set the location and create a Projects folder, you do not change its location.

Projects in Autodesk Inventor | 11

Creating New Projects

To create a new project, you use the Projects window. When you open an Autodesk Inventor session, the startup dialog box provides the Projects option. When you click Projects, the Projects - Select a project file window opens. You can also choose File ➤ Projects to open the Projects window. From a right-click menu in the Projects window, you select New, or click the New button. The Inventor project wizard guides you through the process to create a new project.

NOTE The Inventor project wizard dialog box opens only if all Autodesk Inventor files are closed.

When you create a new project, you specify:

■ Whether the project is new, or a private workspace for an existing group project.

■ Whether the project uses existing files, or files that are not yet created.

■ Project name.

■ Location of the project home folder.

■ File location for the workspace.

■ Group project file location, if it is a group project.

■ Standard and custom libraries included in the project.

Shortcut paths to your project (.ipj) files are automatically stored in their project home folder.

Your new project is automatically listed in the Projects - Select a project file window.

You can set up your projects to recognize either relative paths or absolute paths. In Autodesk Inventor 5, project files recognize relative paths by default. Project files created prior to this version of Autodesk Inventor required absolute paths. You can use the option in the lower window of the Projects dialog box to switch between relative and absolute.

Help Contents Getting Started ➤ Using Autodesk Inventor ➤ Work with projects

Help Index projects

12 | Introduction

Opening Existing Projects

You use the Select a project file window to open existing projects. When you open an Autodesk Inventor session, the startup dialog box provides the Projects option to open the Select a project file window.

The upper area of the Projects window lists your existing projects folders, from which you make your selection.

The lower window contains search path information for the project selected in the upper window. Here you can select a search path type to change the paths, add new paths, or delete paths.

To change projects, in the Select a project file window, select a different project. The information in the lower window changes accordingly. You cannot change the project if a file is open.


Specifying Path Types

Autodesk Inventor uses path shortcuts in the Projects folder to locate and activate your personal project files. When you open a project (.ipj) file, Autodesk Inventor uses the search paths specified in that active project file to find the component files. For each component file, the system goes through the search paths until it finds the file. If there are copies of the file in multiple locations, the system uses the first copy it finds. You can prioritize search paths to speed up the process of finding files.

A project file can specify four types of search paths: workspace, local, workgroup, and library. A project file must specify your workspace search path and may specify paths for some or all of the other search path types.

Workspace The default location for files. If all the files for the project are located in one place, this may be the only entry in the project file. If you are working on a design team, the Workspace identifies your personal work area.

Local Additional file locations. The locations can be on your machine or on a network.

Workgroup Shared network locations for referenced files. Workgroup locations are used mainly when you are working in design teams.

Library Locations for standard parts, or other named libraries. This path is the first searched by Autodesk Inventor.

Standard parts, such as cap screws or purchased parts, can make up 50-60% of an assembly. You can store these parts in libraries. The file location for a library part is specified as a library path. Assembly files record the location of a library part when you place it in the assembly so the part can be recalled the next time the assembly file is opened. If the system can’t find the file, it displays the Resolve Link dialog box so you can browse for the file. Since the system checks library locations first, you can speed up the file opening process by referencing standard parts to library paths.

14 | Introduction

If a part is not found in the library paths, the system checks the workspace next, then local paths, then workgroup paths. If the file is not found in any of the specified locations, Autodesk Inventor searches the folder that contains the parent file, then displays the Resolve Link dialog box so you can browse for the file.

Finding Files

The Resolve Link dialog box has a field that displays the defined search paths. When you browse for a file, click the path name, and the file location is entered in the Look In field. If you can’t find the file, click Skip to continue loading the assembly. If you click Skip All, the system loads the assembly without trying to resolve any missing files


Importing and Exporting Data

You can import SAT, STEP, IGES and AutoCAD and Autodesk Mechanical Desktop (DWG) files for use in Autodesk Inventor. You can save Autodesk Inventor parts and assemblies in a number of file formats, and you can save Autodesk Inventor drawings as DXF or AutoCAD drawing (DWG) files.

The options for opening AutoCAD files in Autodesk Inventor are:

■ Layer mapping

■ Selection of an AutoCAD template

■ Support for DFX files back to version 12

■ Creation of AutoCAD Mechanical files, if AutoCAD Mechanical is installed

NOTE Mechanical Desktop files can be linked to assemblies without importing.

AutoCAD Files

You can open AutoCAD (DWG or DXF) files back to version 12. When you open an AutoCAD file in Autodesk Inventor, you can specify the AutoCAD data to translate. You can select:

■ Model space, a single layout in paper space, or 3D solids

■ One or more layers

You can also place 2D translated data:

■ On a sketch in a new or existing drawing

■ As a title block in a new drawing

■ As a sketched symbol in a new drawing

■ On a sketch in a new or existing part

If you translate 3D solids, each solid becomes a part file containing an ACIS solid body.

When you import AutoCAD (DWG) drawings into a part sketch, a drawing, or a drawing sketch overlay, the converter takes the entities from the XY plane of model space and places them on the sketch. In a drawing, certain entities, such as splines, cannot be converted.

16 | Introduction

Autodesk Mechanical Desktop Files

When you export Autodesk Inventor drawings into AutoCAD, you get an editable drawing. The converter creates a new AutoCAD drawing and places everything into paper space in the DWG file. If there are multiple sheets in the Autodesk Inventor drawing, each sheet is saved as a separate DWG file. The exported entities become AutoCAD entities, including dimensions.

Autodesk Inventor can translate Autodesk Mechanical Desktop parts and assemblies so the design intent is retained. You can import a Mechanical Desktop file as either an ACIS body or a full conversion. In order to import model data from a Mechanical Desktop part or assembly, Mechanical Desktop must be installed and running on your system. Features that are supported in Autodesk Inventor are converted. Features that are not supported are not translated. If Autodesk Inventor can’t translate a feature it skips that feature, places a note in the browser, and then completes the translation.

SAT Files

SAT (*.sat) files contain nonparametric solids. They may be Boolean solids or parametric solids with the relationships removed. An SAT file can be used in an assembly. You can add parametric features to the base solid.

When you import an SAT file, if it contains a single body it produces an Autodesk Inventor part file with a single part. If it contains multiple bodies, it produces an assembly with multiple parts.

Help Contents Help for AutoCAD users ➤ Use AutoCAD data

Using other file types ➤ How to... Open Files ➤ Open files from other CAD systems

Using other file types ➤ Reference... Open files ➤ Open DWG File Options reference

Using other file types ➤ How to...Save files to other formats

Help Index AutoCAD files ➤ open

Help Contents Using other file types ➤ How to... Open files ➤ Open files from other CAD systems

Using other files types ➤ Reference... Open files ➤ SAT File Open Options reference

Using other file types ➤ How to... Save files to other formats

Help Index SAT files

Importing and Exporting Data | 17

STEP Files

STEP files are the international format developed to overcome some of the limitations of data conversion standards. Past efforts in developing standards have resulted in localized formats such as IGES (U.S.), VDAFS (Germany), or IDF (for circuit boards). Those standards do not address many developments in CAD systems. The STEP converter for Autodesk Inventor is designed for effective communication and reliable interchange with other CAD systems.

When you import a STEP (*.stp, *.ste, *.step) file, only 3D solid, part, and assembly data are converted. Drafting, text, wireframe, and surface data are not processed by the STEP converter. If a STEP file contains one part, it produces an Autodesk Inventor part file. If it contains assembly data, it produces an assembly with multiple parts.

IGES Files

IGES (*.igs, *.ige, *.iges) files are a standard in the United States. Many NC/CAM software packages require files in IGES format. Autodesk Inventor imports and exports IGES files.

Help Contents Using other file types ➤ How to... Open files ➤ Open files from other CAD systems

Using other files types ➤ Reference ➤ Open files ➤ STEP File Open Options reference


Help Index STEP files

Help Contents Using other file types ➤ How to... Open Files ➤ Open files from other CAD systems


Help Index IGES files ➤ IGES File Open Options reference

18 | Introduction

Design Support System

The Design Support System (DSS) is a combination of information and interactive support tools. You can get the latest version of Autodesk Inventor Help and other DSS components from the Autodesk Inventor Updates Web page using the direct link in Help.

Help Contents Getting Started ➤ Using Autodesk Inventor ➤ Get Help

Getting Started ➤ Using Autodesk Inventor ➤ Get Help ➤ Autodesk Inventor Updates

Help Index Getting StartedDesign DoctorVisual Syllabus

Design Support System Components

Support tool Use to... Looks like...

Help Contents

Index

Search

Look up How To, Learn About, and Reference information for any operation.Get AutoCAD user assistance.Get Power user help.

Enter a key word and select a topic.

Enter words or a phrase.

Where to find...

Help menu

Button on toolbar

Press F1

How To option on context menu

Getting Started Link to information to help you get started using Autodesk Inventor.

Where to find...

From the Help home page, select Getting Started.

Design Support System | 19

What’s New Select a topic and learn about new or improved features in this release.

Learn to use the Development API to create programs that automate repetitive tasks.

Where to find...

Help menu

From the File menu, select Getting Started ➤ See “What’s New” in this release

Context menu in Help topics

Visual Syllabus Click an object to see an animation of the process to create it.

Where to find...

Button on Standard toolbar

Design Doctor Diagnose and repair part or assembly modeling problems.

Where to find...

Button on Standard toolbar available when an error is underlined in red on your screen.

Browser context menu

Tutorials Follow step-by-step instructions with animated illustrations to create example parts, assemblies, and drawings.

Where to find...

Help menu

Context menu in Help topics

Design Support System Components (continued)


20 | Introduction

Autodesk Streamline

Collaborate by sharing design data and other documents instantly. Perform design reviews by using the markup facility. Manage and access projects in one centralized location.

Where to find...


From the Help menu, choose Autodesk online ➤ Autodesk Streamline

From the File menu, choose Getting Started ➤ Autodesk Streamline

Button on Help system navigation bar

AutodeskPoint A

Locate design resources and stay connected with your professional colleagues. Link to internet information, support, and learning resources.

Where to find...


From the Help menu, choose Autodesk online ➤ AutodeskPoint A

From the File menu, choose Getting Started ➤ Autodesk Point A

RedSpark Manage outsourced manufacturing interactively.

Where to find...

From the Help menu, choose Autodesk online ➤ RedSpark

From the File menu, choose Getting Started ➤ RedSpark

Design Support System Components (continued)


Design Support System | 21

Learning Autodesk Inventor

The following are suggestions for learning Autodesk Inventor using a structured approach for your particular experience level.

Suggested Learning Approaches

If you are... Recommended Steps

Familiar with 2D CAD program, but newto 3D

Read this manual. Pay particular attention to the Work Flow section in each chapter.

From the Help menu, select:What’s New See what’s new in this release.Tutorials Review step-by-step instructions to create parts,

assemblies, and drawings.

Select File ➤ Getting Started. From the Getting Started page, review the different parts of the DSS

Experienced in 3D solid modeling

Read this manual.



Start building your own part. If you need instructions:Press F1; right-click and select How To from the context menu; from the Standard toolbar, click the Visual Syllabus button and select the appropriate image to see how a specific task is performed.

From the Help home page, select Power user.

Select File ➤ Getting Started. Review contents in Autodesk Point A, Autodesk Streamline, and RedSpark.

Experienced in AutoCAD

From the Help menu, choose Help for AutoCAD users.

From the Help Contents Tab, choose Help for AutoCAD users.

Experienced in Mechanical Desktop

Read this manual.

From the Standard toolbar, click the Visual Syllabus button. Select images in the Visual Syllabus to see how specific tasks are performed.

From the Help menu, select Tutorials for step-by-step instructions to create parts, assemblies, and drawings.

Select File ➤ Getting Started. From the Getting Started page, review the different parts of the DSS.

In Help, see Using other file types.

22 | Introduction

Where to Go for Additional Help and Training

Additional information about Autodesk Inventor is available on the Web page at http://www.autodesk.com/inventor. On the Web page, navigate to Learning and Training for e-Learning and classroom training resources, Autodesk® Official Training Courseware, and a list of books about Autodesk Inventor.

For information about Autodesk, go to www.autodesk.com. Navigate to Product Center for information about other Autodesk products.

New to CAD tools Enroll in training for 2D/3D CAD modeling before using Autodesk Inventor.

Read this manual. Pay particular attention to all Work Flow topics.



From the Standard toolbar, click the Visual Syllabus button. Select images in the Visual Syllabus to see how specific tasks are performed.

Select File ➤ Getting Started. From the Getting Started page, review the different parts of the DSS.

Suggested Learning Approaches (continued)

If you are... Recommended Steps

Learning Autodesk Inventor | 23

24

In This Chapter

Sketches

1■ Introduction

■ Key features

■ Work flow

■ Tools and symbols

■ Working smarter

In Autodesk Inventor™, sketching is the first step in

creating a part. This chapter gives you an overview of

the sketch environment, sketch tools, and the work flow

for creating sketches.

Detailed information about sketching is available in the

Autodesk Inventor Help. References to specific

information in Help are provided throughout the Work

Flow section of this chapter.

25

Introduction

The model you create in Autodesk Inventor is linked to its underlying sketches. If you change a sketch, the model is automatically updated.

You work in the sketch environment when you create or edit a sketch. The sketch environment consists of a sketch and sketch tools.

What is a sketch?

A sketch is the profile of a feature and any geometry (such as a sweep path or axis of rotation) required to create the feature. You create a 3D model from a sketch by projecting the profile or revolving it around an axis.

Why create sketches?

You create a 3D model of a part by using a feature creation tool along with information in the sketch. The sketch is linked to the resulting feature, so if you edit a sketch, the feature is updated.

From sketch... ...to 3D model

26 | Chapter 1 Sketches

When do I use the sketch environment?

When you open a new part file, the sketch environment is automatically active. The 2D Sketch button is selected, and the 2D Sketch toolbar is available. In an existing part file, first activate the sketch in the browser. This action activates the tools in the sketch environment so you can create geometry for part features. After you create a model from a sketch, you can reenter the sketch environment to make changes or start a new sketch for a new feature.

Where do I find sketches?

When you create a sketch, a sketch icon is displayed in the browser. When you create a feature from a sketch, a feature icon is displayed in the browser with the sketch icon under it. When you point to a sketch icon in the browser, the sketch is highlighted in the graphics window. Double-click the sketch in the browser to edit it.

Key Features

Dynamic Inference

Autodesk Inventor infers, displays, and automatically applies constraints as you sketch.

Shared Sketches

Use a single sketch to create multiple features or multiple profiles in a part model.

Constrained Drag

Determine constraints, resize a sketch, and create constraints by dragging geometry.

General Dimension

Create dimensions with a single tool.

Auto Dimension

Dimension and constrain sketches in a single step with a minimum of clicks and interaction.

Hatching Apply hatch patterns to regions in drawings.

Direct edge referencing

Project edges of an existing face to create new sketch geometry.

2D Spline Define, add, and delete points for a spline, and specify the Faster or Smoother solve method to achieve the best result.

Key Features | 27

Work Flow

Every part starts with a sketch. In the sketch environment, you can draw and refine freehand sketches. This section provides an overview of how to create sketches. The following is a reference to detailed information in Help about creating sketches. Additional references to information about specific tasks are provided throughout this section.

Sketching Shapes

To start a sketch from scratch, open a new part file and select a tool from the Sketch toolbar. Then start sketching in the graphics window. As you sketch, symbols, such as perpendicular or vertical alignment, are displayed when constraints can be applied. To close the geometry, click the start point. To end the command, press ESC or click Select.

While creating geometry, you can rub an edge on a different face to project it into your sketch. You accomplish the rub by moving your cursor back and forth over the geometry to project.

Sketch Geometry Styles

There are two styles for sketch geometry.

Normal The default style, used for creating features.

Construction For geometry that is required to sketch the profile, but won’t be used for creating the feature or for paths, sweeps, and lofts.

You specify a geometry style from the Style field above the graphics window before you begin sketching new geometry. For changing the style of existing geometry, select the geometry first, and then specify a style from the Style field.

Help Contents Getting Started ➤ Creating parts ➤ Create a sketch

Help Contents Designing models ➤ Sketches

Help Index sketching

Help Index sketch ➤ get started

Help Index sketches ➤ use construction geometry


Entering Precise Values

You can enter precise values for geometry as you sketch. The tools for precise input are located on the Precise Input toolbar. Precise input works with any sketch tool that requires placement of a point. The precise input tool has X and Y fields. You can enter both values to define a point, or enter just the X or Y value to limit the placement of the point to a vertical or horizontal line.

Modifying Sketches

After you create sketch geometry, you can refine and adjust the proportions of the sketch. If the geometry is not fully constrained, you can revise it by dragging. You can revise one or multiple elements using the drag method.

You can format model edges and sketch lines.

Help Index precise input

Help Contents Designing models ➤ Sketches ➤ How to... Change sketches

Help Index sketches ➤ edit ➤ Edit sketches

horizontally aligned

perpendicular

Constraints are applied as you sketch

Drag the active endpoint to create a tangential arc

Use the Show/Delete Constraints tool to display constraints

Drag to resize geometry

Work Flow | 29

Adding or Removing Constraints

Define your design intent by adding geometric constraints to the sketch. Constraints limit changes and define the shape of a sketch. For example, if a line is horizontally constrained, dragging an endpoint changes the length of the line or moves it vertically, but does not affect its slope.

Although you can use unconstrained sketches, fully-constrained sketches result in more predictable updates. You can use auto dimensioning to place the dimensions that are critical to a sketch and then, in one step, finish the dimensioning until the sketch is fully constrained. You can also create constraints by dragging geometry until the cursor brushes the geometry you want to constrain. Autodesk Inventor infers constraints as you drag the geometry into position.

Constraints can be viewed and removed using the Show Constraints tool on the Sketch toolbar. You can view all constraints at once and hide all constraints using options from the context menu. You can drag a constraint box to another position.

Help Contents Designing models ➤ Sketches ➤ How to... Constrain sketches

Help Index constraints ➤ view and delete

Constraint symbol appears when the dragged geometry touches the endpoint

Vertical constraint symbol appears as the geometry is dragged into position

snap indicator

vertically aligned

dragged geometry


Placing Dimensions

Dimensions define the size of your sketch. After you add a dimension, you cannot change the size of a line or curve by dragging it. In Autodesk Inventor, you cannot apply double dimensions to a sketch.

You can define dimensions with other dimension values. The names of dimensions are parameters. When you edit a dimension, you can enter an equation that uses one or more parameters.

You can display sketch dimensions in one of three forms:

■ Calculated value, which is currently available

■ Parameter name

■ Parameter name and calculated value

You can place driven dimensions with Autodesk Inventor, and you can change the dimension type of an existing dimension to driven. A driven dimension displays the size of the geometry, but you can’t edit the dimension value. Use driven dimensions to display dimensions that would over constrain a sketch, and to control the adaptivity of a sketch.

For more information on adaptivity, see chapter 6, “Assemblies.”

You can modify dimensions using the Edit Dimension dialog box.

Help Contents Designing models ➤ Sketches ➤ How to... Dimension sketches

Help Index sketch tools ➤ dimensions

horizontal dimension parameter

unitless number

vertical dimension parameter

Work Flow | 31

Sketching Tools and Symbols

The sketching tool set includes sketching tools and constraint symbols.

Sketching Tools

Some sketching tools have multiple options. If an arrow appears next to a tool, click the arrow to open a menu.

Sketching Tools

Button Tool Settings/Options Special Instructions

Edit coordinate system Rotate grid.

Line Create line segment

Create spline

Select Normal or Construction from the Style menu.

Center point circle

Create circle with center point and radius

Create circle tangent to three lines or curves

Create ellipse


You can trim, extend, and dimension ellipses.

Arc Create arc with three points

Create arc with center point and two endpoints

Create arc tangent to a line or curve at its endpoint


Rectangle Create rectangle with diagonal points

Create rectangle with three orthogonal points

Fillet

Chamfer

Create fillet by entering radius and clicking two lines or curves

Create broken edges or other sketch geometry

Define radius in a dialog box.

Define chamfers in a dialog box.


Point,Hole Center

Create hole center or sketch point

Select hole center (default) or sketch point from the Style menu.

Polygon Create a polygon

Mirror Mirror sketch geometry, and apply symmetry constraints

Use the Symmetry tool to edit existing geometry.

Rectangular pattern

Create a rectangular sketch pattern Create associative and non associative patterns. Suppress pattern instances.

Circular pattern

Create a circular sketch pattern

Offset Create parallel lines or curves at a specified distance

General Dimension

Apply dimensions to sketches

Auto Dimension

Place dimensions automatically to fully constrain a sketch in one step

Place critical dimensions first.

Extend Extend a line or curve to intersect with the nearest line, curve, or point

Press and hold SHIFT to temporarily enable Trim. Turn on Extend from context menu.

Trim Trim a line or curve Press and hold SHIFT to temporarily enable Extend. Turn on Trim from context menu.

Move Move or copy imported DWG or sketch geometry

Rotate Rotate or copy imported DWG or sketch geometry

Add Constraint

Make two lines perpendicular

Make two lines parallel

Sketching Tools (continued)


Sketching Tools and Symbols | 33

Make a line or curve tangent to a curve

Make points, lines, or curves coincident

Make two curves concentric

Make lines or axes collinear

Make a line horizontal; horizontally align points

Make a line vertical; vertically align points

Make two lines or radii equal length

Make points, lines, or curves fixed relative to the sketch coordinate system

Symmetry Make existing geometry symmetric Can apply separately from Mirror constraint. Use Mirror to create new symmetrical sketches.

Show Constraints

Show applied constraints Position the cursor over a constraint and press DELETE to remove it.

Project Geometry

Project Cut Edges

Project FlatPattern

Project geometry onto another sketch

Project onto a sketch plane all edges of a selected part that intersect the sketch plane

Project a flat pattern onto a sketch plane

Insert AutoCAD file

Sketching Tools (continued)



Constraint Symbols

As you sketch, when you can apply a constraint its symbol is displayed.

Constraint Symbols

Symbol Constraint Applied Special Instructions

Horizontal

Vertical

Parallel

Perpendicular

Coincident The snap indicator highlights when the constraint is active.

Aligned A dotted line shows horizontal or vertical alignment.

Tangent

Sketching Tools and Symbols | 35

Working Smarter

You can increase efficiency and optimize the performance of Autodesk Inventor with the following practices.

Efficient Sketching

■ Keep the part sketch simple.

For example, don’t fillet the corners of a sketch if you can apply a fillet to finished edges of the model to achieve the same result.

■ Draw sketches roughly to shape and size.

Use the grid as a reference.

■ Stabilize the shape before you add dimensions.

Drag endpoints to make sure the proper constraints are applied. Edit sketch geometry so it has the proper shape and proportions.

■ Use line styles.

Autodesk Inventor looks for geometry with Normal style when it identifies a profile and path for creating a feature. In complex sketches, profile selection will be faster and more reliable if you convert any reference geometry to Construction.

Shortcuts for Sketching

■ Start a line by dragging off a circle or an arc.

Drag radially for a perpendicular line or drag tangentially for a tangent line.

■ Start a line by dragging off the interior (not the endpoints) of another line.

The new line will be constrained perpendicular to the existing line.

■ Create an arc by dragging off the end of a line.

Return the pointer to the endpoint of the line to change the direction of an arc.

■ Start a spline tangent to a line by dragging off the line.

Select the endpoint of a line and drag it in the direction of tangency to end a spline tangent to a line.


■ Create coincident constraints.

When you start a new line, arc, or circle from an existing line, Autodesk Inventor can infer a coincident constraint to the midpoint, endpoint, or interior of the line.

■ Add midpoints to lines.

Click the Point tool and select the sketch style. The snap indicator highlights when you point to the midpoint of a line. You can also drag an existing point to the midpoint of a line.

Shortcuts for Refining the Geometry

■ Use SHIFT to drag.

All drag features, except for a tangent spline, are also available by pressing and holding SHIFT while moving the cursor.

■ Drag multiple lines, curves, or points at the same time.

Select the geometry, press CTRL, and drag the last item you selected.

■ Switch between the Trim and Extend tools.

Press SHIFT or select the other tool from the context menu to switch between Trim and Extend.

Advanced Constraint Techniques

■ Turn off automatic constraints.

Press and hold CTRL while sketching.

■ Select curves for constraint.

Move the cursor over the geometry you want to constrain while sketching.

■ Define dimensions with equations.

Double-click a dimension to open the Edit Dimension dialog box. Click the reference geometry, and its dimension identifier appears in the dialog box. You can use the dimension identifier in a mathematical expression (for example, D1*2).

■ Override the units on a particular dimension.

For example, in a part file set to metric dimensions, you can enter 1 inch in the Edit Dimension dialog box.

Working Smarter | 37

38

In This Chapter

3D Sketches

2■ Introduction

■ Key features

■ Work flow

■ Tools and symbols

■ Working smarter

The 3D sketch environment in Autodesk Inventor™ is

especially useful for creating routing parts in assemblies.

This chapter gives you an overview of the 3D sketch

environment, tools, and the work flow for creating 3D

path sketches for routed parts.

Detailed information about 3D sketches is available in

the Autodesk Inventor Help. References to specific



39

Introduction

Routed parts are used to define tubing, cables, and wires that run throughout assemblies. In Autodesk Inventor, you can work within an assembly to create a sketch path for a 3D sweep or loft feature and easily reference existing assembly geometry to position it.

Why use the 3D sketch environment?

You can work within an assembly to create 3D paths to represent wiring, cabling, or tubing, and position them using adaptive work points from existing components. You can also work within a single part to define a 3D path for a swept feature.

Where do I find a 3D sketch?

When you create a 3D sketch, a sketch icon is displayed in the browser. After you create a part from the 3D sketch, a part icon is displayed with the sketch icon under it.

Key Features

3D Sketch You can sketch a 3D line or separate 3D line segments in any order, and join them with inserted 2D sketch geometry.

Include Geometry

You can project 2D sketch geometry from a previously-created model into a 3D sketch.

Auto-Bend You can create bends between adjoining line segments automatically as you sketch.

Adaptive Work Features

You can reference geometry on other parts when you position adaptive points for the 3D lines used in paths.

40 | Chapter 2 3D Sketches

Work Flow

This section provides an overview of how to create and edit a 3D swept feature. The following is a reference to detailed information in Help about creating 3D swept features. Additional references to information about specific tasks are provided throughout this section.

Planning Your Work

To create a sweep feature, you sketch a 2D profile, define a 3D path, and then sweep the 2D profile along the path.

The method you use to create a 3D path usually depends on the type of routed part you need. For a tube or pipe consisting of straight line segments connected by arcs or bends, use lines and arcs for a 3D path. For a wire, a spline is usually defined by points on a series of work planes. A cable is much like a wire and can be defined by a spline unless there is a spline edge.

With the 3D Line command, you can create a 3D sketch using any number of two-point lines, or a single continuous 3D path connecting work points. You can include existing geometry in a 3D sketch, and you can combine 2D paths into a 3D path and project a 2D sketch onto a 3D part face. Bends are added at corners either manually or automatically. You can create adaptive offset work points on other parts to position 3D paths.

Help Contents Designing models➤ Sketches ➤ How to... Create sketches ➤ 3D sketches

Work Flow | 41

It is recommended that you create 3D sweep features in the following sequence:

■ Create the 2D geometry you need to include in the 3D sketch.

■ Set the 3D sketch bend radius and 3D snap values in Tools ➤ Document Settings.

■ Create adaptive work points on other parts to position the 3D line.

■ Project geometry from existing assembly components into the 3D sketch for part of the path shape.

■ Sketch the path shape, snapping to work points, vertices, and endpoints of included geometry segments.

■ Place tangent corner bends using the Bend tool in 3D Sketch mode.

■ Right-click and select Finish 3D sketch.

■ Create a 2D profile on a plane perpendicular to the sketch path.

■ Use the Sweep tool to select the 2D profile and the 3D sketch.

■ Define the remaining sweep parameters and click OK to create the sweep feature.

Sketching 3D Paths

With the tools in the 3D Sketch toolbar, you can sketch a 3D path and position it within an assembly. If you plan to include 2D geometry in the 3D sketch, you create the 2D geometry before you create the 3D sketch.

You can right-click a sketch in the browser and edit lines and bends as needed. If you lose a part or geometry during editing, you can reattach 3D sketch lines to valid points or vertices.

Help Contents Designing models➤ Sketches ➤ How to... Create sketches ➤ 3D sketches ➤ 3D lines

Help Index sketch tools ➤ 3D lines


Creating Bends in 3D Paths

You can create bends in 3D lines either manually or automatically. To place a bend automatically, you use the Auto-Bend feature. To place a bend manually, you begin with existing 3D sketch geometry.

When you use the 3D Line tool to create lines, bends are automatically added to corners. If you delete a bend, or the radius is too large to fit line segments, the corner in the 3D line is restored.

Positioning 3D Paths

You usually create a 3D sketch by point-to-point connections of work points. These work points can be offset from existing assembly components using corner offset points that are adaptive. After the points are created you can use AutoHide to hide all but the final work feature.

Help Contents Designing models ➤ Sketches ➤ How to... Create sketches ➤ 3D sketches ➤ 3D sketch bends

Help Index sketch tools ➤ 3D bends3D sketches ➤ bends

Help Contents Designing models➤ Sketches ➤ How to... Create sketches ➤ 3D sketches ➤ 3D lines

Help Index adaptive ➤ work features

Work Flow | 43

3D Sketching Tools

The 3D Sketching tools are similar to some of those available for 2D sketching and part modeling.

Working Smarter

Use the following practices to increase efficiency and optimize Autodesk Inventor performance.

■ When you plan to include 2D geometry in a 3D sketch, create the 2D geometry before you create the 3D sketch.

■ Create 2D profile geometry after you create 3D sketch geometry

■ When you work in an assembly, create a separate part file for a 3D sweep feature.

■ Use adaptive work features referenced from other parts to position points for 3D lines.

■ To simplify the 3D sketch display, use the Auto-hide option on Application Tools ➤ Part tab.

3D Sketching Tools


3D Line Create 3D line segments through existing selected work points, vertices, and other geometry

Click to break the line, then right-click and select Restart to begin a new line.

Bend Apply default bend radius and dimension to selected corners

Include Geometry

Insert 2Dsketch geometry into a 3Dsketch

Work Plane Create a work plane

Work Axis Create a work axis

Work Points Locate points relative to geometry on other features


In This Chapter

Part Models

3■ Introduction

■ Key features

■ Work flow

■ Part modeling tools

■ Working smarter

This chapter provides an overview of the concepts for

creating part features with Autodesk Inventor™ software

tools, and describes the workflow in the part modeling

environment.

Detailed information about part modeling is available

in the Autodesk Inventor Help. References to specific



45

Introduction

A part model is a collection of features. A feature is usually created from a sketch. Features are related to one another based on the order in which they are created. Good planning makes it easier to create and revise a model.

How do I create a 3D part model?

To create a 3D part model, you extrude sketch geometry, sweep or project sketch geometry along a path, or revolve sketch geometry around an axis. These models are often called solids because they enclose volume, unlike wireframe models which only define edges. The solid models in Autodesk Inventor are feature-based and persistent.

Feature-based means that a part is a combination of features such as holes, flanges, fillets, and bosses.

Persistent means that you can edit the characteristics of a feature by returning to its underlying sketch or changing the values used in feature creation. For example, you can change the length of an extruded feature by entering a new value for the extent of the extrusion. You can also use equations to derive one dimension from another.

What is a feature?

A feature is a distinct element of a part that can be edited at any time. There are four types of features: sketched, placed, pattern, and work.

A sketched feature is based on sketch geometry and is defined by the parameters you enter in a feature creation command. You can edit the sketch geometry and the feature parameters.

A placed feature, such as a fillet or chamfer, does not require a sketch. To create a fillet, you enter the radius and select an edge. The standard placed features are shell, fillet, chamfer, face draft, hole, and thread.

A pattern feature is a rectangular, circular, or mirrored duplication of features or groups of features. Individual occurrences in a pattern can be suppressed, as necessary.

Work features are planes, axes, or points used to create and position features.

46 | Chapter 3 Part Models

When do I use the part modeling environment?

The part modeling environment is active any time you create or edit a part. Use the part modeling environment to create or modify features, define work features, create patterns, and combine features to create parts. Use the browser to edit sketches or features, show or hide features, create design notes, make features adaptive, and access Properties.

Where do I find a part model?

In an open part file, the part is the top-level entry in the browser. In an open assembly file, each part is listed separately.

You can find the features listed under the part icon in the browser. To edit a feature, right-click it in the browser or graphics window. From the context menu, select Edit Feature to revise the feature creation parameters or Edit Sketch to revise the underlying sketch.

Key Features

Feature preview

See what a feature looks like as you define it.

Feature editing Edit any aspect of a feature at any time.

Work features Select geometry directly to construct work features.

Derived parts Create a part derived from a base part or a component in an assembly.

Component color

Apply colors and reflective qualities to parts, and transparent color such as glass when a part obscures others behind it.

Surface design Construct complex shapes for plastic products, and increase accuracy and productivity in tooling.

Key Features | 47

Work Flow

This section provides an overview of how to create part models. The following is a reference to detailed information in Help about creating parts. Additional references to information about specific tasks are provided throughout this section.

Planning Your Work

Your first sketch for a part can be a simple shape that is easy to create. You can edit features after you add them, so you can develop your design quickly. Throughout the design process, add geometric and dimensional detail and constraints to improve your models. Evaluate design alternatives by changing relationships and constraints, or adding and deleting features.

The first feature you create is the base feature. You create additional features to complete your part. Since these features are dependent on the base feature, good planning can dramatically reduce the time required to create a part.

Help Contents Getting Started ➤ Creating parts

finished part child features removed


Some points to consider before you create a model:

■ Which view of the part best conveys its shape?

The base feature is usually the most prominent feature in that view.

■ What are the most important features of your part?

Create these features early in the modeling process so you can use them for creating subsequent features.

■ Which features require sketches? Which features can be placed?

Both surfaces and solids can be extruded from sketches. Features such as fillets and chamfers do not require sketches.

■ Can you use the origin and coordinate planes to your advantage?

For example, if you create a shaft with its center at the origin, you can use one of the coordinate planes from the browser to sketch a key way.

■ Will it be helpful to apply color styles to parts?

Colors and light reflective qualities help to distinguish individual parts.

Creating New Parts

When you create a new part, you can choose from several templates with predefined units. A template can also contain property information, such as material properties or project information.

Templates are stored in the Autodesk\Inventor5\Templates directory or in the English or Metric subdirectories. Subdirectories in the Templates directory are displayed as tabs in the New dialog box. You can create and save custom templates in the Templates directory.

NOTE If you select Part from the drop-down menu beside the New button, the standard Part template opens. If the Standard.ipt file is not in the Autodesk\Inventor5\Templates directory, an error dialog box is displayed.

Help Index plan sketchessketches ➤ plan

Work Flow | 49

You can define properties for a part, such as part and project data, material properties, units of measure, status, and color. The information on the Summary, Project, Status, and Custom tabs is available outside of Autodesk Inventor through the Design Assistant or Microsoft® Windows® Explorer. For more information about Design Assistant, see “Design Assistant” on page 136.

Creating Base Features

The first feature you create in a part is called the base feature. The base feature may be an imported base solid (.sat or .step file format). The base feature should represent the most basic shape in the part. You can also create a work feature as the base feature.

After you plan your strategy, decide how to create the base feature.

Extrude Projects a cross section along a straight path. Use to create surfaces as well as solids.

Revolve Projects a cross section around an axis.

Loft Constructs a feature with varying cross sections sketched on multiple work planes. The model transitions from one shape to the next, and can follow a curved path.

Sweep Projects a constant cross section along a curved path.

Coil Projects a constant cross section along a helical path.

Creating Work Features

A work feature is a plane, axis, or point that can be projected onto a sketch as a reference feature and used to construct new features. Work features are used when current geometry is insufficient for constructing or locating additional features. For example, you can create a work plane at an angle to a face. If that face changes, the work plane and any associated features also change. If you edit the angle of a workplane, the associated features update to reflect the new orientation. Work features can be adaptive.

Help Index templates ➤ using ➤ Using part templates ➤ setting properties

properties ➤ design

Help Contents Designing models ➤ Features and parts ➤ How to... Create features ➤ Sketched features


In the figure on the left, the work plane was created at a 45-degree angle to the top face. The hole and work axis are added. In the figure on the right, the work plane angle is changed to 30 degrees. The hole and work axis moved with the plane.

Autodesk Inventor can infer the work feature from the selected geometry. For example, if you want to create a work axis, just select the end of a cylinder and a work axis is created through the center of the cylinder.

The visibility of work features can be controlled globally. You can use the work feature visibility control to simplify the information displayed on the screen.

Viewing Parts

There are several ways to view a part. The default view is normal to the sketch. If you right-click in the graphics window and select Isometric View from the menu, the view vector changes to the isometric orientation. You can select Previous View from the menu or press F5 to return the model to the last view.

The view commands are located on the Standard toolbar. See “Viewing Tools” on page 57.

You can rotate a view in 3D. Using the Rotate tool in the Standard toolbar, you can rotate a view around one of the coordinate axes. When Rotate is active, press the SPACEBAR to use the Common View tool, a “glass box” with a view vector on each face and corner.

Help Contents Designing models ➤ Features and parts ➤ How to... Create features ➤ Work features

Help Index adaptive ➤ work features

Help Contents Viewing Designs ➤ Viewing Models

Help Index viewing toolsdisplay options

Help Search look at

Work Flow | 51

Modifying Features

Use one of three options on the Browser right-click menu to modify a feature: Edit Feature, Edit Sketch, or Show Dimensions. Edit Feature opens the dialog box for that feature. Edit Sketch activates the sketch. Show Dimensions displays the sketch dimensions so you can edit them in the part modeling environment.

After you modify a part sketch, update the part to complete the edit and exit the command.

Adding Sketched Features

Parent/child relationships exist between features, which means that one feature controls another. The base feature is the parent to all other features. There can be multiple levels of parent/child relationships. A child feature is created after the parent feature. A child feature cannot exist without a parent feature. For example, you can create a boss on a casting, and it may or may not have a hole drilled in it, depending on the application. The boss (the parent) can exist without the hole (the child), but the hole cannot exist without the boss.

The same procedure for creating a base feature is used to create a sketched feature. With a sketched feature, you specify a sketch, and you have more options for creating the feature.

You can select a face on an existing part, and sketch on it. The sketch is displayed with the Cartesian grid defined. If you want to construct a feature on a curved surface, or at an angle to a surface, you must first construct a work plane.

Help Contents Designing models ➤ Features and parts ➤ How to... Change features

Help Index edit ➤ features

Help Contents Designing models ➤ Features and parts ➤ How to... Create features ➤ Sketched features


Adding Placed Features

A sketch is not required to create a placed feature. For example, you specify an edge for a chamfer, and use the chamfer creation tool to define the remaining parameters. The placed feature tools are located on the Features toolbar.

Some of the standard placed feature tools are shell, fillet or round, chamfer, and face draft.

Shell Produces a hollow part with a wall thickness you define.

Fillet Places a fillet or round on selected edges.

Chamfer Breaks sharp edges. Can add material to an inside edge.

Face draft Creates draft on selected faces. You specify the pull direction.

Other placed features are threads and holes. The Thread and the Hole tools both provide a dialog box to define the placed features.

Help Contents Designing models ➤ Features and parts ➤ How to... Create features ➤ Placed features

Corners and hole center point selected as hole centers

Holes defined as 8-32 UNC x 0.75 inch deep, with a 0.375 x 0.25 inch counterbore

Work Flow | 53

Creating Patterns of Features

Single features or groups of features can be duplicated and arranged in patterns. The pattern tools require reference geometry to define the pattern. You can create patterns using the Rectangular Pattern, Circular Pattern, and Mirror Feature tools.

You can suppress components in a component pattern without removing them from the assembly. This makes it easy to replace parts and to create unique members in assemblies.

Splitting Faces or Parts

The Split tool uses sketch geometry for a parting line to split faces or the entire part. When you split a face, the system divides the existing face along the parting line.

When you split a part, the system cuts through the part along the parting line and deletes half of the part.

Help Contents Designing models ➤ Features and parts ➤ How to... Create features ➤ Pattern features

Help Index split face or partfaces ➤ split

Split Face button

select entire part or individual faces for split

Split Part button select direction for material removal


Part Modeling Tools

The part modeling tool set includes the feature creation tools on the Features toolbar and the viewing tools in the Standard toolbar.

Feature Creation Tools

An arrow next to a button indicates you can expand the button to see more options.

Feature Creation Tools

Button Tool Function Special Instructions

Extrude Extrude a profile normal to the sketch to create solids and surfaces

Can be used as a base feature.

Revolve Revolve a profile around an axis Can be used as a base feature.

Hole Create a hole in a part Use hole points or line endpoints as hole centers.

Shell Create a hollow part Placed feature.

Rib Create rib and web features from open profiles in parts

Placed feature.

Loft Construct a feature with varying cross sections; can follow a curved path

Requires multiple work planes.

Sweep Extrude a profile along a curved path


Coil Extrude a profile along a helical path


Thread Create regular and tapered external and internal threads on parts

Placed feature uses custom, NPT, and other thread standards.

Fillet Create a fillet or round on selected edges

Placed feature.

Chamfer Create a chamfer on selected edges

Placed feature.

Part Modeling Tools | 55

Face Draft Create draft on selected faces Placed feature.

Split Split selected faces along parting line; split part and remove half

View Catalog

Open a catalog of iFeatures

Insert an iFeature

Create an iFeature from an existing feature

Derived Component

Create a new part from a base part

Rectangular Pattern

Create a rectangular pattern of features Can suppress an

individual occurrence of a pattern feature.Circular

PatternCreate a circular pattern offeatures

Mirror Feature

Create a mirror image across plane, line, or axis

Work Plane Create a work plane See “work features” in the Help Index.


Work Points Create a work point

Parameters Display parameters for all features

Edit or replace numbers with equations

Create additional parameters

Link external spreadsheets from this icon located in the Standard toolbar.

Feature Creation Tools (continued)



Viewing Tools

This table describes the tools used to change the view. You can use these tools in all environments.

Viewing Tools


Zoom All Zoom in or out so everything is visible in the graphics window

Zoom Window

Zoom in so the selected viewing area fills the graphics window

Zoom Drag to zoom in or out Press F3 to temporarily activate the tool.

Pan Drag to reposition the model in the graphics window

Press F2 to temporarily activate the tool.

Zoom Selected

Zoom in or out so the selected geometry fits in the graphics window

Rotate Change the viewing perspective of the model

Press SPACEBAR to use the Common View rotation tool

Press F4 to temporarily activate the tool.

Click away from the 3D Rotate symbol to exit.

Look At Change the viewing perspective so the view is normal to the selected geometry

Shaded Display

Hidden Edge Display

Wireframe Display

Display the model as a shaded solid

Display the model as a shaded solid with hidden edges visible

Display the model as a wireframe

Default display setting

Orthographic Camera

Change the view to orthographic

Perspective Camera

Change the view to perspective

Part Modeling Tools | 57

Working Smarter

■ Use the default coordinate system.

If you create a shaft with its center at the origin, you can reference one of the coordinate planes when you sketch additional features.

■ Add work features while you create parts.

It can be easier to create assemblies if work features already exist in the part file.

■ Share sketches between features.

Shared sketches can drive multiple features. A shared sketch appears at the top level of the browser. A shortcut to the shared sketch is shown under each feature that uses it.

■ Use To Next and Through All terminations.

Features created with To Next and Through All terminations update automatically to reflect changes to other features.

■ Set the Select mode.

Specify the type of geometry you want to select to filter out other types.

■ Use the browser filter.

Hide various elements in the browser to make it easier to navigate through features.


In This Chapter

Base Solids

4■ Introduction

■ Key features

■ Work flow

■ Base solids tools

■ Working smarter

Base solids are models created in other CAD systems and

saved in SAT or STEP file format. This chapter is an

overview of the concepts, procedures, and workflow for

using the base solids environment in Autodesk

Inventor™ 5.

Detailed information about base solids is available in




59

Introduction

You can open and use files created in and saved in Pro\ENGINEER® and other CAD systems with the file extensions SAT (.sat), STEP (.stp), and DWG (AutoCAD® .dwg, Autodesk Mechanical Desktop® .dwg).

If an imported SAT or STEP file contains a single component, Autodesk Inventor recognizes it as a base solids part file. If the imported file contains multiple components, Autodesk Inventor recognizes it as a base solids assembly with multiple part files.

When do I use the solid modeling environment?

After you import a file, you can double-click the base solid icon in the browser to activate the solid modeling environment. Use the solid modeling environment to position work features, to modify a base solid, or to use edges of a base solids face as a profile.

What can I do with solid models?

Solid models are different from Autodesk Inventor models. You cannot access the sketches, features, dimensions, or constraints used to create a base solid. However, you can edit base solids, manipulate and delete faces, and create work features for use as construction geometry.

Where do I find a solid model?

When you save imported files in SAT or STP file format, the browser displays base icons to represent the base solids.

Key Features

Editing solids Move or delete a base solid face, lengthen or shorten a base solid, and delete a base solid body.

Retain faces Retain a face from a deleted base solid for use as a profile.

Work Features Create work features for use as construction geometry.

60 | Chapter 4 Base Solids

Work Flow

This section presents an overview of the procedures for working in the base solids environment.

References to information in Help about specific tasks are provided throughout this section.

Planning Your Work

In the solids environment, you use solids tools to modify an imported base solid. Modifications are not parametric, and do not add features to the solid, except for work features used as construction geometry. When you update a base solid to incorporate changes, features added in the part environment are repositioned.

Importing Files

You can import SAT and STEP files created in other CAD systems, and DWG files created in AutoCAD or Autodesk Mechanical Desktop.

Editing Base Solids

You can extend or contract a base solid, and manipulate and delete faces. After you add sketch geometry and sketched features to a base solid, you can delete the solid, but retain dependent features and sketches.

Double-click a solids icon in the browser and choose Edit Solid to activate the solid modeling environment and the solids editing tools. When you finish the edits, use Update to incorporate the changes and exit the solids environment.

Help Contents Designing models ➤ Features and parts ➤ Reference... Parts ➤ Base solids

Help Index solids ➤ environment

Help Index SAT files ➤ About the solids environmentSTEP files ➤ About the solids environment

Help Contents Designing models Features and parts ➤ Reference... Parts ➤ Base solids

Help Index solids

Work Flow | 61

Solids Editing Tools

The solids editing tools are available for editing base solid models that were created in another CAD system and saved in .sat or .stp file format. To activate the solids environment and edit these base solids, right-click a component in the browser and selecting Edit Solid.

Working Smarter

Use these tips to increase your efficiency when you work with base solids.

■ Use the Measure and Precise Input tools to enter values when resizing a base solid.

Use these toolbuttons on the Standard toolbar during the process to expand or contract a base solid.

■ Move sketches onto other work planes.

You can constrain the sketches to work planes or use the Reattach Sketch tool to move sketches onto other work planes.

Solids Editing Tools


Move Face Move one or more faces on a solid

Extend or Contract Body

Extend or contract a base solid symmetrically about a planar face or work plane

Work Plane Create a work plane See the online Tutorials.



Toggle Precise UI

Toggle precise input

62 | Chapter 4 Base Solids

In This Chapter

Sheet Metal Design

5■ Introduction

■ Key features

■ Work flow

■ Sheet metal tools

■ Working smarter

This chapter presents an overview of the Autodesk

Inventor™ 5 sheet metal design environment, the work

flow, and the tools for creating sheet metal parts. You

learn how to use part modeling tools to create parts that

are recognized in the sheet metal environment.

Detailed information about sheet metal design is

available in the Autodesk Inventor Help. References to

specific information in Help are provided throughout

the Work Flow section of this chapter.

63

Introduction

In the sheet metal design environment, you can create sheet metal parts and features using both part modeling tools and sheet metal tools.

How do part modeling and sheet metal differ?

Many of the sheet metal tools are based on part modeling tools that are optimized for sheet metal design. For example, when you create a sheet metal face, you select a profile just like in Extrude. The system extrudes the profile by the material thickness, and can add a bend in the same step. Part modeling tools are required for some of the more complex sheet metal features, such as dimples and louvers. Tools developed specifically for sheet metal include Bend, Corner Seam, and Punch.

What makes sheet metal a design environment?

When you create a part in the sheet metal environment, you can concentrate on functionality first, then add the manufacturing details later. For example, you can create disjointed faces, then add bends at the end.

How do I create a flat pattern?

Use the Flat Pattern tool to create a flat pattern. The flat pattern is created in a second window, and a flat pattern icon is placed at the top of the browser. When you change the model, the flat pattern is updated automatically.

How can I create stamped features?

If your part has features with a lot of material deformation, such as louvers, you can use the feature modeling tools. You see the outline of the feature when you view the flat pattern, and you can dimension to a feature in a drawing. If you create these features as iFeatures, the flat pattern analyzer recognizes them and displays them in 3D on the flat pattern.

For information about iFeatures, see chapter 7, “iFeatures.”

64 | Chapter 5 Sheet Metal Design

Key Features

Face Creates a face by adding thickness to a sketched profile. Creates a bend when possible.

Flange Creates a full-width face and bend in one operation. You can create a contour flange.

Bend Extends and trims faces as necessary to create bends automatically.

Hem Creates a folded or rolled 180 degree hem on an edge, or a double hem.

Flat pattern Creates a flat pattern of a sheet metal model. Updates automatically to reflect a change to the model.

Punch Replicates turret press functionality. Places iFeatures in sheet metal parts. In drawings, places hole center marks on hole centers from sketches.

Work Flow

This section presents an overview of how to create a sheet metal part. The following is a reference to detailed information in Help about sheet metal design. Additional references to information about specific tasks are provided throughout this section.

Planning Your Work

Common sheet metal parts are enclosures, covers, and mounting brackets. You can work in the context of an assembly and develop the functional aspects of your parts before you finalize the manufacturing details.

If you are designing a mounting bracket, you can create disjointed faces that mate with components in the assembly. Then connect those faces with bends to create a complete model. This is efficient from a design perspective, and it simplifies revisions. You can easily delete and create bends to optimize the flat pattern for manufacturing.

Help Contents Getting Started ➤ Creating sheet metal parts

Help Contents Industry solutions ➤ Sheet metal ➤ How to... Create sheet metal features

Key Features | 65

Changing to the Sheet Metal Environment

Sheet metal is the first optimized design environment for part modeling. Autodesk Inventor recognizes modeling and sheet metal as part file subtypes. You can change the default part modeling subtype to sheet metal any time by selecting Applications ➤ Sheet Metal. The sheet metal subtype identifies the part as sheet metal, enables the Sheet Metal toolbar, and adds the sheet metal parameters. If you change the subtype back to modeling, the sheet metal parameters remain, but the system recognizes the modeling subtype.

If you make an error as you work in sheet metal, Design Doctor, a component in the Design Support System (DSS), is displayed. Design Doctor helps you to identify and repair errors.

Setting Sheet Metal Styles

A sheet metal part has parameters that describe the part and how it is made. For example, sheet metal has a uniform thickness and the bends usually have the same radius.

The Sheet Metal Styles button is the first icon in the Sheet Metal toolbar. The following is a list of sheet metal settings with descriptions.

Style List Manages sheet metal styles.In Style List, lists all defined sheet metal styles.In Active Style, indicates the active sheet metal style.

Sheet tab In Sheet, sets parameters that define the material and thickness.

In Flat Pattern, sets the unfold method to Linear or Bend Table. With the Linear Unfold method, you enter a decimal percent of the material thickness for the Linear Offset. The Linear Offset is the position of the neutral axis in the bend. With a Bend Table, the linear offset is defined by material type, thickness, bend radius and bend angle.

Bend tab Sets parameters that define the bend radius, relief shape, and size.

Corner tab Sets parameters that define corner relief shape and size.

Help Contents Industry solutions ➤ Sheet metal ➤ Learn about ➤ Environment

Help Contents Industry solutions ➤ Sheet metal ➤ Reference ➤ Styles


Creating Faces

The first step in the design of most sheet metal parts is to create a face. The Face tool is similar to the Extrude tool in part modeling. The main difference is the Face tool is always a Boolean add. The extrude depth is the thickness. You can create a bend or a hem as you create a new face.

Use the Contour Flange tool on the Sheet Metal toolbar to define and create flanges. The Contour Flange tool provides options for preview and flip offset and flip direction. You can define the bend, and choose whether or not to include a bend relief.

Help Contents Industry solutions ➤ Sheet metal ➤ How to... Create sheet metal features ➤ Sketched features ➤ Sheet metal faces

Help Contents Industry solutions ➤ Sheet metal ➤ How to... Create sheet metal features ➤ Placed features

Since the sketch is coincident with the existing sheet metal face, the Face tool automatically creates the bend and bend reliefs. When a bend is close to an edge, the bend relief is extended to consume the remnant.

The sketch plane is created on the sheet metal edge. The tab is sketched with one edge coincident with the existing sheet metal face.

Work Flow | 67

Creating Punches

The Punch tool provides an optimized format for placing iFeatures in sheet metal parts. Since many features in sheet metal parts are made with turret presses, the Punch tool replicates that functionality in Autodesk Inventor. The Punch tool places iFeatures on hole centers. In a drawing, you can place a hole center mark on the hole center from the sketch.

Creating Cuts and Holes

The Cut tool is similar to the Face tool. The Cut tool is always a Boolean subtract. You cannot create a bend with the Cut tool. You can choose a termination option such as Through All for the feature.

Cut features simplify revisions to the model. You can create simple rectangular faces that define the size of the part. Then use Cut to remove sections. If you use Cut to create iFeatures, you can create a library of punch shapes and easily insert them into parts.

You can sketch a closed shape across an unfolded perpendicular bend, and punch out the cut shape through one or multiple faces. The cut is wrapped around the perpendicular bend in the folded sheet metal configuration. This type of cutout is manufactured in the sheet metal part before it is bent

The Hole tool in the sketch environment is identical to the Hole tool in feature modeling. You can create holes with threads or other finish operations.

NOTE To create chamfered holes, use the Hole dialog box so that Autodesk Inventor can recognize and display the chamfer accurately.

Help Index Punch tool

Help Contents Industry solutions ➤ Sheet metal ➤ How to... Create sheet metal features ➤ Sketched features ➤ Cuts in a sheet metal face


Creating Flanges

Use the Flange tool for simplified modeling of flanges. For example, to create a door, you create a face and then add a full width face and bend to each edge without creating additional sketches. You can control the length of a flange using offset distances from two reference entities.

Help Contents Industry solutions ➤ Sheet metal ➤ How to... Create sheet metal features ➤ Placed features ➤ Sheet metal flanges

Work Flow | 69

Creating Bends and Seams

With Autodesk Inventor, you can create bends within the Face tool or add them separately. If you create a simple part, such as an enclosure, it’s probably faster to create the bends as you create the faces. If your part is more complex or there are different ways to unfold it, you can create bends separately. This makes revisions simpler. In the Bend command, you can create bends along sketched or projected lines, and you can configure edges with a variety of single and double hems. To ensure accuracy in tight bends, the bend settings can be overridden on an individual feature.

Apply corner seams after you create adjoining faces. When you create a corner seam, one of the faces can overlap the edge of the other. If the faces are coplanar, the Corner Seam tool creates a miter or butt joint. You can split connected faces and rip solid corners on a model to form designated seam conditions. Several corner relief types are available in Corner Seam.

Using options on Browser context menus, you can convert a bend to a corner seam and a corner seam to a bend.

Creating Flat Patterns

The Flat Pattern tool unfolds the sheet metal model and displays the flat pattern in a second graphics window. The flat pattern and the model can be viewed at the same time. The display of a flat pattern includes features, such as center punch marks, on both sides of the flat pattern. A bend is represented by the centerline and the inner and outer mold lines. On flat patterns, iFeatures are shown as 3D features. As it creates the flat pattern, the system calculates the overall size, or extents, of the part.

The flat pattern is updated automatically to changes in the model. If the model can’t be unfolded, the flat pattern is updated automatically as soon as the model is valid again. This is an easy way to explore manufacturing options such as changing bends and seams.

Help Contents Industry solutions ➤ Sheet metal ➤ How to... Create sheet metal features ➤ Placed features

Help Contents Industry solutions ➤ Sheet metal ➤ How to... Create sheet metal features ➤ Flat pattern


Flat patterns are created with MetalBender Solver software from data M Software + Engineering.

You can save a sheet metal flat pattern in SAT, DWG, and DXF formats. When you save a sheet metal flat pattern to DWG or DXF formats, bend lines and bend tangent lines are placed on separate layers.

Help Index SAT files ➤ Save Autodesk Inventor files to other formats

bend relief

bend lines

corner relief

bend relief remnant

Work Flow | 71

Sheet Metal Tools

The sheet metal environment toolset includes some of the part modeling and sketching tools in addition to the sheet metal tools.

Sheet Metal Tools

Button Tool Function

Styles Define sheet metal styles. In the Help Index, see sheet metal ➤ styles for a description of settings.

Flat Pattern Create a flat pattern of the sheet metal part.

Face Create a sheet metal face.

Contour Flange Add a contour flange to a sheet metal part.

Cut Remove a profile from a sheet metal face.

Flange Create a flange on a sheet metal edge.

Hem Creates a hem on the edge of a sheet metal part.

Fold Create a bend along a sketched line on a sheet metal face.

Corner Seam Create a corner seam between two sheet metal faces.

Bend Create a bend between two sheet metal faces.

Hole Create a hole. This is the same as the Hole tool in feature modeling.

Corner Round Create a fillet or a round on a corner.

Corner Chamfer Create a chamfer on a corner.


Punch Tool Replicate turret press functionality in Inventor. Place iFeatures on hole centers. In drawings, place hole center marks on hole centers

View Catalog

Insert iFeature

Create iFeature

Open a catalog of iFeatures

Insert an iFeature

Create an iFeature from an existing feature

Work Plane Create a work plane



Rectangular Pattern Create an orthogonal pattern of features

Circular Pattern Create a circular pattern of features

Mirror Feature Create a mirror image of features

Promote Promote IGES or SAT data from the construction environment to the parametric environment. Stitch geometry and promote the stitched result.

Sheet Metal Tools (continued)


Sheet Metal Tools | 73

Working Smarter

■ Automatically create a bend with a face.

Sketch the profile for the new face so one line is coincident with a model edge on an existing face. The Face tool automatically creates a bend between the faces.

■ Create iFeatures of standard shapes.

Create standard shapes using the Cut tool or feature modeling tools, such as Revolve. Build a library of these shapes with iFeatures.

■ Create iFeatures of stamped features.

Cut features can be saved as iFeatures, and can be used to create iFeatures.

■ Create disjointed faces and add bends and corner seams later.

Focus on capturing design intent first, and then optimize the part for manufacturing.

■ Create chamfered holes using the Hole dialog box.

For chamfered holes, use the Hole dialog box to ensure the holes are recognized and displayed accurately. If through holes are created and then chamfered, they may not be recognized and displayed accurately.


In This Chapter

Assemblies

6■ Introduction

■ Key features

■ Work flow

■ Assembly tools

■ Working smarter

In this chapter you learn about assembly tools, and the

work flow for creating assemblies in Autodesk

Inventor™ 5. You also learn some advanced techniques

for creating sketches and part models.

Detailed information about assemblies is available in




75

Introduction

Traditionally, designers and engineers create a layout, design the parts, then bring everything together in an assembly. With Autodesk Inventor™, you can streamline the design process by creating parts in-place, or placing existing parts as you create an assembly. This assembly-centric design methodology supports top-down, bottom-up, and middle-out design strategies.

What are assemblies?

Assemblies are collections of parts and subassemblies. In this manual, the term component refers to a part or a subassembly.

When do I use the assembly environment?

With Autodesk Inventor, you can create an assembly at any point in the design process instead of at the end. If you are doing a clean sheet design, you can start with an empty assembly and create the parts as you develop the design. If you are revising an assembly, you can create the new parts in-place so they mate with existing parts.

What are adaptive assemblies and parts?

In an adaptive assembly, you can make parts adaptive to other parts. Adaptive parts change in response to changes in other parts. For example, create a spacer, define it as adaptive, and then constrain the ends of the spacer to the parts it separates. The spacer stretches or shrinks to fill space between the two parts as the design evolves.

Adaptivity is useful in several ways. You can:

■ Place and adapt parts to work in your assembly.

■ Create parts in place and adapt them as you design.

■ Revise an assembly and have parts adapt to changes.

76 | Chapter 6 Assemblies

How do I design parts in-place?

When you create a part in-place, you can select a face of an existing part as the sketch plane for the new part. Selecting a mating surface is a good start for defining your design. You can project a loop, edge, or series of edges from one face of a part into the sketch for another part. When the topology changes, the new sketch that was projected also changes.

What are derived parts?

A derived part is a new part that uses an existing part as its base feature. You can modify the derived part without affecting the original part. You can update the derived part to incorporate changes made to the original part. You can also break the link between the derived part and the base part if you no longer wish to update the derived part based on the original part.

What are derived assemblies?

A derived assembly is a new part that is based on an existing assembly. You can join parts within an assembly to a single body and subtract a part from another part. This type of top-down assembly modeling makes visualization easier, helps avoid errors, and saves time.

What are iMates?

An iMate is a constraint that is saved with a part and reused later. The iMate technology speeds accurate placement and replacement of parts in assemblies. A composite iMate is a collection of individual iMates into a single entity. Parts drawn from standard libraries snap together quickly with composite iMates. Visual and audio cues are provided to assist in the placement of components with iMates.

Introduction | 77

Key Features

Adaptive technology

Adapt parts to your assembly precisely, without specifying exact dimensions or setting up relationships between parts.

Design in place Create and modify parts in the context of an assembly.

Design layouts Use layouts to design the assembly and parts before committing to 3D solids.

English and metric

Create assemblies containing parts with different systems of measurement.

iMates Store predefined constraint information with a part, and then use the drag method to place the part in an assembly. Replace a part with another part and still preserve the intelligent iMate constraints.

Composite iMate

Collect individual iMates into a single entity for accurate positioning of parts in an assembly.

Large assemblies

Work with large assemblies using the Autodesk Inventor segmented database.

Pack and go Package an Autodesk Inventor assembly and all of its reference files in a single location.

Associative sketch projection

Copy associatively an edge or connected loop of edges from an existing part in an assembly to create a sketch for another part.


Work Flow

This section presents an overview of how to create assemblies in Autodesk Inventor 5. The following is a reference to detailed information in Help about creating assemblies. Additional references to information about specific tasks are provided throughout this section.

Planning Your Work

The order in which you create parts and subassemblies depends on how you answer the following questions:

■ Can you modify an existing assembly or do you have to start a new one?

■ Can you break the larger assembly down into subassemblies?

■ Can you use existing parts or iFeaatures?

■ Which constraints drive the functionality of the design?

Creating or Placing the First Component

Choose a fundamental part or subassembly (such as a frame or base plate) for the first component of an assembly. You can place an existing component or create one in the assembly. The first component is automatically grounded (all degrees of freedom are removed). Its origin and coordinate axes are aligned with the origin and coordinate axes of the assembly.

You create a component in place using the Create In-Place Component dialog box. Options differ for the first component and those created after the first component. You can place any number of copies of the component. The first copy of the component is grounded. The other copies do not have assembly constraints.

Help Contents Getting Started ➤ Creating assemblies

Help Contents Designing models ➤ Assemblies ➤ How to... Develop components ➤ Place Components ➤ Place the first assembly component

Work Flow | 79

Positioning Components

There are several ways to move components. If a component is not grounded or completely constrained, you can drag it in the assembly space. When you drag a component in an assembly, you can dynamically apply mate, flush, insert, tangent, and angle constraints. Constraints remove some degrees of freedom from a component; you can drag a component along the remaining degrees of freedom.

A grounded part or subassembly is fixed to the assembly coordinate system. This grounded state is indicated by a push pin on the component icon in the browser. Any component in an assembly can be grounded. The first component of an assembly is automatically grounded, although you can turn the grounded state off. A constrained component has relationships to other components that define its location.

The behavior of grounded and constrained components differs. For example, if you use the Move or Rotate tool to temporarily relocate a constrained component, it returns to its constrained position when updated. If you move a grounded component with Move or Rotate, any components that are constrained to it move to the new location of the grounded part.

You can view degrees of freedom for a part in the Properties dialog box available from the right-click menu in the browser. In the Properties dialog box, on the Occurrence tab, you can turn the Degrees of Freedom option on or off. The Degrees of Freedom option is also located in the View menu.

Help Contents Designing models ➤ Assemblies ➤ How to... Constrain components ➤ Position Components

Help Index grounded component in assemblydegrees of freedom

push pin symbol indicating a component is grounded

part with one translational and one rotational degree of freedom


Adding Components

In the assembly environment, you can create a new part or subassembly or place an existing one. When you create a new component in-place, you can place the sketch plane in the current view or constrain it to the face of an existing component. When you place an existing component, you place it in space and add constraints later.

Component interfaces called iMates can be applied to a part. iMates use predefined knowledge stored within a part to tell it how to connect with other parts in an assembly. When you insert a part with iMates, it intelligently snaps into place. The part can be replaced by another part while preserving these intelligent iMate constraints.

When a component is active, the rest of the assembly dims in the browser. Only one component can be active at a time. The assembly itself must be active to create or place a component.

NOTE Finish Edit is not available in the context menu while geometry is selected in the graphics window.

You can use the Create Component tool to create a component in place in an assembly. You have the option to create a work feature and constrain it to an existing face, or to place the sketch plane normal to the view with the origin at a selected point.

Derived parts and assemblies are created from existing parts and assemblies. A link exists between the original and a derived part or assembly. Derived parts or assemblies are updated to changes in the original. You can break the link and no longer update a derived part or assembly with changes to the original.

Help Contents Designing models ➤ Assemblies ➤ How to... Develop components ➤ Create parts

Help Contents Designing models ➤ Assemblies ➤ How to... Develop components ➤ Place components ➤ Place a component with an iMate

Help Contents Designing models ➤ Assemblies ➤ How to... Develop components ➤ Create parts

Work Flow | 81

The Derived Component tool in the Features toolbar is used to create derived parts or assemblies.

Creating Patterns

You can create patterns of parts, groups of parts, and subassemblies. These patterns are unique assembly objects. Component patterns can include constraints. You can suppress a pattern or an individual instance in a pattern without removing it.

An assembly pattern can be associative to a part feature pattern. For instance, a pattern of holes can be populated with bolts, which maintain an associative relationship to the pattern. If the number of holes is changed, the number of bolts changes accordingly.

Each time you place a component or create a pattern from a component, Autodesk Inventor links it to all other instances of that component. A model change to a single instance of the component occurs in all other instances.

NOTE To create a new component based on another component, save a copy with a different name and place the copy in the assembly.

Replacing Components

When you replace a part in an assembly, Autodesk Inventor places the new part with its coordinate axes aligned with the existing part. However, you must apply constraints, because all constraints on the existing component are lost during replacement.

Help Contents Designing models ➤ Assemblies ➤ How to... Develop components ➤ Create parts ➤ Create a derived part

Help Contents Designing models ➤ Assemblies ➤ How to... Develop components ➤ Pattern components

Help Index associative assembly patterns

Help Contents Designing models ➤ Assemblies ➤ How to... Develop components ➤ Place components ➤ Replace an assembly component


Adding Constraints to Components

You can add mate, angle, flush, angle, tangent, and insert constraints to components in assemblies. Each type of constraint has multiple solutions. The solutions are defined by the direction of a vector normal to the component.

The Place Constraint tool displays the Place Constraint dialog box for placing mate, angle, tangent and insert constraints.

Mate Constrains two faces, edges, points or work features together with normal vectors pointing toward each other. The Flush option constrains the geometry side by side with the normal vectors pointing in the same direction. The Offset option creates a gap.

Angle Constrains two faces or edges at an angle to one another. You can select the normal vectors of the faces or edges individually. There are four possible solutions for each pair of components. The selected faces of the parts are constrained at an angle.

Help Contents Designing models ➤ Assemblies ➤ How to... Constrain components

Tangent

Angle

Insert select geometry to constrain

select to pick the part before the geometry

Mate

Work Flow | 83

Tangent Constrains a curved surface to a plane or another curved surface. An outside solution places the components so both exterior faces touch. An inside solution places the components so the exterior face of one component touches the interior face of the other.

Insert Constrains a cylinder flush into a hole. Applies a concentric-directed mate between the selected circular arcs. To apply the constraint, select the circles on the cylinder and the hole that you want to mate.

NOTE Insert constraints are limited to flat surfaces that are perpendicular to the cylinder and hole axes.

You can apply mate, flush, tangent, angle, and insert constraints to components by holding the ALT key and dragging the part into position. With this click and drag method, there is no need to enter the constraint command.

The tangent surface constraint positions an object tangent to a group of faces. Using this constraint, you can simulate motion devices, such as cams, and validate designs.

Help Contents Designing models ➤ Assemblies ➤ How to... Constrain components ➤ Place constraints ➤ Assembly ALT-drag constraint tips

Help Index drag-mate assembly constraint

Help Contents Designing models ➤ Assemblies ➤ How to... Constrain components ➤ Place constraints ➤ Assembly ALT-drag constraint tips

Help Index drag-mate assembly constraint


Constraints may limit the motion of parts. Depending on the geometry, degrees of freedom are removed or restricted. For example, if you apply a tangent constraint to two spheres, all six degrees of freedom remain but you can’t translate one of the spheres in just one direction.

Help Contents Designing models ➤ Assemblies ➤ Learn about ➤ Components ➤ Constraining components

Help Index degrees of freedom

Tangent constraint applied to two spheres. All six degrees of freedom remain, but they are restricted.

Tangent constraint applied to cylinder and hole. Cylinder and hole are the same size, so only two degrees of freedom remain.

Work Flow | 85

Using Drive Constraints

After you constrain a component, you can animate mechanical movement by changing the value of the constraint. The Drive Constraint tool repositions a part by stepping through a range of constraint values. You can rotate a component, for example, by driving an angular constraint from zero to 360 degrees. The Drive Constraint tool is limited to one constraint. You can drive additional constraints by using the Parameters tool to create algebraic relationships between constraints.

You enter information in the Drive Constraint dialog box to define the drive constraint and to control motion.

Adding Constraints to Adaptive Parts

You can create underconstrained parts that adapt to constraints in the assembly. In this way, your design function drives the form of its components. For example, you can create a spacer and apply constraints so the spacer will stretch or shrink to fill the gap between two parts.

Help Contents Designing models ➤ Assemblies ➤ How to... Constrain components ➤ Drive constraints

Help Index degrees of freedom

Drive constraint used to simulate a clock. Minute and hour hands are constrained to the dial. Drive constraint rotates the minute hand. Parameters tool defines the hour hand position as a function of minute hand position.

ForwardReverse

Stop

Minimum

Reverse StepForward Step

Maximum

Record


There are some requirements for adaptivity:

■ The sketch must be properly constrained, both geometrically and dimensionally. If the sketch is fully dimensioned, Autodesk Inventor cannot change the dimensions. If too many dimensions are missing, Autodesk Inventor may change the wrong geometry.

■ The part must be set to adaptive in the assembly. Right-click the part in the assembly browser, and select Adaptive.

■ The feature must be set to adaptive in the part file. Activate the part, right-click the feature in the browser, and select Adaptive.

■ Only one instance of a part can be adaptive. If a part has been adapted, the Adaptivity option dims in the context menu.

Adaptive constraints are applied after the component is positioned with constraints. Autodesk Inventor initially tries to reposition the part to satisfy the constraint. If the component cannot be moved, the system tries to adapt the part to fit in the space. If the component is already fully constrained, an error message is displayed to inform you that you cannot overconstrain it.

Help Contents Designing models ➤ Assemblies ➤ How to... Develop components ➤ Place components ➤ Place adaptive components in an assembly

Help Index adaptive ➤ parts in assemblies

two bricks created with 300 mm offset, and cylinder 150 mm long created in space

Mate constrains cylinder to first brick

Mate adapts cylinder length and constrains end to second brick

Work Flow | 87

Creating 2D Layouts

All of the techniques used to create parts can be applied to 2D layouts. You can construct a 2D layout by creating parts and sketching their functional aspects, such as outlines and pivot points, without creating features. For example, you can create a mechanism out of 2D sketched parts, constrain the joints together, and drive the constraints to observe the motion. You can change the size of parts simply by dragging their sketches. After you define the relationships, finalize the shapes and create the features.

In the following illustration, the offset crank-slider mechanism is constructed from 2D parts. Work features are added so the assembly constraints can be applied. All variables can be easily edited. The parts can be revised by dragging. You can change the offset between the crank center and ground by editing the mate constraint.

Help Contents Designing models ➤ Assemblies ➤ Learn about ➤ Assembly modeling ➤ Fundamentals ➤ About using a sketch as an assembly layout

Help Index sketches ➤ layouts for assemblies


Checking for Interference

Autodesk Inventor can check for interference between sets of components and among the components in a set. To speed up the process, you can select the components that you want to check. For example, if you revise a part in an assembly, you can limit the interference check to the components affected by the change.

The Analyze Interference tool checks interference between sets of components. If an interference exists, Autodesk Inventor displays the interference as a solid and displays the volume and centroid in a dialog box. For checking interference within a set, select all components in the set. All parts in the set are analyzed against each other, and interferences are shown in red.

The interference between two parts is displayed in the following illustration. The volume and location data are displayed when you click More in the dialog box.

Help Contents Designing models ➤ Assemblies ➤ How to... Maintain assemblies ➤ Analyze assemblies

Help Index interference in assemblies

interference

Work Flow | 89

Creating Design Views

A design view preserves an assembly display configuration so that you can recall it by name later. You can save the following settings:

■ Visibility on/off

■ Enabled on/off

■ View orientation

■ Zoom factor

■ Browser expansion

■ Color overrides

The Design Views icon in the browser toolbar displays the Design View dialog box for creating, storing, recalling, and updating design views. When naming design views, do not use the default name. The program uses the default name to save the current view when you close the assembly.

Help Contents Designing models ➤ Assemblies ➤ How to... Manage views and visibility ➤ Work with design views

Help Index design views


Restructuring Assemblies

The structure of an assembly is the organization of the components. Grouping parts into subassemblies simplifies the browser. Subassemblies can also reflect manufacturing processes. With Autodesk Inventor, you can change the contents of subassemblies or create new ones at any point during the design process and over the life span of a product.

The top level of an assembly structure can consist of parts and subassemblies. Each subassembly can consist of parts and more subassemblies. Moving a component (a part or subassembly) into a subassembly is demoting. Moving a component out of a subassembly is promoting. If you promote or demote a component, the system deletes the constraints.

NOTE When you restructure components as a group, either into or out of a subassembly, the constraints between those components are maintained, but constraints to components outside the group are lost.

Help Contents Designing models ➤ Assemblies ➤ How to... Maintain assemblies ➤ Manage assembly hierarchy

Help Index reorder componentsrestructure components

assembly with flat structure assembly after restructuring

Work Flow | 91

Producing Bills of Material

You can create a bill of material (BOM) for an assembly, which lists all components and their properties. The order in which the components appear in the browser is the default order for components in a BOM. You can sort components in a BOM by any property type. You can also create a BOM listing only selected parts.

Packaging Assemblies

The Pack and Go function in Autodesk Inventor packages your assembly and all of its referenced files in a single location. This is particularly useful when you need to:

■ Archive files on a CD or other media.

■ Send a complete set of files to a vendor or contractor.

■ Isolate referenced files from other files in the same source folders.

■ Test alternate configurations with the packaged files without changing the source files.

To use Pack and Go from Microsoft® Windows® Explorer, right-click an Autodesk Inventor file (.iam, .ipt, .idw, .ipn) and select Pack and Go.

To use Pack and Go from within Autodesk Inventor, click File ➤ Design Assistant. In the Design Assistant browser, right-click and select Pack and Go.

Help Contents Designing models ➤ Assemblies ➤ How to... Maintain assemblies ➤ Create bills of material

Help Index assemblies ➤ bill of materials

Help Index Pack and Go


Assembly Tools

The assembly tools are available when an assembly file is open and active. If you create or modify a part from within an assembly, the assembly toolbar is not active while the part modeling toolbars are active.

Assembly Tools


Place Component Place a link to an existing part or subassembly in an assembly. A change to any instance updates all other instances of a component.

Create Component Create a new part or subassembly in an assembly.

Place Content Sets the URL for third-party content added to Autodesk Inventor assemblies. Allowable file types are .htm, .html, and .exe.

Pattern Component Create copies of a component in a rectangular or circular pattern.

Place Constraint Place a constraint between faces, edges, vertices, or work features. Constraints can be adaptive.

Replace Component

Replace All

Replace a component in an assembly with another component.

Replace multiple selected components in an assembly with another component.

Move Component Enable temporary translation of a constrained component. Constrained components return to position when you click Update.

Enable permanent translation of a grounded component. Grounded components remain in the new position when you click Update.

Rotate Component Enable temporary rotation of a constrained component. Constrained components return to position when you click Update.

Enable permanent rotation of a grounded component. Grounded components remain in the new position when you click Update.

Assembly Tools | 93

Section Views Display a quarter section view of a model defined by hiding portions of components on one side of a defined cutting plane.

Display a three quarter section view.

Display a half section view.

Display an unsectioned view of a model.

Work Plane Create a work plane.

Work Axis Create a work axis.

Work Point Create a work point.

Assembly Tools (continued)



Working Smarter

Use the following tips to efficiently create and manage your assemblies.

Loading and Updating Components Faster

■ Turn off visibility of nonessential components.

Access the parts you need and update graphics faster.

■ Use design views.

Create design views that highlight specific design problems or assembly subsystems, and apply them when opening the assembly model.

■ Turn off part adaptivity.

After you size a component, turn off adaptivity to speed up solutions and prevent accidental changes.

Managing Components

■ Assign different colors to components.

Select colors from the Color list on the Standard toolbar.

■ Use the browser to find components.

Point to a component in the browser to highlight it in the graphics window.

■ Use color to identify component groups.

Using attributes, find components in specific subsystems or from specific vendors and color code them in named design views.

Using Efficient File Structures

■ Plan your work.

Before you create parts, plan the top-level assembly and its subassemblies.

■ Use subassemblies.

Create small subassemblies and combine them in larger assemblies.

■ Use logical projects.

Define and use projects to simplify your design project.

■ Use shared directories.

Use projects to facilitate sharing both work in progress and defined libraries of completed parts across projects and within your design team.

Working Smarter | 95

Managing Assembly Constraints

■ Start constraining components by mating planar faces.

Add tangent, angular, and flush constraints later.

■ Apply constraints after features are stable.

Avoid constraints between features that might be removed later in the design process.

■ Drag components to check translational degrees of freedom.

You can see how a component is constrained.

■ Control feature adaptivity by making the sketch or the feature adaptive.

Right-click the feature in the browser and select Properties. You can select Feature, Sketch or both to be adaptive. Setting both to be adaptive is equivalent to selecting Adaptive from the context menu.

■ Create component iMates for repeated use.

Using component interfaces called iMates, you can define placement information on parts and assemblies to use repeatedly.

Navigating with the Browser

■ Switch between design views.

Click the arrow next to Design Views to select an active design view or to return to the default view.

■ Filter elements of components.

Click Filter in the browser toolbar to hide elements of components in the structure. This can significantly simplify the appearance of large assemblies.

■ Switch structure between assembly and modeling tasks.

Click Filter and select Assembly Tasks or Modeling Tasks. Assembly Tasks displays constraints under each component. Modeling Tasks displays the model structure under each component and all assembly constraints in a folder.


In This Chapter

iFeatures

7■ Introduction

■ Key features

■ Work flow

■ Working smarter

The iFeatures in AutoDesk Inventor™ 5 are features that

you can create, extract, and reuse in your designs. This

chapter gives you an overview of how iFeatures work

and how they are used in the part modeling

environment.

Detailed information about iFeatures is available in the


information in Help are provided in the Work Flow

section of this chapter.

97

Introduction

You can create features called iFeatures on parts, and then extract and apply them to other parts. Through the use of iFeatures and the family-of-parts publishing in Autodesk Inventor, designs can be shared in a collaborative design process.

What is an iFeature?

An iFeature file name has the .ide extension. An iFeature works like a template, copying features from one part and applying them to others. iFeatures are not linked together, so each instance is independent. You can use iFeatures as standard parts that require no modification, or custom parts that can be modified before insertion.

Why use iFeatures?

Many companies have design details that are used repeatedly. With Autodesk Inventor, you can extract and reuse design features. For example, if you use a certain stepper motor, the alignment boss and all of the mounting holes can be inserted at once.

Where can I use iFeatures?

You can use iFeatures in the part modeling environment. An iFeature can be a base feature if it is not dependent on other features.

98 | Chapter 7 iFeatures

Key Features

iFeature dialog box

Create iFeatures from one comprehensive dialog box

iFeature catalogs

Create and share catalogs of complex iFeatures that promote “best practices” within your organization.

Design reuse Reuse existing, proven designs to speed up development time and improve quality.

Company standards

Create feature catalogs that reflect your company’s design standards and manufacturing processes.

Work Flow

This section presents an overview of the procedures for using iFeatures. The following is a reference to detailed information in Help about iFeatures. Additional references to information about specific tasks are provided throughout this section.

Planning Your Work

After you create the features in a part, you can extract them to create iFeatures. When you create an iFeature, you specify which dimensions can be changed when it is used in another part. You can also place limits on dimensional changes. The iFeatures are saved with the file extension .ide.

On the Standard toolbar, use the Parameters tool to label the parameters you plan to include in an iFeature. Use descriptive names. Custom parameter names are automatically listed in Parameters in the Create iFeature dialog box.

Using an unconsumed sketch, you can create an iFeature for a structural shape and a feature that is adaptive to other features in your design. You can use an iFeature to include the sketch in an assembly as a layout sketch.

After you create an iFeature, you store it in a catalog. Using Windows Explorer, you can drag the iFeature from the Catalog into a part file or you can use the Insert iFeature tool.

Help Contents Designing models ➤ Features and parts ➤ Learn about... Features ➤ iFeatures

Key Features | 99

Creating iFeatures

On the Features toolbar, you expand the View Catalog button to display the iFeature buttons. When you click the Create iFeature button, the Create iFeature dialog box is displayed. The Create iFeature dialog box is used to create new iFeatures and to redefine existing iFeatures.

Selected Features

Displays the feature you select in the browser to include in the new iFeature.

Size Parameters

Move size parameters into the Size Parameters box if you want to change them for the new iFeature.

Position Geometry

Move work features of model geometry used for positioning into the Position Geometry box if you want to change them for the new iFeature.

Help button on the dialog box

Create iFeatures

Help Contents Designing models ➤ Sketches ➤ Learn about... Fundamentals ➤ About using sketches in iFeatures

Index iFeatures


Viewing the Catalog of iFeatures

The iFeature files are stored in catalog folders. On the Features toolbar, you expand the View Catalog button to display the Create iFeature and Insert iFeature buttons. When you click the View Catalog button, Microsoft® Windows® Explorer opens the catalog folder where you can double-click an iFeature to open it.

Inserting iFeatures

The iFeatures are not linked, so you can insert multiple instances in a part and implement each one independently. The Insert iFeatures button displays the Insert iFeature dialog box for inserting an iFeature into an active part. Here you browse to and select a file with an .ide extension.

The browser in the Insert iFeature wizard highlights the active step as you proceed through the steps to select, position, size, and precisely position the iFeature.

You can use a face, work plane, or reference sketch geometry, such as a sketched line, to position an iFeature on a part. You can also drag an iFeature from the catalog into the active window.

If an iFeature has a document attached to it with instructions about placement, select the Information button.

browser

Information

Work Flow | 101

The iFeature is displayed with a translation or rotation symbol at the base of it. You can click the symbol and drag to approximately position the iFeature.

Working Smarter

■ Use the Equations tool to name dimensions in the part sketch.

When you create an iFeature from a part, Autodesk Inventor automatically selects named dimensions as Size Parameters. It is easier to insert an iFeature if the Size Parameters have meaningful names.

■ Name position geometry.

You can simplify the placement of the iFeature by giving the position geometry descriptive names.

■ Add documentation to your iFeatures.

Open an iFeature in Autodesk Inventor and drag a file, such as a Microsoft® Word document or HTML file, from Microsoft Windows Explorer into Autodesk Inventor. To activate an information button in the Insert iFeature dialog box, expand 3rd Party in the browser, right-click the document, and select Placement Help.

translation symbol

rotation symbol


In This Chapter

Presentation Views

8■ Introduction

■ Key features

■ Presentation tools

■ Working smarter

Presentation views in Autodesk Inventor™ are the

design views you create from assemblies. This chapter

gives you an overview of the tools and work flow used

to create exploded, animated, and other stylized

assembly views.

Detailed information about presentation views is

available in the Autodesk Inventor Help. References to

specific information in Help are provided in the Work


103

Introduction

With presentation documents, you can create exploded views, and position assembly components. You can also create an animation of the exploded view process.

What are presentation documents?

A presentation document is similar to an assembly without constraints. When you create a new presentation view, Autodesk Inventor uses the graphical information and the relative positions of the components. If a component in an assembly is revised, the graphical information is updated.

How many views can I have?

You can create any number of views for an assembly. A presentation document is linked to an assembly, so you can create all required views in one document.

How can I show partial assemblies?

Create a design view that shows only the components you need. You can specify that design view when you create a new presentation view.

How can I animate the exploded view?

After you tweak the components to create the exploded view, you can create an animation using the history of the tweaks.

Key Features

Automatic Explode

Automatically explode assemblies and subassemblies.

Tweaks and Trails

Edit tweaks and trails to revise exploded views.

Animation Record animations of explosions.

104 | Chapter 8 Presentation Views

Work Flow

This section presents an overview of the process for creating exploded views and other stylized assembly views. The following is a reference to detailed information in Help about presentation views. Additional references to information about specific tasks are provided throughout this section.

Creating Presentation Views

When you open a new file, you select an assembly, and create the first and any number of subsequent presentation views. The Presentation tool, available from the Standard toolbar in New, opens a presentation (.ipn) file. The presentation tool located on the Presentation toolbar displays the Select Assembly dialog box. The Presentation toolbar contains buttons for the tools you need to create and work with presentation views.

When you create presentation views, you can select different design views of the assembly. For example, if you document assembly procedures for a car engine, you could have an assembly of the complete engine and its accessories. The exploded view of the accessories would show the complete engine, with tweaks for components such as the alternator and mounting hardware. If you document the timing belt installation, you create an assembly design view with the visibility turned off for the accessories, valve covers, and any other parts that obscure the view. You select that design view when you create the presentation view for the timing belt.

Help Contents Documenting designs ➤ Presentations

Help Index presentations

Work Flow | 105

You can manually tweak each component into the desired location, or have each component automatically tweaked away from the grounded component by the distance you specify, relative to applied constraints.

You can create views that show a machine in certain positions. For example, if you have a robot for pick and place operations, you can create presentation views showing the range of motion.

Changing View Vectors

When you create or open a presentation view, the default view vector is isometric. You can rotate the view vector incrementally about one of the coordinate axes using the Precise View Rotation tool. You can save the view vector for future use.

Tweaking Components

When you manually tweak a component, you move it a certain distance along a vector. You might tweak a component several times to move it into position. Although tweaks are usually orthogonal, you can tweak at an angle or rotate the component. Each tweak appears in the browser under the component.

The Tweak Components tool on the Presentations toolbar displays the Tweak Component dialog box, where you can define tweaks.

Help Contents Documenting designs ➤ Presentations ➤ How to... Add a new presentation view

Help Index presentations ➤ toolbar ➤ Precise View Rotationpresentations ➤ precise view rotation

select the vector for the tweakapply selections

clear selections

place the direction triad

select components to tweak

select the trail origin

display or hide trails

rotate triad only

value for tweak


You can tweak one component at a time, or you can tweak several components together. For example, you might tweak mounting hardware as a group, and then tweak each part separately.

An exploded view usually has a trail from each tweaked component to the base component. The system creates trails as you tweak components. You can turn off the visibility of trails. You can also delete trails and add new trails.

Automatic explode was used to tweak the four bushings away from the yoke in the following illustration.

Editing Tweaks

You may need to adjust the position of tweaked components to create an exploded view. You can add a new tweak to the component, or edit the values of existing tweaks. Parts can be added to existing tweaks. You edit tweaks using the Tweak Component dialog box or in the browser using the Tweak View filter.

Help Contents Documenting designs ➤ Presentations ➤ How to... Work with tweaks and trails

Help Index presentations ➤ toolbar ➤ Tweak Componentspresentations ➤ tweaks

Work Flow | 107

Editing Trails

After you tweak a component into position, you can edit the trails to improve the appearance of the document. As you edit or delete a trail, you also edit or delete the tweak. When you click a trail, a node is displayed at the trail end. If a trail segment is highlighted, you can drag that segment to a new position. You can also hide and add trails.

In the following illustration, the tweak was reset to zero by selecting the trail and collapsing one of its members to zero. When a tweak comes within range of the specified tolerance, the tweak snaps to zero. You can drag the trail beyond the zero position into the negative, or opposite side of the zero without losing the tweak or having it reset to zero.

Animating Tweaks

In Autodesk Inventor, you can animate an exploded view based on the tweak history. You can edit the tweak history to change the order or grouping of tweaks. You can also create an AVI file of the animation for manufacturing, service or sales documentation.

NOTE The animation tool uses the tweak history to move the components. If you edited the trails, the components will still follow the tweak path.

You can arrange tweak sequences for animations. With a presentation view active, the Filter button in the browser toolbar contains the options for animating tweaks.


The Sequence View tool is used to arrange tweak sequences. At the top of the browser, the tasks for explosions are listed. In the browser, under each task, the tweaks are listed in sequence. You can drag and reorder tweaks, changing the sequences to create different animations. Each animation sequence contains a Hidden folder. To hide a component so it is not visible in an animation, drag the component into the Hidden folder

The Animate tool displays the Animation dialog box, where you set the Interval between steps (in 0.001 second increments) and the number of repetitions, and play the animation or step through the tweaks. The More button ( >> ) provides access to the animation sequence, where you can edit the sequence of the tweaks.

Help Contents Documenting designs ➤ Presentations ➤ How to... Animate an exploded view

Play Forward

Forward By Interval Auto Reverse

Pause

Reverse By Interval

Reverse By Tweak

Record

Play ReverseForward By Tweak

Work Flow | 109

Presentation Tools

When a presentation document is active, the Filter button at the top of the browser provides a menu with the options Tweak View, Sequence View, and Assembly View. The tools for working with presentation views are located in the Presentation toolbar.

Working Smarter

You can use the following techniques to create presentation documents quickly and efficiently.

■ Use the browser to change the tweak selection set.

Click a component in the browser to add it to or remove it from the selection set.

■ Use group to reorder tweaks in the Animation dialog box.

If you are reordering several tweaks, group them first and move them together.

■ Tweak components by dragging the Direction triad.

Drag an arrow on the Direction triad to tweak in that direction.

Presentation Tools


Create View Create a new presentation view of an assembly

Tweak Component

Move components to create exploded views

Enter a value for the tweak, or select the direction and drag the component in the graphics window.

Precise View Rotation

Rotate view vector around the X, Y, or Z axis in increments

Animate Animate a tweak Record the animation in an AVI file


In This Chapter

Drawings

9■ Introduction

■ Key features

■ Work flow

■ Drawing tools

■ Working smarter

Drawings are used to document parts and assemblies.

This chapter provides an overview of the drawing tools

in Autodesk Inventor™ 5 and the work flow for creating

drawings.

Detailed information about drawings is available in the


information in Help are provided in the Work Flow

section of this chapter.

111

Introduction

Autodesk Inventor links drawings to the underlying part models and assemblies. Any changes to a part are reflected in the drawing. You can also revise parts and assemblies by changing model dimensions while you are in a drawing. This two-way communication of changes helps ensure the documentation represents the latest version of a component.

When can I create a drawing?

Since Autodesk Inventor maintains links between parts, assemblies, and drawings, you can create a drawing any time after you create a part. It is usually a good idea to wait until a part is stable before you create a drawing, since you need to edit the drawing details (to add or delete dimensions or views, or to change the locations of notes and balloons) to reflect the revisions.

Sometimes it is more efficient to create a quick 2D drawing than it is to design a solid model. With Autodesk Inventor, you can create 2D parametric drawing views, which can also be used as sketches for 3D modeling.

When do I use the drawing environment?

The drawing environment is activated when you open a drawing or when you start a new drawing with a template for an .idw file. You create a drawing to document a part for manufacturing. When you revise a part, you can make changes to the part, the assembly, or the drawing. Autodesk Inventor updates all instances of the part. Whenever you revise a part in the drawing environment, check the assemblies where the part is used to confirm there is not an interference.

How do I revise a part from the drawing?

You can view and edit model dimensions in a drawing. Autodesk Inventor updates all instances of the part to reflect your changes. If you change the value of a drawing dimension, Autodesk Inventor does not revise the part. The new nominal value appears on the drawing, but it will not be to scale.

112 | Chapter 9 Drawings

Key Features

Field text Enter information such as the part number, revision level, and material in the Properties dialog box. If you add field text tags to the title block, Autodesk Inventor displays the current text.

Cursor cues Receive cues when the cursor changes in appearance to indicate that a different context menu is available.

Memory management

Load drawing sheets on demand. Only the sheets you activate in multiple-sheet drawings are loaded, not the entire drawing file.

Move sheets and views

Reorder sheets and move views between sheets by dragging in the browser.

Drawing standards

Use ANSI, BSI, DIN, GB, ISO, and JIS drawing standards. You can also customize a drawing standard to comply with your company’s own standards.

Bidirectional associativity

Update drawings to reflect changes in the model. Revise a model in the drawing environment by changing model dimensions.

General Dimension

Create drawing dimensions intuitively with this tool.

Design Doctor Get help with dimensions and annotations that become disassociated.

Alternative dimension

Display dimensions in dual unit values, such as English and metric.

Auto-dimension

Dimension many baseline object or points at the same time.

Key Features | 113

Work Flow

This section presents an overview of how to create drawings. The following is a reference to detailed information in Help about drawings. Additional references to information about specific tasks are provided throughout this section.

Creating Drawings

Autodesk Inventor comes with a standard template to use as the starting point for your drawings. The default drawing template is determined by the drafting standard you select when you install Autodesk Inventor. Template files have the standard drawing extension (.idw). Autodesk Inventor stores template files in the Autodesk\Inventor5\ Templates folder.

NOTE When you select New Drawing from the drop-down menu next to the New button, Autodesk Inventor looks for a file named Standard.idw in the Autodesk\Inventor5\Templates folder.

You start with a drawing template when you create a new drawing. When you select File ➤ New or click the New button, choose a drawing template from the Default, English or Metric tab. The default drawing is a blank sheet of paper with a border and title block. The English and Metric tabs contain the templates for those units of measure.

Customizing Drawings

Drawing templates can be customized. You can modify the drawing border and title block to comply with your company’s specifications. Any changes apply only to the current drawing, unless you save them in a drawing template.

You can create a custom drafting standard based on an existing standard. You save drawings with custom settings in the Autodesk\Inventor5\Templates folder.

Help Contents Getting Started ➤ Preparing final drawings

Help Contents Documenting designs ➤ Drawings and views ➤ How to... Set up drawings


With a drawing template open on your screen, select Format ➤ Standards to display the Drafting Standards dialog box. With the Drafting Standards dialog box, you can create and modify drafting standards.

The Format menu also contains tools to define borders, title blocks, and symbols, and to display the Dimension Styles and Text Styles dialog boxes.

Creating Views

With Autodesk Inventor, you create and manipulate a variety of views. The tools for creating and working with drawing views are located on the Drawing Management toolbar. The Create View tool displays the Create View dialog box. The Create View dialog box is used to add a design view from an assembly, and to create projected, auxiliary, section, detail, draft, and broken views.

Projected view Projects from the base view to a desired location. The relationship of the projected view to the base view is determined by the orientation of the projected view.

Auxiliary view Projects from an edge or line in a base view. The resulting view is aligned with its base view.

Section view Creates a full, half, offset, or aligned section view from a base view. Creates a view projection line for an auxiliary or partial view. A section view is aligned with its base view.

Detail view Creates and places a detailed drawing view of a specified portion of a base view. The view is created without an alignment to the base view.

Draft view Creates a blank view with the sketch environment activated for drafting. You can import AutoCAD® data into a draft view, and you can copy a draft view and paste it into the same or another drawing.

Broken view Creates a view with breaks for situations where the component view exceeds the length of the drawing, or contains large areas of nondescript geometry, like the center portion of a shaft.

Help Contents Documenting designs ➤ Drawings and views ➤ How to... Set up drawings ➤ Set the drafting standard ➤ Create a custom drafting standard

Help Contents Documenting designs ➤ Drawings and views ➤ How to... Work with drawing views

Work Flow | 115

Rotating Views

You can rotate views by edge or by angle. Views rotate as rigid bodies, including any sketches. When a view is rotated, annotations maintain their associativity to the view and model geometry. Depending upon the drawing standard used, additional information may be provided in the View label indicating that the view is rotated out of its normal position.

NOTE When you rotate a view, if a section view cutting plane line is not updated, you can edit the section line as you would edit a sketch, including constraints.

Adding Sheets

You can add multiple sheets to a drawing. Use the browser to move views between sheets. Only one sheet is active at a time; inactive sheets are dimmed.

The first folder at the top of the browser is Drawing Resources. You can expand Drawing Resources to show the sheet formats, title blocks, borders, and sketched symbols that are available to use in the drawing. You can customize, add to, or delete items from Drawing Resources.

Help Contents Documenting designs ➤ Drawings and views ➤ Reference... Drawing views ➤ Edit views ➤ Rotate View reference

Help Index rotate ➤ view

Help Contents Documenting designs ➤ Drawings and views ➤ How to... Set up drawings ➤ Work with drawing sheetsDocumenting Designs ➤ Drawings and views ➤ Reference... Drawing setup ➤ New sheet

Help Index drawing resources

view dragged to Sheet 1

cursor touching Sheet 1 icon

insertion bar indicates where view is displayed


Using Model Dimensions

Model dimensions can be used in drawings. The option to display model dimensions in a drawing is available in the Create View dialog box. Only model dimensions parallel to the view plane are available in that view. If the Autodesk Inventor installation option to modify a model dimension from a drawing is enabled, you can edit a model dimension and it changes the part model. Like the format of drawing dimensions, the format of model dimensions can be changed.

The right-click menu in a view lists options to add, remove, edit model dimensions, and to move model dimensions to different views.

Creating Dimensions in Drawings

The process for creating a drawing dimension is like the process for placing a model dimension in the part or assembly environment. When you select a feature or relationship between features to dimension, Autodesk Inventor creates a horizontal, vertical, or aligned dimension, depending on the direction you move the cursor. Snap is activated to help place a dimension at a standard distance from the view and to align dimensions with each other.

You can specify how a dimension should look, capture the dimension style, and apply the style to any dimension in a drawing.

Help Index dimensions ➤ model dimensions in drawings

Help Contents Documenting designs ➤ Drawings and views ➤ Learn about... Dimensions ➤ Working with dimensions in drawings

Help Index dimensions ➤ drawing

Snap indicator shows that you selected this dimension as the reference for aligning a new dimension

As you drag the new dimension into position, the snap indicator turns on when you are aligned with the selected dimension

Work Flow | 117

Changing Dimensions

After you place a dimension, you can change the tolerance type, nominal value, tolerance, and fit. Options to make these changes are located in the Dimension Tolerance dialog box. The Dimension Tolerance dialog box is displayed when you double-click a dimension.

When you select a tolerance type, Autodesk Inventor previews the dimension in the new tolerance type on the drawing. Enter a new nominal value for the dimension and set the precision

If the nominal value of a model or drawing dimension is changed, Autodesk Inventor changes the value on the drawing but does not update the part or the assemblies.

You can specify the display characteristics for dimension lines and arrowheads in drawings.

Help Contents Documenting designs ➤ Drawings and views ➤ Learn about... Dimensions ➤ Working with dimensions in drawings

Help Index dimensions ➤ tolerancedimensions ➤ styles


Annotating Drawings

In Autodesk Inventor, a full palette of drawing symbols and notes for annotating drawings is available. The symbols vary, depending on which drafting standard you use. Custom drawing elements, such as graphical symbols, standard notes, or revision blocks can be added to drawings.

Tools for creating notes, symbols, center marks, centerlines, and balloons in drawings are located on the Drawing Annotation toolbar. The Parts List tool inserts a parts list into a drawing.

Notes Add notes with the Text or Leader Text tool. Both Text and Leader Text use a word processor with minor formats such as font type, bold, and special symbols. Leader Text attached to geometry is associative, and moves with the drawing view.

Symbols Add symbols with the appropriate symbol button. You can create leaders for symbols, and you can place a symbol for surface texture. You can copy and paste symbols for feature control frames, surface texture, datum IDs, datum targets, and weld notes, and user defined symbols with and without leaders.

Center marks Add center marks with the Center Mark tool. The center mark extension lines are automatically sized to fit the geometry.

Centerlines Add centerlines with the Center Line tool, located on the Center Mark button menu. Autodesk Inventor supports three types of centerlines: bisector, centered pattern, and axial.

Balloons Add balloons to individual parts or all parts at once with the Balloon tool. You can add balloons to a custom part after it is added to the parts list.

NOTE For centered patterns, do not close a circle by selecting the starting point as the ending point. Select each point once, and then right-click and select Create. Drag the endpoint of the line to the starting point to close the circle.

Help Contents Documenting designs ➤ Drawings and views ➤ How to... Annotate drawings

Help Index annotations

Work Flow | 119

Hole Tables in Drawings

Hole tables in drawings show the size and location of some or all of the hole features in a model. Hole tables eliminate the need to add notations for each hole feature in a model.

Parts Lists in Drawings

To create a parts list in a drawing in Autodesk Inventor, use the Parts List tool. You can generate a parametric parts list for an assembly. The properties for each part or subassembly are displayed in the parts list. You can specify the items you want in the list, such as part number, description, and revision level. Parts lists can be edited.

Creating Sketch Overlays

You can create a sketch overlay sheet to add graphics or text to your drawing without affecting drawing views. You can redline a drawing, for example, by working on the sketch overlay.

Printing and Plotting

The Drawing Manager uses print dialog boxes similar to other Microsoft® Windows® based programs to print or plot a drawing. You can select the printer, print scale, number of copies and which sheets you want to print.

Help Index hole tables

Help Contents Documenting designs ➤ Drawings and views ➤ How to... Annotate drawings ➤ Add parts lists

Help Index parts list

Help Index sheet ➤ formats

Help Index plot ➤ print models and drawings


Drawing Tools

The drawings tool set includes Drawing Management, Drawing Annotation, and Sketch toolbars.

Drawing Management Toolbar

The Drawing Management toolbar contains the tools that create drawing views and add new sheets.

Drawing Management Toolbar


Create View Import a part into the drawing and create the first view

Projected View Create a projected view

Auxiliary View Create an auxiliary view Select an edge to project a view.

Section View Create a section view Draw a section line.

Detail View Create a detail view

Broken View Create any number of broken views

New Sheet Add a new sheet

Draft View Create a draft view

Drawing Tools | 121

Drawing Annotation Toolbar

The Drawing Annotation toolbar contains the tools for adding drawing dimensions, symbols, text, balloons, and parts lists.

Drawing Annotation Toolbar


General Dimension

Create a dimension between two points, lines, or curves

Double-click a dimension to select dimension tolerance type and precision.

Baseline dimension Create multiple dimensions automatically

Ordinate Dimension Set

Create an ordinal dimension set

Ordinate Dimension

Create an ordinate dimension

Hole/Thread Notes Create a hole or thread note with a leader line

Available only for holes created using the Hole feature tool in parts.

Center Mark Create a center mark

Create a centerline

Creates an angle bisector

Create a centerline for a circular pattern

Surface Texture Symbol

Create a surface texture symbol

Weld Symbol Create a weld symbol

Feature Control Frame

Create a feature control frame symbol


Feature Identifier Symbol

Create a feature identifier symbol

Not available for the ANSI standard.

Datum Identifier Symbol

Create a datum identifier symbol

Datum Target Create a datum target with a leader

Create a datum target for a circular area

Create a datum target with a line

Create a datum target for a point

Create a datum target for a rectangular area

Text Create a text block

Leader Text Create text with a leader

Balloon

Balloon All

Add a balloon to a part

Add balloons to all the parts in a drawing

Autodesk Inventor assigns numbers to parts.

Parts List Create a parts list Customize parts list by specifying property fields.

Hole Table - Selection

Add a hole table for selected holes in a specified view

Hole Table - View Add a hole table for all holes in a selected view

Drawing Annotation Toolbar (continued)


Drawing Tools | 123

Sketch Toolbar

The Sketch toolbar in the Drawing Manager is similar to the Sketch toolbar used to create parts and assemblies.

Sketch Toolbar


PropertyField

Create text field; display text from Properties menu or keyboard input

Select source for text.

Define text format.

Only in title blocks.

Text Insert text field Define text format.

Line Create line segment

Create spline

Select linetype from Style menu.

Circle Create circle with center point and radius

Create circle tangent to three lines or curves

Create ellipse


Arc Create arc with three points

Create arc with center point and two endpoints

Create arc tangent to a lineor curve at its endpoint


Rectangle Create rectangle with diagonal points

Create rectangle with three orthogonal points


Fillet Create fillet by entering radius and clicking two lines or curves

Dialog box prompts for radius.

Chamfer Create chamfer or broken edge


Point, Hole Center

Create point

Polygon Create a polygon

Mirror Mirror sketch geometry and features

Mirror sketch geometry across a centerline.Mirror one or more features at equal distances across a plane.

Rectangular Pattern

Create a rectangular sketch pattern

Circular Pattern

Create a circular sketch pattern

Offset Create parallel lines or curves at a specified distance

General Dimension

Dimension sketch geometry

Auto-dimension

Place dimensions, overriding system dimensions, in one step

Extend Extend a line or curve to intersect with the nearest line, curve, or point

Press and hold SHIFT to temporarily enable the Trim tool. Right-click and select Trim to switch tools.

Trim Trim a line or curve Press and hold SHIFT to temporarily enable the Extend tool. Right-click and select Extend to switch tools.

Move Move a specified sketch

Rotate Rotate a specified sketch

Sketch Toolbar (continued)


Drawing Tools | 125

Add Constraint

Make two lines perpendicular

Make two lines parallel

Make a line or curve tangent to a curve

Make points, lines, or curves coincident

Make two curves concentric

Make lines or axes collinear

Make a line horizontal; align points

Make a line vertical; align points

Make two lines or radii equal length

Make points, lines, or curves fixed relative to the sketch coordinate system

Make existing geometry symmetric

Apply separately from Mirror constraint. Use Mirror to create new symmetrical sketches.

Show Constraints

Show applied constraints To delete, position cursor over constraint and press DELETE.

Fill/Hatch Sketch Region

Insert fill/hatch into sketch regions in drawings

Use to display cross sections.

Insert AutoCAD file

Sketch Toolbar (continued)



Working Smarter

■ Use drawing formats with predefined views.

If you define views in a drawing template, the Drawing Manager prompts you for a file when you add a sheet. Autodesk Inventor automatically places the model in the view.

■ Use the Select filters.

In addition to the Edge, Feature, and Part filters, you can specify various drawing elements for the Select filter.

■ Drawing formats override units of measure.

If components in an assembly have different units, the drawing format overrides them. The model dimensions have consistent units in the drawing environment.

■ Create views on different sheets.

When you create a new view, select the parent view, then click the New Sheet button to activate the new sheet. The view is previewed for placement.

■ Create nonaligned section views.

Press and hold CTRL while placing section views to break the alignment.

■ Use property field text.

Title blocks can use the property fields of the drawing file to automatically populate title block fields.

■ Move views between sheets.

Click a view in the browser and drag it to another sheet. The cursor must be on a sheet name or icon to enable drop.

■ Copy views or sheets between drawings.

Right-click the view or sheet and select Copy. Then paste it into the other drawing.

■ Redline drawings.

Use sketch overlay to redline drawings without affecting the drawing views or annotations.

■ View assembly model structure.

Right-click a view and select Show Contents. The assembly structure is displayed under the sheet.

127

128

In This Chapter

Collaboration

10■ Introduction

■ Key features

■ Multiple user environment

■ Engineer’s Notebook


■ Design Assistant tools

■ Working smarter

This chapter provides an overview of the Autodesk

Inventor™ tools for managing, capturing, and tracking

designs in a multiuser environment.

Detailed information about collaboration is available in


information in Help are provided throughout this

chapter.

129

Introduction

Autodesk Inventor supports collaborative work groups and concurrent design. It provides a framework for effective communication, and tools for managing files, capturing design information, and tracking designs. The use of Projects ensures that Autodesk Inventor can always find files and all referenced files. The Engineer’s Notebook and Design Assistant provide the means for capturing and tracking designs. For more information about Projects, see “Projects in Autodesk Inventor” on page 11.

What is collaboration?

Collaboration is cooperative work on a project by more than one person. Multiple users can work simultaneously in the context of the same assembly and share information with others. In the Autodesk Inventor concurrent design environment, a file reservation system warns others when someone is editing a file.

What is the Engineer’s Notebook?

The Engineer’s Notebook is a tool you can use to document the history of your design. You can create and update notes to document decisions and calculations during the design process and throughout the production life cycle to keep a record of changes. See “Engineer’s Notebook” on page 134.

What is Design Assistant?

Design Assistant is a standalone application that expands the Microsoft® Windows® file management system so you can access project-related information both inside and outside Autodesk Inventor. You can include information such as cost center, part number, and author in a model or drawing, and then use that information to search for files or create reports with Design Assistant. See “Design Assistant” on page 136.

Help Contents Collaborating in teams

130 | Chapter 10 Collaboration

Key Features

Collaborative Design

Work in the context of an assembly simultaneously with other engineers and designers.

Prioritized Search Paths

Prioritize search paths in Projects to control which version of a file Autodesk Inventor opens.


Copy a document or place a link to an external file in the notebook. The Engineer’s Notebook uses Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) technology.

Create a visual history of a part or assembly by freezing the views in the notebook. Each time you make a revision, you can insert another view.

Search for Files Search for files using Microsoft® Windows® Explorer by criteria such as cost center, part number, status, or other information you add to a file.

Search Assemblies

Navigate the assembly hierarchy directly from Microsoft Windows Explorer without starting Autodesk Inventor.

Create Reports Organize files with Design Assistant by criteria such as project and status to create reports.

Key Features | 131

Collaborative Environment

Autodesk Inventor supports collaboration. Multiple designers can work simultaneously in the context of the same assembly. The three basic scenarios for multiple user environments are:

shared All files are stored on a server, and designers working on an assembly reference the same files from the server.

semi-isolated Designers copy specific parts they are editing on to their local drives, and reference the rest of the parts from the server.

isolated Designers copy entire assemblies from the server to their local drives.

When an assembly is opened in each of these scenarios, the parts are referenced to the originals. If a file is edited by someone else, you won’t see those changes until you update your version.

NOTE If you are working in an isolated environment, you must manually update files.

Using Microsoft Windows NetMeeting

The Online Collaboration tool is located on the Tools menu. Tools for using Microsoft® Windows® NetMeeting® are located on the Collaboration toolbar. You can use NetMeeting with Autodesk Inventor to collaborate over the Internet. In Microsoft Windows NetMeeting, users in multiple locations can view the same file and share write access. Install Microsoft Windows NetMeeting on each computer to use this capability.

Help Contents Collaborating in teams ➤ How to... Work in a collaborative environment ➤ Use Autodesk Inventor in workgroups

Collaborating in teams ➤ How to... Work in a collaborative environment ➤ Collaborate using Windows NetMeeting

shared environment semi-isolated environment isolated environment


Accessing Assemblies Concurrently

In the Autodesk Inventor collaborative environment, users can work in the context of the same assembly, although usually on different parts or subassemblies. With concurrent access, two designers can open the assembly. Only the files being worked on are open. The other files are referenced from their storage location on the server or a local hard drive.

When designers edit their files, they save new versions and update their reference files periodically so they have the latest information on the entire assembly.

Reserving Files

Autodesk Inventor has a file reservation system that warns others when a file is being used. If one person tries to edit a file and another has it reserved, the file reservation feature issues a warning. The designer can open the reserved file, if necessary, and make changes. For example, if the person who reserved a file is out of the office, someone else can still access and change the file for a high priority project.

You can open and save previous versions of files. If you save a previous version of a file, you can save it as a new file or overwrite the current version. When you save a previous version of a file, a message is displayed warning that you are overwriting a file.

Help Contents Collaborating in teams ➤ How to... Work in a collaborative environment ➤ Use Autodesk Inventor in workgroups

Designer A is editing version 36 of a part. Designer B opened the assembly at version 33.

Designer A is still editing version 36 of a part. Designer B refreshes the assembly, so the part is updated to version 35.

Collaborative Environment | 133

Prioritizing Paths in Project Files

In the Introduction, you learned about using Projects to manage your files. When you open an assembly, Autodesk Inventor uses the search paths specified in the active project to find component files. For each component file, the system goes through the search paths until it finds the file. If there are copies of the component file in multiple locations, the system uses the first copy it finds. To ensure that Autodesk Inventor opens the appropriate version of your file, you can prioritize the search paths in your project files. For information about projects, see “Projects in Autodesk Inventor” on page 11.


The Engineer’s Notebook is a tool for creating notes and views to document the history of your design. The changes you make to a model are updated in the note view automatically. If you prefer to keep it from updating, you can freeze a view in the note. You can customize Engineer’s Notebook with a set of options. Among these options is one to keep the notes attached to geometry that you need to delete.

Creating Notes

The basic elements displayed in a note are the comment box and the view box. In notes, you can enter comments, paste text or illustrations from another program, or create a link to an external document. For example, you could paste in the calculations you made for a feature or create a link to an FEA analysis.

Help Contents Documenting designs ➤ Engineer’s Notebook


Opening Notes

You can open a note by double-clicking the note in the browser or the note icon on the model. You open Engineer’s Notebook when you open a note. The notebook contains all notes for that part or assembly. Every note in a notebook can be accessed through the Engineer’s Notebook browser.

Organizing Notes

All design notes for a part or assembly are displayed in the Engineer’s Notebook for that model. It is a good idea to include the name of the feature in the note name. You can sort notes by Name, Author, Date, or Text. You can place notes in a designated folder in Engineer’s Notebook.

note icon

notes listed in browser

Engineer’s Notebook | 135

Design Assistant

Design Assistant is a standalone application for use inside or outside of Autodesk Inventor to find, track, and maintain your Autodesk Inventor files and related information files. It can track and manage OLE-linked and embedded files. Design Assistant integrates project path information when it searches for files. Using Design Assistant, you can create, view, edit, and print reports, such as Hierarchy or Design Properties, in text file format.

To work with the properties of files that are currently open in Autodesk Inventor, use Design Assistant from within Autodesk Inventor. The Design Assistant dialog box opens with the active file and its referenced files displayed in the Properties mode browser.

To work with many different files or groups of files in the same session, or to work with the links between files, open Design Assistant from Windows Explorer. The Design Assistant dialog box opens with the selected files displayed in the browser of the active mode. You can launch your installed viewer directly from Design Assistant for design tracking and working with design data outside Autodesk Inventor. When you use Design Assistant outside of Autodesk Inventor, the Manage option is available below the Properties option in the browser.

Help Index Design Assistant


Design Properties

Every Autodesk Inventor file contains a set of design properties. Some are set automatically, such as creation date, while others can be set manually. You can set specific design properties, such as cost center or status, and copy design properties from one file to another. Some of the design properties can be used as criteria to create reports.

NOTE If a file is open in Autodesk Inventor and you need to change its properties in Windows Explorer, first save the file in Autodesk Inventor to avoid losing unsaved changes to properties.

Use the Properties dialog box to select a property group and the properties to display in Design Assistant, move a property between the Available Properties and Selected Properties, and arrange the order of properties in the Selected Properties list. You can manage which properties are displayed for a file, using the Select Properties to View dialog box.

Creating Reports

With Design Assistant, you can create reports that list directory structure or files and their design properties. Design Assistant creates text documents that list each folder or file as a line item. The Hierarchy report presents the directory structure, listing the path names for each folder. The Design Property report uses a table format to list each file in the directory and its property values.

Help Index Design Assistant ➤ properties ➤ How to... Set and change design properties

Help Index Design Assistant ➤ reports

Design Assistant | 137

Tracking Files

You can use the design properties you set in your Autodesk Inventor files to search for files with common properties. For example, you can search for files created during a specified period of time.

You open the Find dialog box to initiate a search for Autodesk Inventor files and to set criteria and specify the search location. Your search criteria can be saved for repeated use. The search for files can be done from:


■ Autodesk Inventor Open dialog box

■ Autodesk Inventor menu when an assembly file is open

■ Windows Start menu

■ Windows Explorer

Help Index Design Assistant ➤ finding files ➤ Find Autodesk Inventor files


Design Assistant Tools

The Design Assistant tools are located in the menus and dialog boxes you use while performing Design Assistant functions.

Design Assistant Tools


Open File Open an Autodesk Inventor data file

Open Folder View the contents of a folder

Find Files Find Autodesk Inventor files based on properties

Copy Design Properties

Copy properties from one file to another

Refresh Refresh the contents of displayed file

Customize Create the list of properties to be displayed

Where Used Find all instances of a component

Hierarchy Report

Create a report showing the hierarchy of a folder or assembly file

Button located in Tools ➤ Reports.

Properties Create a report showing selected design properties of files

Button located in Tools ➤ Reports.

Select Properties to view

Specify design properties displayed for a file

Design Assistant Tools | 139

Working Smarter


■ Freeze views of a feature.The note view automatically captures the current state of the model, and is updated as changes are made to the model. Right-click the view and select Freeze to prevent updates. If you clear Freeze, the view is updated to reflect the current state of the model.

■ Add views with each revision.If you revise a feature, create a new view and comment box in the note. Freeze the new view as part of the historical record.

■ Retain notes for deleted geometry.From Tools ➤ Options ➤ Notebook, select Keep Deleted Notes. This option keeps notes for deleted geometry, not notes that you delete.

■ Create an unattached note in your model.You can store miscellaneous information in an unattached note. It’s also a shortcut to the Engineer’s Notebook. An unattached note is listed in a Notes folder in the browser. You can open the note and access the Engineer’s Notebook browser, which contains all notes for the model.

■ Name your notes.Use descriptive names for each part in a large assembly.

■ Use notes in assemblies.Create a note for each part, describing its function in an assembly. If you create the note when the part is active, the note stores in the part notebook and the assembly notebook.

■ Preview notes.Pause the cursor over a note icon. The note text is displayed as a tooltip.

■ Use folders for notes.If you have a lot of notes, for example, in a large assembly, use folders to organize notes into meaningful categories.

Design Assistant

■ Add properties information to templates.Create part, assembly, and drawing templates that contain basic information, such as project name and cost center. Set up physical properties in part templates to reflect common materials.

■ Create custom properties.Create a custom property to track information for special reports.


Index

Aadaptive assemblies, 76adaptive technology, 78Animation dialog box, 109annotations in drawings, 119assemblies

bills of material (BOMs), 92browser, using, 96component visibility, 95components, adding, 81components, creating in place, 81constraining, 96creating, 79design views, 90editing, 80file structures, planning, 95grounded components, 80interference, checking, 89large, 78restructuring, 91viewing, 57views, presentation, 105working smarter, 95

assembly componentscreating in place, 81demoting and promoting, 91first, 79grounded, 80loading and updating, 95moving, 80

assembly file templates, 9assembly tools and toolbuttons, 93Autodesk Point A, 21Autodesk Streamline, 21Autodesk Web page, 23auxiliary views in drawings, 115

Bbase features, 48base solids, 59

editing, 61tools and toolbuttons, 62

bends, sheet metal, 70bills of material (BOMs), 92browser, 6browser filter, 58

Ccenter marks in drawings, 119centerlines in drawings, 119Change Arrowhead dialog box, 118collaboration, 130collaborative environments, 132composite iMates, 78constraints

adaptive, 86assemblies, 83, 96iMates, 78sketching, 30symbols for sketching, 35

coordinate system, 58Create iFeature dialog box, 100Create In-Place Component dialog box, 79Create Parts List dialog box, 120Create View dialog box, 117cuts, sheet metal, 68

Ddatabases, segmented, 78degrees of freedom, viewing, 80derived assemblies, 77, 82derived parts, 77, 82

141

design assistanttools and toolbuttons, 139working smarter, 140

Design Doctor, 20design layouts, 78Design Support System (DSS) components, 19Design Views dialog box, 90design views in drawings, 115design-in-place, 78detail views in drawings, 115dialog boxes

Animation, 109Change Arrowhead, 118Create iFeature, 100Create In-Place Component, 79Create Parts List, 120Create View, 117Design Views, 90Dimension Styles, 115Dimension Tolerance, 118Drafting Standards, 115Edit Dimension, 31, 37, 117Edit Feature, 52Edit Parts List, 120Insert iFeature, 101, 102Interference Detected, 89New file, 49Place Constraint, 83Properties, 80, 113Resolve Link, 14, 15Select Properties to View, 137Text Styles, 115Tweak Component, 106

dialog boxes, using, 7Dimension Styles dialog box, 115Dimension Tolerance dialog box, 118dimensioning sketches, 31dimensions

driven, 31model, in drawings, 117

docking browsers and toolbars, 6draft views in drawings, 115Drafting Standards dialog box, 115drafting standards in drawings, 114drafting standards in templates, 10drawing files (*.dwg), managing, 16drawing templates, 9drawings

adding sheets, 116annotating, 119creating, 112, 113customizing, 114dimensions, creating, 117parts lists, creating, 120plotting and printing, 120sketch overlays, 120templates, 114

drawings (continued)tools, annotation, 122tools, drawing management, 121tools, sketch, 124views, creating, 115working smarter, 124

driven dimensions, 31DSS (Design Support System), 19

EEdit Dimension dialog box, 31, 37, 117Edit Feature dialog box, 52Edit Parts List dialog box, 120Engineer’s Notebook

creating, 134working smarter, 140

English and metric, 78environments

3D sketching, 40assembly, 76collaborative, 132drawing, 112part modeling, 47sheet metal, 64sketching, 27solid modeling, 60

Ffaces, sheet metal, 67faces, splitting, 54features

base, 48, 50editing, 52patterns, 54persistent, 46placed, 53swept, 41tools for creating, 55work, 50

field text in drawings, 113files

concurrently used, reserving, 133previous versions, opening, 133referenced, 132

flanges, sheet metal, 69flat patterns for sheet metal, 64, 70

GGetting Started, online, 19

HHelp, 19hole features, 53holes, sheet metal, 68

142

IiFeature catalogs, 99iFeatures, 98

catalog, using, 101creating, 100file type, 101inserting, 101working smarter, 102

iMates, 78, 81import/export data

AutoCAD (*.dwg), 16Mechanical Desktop (*.dwg), 17SAT (*.sat), 17STEP (*.stp, *.ste, *.step), 18

Insert iFeature dialog box, 101, 102interfaces, component, 78, 81Interference Detected dialog box, 89

LLearning Autodesk Inventor, 22

NNew file dialog box, 49

Pparameters, 31parent/child parts in models, 52part file templates, 9part models, 46

base features, 50creating, 48, 49editing in drawings, 112, 117feature-based, 46holes, adding, 53modifying, 52parent/child relationships, 52pattern features, 54placed features, 53planning, 48sketch planes, 52sketched features, 52splitting faces, 54templates, creating for files, 49tools and toolbuttons, 53, 55views tools and toolbuttons, 57working smarter, 58, 62

path sketches, 41, 42bends, 42positioning, 43

pattern features, 46persistent features, 46Place Constraint dialog box, 83placed features, 46plotting drawings, 120Point A, Autodesk, 21precise values in sketches, 29

presentation templates, 9presentation views, 105, 110printing drawings, 120profiles, 26projected views in drawings, 115Projects file system

creating projects, 12opening projects, 13path types, 14setting projects folders, 11

Properties dialog box, 80, 113

RRedSpark, 21Resolve Link dialog box, 14, 15restructuring assemblies, 91

Sseams, sheet metal, 70section views in drawings, 115segmented databases, 78Select mode, 58Select mode, using, 8Select Properties to View dialog box, 137sheet metal

bends, 65, 70, 74cuts, 68design elements, 74environment, 64faces, 65, 67flanges, 65, 69flat patterns, 64, 65, 70holes, 68models, creating, 65seams, 70settings, 66stamped features, 64templates, 9

sheet metal tools and toolbuttons, 72sheets, drawing, 116sketch environment, 28Sketch mode, using, 8sketch overlays in drawings, 120sketch planes, 52sketched features, 46sketched features, adding to models, 52sketches, 26, 28

constraining, 30constraint symbols, 35dimensioning, 31geometry styles, 28modifying, 29, 31precise values, 28sharing, 58tools and toolbuttons, 32viewing, 57working smarter, 36

143

sketching tools, 3D, 43solid modeling environment, 60solids, 46, 61stamped features in sheet metal, 64Streamline, Autodesk, 21sweep features, 42symbols in drawing annotations, 119

Ttemplates, drawing, 114templates, Inventor file, 9Text Styles dialog box, 115title blocks in drawings, 114toolbars, using, 6tools and toolbuttons, 55

assembly, 93base solids, 62design assistant, 139drawing annotation, 122drawing management, 121drawing sketch, 124presentation views, 110sheet metal, 72sketching, 32

training and information, 22, 23tutorials, online, 20Tweak Component dialog box, 106tweaking components, 106

Uuser interface, 5

Vviews

animating exploded, 108exploded assembly, 105moving in drawings, 116presentation view toolbuttons, 110presentation, creating, 106rotating, 116trails in exploded, 108working smarter, 110

views tools and toolbuttons, 57Visual Syllabus, 20

WWeb page, Autodesk, 23What’s New in this release, 20work features, 46, 50work features, adaptive, 44working smarter

assemblies, 95design assistant, 140drawings, 124Engineer’s Notebook, 140iFeatures, 102part models, 58, 62presentation views, 110sheet metal, 74sketching, 36

144

Documents

19752684 Autodesk Inventor Getting Started