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Autodesk® Design Academy

Quick Start for Autodesk Inventor

Autodesk® Inventor® software is a 3D mechanical design tool with powerful solid modeling capabilitiesand an intuitive interface.

In this lesson, you use a typical workflow to create and document a small assembly.

Introduction

Engineers work on one or more projects at a time. To accommodate this, Autodesk Inventor usesproject files to manage file locations.

Change the Active Project

1. Start Autodesk Inventor. If you are already in Autodesk Inventor, close all files. 2. On the Launch panel, click Projects. 3. Click Browse. Navigate to the folder containing the Quick Start exercise files. 4. Select QuickStart.ipj. Click Open. 5. Click Done to close the dialog box.

The project file manages the location of existing files and the files you create.

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Exercise: Create a New Part Create a new part file and sketch of a connectinglink. You use the Line, Circle, Dimension, and Extrudetools.

The completed exercise Video Demonstration Before starting the exercise, you can refer to avideo demonstration of the workflow. To view thedemonstration, navigate to the Video Demonstrationfolder for this exercise. Double-click the HTML file tostart the video. You can pause and scroll through the video to searchfor help on how to complete a specific section.

Create the New Part 1. Make QuickStart.ipj the active project. 2. On the Launch panel, click New. 3. In the New File dialog box, English tab, double-

click Standard (in).ipt. 4.

On the Draw panel, click Line.

■ Click in the graphics window to start theline.

■ Move the cursor to the right. Click again toset the endpoint of the line.

■ To create an arc, click and hold the end ofthe line. Drag to preview the arc. When avertical dotted line is displayed, release themouse button to end the arc.

■ Move the cursor to the left until a verticaldotted line is displayed. Click to create aline the same length as the bottom line.

■ Drag off the point to create an arc and closethe profile.

Quick Start for Autodesk Inventor ■ 3

5.

On the Draw panel, click Circle.

■ On the left of the sketch, move the cursor

over the center of the left arc. When agreen dot is displayed, click to place thecenter point.

■ Move the cursor to preview the circleradius. Click to set.

■ On the right of the sketch, click the centerpoint. Create another circle.

6.

On the Constrain panel, click Dimension.

■ On the left of the sketch, click the arc. Drag

to display the dimension.■ Click to place the dimension.■ Click the dimension value to edit it.■ In the Edit Dimension box, enter 0.25. Click

the check mark.

7.

On the ViewCube, click Home.

8. Right-click in the graphics window. Click Done. 9. Right-click in the graphics window. Click Create

Feature > Extrude.

10.

Select the profile to extrude. The holes shouldnot be selected.

11.

In the Extrude dialog box, for Distance, enter0.125.

For Dynamic Input, enter 0.125.

12.

Click OK. The extrusion is created and an entryis added to the browser.

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13.

On the Standard toolbar, select Metal-Titaniumfrom the Color Override list.

14. On the Quick Access toolbar, click Save.

■ For File Name, enter Link.■ Click Save.■ Close the file.

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Exercise: Assemble the Model Open an existing assembly file and place the linkin the assembly. You add assembly constraints tocomplete the linkage mechanism.

The completed exercise Video Demonstration Before starting the exercise, you can refer to avideo demonstration of the workflow. To view thedemonstration, navigate to the Video Demonstrationfolder for this exercise. Double-click the HTML file tostart the video. You can pause and scroll through the video to searchfor help on how to complete a specific section.

Assemble the Model 1. Make QuickStart.ipj the active project.

2.

Open mechanism.iam.

3.

On the Component panel, click Place.

■ Select Link1.ipt. Click Open. The link is

displayed on the cursor.■ Move the link to the left side of the

assembly. Click to place an occurrence ofthe link.

■ Right-click in the graphics window. ClickDone.

4.

On the Navigation bar, click Zoom Window.

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5.

Define a window around the link and the lowerpin.

6.

In the browser, Modeling View should be active.If not, click the arrow beside Assembly View.Select Modeling View from the list.

7.

In the browser, right-click Link1:1. Click Edit.

8.

Right-click Extrusion1. Click Adaptive.

The adaptive symbol is added to the link andextrusion entries in the browser.

9.

On the Return panel, click Return.

10.

On the Position panel, click Constrain.

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11.

Select the inside cylindrical surface of the link.Make sure that the centerline is not displayed.

Tip: If the inside surface is not displayed,hover the cursor over the part until the SelectOther tool is displayed. Select one of thearrows to cycle through the options. Click thecenter green square when the inside surface ishighlighted.

12.

Select the outside surface of the pin.

13.

Click Apply. The link moves onto the pin and thehole diameter adapts to the correct size.

14.

Select the front face of the arm.

15.

Select the front face of the link. Click Apply.

16.

Click Cancel.

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17. On the ViewCube, click Home. 18.

On the Navigation bar, click Zoom Window.

19.

Define a window around the right end of thelink and the pin on the eccentric.

20.

On the Position panel, click Constrain.

21.

Select the inside cylindrical surface of the link.

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22.

Select the outside surface of the pin. ClickApply. Click Cancel.

23.

Using the workflow learned in this lesson, placean assembly constraint between the front faceof the link and the back face of the washer.

24.

On the ViewCube, click Home.

25. Close the file. Do not save changes. You placed a component in an assembly andplaced assembly constraints to locate and size thecomponent.

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Exercise: Animate the Assembly Open an existing assembly file, and then animate theassembly by driving assembly constraints.

Video Demonstration Before starting the exercise, you can refer to avideo demonstration of the workflow. To view thedemonstration, navigate to the Video Demonstrationfolder for this exercise. Double-click the HTML file tostart the video. You can pause and scroll through the video to searchfor help on how to complete a specific section.

Animate the Assembly 1. Make QuickStart.ipj the active project. 2. Open mechanism1.iam. 3.

In the browser, Modeling View should beactive. If not, click the arrow beside AssemblyView. Select Modeling View from the list.

4. In the browser, click the plus (+) symbol next

to Constraints to display all the assemblyconstraints.

5.

Right-click the Angle:1 (240.00 deg) constraint.Click Suppress.

6.

Right-click the Angle:2 (0.00 deg) constraint.Click Drive Constraint.

7.

In the Drive Constraint dialog box:

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■ For End value, enter 360. (1)■ Click More to expand the dialog box . (2)■ For Increment value, enter 5. (3)■ For Repetitions value, enter 3. (4)■ Click Forward to start the animation. (5)

8. Close the file. Do not save changes. You opened an existing assembly file, and thenanimated the assembly by driving assemblyconstraints.

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Exercise: Review a Presentation File Open an existing presentation file, and then reviewan animation of the file. You can create exploded isometric views by addingtweaks to each part in the assembly. In this exercise,the tweaks are complete.

Video Demonstration Before starting the exercise, you can refer to avideo demonstration of the workflow. To view thedemonstration, navigate to the Video Demonstrationfolder for this exercise. Double-click the HTML file tostart the video. You can pause and scroll through the video to searchfor help on how to complete a specific section.

Review a Presentation File 1. Make QuickStart.ipj the active project. 2. Open mechanism.ipn. 3.

In the browser, click Browser Filters > Sequence View.

4. In the browser, expand Explosion1 > Task1 to

display the sequences.

5.

Expand Sequence7. This sequence containsthree of the clips in the assembly. The valuesare the tweak distances.

6.

On the Create panel, click Animate.

■ In the Animation dialog box, click More.■ Click Play Forward. As each sequence plays,

the sequence is highlighted in the dialogbox.

■ When the animation is complete, close thedialog box.

7. Close the file. Do not save changes.

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Exercise: Document the Assembly Create a new drawing file, and then document theassembly. You create two sheets. On the first sheet, you createan isometric view of the assembly, balloon all parts,and then create a parts list.

Video Demonstration Before starting the exercise, you can refer to avideo demonstration of the workflow. To view thedemonstration, navigate to the Video Demonstrationfolder for this exercise. In the folder, double-click thefile with the HTML extension. You can pause and scroll through the video to searchfor help on how to complete a specific section.

Document the Assembly 1. Make QuickStart.ipj the active project. 2. Open mechanism1.idw. 3.

On the Create panel, click Base View.

4.

In the Drawing View dialog box, click Open anExisting File.

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5.

From the Files of Type list, select Assembly Files(*.iam).■ Select mechanism2.iam. Click Open.■ Under Orientation, select Iso Top Right from

the list.■ Under Style, select Shaded.■ Click in the left center of the graphics

window to place the view.

6. Right-click in the graphics window. Click Done.

7.

On the Annotate tab, Table panel, click thearrow below Balloon. Click Auto Balloon.

8.

In the graphics window, select the isometricview. A red dotted line should be visible whenyou select the view.■ Right-click the assembly. Click Select All.■ Right-click again. Click Continue. A preview

of the balloons is displayed.■ In the Auto Balloon dialog box, under

Placement, click Around.■ Click in the graphics window.■ Click OK. Balloons are added to each part.

9.

On the Table panel, click Parts List.

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■ In the graphics window, select the isometricview.

■ Click OK.■ Move the preview of the parts list above

the title block. Click a point to locate theparts list.

You opened an existing drawing, created a base view,and added balloons and a parts list.

Create a New Sheet 1.

On the Place Views tab, Sheets panel, click NewSheet.

2.

On the Create panel, click Base View.

3.

In the Drawing View dialog box, click Open anExisting File.■ In the Files of Type list, select Part Files

(*.ipt).■ Select Eccentric.ipt. Click Open.■ Under Orientation, select Back from the list.■ Click in the left center of the graphics

window to locate the view.

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4.

To project the other views:■ Move the cursor vertically to a point above

the base view. Click to place the view.■ Move the cursor horizontally to the right of

the base view. Click to place the view.■ Move the cursor diagonally to a point above

and to the right of the base view. Click toplace the isometric view.

■ Right-click in the graphics window. ClickCreate.

5. Zoom into the front view. 6.

On the Annotate tab, Symbols panel, clickCenter Mark.

7.

Click the outside circle.

8.

On the Dimension panel, click Retrieve.

■ Select the front view.■ In the Retrieve Dimensions dialog box, click

Select Dimensions.■ Select the four dimensions as shown.

9.

Click OK.

10.

Click a dimension, and drag the green dot toreposition the dimension.

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11. Add centerlines and retrieve the required

model dimensions for the top and right sideviews. If necessary, reposition or deletedimensions. Note: To add centerlines between parallel lines,on the Symbols panel, click Centerline Bisector.

12. Zoom into the isometric view.

■ Right-click the isometric view. Click EditView.

■ Under Style, click Shaded. Click OK. 13.

On the Navigation bar, click Zoom All.

14. Close the file. Do not save changes.

Note: You can use this workflow to create acomplete set of drawings. Create a new sheetfor each part in the assembly. You added a new sheet, inserted drawingresources, and created orthographic views ofone part.

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Copyright ■ 19

Autodesk® Design Academy

Copyright

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