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32 views432 pages

Learning Autodesk Inventor 2010 - Volume 1 Slipstream

Uploaded by

dinesh sai kumar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
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Autodesk Official Training Guide

Essentials

Autodesk ®

Inventor ®

2010

Learning Autodesk Inventor 2010, Volume 1® ®

Hands-on exercises demonstrate fundamental principles of 3D parametric part design,


assembly design, and the creation of production-ready drawings.

Autodesk Certification Preparation

527B1-050000-CM09A
June 2009
© 2009 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.
Except as otherwise permitted by Autodesk, Inc., this publication, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in
any form, by any method, for any purpose.
Certain materials included in this publication are reprinted with the permission of the copyright holder.

Trademarks
The following are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA
and other countries: 3DEC (design/logo), 3December, 3December.com, 3ds Max, ADI, Algor, Alias, Alias (swirl design/logo),
AliasStudio, Alias|Wavefront (design/logo), ATC, AUGI, AutoCAD, AutoCAD Learning Assistance, AutoCAD LT, AutoCAD
Simulator, AutoCAD SQL Extension, AutoCAD SQL Interface, Autodesk, Autodesk Envision, Autodesk Intent, Autodesk
Inventor, Autodesk Map, Autodesk MapGuide, Autodesk Streamline, AutoLISP, AutoSnap, AutoSketch, AutoTrack,
Backburner, Backdraft, Built with ObjectARX (logo), Burn, Buzzsaw, CAiCE, Can You Imagine, Character Studio, Cinestream,
Civil 3D, Cleaner, Cleaner Central, ClearScale, Colour Warper, Combustion, Communication Specification, Constructware,
Content Explorer, Create>what’s>Next> (design/logo), Dancing Baby (image), DesignCenter, Design Doctor, Designer’s
Toolkit, DesignKids, DesignProf, DesignServer, DesignStudio, Design|Studio (design/logo), Design Web Format, Discreet,
DWF, DWG, DWG (logo), DWG Extreme, DWG TrueConvert, DWG TrueView, DXF, Ecotect, Exposure, Extending the Design
Team, Face Robot, FBX, Fempro, Filmbox, Fire, Flame, Flint, FMDesktop, Freewheel, Frost, GDX Driver, Gmax, Green
Building Studio, Heads-up Design, Heidi, HumanIK, IDEA Server, i-drop, ImageModeler, iMOUT, Incinerator, Inferno,
Inventor, Inventor LT, Kaydara, Kaydara (design/logo), Kynapse, Kynogon, LandXplorer, Lustre, MatchMover, Maya,
Mechanical Desktop, Moldflow, Moonbox, MotionBuilder, Movimento, MPA, MPA (design/logo), Moldflow Plastics
Advisers, MPI, Moldflow Plastics Insight, MPX, MPX (design/logo), Moldflow Plastics Xpert, Mudbox, Multi-Master Editing,
NavisWorks, ObjectARX, ObjectDBX, Open Reality, Opticore, Opticore Opus, Pipeplus, PolarSnap, PortfolioWall, Powered
with Autodesk Technology, Productstream, ProjectPoint, ProMaterials, RasterDWG, Reactor, RealDWG, Real-time Roto,
REALVIZ, Recognize, Render Queue, Retimer, Reveal, Revit, Showcase, ShowMotion, SketchBook, Smoke, Softimage,
Softimage|XSI (design/logo), Sparks, SteeringWheels, Stitcher, Stone, StudioTools, Topobase, Toxik, TrustedDWG,
ViewCube, Visual, Visual Construction, Visual Drainage, Visual Landscape, Visual Survey, Visual Toolbox, Visual LISP, Voice
Reality, Volo, Vtour, Wire, Wiretap, WiretapCentral, XSI, and XSI (design/logo).
All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

Disclaimer
THIS PUBLICATION AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS MADE AVAILABLE BY AUTODESK, INC. “AS IS.”
AUTODESK, INC. DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE REGARDING THESE MATERIALS.
Published by:
Autodesk, Inc.
111 Mclnnis Parkway
San Rafael, CA 94903, USA
Contents
Introduction ....................................................................................................... ix

Chapter 1: Getting Started ................................................................................ 1


Lesson: Autodesk Inventor User Interface .......................................................... 2
About Multiple Environments ................................................................... 3
About Project Files .................................................................................... 9
Inventor File Types .................................................................................. 10
User Interface .......................................................................................... 14
Context-Sensitive Tools ........................................................................... 17
Online Help and Tutorials ....................................................................... 24
Exercise: Explore the Autodesk Inventor User Interface ......................... 29
Lesson: View Manipulation ............................................................................... 33
About the Graphics Window ................................................................... 34
Orbit Tools ............................................................................................... 38
About the ViewCube ............................................................................... 42
Using the ViewCube ................................................................................ 43
Using Home View .................................................................................... 50
Restoring Your Views .............................................................................. 52
Exercise: Manipulate Your Model Views ................................................. 55
Lesson: Designing Parametric Parts .................................................................. 59
About Parametric Part Models ............................................................... 60
Capturing Design Intent .......................................................................... 63
Creating Parametric Part Models ............................................................ 67
Part Design Environment ........................................................................ 69
Exercise: Create a Parametric Part .......................................................... 71
Chapter Summary ............................................................................................. 74

Chapter 2: Basic Sketching Techniques ............................................................ 75


Lesson: Creating 2D Sketches ............................................................................ 76
About Sketching ...................................................................................... 77
Point Alignment ...................................................................................... 81
Reorienting the Initial Sketch .................................................................. 83
Basic Sketching Tools ............................................................................... 85
Guidelines for Successful Sketches ......................................................... 91
Exercise: Create 2D Sketches .................................................................. 92

Contents ■ iii
Lesson: Geometric Constraints ..................................................................... 95
About Geometric Constraints ............................................................. 96
About Constraint Inference and Persistence ....................................... 99
Applying Geometric Constraints ....................................................... 103
Showing and Deleting Constraints .................................................... 107
Guidelines for Successful Constraining ............................................. 109
Toggling Sketch Degrees of Freedom Glyph Display .......................... 111
Exercise: Constrain Sketches ............................................................. 113
Lesson: Dimensioning Sketches ................................................................... 116
About Dimensional Constraints ........................................................ 117
Creating Dimensional Constraints ..................................................... 119
About Dimension Display and Relationships ..................................... 126
Guidelines for Dimensioning Sketches .............................................. 131
Exercise: Dimension Sketches ........................................................... 133
Chapter Summary ....................................................................................... 136

Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design ................................................................... 137


Lesson: Creating Basic Sketched Features ................................................... 138
About Sketched Features .................................................................. 139
Creating Extruded Features .............................................................. 141
Creating Revolved Features .............................................................. 146
Specifying Operation and Extents ..................................................... 150
Orienting Sketches ............................................................................ 160
Exercise: Create Extruded Features .................................................. 163
Exercise: Create Revolved Features .................................................. 169
Lesson: Intermediate Sketching .................................................................. 175
About Sketch Linetypes ..................................................................... 176
Creating and Using Construction Geometry ..................................... 180
Creating and Using Reference Geometry .......................................... 184
Exercise: Create a Part Using Construction and Reference
Geometry ................................................................................. 190
Lesson: Editing Parametric Parts ................................................................. 194
Editing Features ................................................................................ 195
Editing Sketches ................................................................................ 199
Using Parameters .............................................................................. 203
Exercise: Edit Parametric Parts .......................................................... 212
Exercise: Create Parameters and Equations ...................................... 215
Lesson: 3D Grip Editing ............................................................................... 219
About 3D Grip Editing ....................................................................... 220
Using the 3D Grips Tool .................................................................... 222
Exercise: Edit with 3D Grips .............................................................. 226

iv ■ Contents
Lesson: Creating Work Features .................................................................. 229
About Work Features ........................................................................ 230
Creating Work Planes ........................................................................ 234
Creating Work Axes ........................................................................... 240
Creating Work Points ........................................................................ 243
Exercise: Create Work Planes ............................................................ 249
Exercise: Create Work Axes ............................................................... 253
Exercise: Create Work Points ............................................................ 258
Lesson: Creating Basic Swept Shapes .......................................................... 262
About Swept Shapes ......................................................................... 263
Creating Sweep Features .................................................................. 265
Guidelines for Creating Swept Shapes .............................................. 270
Exercise: Create Sweep Features ...................................................... 273
Chapter Summary ....................................................................................... 276

Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design ............................................................. 277


Lesson: Creating Chamfers and Fillets ......................................................... 278
About Chamfers and Fillets ............................................................... 279
Creating Chamfers ............................................................................. 281
Creating Fillets .................................................................................. 286
Guidelines for Creating Chamfers and Fillets .................................... 289
Exercise: Create Chamfers ................................................................. 290
Exercise: Create Fillets ...................................................................... 293
Lesson: Creating Holes and Threads ........................................................... 296
About Hole Features ......................................................................... 297
Creating Holes ................................................................................... 299
Creating Threads ............................................................................... 312
Exercise: Create Holes and Threads .................................................. 318
Lesson: Patterning and Mirroring Features ................................................. 326
About Feature Reuse ........................................................................ 327
Creating Rectangular Patterns .......................................................... 331
Creating Circular Patterns ................................................................. 337
Mirroring Features ............................................................................ 343
Exercise: Create Pattern Features ..................................................... 349
Exercise: Mirror Part Features .......................................................... 354
Lesson: Creating Thin-Walled Parts ............................................................. 359
About Thin-Walled Part Design ......................................................... 360
Creating Shell Features ..................................................................... 361
Exercise: Create and Edit Shell Features ........................................... 366
Chapter Summary ....................................................................................... 369

Contents ■ v
Chapter 5: Assembly Design Overview ...................................................... 371
Lesson: Designing Assemblies ..................................................................... 372
About Assembly Design .................................................................... 373
Assembly Design Approaches ........................................................... 376
Assembly Design Environment .......................................................... 379
Recommended Assembly Design Workflow ...................................... 382
Exercise: Use the Assembly Environment ......................................... 383
Lesson: Using Project Files in Assembly Designs ......................................... 386
About Project Files ............................................................................ 387
Project File Configuration ................................................................. 390
Creating a Project File ....................................................................... 399
Editing Project Files ........................................................................... 401
Recommendations for Project Files .................................................. 405
Exercise: Create a Project File ........................................................... 407
Chapter Summary ....................................................................................... 409

vi ■ Contents
Acknowledgements

The Autodesk Learning team wishes to thank everyone who participated in the
development of this project, with special acknowledgement to the authoring
contributions and subject matter expertise of Ron Myers and CrWare, LP.
CrWare, LP began publishing courseware for Autodesk® Inventor® in 2001. Since
that time, the company has grown to include full-time curriculum developers,
subject matter experts, technical writers, and graphics specialists, each with a
unique set of industry experiences and talents that enables CrWare to create
content that is both accurate and relevant to meeting the learning needs of its
readers and customers.
The company's Founder and General Partner, Ron Myers, has been using
Autodesk® products since 1989. During that time, Ron Myers worked in all
disciplines of drafting and design, until 1996 when he began a career as an
Applications Engineer, Instructor, and Author. Ron Myers has been creating
courseware and other training material for Autodesk since 1996 and has written
and created training material for AutoCAD®, Autodesk Inventor, AutoCAD®
Mechanical, Mechanical Desktop®, and Autodesk® Impression.

Acknowledgements ■ vii
viii ■ Acknowledgements
Introduction
Welcome to the Learning Autodesk Inventor 2010 training guide for use in Authorized Training Center
(ATC®) locations, corporate training settings, and other classroom settings.

Although this guide is designed for instructor-led courses, you can also use it for self-paced learning.
The guide encourages self-learning through the use of the Autodesk® Inventor® 2010 Help system.

This introduction covers the following topics:


■ Course objectives
■ Prerequisites
■ Using this guide
■ CD contents
■ Completing the exercises
■ Installing the exercise data files from the CD
■ Projects
■ Notes, tips, and warnings
■ Feedback
This guide is complementary to the software documentation. For detailed explanations of features and
functionality, refer to the Help in the software.

Course Objectives
After completing this guide, you will be able to:
■ Identify the main user interface components that are common to all Autodesk Inventor design
environments and describe how to access different tools. Describe the characteristics and benefits
of a parametric part model and how to view all aspects of your design by efficiently navigating
around in 2D and 3D space.
■ Use sketch tools to create 2D sketch geometry, apply geometric constraints to control sketch
geometry, and add parametric dimensions to your sketch geometry.
■ Create features using the Extrude and Revolve tools, use reference and construction geometry,
use the browser and shortcut menus to edit parametric parts, use the 3D Grips tool to edit part
geometry in the context of an assembly and in a stand-alone part, create, locate, and utilize work
features to perform modeling tasks, and create swept shapes by sweeping a profile along a 2D or
3D path.
■ Create both chamfers and fillets on a part, use the Hole and Thread tools to place hole and thread
features, create rectangular and circular patterns and mirror existing features, and create thin-
walled parts.
■ Describe the assembly modeling process, the Autodesk Inventor assembly modeling environment,
and recommended assembly design workflows, and how to use Autodesk Inventor project files to
manage design projects.

ix
■ Place components in an assembly, add constraints to components, use Content Center to place
standard components in an assembly, and create new components in the context of an assembly.
■ Use different tools and methods to identify, locate, and select components in an assembly, retrieve
important analysis information from the parametric models and assemblies, and create animations
of exploded views in a presentation file
■ Navigate the Autodesk Inventor user interface when creating and editing drawing sheets, create
base and projected views of 3D parts and assemblies, create and edit section views, detail views,
and cropped views, and manage drawing views.
■ Dimension drawings with automated and manual techniques, create and edit hole and thread
notes in drawings, add centerlines, center marks and symbols to your drawings, and configure,
add, and edit revision tables and revision tags.
■ View and edit bill of materials data, create and customize parts lists to document the components
in your assembly, and review balloons and their purpose in the drawing annotation process.
■ Set drafting standards to control the appearance of drawing features, use drawing resources to
create multiple sheets and add borders and title blocks to your drawings.

Prerequisites
This course is designed for new Autodesk Inventor users who want to learn the essential tools and
principles of 3D parametric part design, assembly design, and how to create production-ready part
and assembly drawings using Autodesk Inventor 2010.
It is recommended that you have:
■ A basic understanding of mechanical drafting or design.
■ A working knowledge of Microsoft® Windows® XP, or Microsoft® Windows® Vista.

Using This Guide


The lessons are independent of each other. However, it is recommended that you complete
these lessons in the order that they are presented unless you are familiar with the concepts and
functionality described in those lessons.
Each chapter contains:
■ Lessons
Usually two or more lessons in each chapter.
■ Exercises
Practical, real-world examples for you to practice using the functionality you have just learned.
Each exercise contains step-by-step procedures and graphics to help you complete the exercise
successfully.

CD Contents
The CD attached to the back cover of this book contains all the data and drawings you need to
complete the exercises in this guide.

x ■ Introduction
Completing the Exercises
You can complete the exercise in two ways: using the book or on screen.
■ Using the book
Follow the step-by-step exercises in the book.
■ On screen
Click the Learning Autodesk Inventor 2010 icon on your desktop, installed from the CD, and follow
the step-by-step exercises on screen. The onscreen exercises are the same as those in the book.
The onscreen version has the advantage that you can concentrate on the screen without having to
glance down at your book.

After launching the onscreen exercises, you might need to alter the size of your application window to
align both windows.

Installing the Exercise Data Files from the CD


To install the data files for the exercises:
1. Insert the CD.
2. Double-click the self-extracting archive setup.exe.
Unless you specify a different folder, the exercise files are installed in the following folder:

C:\Autodesk Learning\Inventor 2010\Learning

After you install the data from the CD, this folder contains all the files necessary to complete each
exercise in this guide.

Projects
Most engineers work on several projects at a time, and each project might consist of a number of files.
You can use Autodesk Inventor projects to organize related files and maintain links between files. This
guide has a project file that stores the paths to all the files that are related to the exercises. When
you open a file, Autodesk Inventor uses the paths in the current project file to locate other required

Introduction ■ xi
files. To work on a different project, you make a new project active in the Project Editor. Follow the
instructions in the guide to locate the project file for the course and make it active.

Follow the instructions below to locate the Learning Autodesk Inventor 2010 project file for this guide
and make it active.
1. Start Autodesk Inventor.
2. In the Application menu, click Manage > Projects.
■ In the Projects dialog box, click Browse.
■ In the Choose Project File dialog box, navigate to C:\Autodesk Learning\Inventor
2010\Learning.
■ Select Learning Autodesk Inventor 2010.ipj.
■ Click Open.
3. In the Projects dialog box, double-click Learning Autodesk Inventor 2010 to activate the project.
Click Done.
Note: The check mark designates the active project.

Notes, Tips, and Warnings


Throughout this guide, notes, tips, and warnings are called out for special attention.
Notes contain guidelines, constraints, and other explanatory information.

Tips provide information to enhance your productivity.

Warnings provide information about actions that might result in the loss of data, system
failures, or other serious consequences.

Feedback
We always welcome feedback on Autodesk Official Training Guides. After completing this course, if
you have suggestions for improvements or if you want to report an error in the book or on the CD,
please send your comments to [email protected].

xii ■ Introduction
Digital Prototyping
A digital prototype is created with Autodesk® Inventor® software and is a digital simulation of a
product that can be used to test form, fit, and function. The digital prototype becomes more and more
complete as all associated industrial, mechanical, and electrical design data are integrated. A complete
digital prototype is a true digital representation of the entire end product and can be used to visualize
and simulate a product to reduce the necessity of building expensive physical prototypes.

Introduction ■ xiii
What is Digital Prototyping?
Digital Prototyping gives conceptual design, engineering, and manufacturing departments the
ability to virtually explore a complete product before it becomes real. With Digital Prototyping,
manufacturers can design, visualize, and simulate products from the conceptual design phase through
the manufacturing process, boosting the level of communication with different stakeholders while
getting more innovative products to market faster. By using a digital prototype created in Inventor,
manufacturers can visualize and simulate the realworld performance of a design digitally, helping
reduce their reliance on costly physical prototypes.

What is the Autodesk Solution for Digital Prototyping?


Autodesk Inventor software takes manufacturers beyond 3D to Digital Prototyping. With Inventor,
you can create a single digital model that gives you the ability to design, visualize, and simulate your
products:
■ Design: Integrate all design data into a single digital model, streamlining the design process and
increasing communication.
■ Visualize: Create a virtual representation of the final product to review design intent, secure early
customer validation, and market products before they’re built.
■ Simulate: Digitally simulate the real-world performance of your product, saving the time and
money required to build multiple physical prototypes.
Inventor enables manufacturers to create a digital prototype, helping reduce reliance on costly
physical prototypes and get more innovative products to market faster. The Autodesk® solution for
Digital Prototyping brings together design data from all phases of the product development process
into a single digital model created in Inventor.

What Pain Points Does Digital Prototyping Address?


The manufacturing product development process today is dominated by islands of competency, each
presenting its own technical challenges:
■ In the conceptual design phase, industrial designers and engineers often use paperbased methods
or digital formats that are incompatible with the digital information used in the engineering
phase. A lack of digital data, compatible formats, and automation keeps this island separate from
engineering—the conceptual design data must be recreated digitally downstream, resulting in lost
time and money.
■ In the engineering phase, mechanical and electrical engineers use different systems and formats,
and a lack of automation makes it difficult to capture and rapidly respond to change requests from
manufacturing. Another problem in the engineering phase: the geometric focus of typical 3D CAD
software makes it difficult to create and use a digital prototype to validate and optimize products
before they are built, making it necessary to build multiple costly physical prototypes.
■ Manufacturing is at the downstream end of all the broken digital processes—the disconnection
between the conceptual design phase, the engineering components, electrical, and mechanical—
and they receive this analog information in the form of drawings. The result is a heavy reliance on
physical prototypes and the subsequent impact on productivity and innovation.
■ Disconnected product development processes make it difficult to bring customer and marketing
requirements into the process early so customers can see exactly what the product will look like
and validate how it will function before it is delivered. The inability to involve the customer early
in the product development process means that the customer can’t validate a design before
the product goes to manufacturing. Customer requests for changes become exponentially more
expensive to address the further along the product is in the manufacturing process. The result:
companies have to build multiple physical prototypes for customer validation.

xiv ■ Introduction
Hasn't the Concept of Digital Prototyping Been Around for Years?
Although there has been talk about the benefits of Digital Prototyping for years, the budget for the
tools required to build and test a true digital prototype has been out of reach for most manufacturing
companies. Digital Prototyping solutions are usually expensive, customized installations for large
enterprises. Most out-of-the-box 3D modeling applications provide only part of the functionality
needed to create a complete digital prototype.

What is Unique About the Autodesk Approach to Digital Prototyping?


Scalable: The Autodesk solution for Digital Prototyping is scalable, flexible, and easy to integrate into
existing business processes. Using Inventor to create a single digital model, manufacturers can realize
the benefits of Digital Prototyping at their own pace, with minimal disruption to existing productive
workflows.
Attainable: The Autodesk solution for Digital Prototyping provides an easy to deploy and manage
solution for mainstream manufacturers to create and maintain a single digital model that can be used
in all stages of production.
Cost-effective: Delivering cost-effective software for design and manufacturing workgroups, an
Inventor-based Digital Prototyping solution delivers the fastest path to ROI. Autodesk has a proven
record of making powerful desktop technology available to mainstream manufacturers.

How Do the Autodesk Manufacturing Products and Technology Drive Digital


----Prototyping?
Inventor takes you beyond 3D to Digital Prototyping. The Autodesk solution for Digital Prototyping
enables manufacturing workgroups to develop a single digital model, created in Inventor, that can be
used in every stage of production—bridging the gaps that usually exist between conceptual design,
engineering, and manufacturing teams. This single digital model simulates the complete product and
gives engineers the ability to better design, visualize, and simulate their product with less reliance on
costly physical prototypes—thereby improving time to market, and increasing competitive advantage.
Autodesk provides the interoperable tools required to create a complete digital prototype from the
conceptual phase of a project through manufacturing.

Introduction ■ xv
The Autodesk® Alias® product line enables you to work digitally from project outset using best-in-
class industrial design tools. Capture ideas digitally—from initial sketches to 3D concept models
using products in the Alias product line—then share those designs with the engineering team using
a common file format, allowing a product’s industrial design data to be incorporated into the digital
prototype created in Inventor. Today, the look and feel of a machine or device is more important than
ever for consumers, so industrial designers and engineers must share housing and user interfaces
early in the process.

With Autodesk® Showcase® software, you can quickly evaluate multiple design variations by creating
realistic, accurate, and compelling imagery from 3D CAD data—helping reduce the time, cost, and
need for building physical prototypes. You can then interactively view the digital prototype in realistic
environments, making it faster, easier, and less expensive to make design decisions.
Autodesk Inventor software moves engineers beyond 3D and enables them to develop complete
digital prototypes of their products. The Autodesk Inventor family of software provides the powerful
—yet cost-effective and easy to learn—desktop technology engineers need to take advantage of
Digital Prototyping. Autodesk Inventor software enables engineers to integrate AutoCAD drawings and
3D data into a single digital model, creating a virtual representation of the final product. Using this
single digital model, you can design, visualize, and simulate products digitally. The model serves as a
digital prototype that is refined and used to validate design functions, helping to reduce reliance on
physical prototypes and minimize manufacturing costs.
■ Functional Design: Autodesk Inventor software products combine an intuitive 3D mechanical
design environment for creating parts and assemblies with functional design tools that enable
engineers to focus on a design’s function, not geometry creation—letting the software drive
the automatic creation of intelligent components such as plastic parts, steel frames, rotating
machinery, tube and pipe runs, and electrical cable and wire harnesses. Reducing the geometry
burden helps engineers spend more time rapidly building and refining digital prototypes that
validate design functions and help optimize manufacturing costs.

xvi ■ Introduction
■ DWG™ Interoperability: Inventor provides direct read and write of native DWG files while
maintaining full associativity to the 3D model without risking inaccurate translations. (DWG from
Autodesk is the original format for storing and sharing design data when working with AutoCAD
software. With billions of DWG files circulating throughout every industry, it’s one of the most
commonly used design data formats.) This gives engineers the freedom to safely reuse valuable
2D DWG files to build accurate 3D part models, then communicate insights gained from Digital
Prototyping with partners and suppliers that rely on AutoCAD software.

■ Dynamic simulation: Autodesk Inventor delivers the best integrated simulation tools in the
industry. Tightly integrated tools for calculation, stress, deflection, and motion simulation make
it possible for engineers to optimize and validate a digital prototype before the product is built.
Simulation is performed based on real-world constraints, so you know you can rely on the
simulation results. The dynamic simulation tools in Inventor enable engineers to evaluate multiple
potential solutions to a motion problem, making it possible to make the best design decisions and
avoid costly mistakes.
■ Documentation: Autodesk Inventor software includes comprehensive tools to generate
engineering and manufacturing documentation directly from a validated 3D digital prototype,
helping design teams communicate more effectively. Inventor combines the benefits of associative
drawing views, so any changes made to the model are reflected in the drawing—with the power
and widespread acceptance of the DWG format to help reduce errors and deliver the design in
less time.
■ Routed Systems: Inventor software’s automated tools for designing routed systems, including
complex tube and pipe runs, and electrical cable and harness design, allow you to create
and validate a more complete digital prototype, which helps reduce errors and ECOs prior to
manufacturing and get to market faster.
■ Tooling: The tooling capabilities of Inventor software give designers and engineers intelligent tools
and mold base catalogs to quickly and accurately generate mold designs directly from a digital
prototype. Using the Inventor digital prototype, mold, tool, and die manufacturers can validate
the form, fit, and function of a mold design before it’s built, reducing errors and improving mold
performance.
To help validate and optimize designs before manufacturing, you can use the broad range of finite
element analysis (FEA) and simulation tools in Algor simulation software, which will enhance the
Autodesk solution for Digital Prototyping.

Introduction ■ xvii
AutoCAD Mechanical software is built to help mechanical designers and drafters simplify complex
mechanical design work, enhancing productivity. Quickly detail production drawings using industry-
specific manufacturing tools, reducing errors and saving hours of time. AutoCAD, one of the world’s
leading design and professional drafting software, plays an important role in Digital Prototyping
workflows. AutoCAD gives you the power and flexibility to explore, document, and communicate
ideas. Both AutoCAD Mechanical and AutoCAD software enable engineers to accurately document
digital prototypes created in Inventor, and communicate insights gained from Digital Prototyping with
colleagues, partners, and suppliers that rely on AutoCAD software.
AutoCAD® Electrical software passes electrical design intent information for cables and conductors
directly to Autodesk Inventor software, adding valuable electrical controls design data to the digital
prototype created in Inventor. Inventor users can pass wire-connectivity information to AutoCAD
Electrical and automatically create the corresponding 2D schematics. The smooth integration between
Inventor and AutoCAD Electrical helps your electrical and mechanical teams work collaboratively and
efficiently on 2D and 3D mechatronic product designs.

xviii ■ Introduction
To optimize plastic part and injection mold designs, use Autodesk® Moldflow® injection molding
simulation software.

Autodesk® 3ds Max® software enables you to leverage engineering data to create advanced software-
rendered and -animated visualizations of digital prototypes created in Inventor. 3ds Max contains a
complete suite of CAD data preparation, modeling, effects, and rendering tools to create the highest
quality photorealistic and stylistic still and animated visualizations.
Autodesk® Navisworks® software for manufacturing enables manufacturing companies to visualize
complete manufacturing facilities, industrial machinery, factory floor models, and production lines in
a single environment. The software supports complete assembly visualization and optimization, and
enables you to combine CAD data from various design systems regardless of file format or size.
Autodesk’s data management tools allow design workgroups to manage and track all the design
components for a digital prototype, helping you to better reuse design data, manage bills of material,
and promote early collaboration with manufacturing teams and clients. With the Autodesk® Vault
family of data management applications, design, engineering, and manufacturing workgroups can
manage the Digital Prototyping process by helping reduce time organizing files, avoid costly mistakes,
and more efficiently release and revise designs. You can further facilitate Digital Prototyping workflows
with Autodesk® Design Review software, the all-digital way to review, measure, mark up, and track
changes to designs—all without the original creation software.

What Can Customers Do with the Autodesk Solution for Digital Prototyping
----Today?
Industrial designers use Autodesk Alias products to digitally sketch design ideas and create 3D digital
concept models for validation that then can be shared with engineering or manufacturing teams.
Engineers use Autodesk Inventor to explore ideas with simple, functional representations that help
generate a digital prototype. Inventor software delivers the best bidirectional interoperability on the
market between 2D and 3D mechanical and electrical design applications. Integrated stress analysis
and motion simulation help engineers optimize and validate complete designs digitally and confirm
that customer requirements are met even before a product is built.
Manufacturing teams benefit from accessing the most current and accurate data (release drawings,
models, and BOMs)—avoiding mistakes caused by using outdated documents. They can provide

Introduction ■ xix
expertise earlier in the engineering process by sharing the digital prototype with Autodesk’s DWF™
(Design Web Format™) technology to communicate, mark up, and measure designs—moving one step
closer to true paperless manufacturing processes.

What Are the Business Benefits of Digital Prototyping?


According to an independent study by the Aberdeen Group, best-in-class manufacturers use Digital
Prototyping to build half the number of physical prototypes as the average manufacturer, get to
market 58 days faster than average, experience 48 percent lower prototyping costs, and ultimately
drive greater innovation in their products. The Autodesk solution for Digital Prototyping helps
customers achieve results like these.

xx ■ Introduction
How Does the Autodesk Solution for Digital Prototyping Help Get Customers
----to Best-in-Class?
By giving you the tools to develop a complete digital prototype, Autodesk helps you build fewer
physical prototypes—and ultimately get to market ahead of the competition with more innovative
products. Autodesk’s position is that moving to 3D is only the first step in creating a digital prototype.
In today’s increasingly competitive global market, being best in class means using technology to stay
ahead of the competition—incorporating Digital Prototyping into the product development process
gives you that edge. Autodesk provides this functionality through a complete, easy-to-learn set of
design applications and a wide range of partners for consultation regarding what is needed to make
Digital Prototyping a reality.

Introduction ■ xxi
What is the Market Saying about Digital Prototyping?
■ “To be best-in-class is not just about moving from 2D to 3D, but rather to push ahead to digital
prototyping to answer questions about your product before you start to build it.”
—Start-IT
■ “IDC believes that with its new definition of digital prototyping, Autodesk is offering a product
development solution to SMBs that will strengthen their competitiveness and give them the
functional tools and processes required to achieve product excellence and profitability for years to
come."
—Gisela Wilson and Michael Fauscette, IDC
■ “One of the primary reasons manufacturers aim to capture more product information
electronically is to digitally prototype their product. As a result, they can reduce physical
prototyping and in turn, save time and development costs.”
—Aberdeen Group
■ “It [Autodesk] provides a comprehensive range of software solutions for the manufacturing
industry including its flagship 3D design offering, Autodesk Inventor. The solutions redefine
product design process by supporting and connecting all disciplines of product development, from
industrial design to mechanical and electrical engineering, and manufacturing.”
—Design News
■ “The ability to not only visualize product development in 3D but also to simulate how that product
would perform in the physical world are among the benefits assigned to digital prototyping.
Research from consulting firm Aberdeen Group, in fact, shows that the use of digital prototypes
for top-performing companies both reduces their product development costs and speeds up how
quickly products get to market.”
—IndustryWeek
■ “The latest Autodesk manufacturing solutions redefine the product design process by supporting
and natively connecting all of the disciplines involved in product development, from industrial
design to mechanical and electrical engineering and manufacturing.”
—The Manufacturer
■ “The Digital Prototyping approach is now embraced by some important manufacturers who once
promoted enterprise PLM, including Boeing. Its new 787 Dreamliner, like the 777 before it, was
digitally designed, but the digital definition from engineering was pushed into manufacturing via
new processes that replaced DCAC/MRM.”
—Nancy Rouse-Tally, Desktop Engineering
■ “Autodesk is doing what it has always been good at—taking a technology idea and giving it the
top 80% of functionality at 20% of the price. Digital Prototyping is no different. It takes the idea of
‘expensive’ out of PLM and brings it down to all those other users.”
—Rachael Dalton-Taggart, PR, Marketing and the Business of CAD
■ “Before Inventor, it would typically take me 18 months to bring a new design to market,” Jason
Faircloth, product manager and designer for Marin Bikes, Inc. says. “The finite-element and
motion analysis software have enabled me to almost eliminate physical prototypes. With
the software, it’s now nine months, and getting faster—and the product is better. This is our
future.” The CAE capabilities of Inventor Professional enabled Faircloth to produce multiple
“digital prototypes” so that the time-consuming process of physical prototyping was reduced or
eliminated.
—Desktop Engineering

xxii ■ Introduction
Chapter

Getting Started
Autodesk® Inventor® has a context-sensitive user interface that provides you with the tools relevant
to the tasks being performed. A comprehensive online help and tutorial system provides you with
information to help you learn the application. This chapter introduces the tools and interface options
that you use on a constant basis.

This chapter also introduces fundamental of parametric part design concepts that enable you to
capture design intent and build intelligence into your designs.

Objectives
After completing this chapter, you will be able to:
■ Identify the main user interface components that are common to all Autodesk Inventor design
environments and describe how to access different tools.
■ View all aspects of your design by efficiently navigating around in 2D and 3D space.
■ Describe the characteristics and benefits of a parametric part model.

1
Lesson: Autodesk Inventor User Interface

This lesson describes the application interface. You are introduced to the different file types (part,
assembly, presentation, and drawing) you work with as you create and document your designs,
and you examine the common user interface elements and view management tools in these
environments.
As with all computer applications, the User Interface (UI) is what you use to interact with the program.
While the Autodesk Inventor UI shares many common themes and elements with other Microsoft
Windows applications, it also has some unique elements and functionalities that may be new to you,
even as an experienced CAD user.
In the following illustration, the Autodesk Inventor User Interface is shown.

Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
■ Describe the multiple environments within Autodesk Inventor.
■ Describe what project files are used for.
■ Describe the types of files Autodesk Inventor creates and the kinds of information they store.
■ Identify the major components of the Autodesk Inventor user interface.
■ Identify the browser and panel bar in the assembly, part, presentation, and drawing
environments.
■ Identify and access various types of online help and tutorial resources.

2 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


About Multiple Environments
In order to provide the greatest design flexibility and reuse, each part, assembly, and drawing is stored
in a separate file. Each part file is a stand-alone entity that can be used in different assembly files and
drawing files. When you make a change to a part, the change is evident in each assembly or drawing
that references that part. Assembly files can be referenced by other assembly files, presentation files,
and drawing files. IDW and DWG files are now interchangeable. Depending on your workflow and need
for use in downstream applications, you can create your production drawings with either file format.
The basic file references that exist in a typical 3D design are represented in the following illustration.

Assembly files: IAM files reference part files and are referenced by drawing files.
Part files: IPT files are referenced by assembly files and drawing files.
Drawing files: DWG files reference assembly files and part files.
Inventor Drawing files: IDW files are interchangeable with DWG files in Inventor and reference
assembly and part files.

Lesson: Autodesk Inventor User Interface ■ 3


Using Template Files
Template files serve as the basis for all new files that you create. When you begin a file from a
template file, you can control default settings such as units, snap spacing, and default tolerances in
the new file.
The application offers template files for each type of file. Template files are categorized into two
main groups: English for English units (inches and feet), and Metric for metric units (millimeters and
meters).
The New File dialog box has three tabs: Default, English, and Metric. The Default tab presents
templates based on the default unit that you select during installation, while the English and Metric
tabs present template files in their respective units.

4 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


Part Modeling Environment
In the part modeling environment:
■ You create and edit 3D part models.
■ The interface adjusts automatically to present tools for your current task, for example, tools for
sketching or tools to create 3D features.
The following illustration shows the user interface in the part modeling environment.

Lesson: Autodesk Inventor User Interface ■ 5


Assembly Modeling Environment
In the assembly modeling environment:
■ You build and edit 3D assembly models. The components displayed in the system are references to
external parts and subassemblies.
■ You use assembly specific tools to position and build relationships between components.
■ A common set of viewing tools is available.
The following illustration shows the user interface in the assembly modeling environment.

6 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


Presentation Environment
In the presentation environment:
■ You create exploded assembly views.
■ You can record an animation of an exploded view to help document your assembly.
■ The presentation file references an existing assembly.
■ A common set of viewing tools is available.
The following illustration shows the user interface in the presentation environment.

Lesson: Autodesk Inventor User Interface ■ 7


Drawing Environment
In the drawing environment:
■ You create 2D drawings of parts and assemblies.
■ A drawing file references one or more parts, assemblies, or presentation files. Changes to the part
or assembly model update the associated drawing views and annotations.
The following illustration shows the user interface in the drawing environment.

8 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


About Project Files
As you create designs in Autodesk Inventor, file dependencies are created between files of different
types. For example, when you create a 3D assembly, a file dependency between the assembly and its
part models is created. As your designs grow in complexity, these dependencies can become more
complicated. Autodesk Inventor utilizes project files to locate the required files as they are needed.
As a result of using the information contained in the project file, when you open that 3D assembly,
Autodesk Inventor can locate the 3D part files and display them properly.
In the context of an introduction to the Autodesk Inventor user interface, all that is important to
realize is that you must have an active project before you create any files. This is why the project file is
listed in the New File dialog box. Autodesk Inventor installs several sample project files, but the default
project is initially active.

Lesson: Autodesk Inventor User Interface ■ 9


Inventor File Types
To maximize performance, Autodesk Inventor uses different file types for each type of file. Assembly
files are stored in a different type of file than the parts that are used to create them. 2D drawing
information can be stored in either the IDW file type that is unique to Autodesk Inventor, or the DWG
format that is native to AutoCAD® and is an accepted industry standard.
In the following illustration, the New File dialog box illustrates the different types of files that you can
create with Autodesk Inventor.

10 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


Part Files
Part files (*.ipt) represent the foundation of all designs using Autodesk Inventor. You use the
part file to describe the individual parts that make up an assembly.

Assembly Files
Assembly (*.iam) files consist of multiple part files assembled in a single file to represent your
assembly. You use assembly constraints to constrain all the parts to each other. The assembly
file contains references to all of its component files.

Lesson: Autodesk Inventor User Interface ■ 11


Presentation Files
You use presentation files (*.ipn) to create exploded views of the assembly. It is also possible
to animate the exploded views to simulate how the assembly should be put together or taken
apart.

12 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


Drawing Files
You use drawing files (*.idw) to create the necessary 2D documentation of your design.
Drawing files include dimensions, annotations, and views required for manufacturing. When
you use a drawing file to create 2D views of an existing 3D model, the views are associative to
the 3D model, and changes in model geometry are reflected in the drawing automatically. You
can also use drawing files to create simple 2D drawings in much the same way that you use
other 2D drawing programs.
Inventor drawing files can also be stored in the standard DWG format. If you use this format
for your 2D drawings, they can be opened and saved in AutoCAD. This is a very useful option
for users who must share their design data with others who use AutoCAD.

Lesson: Autodesk Inventor User Interface ■ 13


User Interface
All environments share a common layout for tabs on a single toolbar across the top of the application
window called the ribbon. The ribbon contains tools and commands for specific tasks on separate
tabs. Each environment, assembly, part, or drawing for example, displays tabs and tools specific to
that environment. As you change tasks within a single environment, the ribbon adjusts to present the
appropriate tabs and tools.
The following illustration shows the major components of the Autodesk Inventor user interface. The
ribbon and tabs are displayed at the top of the application window.

Application Menu
Quick Access Toolbar
Ribbon
Ribbon Tabs
ViewCube
Navigation Bar
Browser
3D Indicator
Graphics Window

14 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


Interface Structure
Autodesk Inventor uses a standard structure common in all Microsoft Windows applications. The
structure is context-sensitive based on the environment and mode you are using.

As you are learning the application more thoroughly, you should take the time to familiarize yourself
with the different options that are displayed on the ribbon in different work environments.
The following illustration shows the Assemble tab in the assembly modeling environment.

The following illustration shows the Model tab in the part modeling environment.

The following illustration shows the Place Views tab in the drawing environment.

Lesson: Autodesk Inventor User Interface ■ 15


Quick Access Toolbar
By default, a single Inventor standard toolbar is displayed in all environments and is called the Quick
Access toolbar. When you change between environments, the Quick Access toolbar updates to
present valid tools for the environment. The toolbar contains tools for file handling, settings, view
manipulation, and model or document appearance.
A section of the Quick Access toolbar is displayed in the following illustration. It is organized into
groups based on functionality. This area of the toolbar displays tools for standard file and modeling
operations.

Standard file management tools


Undo and Redo
Environment navigation
Update document
Selection filters
Color List
Design Doctor

16 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


Context-Sensitive Tools
As you switch between environments or between tasks in a single environment, Autodesk Inventor
displays the appropriate toolsandinformation for the current task. The ribbon automatically presents
tabs and tools for the current task. The browser displays information on the active environment.

The ribbon is your primary interface for accessing the tools available while you design. The
context-sensitive design presents the relevant tools based on the current context of your design
session. For example, when you switch from assembly modeling to part modeling, the ribbon
switches automatically to display the correct tabs and tools for the context where you work.
The browser is one of the main interface components. It is context-sensitive with the environment
you use. For example, when you work on an assembly you use the browser to present information
specific to the assembly environment. While you use the part modeling environment, the browser
displays information that is relevant to part modeling.

Model Tab
When you are in the part modeling environment, the Model tab is displayed while you create and edit
part models. You use these tools to create parametric features on the part.

Lesson: Autodesk Inventor User Interface ■ 17


Sketch Tab
You use the Sketch tab in the modeling environment to create 2D parametric sketches, dimensions,
and constraints. You use the same set of tools on the Assemble tab when creating a sketch in the
assembly environment.

Part Modeling Browser


The browser displays all features you use to create the part. The features are listed in the order
in which they are created. The browser also displays the Origin folder at the top of the list which
contains the default X, Y, and Z planes, axes, and center point.

Assembly Modeling Environment


When you are in the assembly modeling environment, the browser displays all the parts you use in
the assembly. It also lists the Origin folder containing the default X, Y, and Z planes, axes, and center
point of the assembly.

If applied, nested under each part, you see the assembly constraints. If you select an assembly
constraint, an edit box is displayed at the bottom of the browser, enabling you to edit the offset or
angle value for the constraint.

18 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


In the assembly environment, you can use the Modeling View option in the Assembly
View drop-down list to display the part features nested under the parts instead of the
assembly constraints. This is useful when performing part modeling functions in the
context of the assembly.

In the following illustration, the Assemble tab is shown in the default Normal mode. In Normal mode,
the tool icons and names are displayed.

You can also choose to display tool icons without text by right-clicking anywhere on the
ribbon and then clicking Ribbon Appearance > Text Off.

Lesson: Autodesk Inventor User Interface ■ 19


Design Accelerator
Clicking on the ribbon, Design tab displays the Design Accelerator tools.

Presentation Tab
When you are in the presentation environment, you use the Presentation tab to create presentation
views and tweaks, and to animate geometry in the presentation environment.

Presentation Browser
The browser displays the presentation views you create followed by the tweaks you use for the
explosion. When you expand each tweak, you see the parts included in that tweak. You can also
switch the browser mode from Tweak View to Sequence View or Assembly View.

20 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


Drawing Environment
In the drawing environment, the browser displays the Drawing Resources folder containing sheet
formats, borders, title blocks, and sketched symbols. It also displays each sheet in the drawing along
with the views you create for each.

You use the Place Views tab in the drawing environment to create drawing views on the sheet.

You use the Annotate tab in the drawing environment to add reference dimensions and other
annotation objects.

Lesson: Autodesk Inventor User Interface ■ 21


Keyboard Shortcuts
You can use keyboard shortcuts to access and begin tools and commands. For example, you can enter
P for Place Component, or N for Create Component. Entering the keyboard shortcut is the same as
clicking the tool on the tabs. When you hover the mouse over a tool on the ribbon, the tooltip will
expand to reveal information about the tool. The keyboard shortcut (1) will be listed as shown in the
following illustration.

Access Shortcut Keys List


You can access a complete list of the default shortcut keys from the Help menu.

In the Info Center, click the arrow next to the Help icon > Shortcut/Alias Quick
Reference

Condensed Ribbon
As you become more familiar with the tools in each environment, you can condense the ribbon by
choosing to display tool icons without text. To switch, right-click anywhere on the ribbon and click
Ribbon Appearance > Text Off. Clear the check mark to display icon text. In this mode, tools are
displayed with icons only resulting in more area for the browser and graphics windows.

22 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


Alternative Ribbon and Browser Positions
In addition to the default positions, you can alter the location of the ribbon or browser by clicking
and dragging the horizontal bars near the top of the element, or the title area when the element is
floating. Both the ribbon and browser can be placed in a docked position on the left or right side of the
screen, or in a floating position anywhere in the graphics window.

Lesson: Autodesk Inventor User Interface ■ 23


Online Help and Tutorials
Autodesk Inventor offers several types of online help, tutorial references, and other resources to
assistin building your skill level. Standard Help files, context-sensitive how-to presentations, Show Me
animations, and tutorials are available.

24 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


Setting Your User Type
The initial Help screen enables you to specify the user type that most closely matches your situation.
The topics that are most relevant to the user type that you select are presented first on the initial
help screen. By default, the option to Show Help on startup is enabled. This causes the Inventor Help
system to launch each time you start Inventor and create a new file or open an existing file.
To access the Inventor Help System, press F1 or click Help menu > Help Topics.

Help for Returning and New Users


Returning and new users can find links to Help information that is most relevant for them.

Lesson: Autodesk Inventor User Interface ■ 25


Help for AutoCAD Users
AutoCAD users can use the Help topics designed specifically for them as they make the transition to
Autodesk Inventor.

Shortcut/Alias Quick Reference


The Shortcut/Alias Quick Reference shows all of the default Shortcut/Alias keys along with the
command names they execute.

Click Help menu > Shortcut/Alias Quick Reference to access the reference.

26 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


Show Me Animations
The Show Me animations present topic-specific information in animated presentations.

To access the Show Me animations, on the Info Center, click Help > Help Topics and select the Show
Me Animations link. In the Show Me Animations dialog box, navigate to the topic of choice and the
animation begins automatically.

Tutorials
There are several tutorials available that cover a range of topics from Level 1 to Level 3. Click the tabs
along the top of the page to view the tutorials for each level. On each tab, panels display tutorial titles
and descriptions. From the main list of tutorials, select the topic of interest. The tutorials present step-
by-step information on performing tasks in Autodesk Inventor.
You access these tutorials by clicking Help menu > Learning Tools > Tutorials, or by clicking Try It
Tutorials on the main Help screen.

Lesson: Autodesk Inventor User Interface ■ 27


In the following illustration, the Introduction to the Ribbon Interface page of the Autodesk Inventor
tutorial is displayed.

28 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


Exercise: Explore the Autodesk Inventor User Interface
In this exercise, you explore the Autodesk Inventor 2. Click Get Started tab > Launch panel > Projects.
user interface for assemby, part modeling, and ■ If Learning Autodesk Inventor 2010 is
drawing environments. displayed in the project list, double-click to
make it active. A check mark appears next
to the active project.
■ If Learning Autodesk Inventor 2010 is not in
the list, click Browse.
■ Navigate to the installation folder of your
student dataset files. By default, this
location is C:\Autodesk Learning\Inventor
2010\Learning.
■ Double-click Learning Autodesk Inventor
2010.ipj. A check mark appears next to the
active project.
■ Click Done.

The completed exercise

Completing the Exercise


To complete the exercise, follow the
steps in this book or in the onscreen
exercise. In the onscreen list of 3. End of exercise setup. Continue to the exercise.
chapters and exercises, click Chapter 1:
Getting Started. Click Exercise: Explore
the Autodesk Inventor User Interface. Explore the Autodesk Inventor User Interface
1. Open Mating Press View.iam.
2. Because this is an assembly file, notice the
Exercise Setup specific assembly modeling tools on the
ribbon. In the browser, notice the appearance
Before you can complete the exercises for the of both assembly files (1) and part files (2).
Learning Autodesk Inventor 2010 course, you must When assembly files are referenced in other
activate the Learning Autodesk Inventor 2010 project assemblies, they are commonly referred to as
file. subassemblies.

1. Start Autodesk Inventor. If Autodesk Inventor is


already running, close all files.

Lesson: Autodesk Inventor User Interface ■ 29


4. To activate a part in the context of the
assembly:
■ In the browser, collapse the Base_Plate:1
subassembly node.
■ Double-click the Top_Component:1 part
instance.
■ Notice the change in appearance in the
browser, graphics window, and ribbon.
In the browser, the area listing inactive
components and subassemblies has a gray
background. The ribbon changes to display
tools specific to part modeling, and in the
graphics window, all inactive components
become transparent leaving only the active
part opaque in color.

3. In the browser, expand the Base_Plate:1


subassembly to view its referenced parts (1)
and assembly constraints (2).

5. To return to the assembly, on the ribbon, click


Return. Note: You could also double-click the
assembly in the browser to return.

30 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


6. To open a part in its own window:
■ In the browser, right-click the
Top_Component:1 part. Click Open. The
part opens in a separate window and any
changes made to the part are reflected in
the assembly.
■ Notice how the part color is different than
it appears in the assembly. This occurs
because a part can be assigned a different
color style in the context of the assembly.

8. To exit the sketch, on the ribbon, click Finish


Sketch.
9. Close the part file and return to the assembly. If
you are prompted to save changes, click No.
10. To open an Inventor drawing file:
■ On the Quick Access toolbar, click Open.
■ In the Open dialog box, select m_Mating-
Press-Drawing.idw and click Open.
■ The ribbon updates to show drawing
related tasks and tools.
7. To activate the sketch environment:
■ In the browser, expand the Extrusion1 part
feature.
■ Double-click Sketch1.
The browser background color changes to
indicate the active sketch, the part features are
rolled-back, and the graphics window displays
the sketch geometry.

Lesson: Autodesk Inventor User Interface ■ 31


11. In the browser, expand the Drawing Resources
node and View1: Mating Press View.iam node
to reveal the nested resources, views, and
assembly references.

12. To explore the Help System resources:


■ Press F1.
■ If you are an experienced AutoCAD user,
click the option for Users Transitioning from
AutoCAD and explore the Help resources
that are tailored for these users.
■ If you are new to Inventor and do not have
AutoCAD experience, click the option for
Returning / New Inventor Users and explore
the Help resources that are tailored for
these users.
13. Close the Help windows.
14. Close all files. Do not save.

32 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


Lesson: View Manipulation

This lesson describes the use of the various view manipulation tools in the modeling and drawing
environments.
You view all aspects of your 3D geometry by navigating around in 3D space. The view manipulation
tools enable you to quickly perform these tasks in a manner that is intuitive and efficient.
In the following illustration, a constrained orbit is used to rotate the assembly and change the view
orientation. The ViewCube, in the upper right corner of the graphics window, is shown with the
compass displayed. The ViewCube rotates with the model and aids in the orientation of the model.

Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
■ Identify the tools that are available in the graphics window.
■ Explain the behavior of the Free Orbit and Constrained Orbit tools.
■ Explain the ViewCube options and how to access them.
■ Describe how the ViewCube can be used to view part and assembly models and how to customize
its appearance and behavior options.
■ Explain the steps to define and restore the home view.
■ Describe how to use various tools to restore previous views.

Lesson: View Manipulation ■ 33


About the Graphics Window
Your 3D part and assembly models, presentations, and drawings are displayed in the graphics window.
Many tools are available to manipulate the view and appearance of your model in the graphics
window.

Viewing Tools
View manipulation is a key 2D drawing and 3D modeling skill. You are often required to view different
areas of a design, and changing your view can help you visualize solutions for the current task. Many
of the view manipulation tools are common to all environments.

34 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


The following illustration shows the view manipulation tools that are available on the Navigation bar.

Navigation Bar Zoom Options Orbit Options

ViewCube
SteeringWheel
Pan
View Face
Zoom All
Free Orbit

You have different view manipulation tools available to you depending on how you want to change
where you are viewing and to what magnification. To efficiently change your view to see exactly what
you want or need to see, you need to know what view manipulation tools are available to you and how
to use them.

Icon View Tool Description

ViewCube In the 3D environment the ViewCube tool displays as a default


in the graphics window, enabling you to reorient your view of
the model. In the 2D environment the ViewCube enables the
definition of view orientations for a drawing view.

Free Orbit Enables you to freely rotate the view of your model on screen.

Lesson: View Manipulation ■ 35


Icon View Tool Description

Constrained Constrained Orbit enables you to rotate around the vertical axis of
Orbit a model in a manner similar to the rotation of a turntable.

SteeringWheel The SteeringWheel tool is designed to be a common tool for


multiple Autodesk products. The SteeringWheel tool was
implemented to provide many different levels and types of control
over model and drawing navigation.

You can use the mouse to accomplish most pan and zoom tasks.
■ Roll the mouse wheel to zoom at the cursor location.
■ Click and drag the mouse wheel to pan.
■ Shift+click and drag the mouse wheel to free orbit.
■ Double-click the mouse wheel to zoom all.

Display Modes
This area of the toolbar displays appearance-related tools for controlling the appearance of your
model. Select a render style from the list to change the color and texture of your model.

Toggle the section views which graphically slice portions of an assembly so that you can visualize
other features.
Toggle between Orthographic and Perspective display modes.
Toggle between Shaded, Shaded with Hidden Edge and Wireframe displays.
Toggle between No Shadow, Ground Shadow, and X-Ray Shadow display modes.
In an assembly file, toggle between Transparency On and Transparency Off display modes.
Select a color/material to assign to a component.

36 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


3D Indicator
While using the assembly, part modeling, and presentation environments, the 3D Indicator is displayed
in the lower-left area of the graphics window. The Indicator displays your current view orientation in
relation to the X, Y, and Z axes of the coordinate system.

The 3D Indicator is positioned below and to the left of the assembly in this illustration.
■ Red: X-axis
■ Green: Y-axis
■ Blue: Z-axis

Lesson: View Manipulation ■ 37


Orbit Tools
You have two options to rotate the views of models and assemblies. The Free Orbit tool is used to
rotate the model freely in screen space, while the Constrained Orbit tool is used to rotate the model
about axes in model space.
In the following illustration, the functionality of the Constrained Orbit tool is compared to that of a
globe. As you rotate a globe about the north-south axis, the angle at which you view the globe does
not change. The Constrained Orbit tool is similar in behavior.

Access
Free Orbit

Navigation Bar: Free Orbit

Ribbon: View tab > Navigate panel

38 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


Access
Constrained Orbit

Navigation Bar: Constrained Orbit

Ribbon: View tab > Navigate panel

Free Orbit
The Free Orbit tool enables you to dynamically change your view of the model. It is important to
remember that the model does not move, you change your viewing position with the Rotate tool.

The following illustration outlines the rotation modes available. The cursor provides feedback on the
rotation mode available. You click and drag to rotate the view and you can set the center of rotation by
clicking a location on the model.

Lesson: View Manipulation ■ 39


Click and drag here to rotate the view about all axes.
Click and drag here to rotate the view about a vertical axis.
Click and drag here to rotate the view about a horizontal axis.
Click and drag here to rotate the view about an axis normal to the screen.
Position and click here to exit.

Axis Orbiting with Free Orbit


The illustrations below display the behavior of the Free Orbit tool. When the model view is orbited
using the horizontal cross hairs, the model rotates about an imaginary vertical axis based on the view.
The model does not stay in the same view orientation. When the view is orbited without the use of
the cross hairs, the rotation is about the center of the graphics area, or the center as assigned by the
SteeringWheel.

In the following example, using the Free Orbit enables you to view the top and bottom of the
assembly as it is orbited.

40 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


Axis Orbiting with Constrained Orbit
The Constrained Orbit tool places the axis of rotation on the vertical axis of the part or assembly.
This functionality enables users to orbit around the vertical axis of their models as they would on a
turntable.

In the following illustrations, the Constrained Orbit tool is started. The orbit starts from the right
horizontal cross hair. As the assembly is orbited, you can see the sides of the assembly, but your view
orientation remains the same.

Lesson: View Manipulation ■ 41


About the ViewCube
The ViewCube tool displays by default in the graphics window. The ViewCube enables you to be
more efficient because it is accessible at all times, and provides intuitive access to multiple view
orientations.
In the following illustration, the front view of the assembly is restored by clicking Front on the
ViewCube.

Definition of the ViewCube


The ViewCube is a view manipulation tool that enables you to efficiently and intuitively change the
viewing angle of your parts and assemblies. The ViewCube uses faces, edges, and corners as selection
options to define viewing angles.

ViewCube Example
In the following illustration, the view of the monitor arm assembly is changed from the current
isometric view (1) to an angle view between the top and front views (3). The new view orientation
was obtained by selecting the ViewCube edge (2) between the Top and Front panels on the ViewCube.

42 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


Using the ViewCube
You can access the ViewCube tools by selecting the face, edge, or corner of the ViewCube. Each face,
edge, and corner of the ViewCube represents a different view orientation that corresponds to the
model. The model rotates to the selected view orientation when the ViewCube is clicked.
In the following illustration, the ViewCube is used to reorient the view of the assembly.

Lesson: View Manipulation ■ 43


Access
ViewCube

Navigation Bar: ViewCube

Ribbon: View tab > Windows panel > Toggle Visibility of the User Interface Elements >
ViewCube

Access
ViewCube Options

Ribbon: Tools tab > Application Options > ViewCube > Options
Shortcut: Right-click the ViewCube > Options

44 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


Introduction to ViewCube Options
The ViewCube is displayed in the upper right corner of the graphics area of a new window by default.
However, there are many options associated with the ViewCube that enable you to control both its
appearance and behavior.

ViewCube Display Options


The following options control the display and appearance of the ViewCube.

Use this option to display the ViewCube. To hide the ViewCube, clear the check mark in the box
next to the Show the ViewCube on Window Create option. When a check is in the box for the
ViewCube option, you can choose to display the ViewCube in all 3D views or only in the current
view window.
Use this option to place the ViewCube in a corner of the graphics area. Options include: Top Right,
Bottom Right, Top Left, and Bottom Left. The default location is Top Right.
Use this option to set the ViewCube size. Options include: Small, Normal, or Large. The default
setting is Normal.
Use this option to control the ViewCube opacity. When the cursor is near the ViewCube, the
ViewCube is fully opaque. When the cursor is away from the ViewCube, the opacity of ViewCube
is reduced. Options include: 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. The default setting is 50%.

Lesson: View Manipulation ■ 45


ViewCube Behavior Options
The following options control the behavior of the ViewCube.

Use this option to snap the ViewCube to a common view position when dragging the ViewCube
through different view orientations.
When selecting a new view orientation using the ViewCube, use this option to fit the new view to
the screen.
Use this option to create smooth transitions from the current view to the selected view.
Use this option to apply additional calculations for view orientation.
Use this option to set the default orientation of the ViewCube.
Use this option to display a compass with the ViewCube.

46 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


Procedure: Using the ViewCube to View Models
The following steps describe using the ViewCube to change the view orientation of your models and
assemblies.
1. Select the panel on the
ViewCube to change the view
orientation.

2. Select the arrow to rotate the


view orientation.

3. Select a corner to change


the view orientation to an
isometric view of the panel
view. In this example, the
Bottom view is shown.

4. An isometric view based on


the Bottom view is displayed.

Lesson: View Manipulation ■ 47


Procedure: Using the ViewCube to Orient Drawing Views
The following steps describe using the ViewCube to set the view orientation of your models and
assemblies for drawing views.
1. Start the Base View tool.
Click Place Views tab > Create
panel > Base View.

2. Select to change the view


orientation.

3. Select the desired ViewCube


face.

4. If necessary, rotate the model


orientation.

5. Accept the changes and place


the view.

48 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


Procedure: Resetting the Current View as Front
The following steps describe resetting the current view orientation to the Front view.
1. Select the panel on the
ViewCube to change the view
orientation.

2. Right-click the ViewCube,


click Set Current View as
Front.

3. The ViewCube updates the


orientation of the current
view to Front.

Lesson: View Manipulation ■ 49


Using Home View
Using the Home View tool, you can manipulate your model to any orientation, then specify that view
as the home view. In addition to being able to quickly return to that view, the home view is also the
view that is shown each time you open the file.

In the following illustrations, the view orientation of the assembly is restored to the home view when
the Home View glyph next to the ViewCube is clicked.

Orthographic View Home View

Access
Home View

The Home View glyph displays as you move your cursor to the ViewCube.

In all modeling environments, you can quickly return to the home view using either of
the following methods.
■ Right-click in the graphics window background. Click Home View.
■ Press the F6 function key.

50 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


Home View Options
The following options control the model display when you use the Home View tool.

Use to define the direction of the view and the zoom magnification.
Use to define the direction of the view and automatically assign the zoom magnification as view
all.

Procedure: Setting the Home View


The following steps describe how to set any view orientation to the home view.
1. Use any view manipulation tools to orient
the model.

Lesson: View Manipulation ■ 51


2. With the model in the desired orientation,
right-click anywhere in the ViewCube. Click
Set Current View as Home, and select Fixed
Distance or Fit to View.

3. With the model in a different orientation,


click the Home View glyph.

4. The view orientation returns to the specified


home view.

Restoring Your Views


As you manipulate the views in the graphics window, there will be times when you need to return to
a previous view to reevaluate your design or to make additional edits. The Previous View tool, and the
Rewind option of the SteeringWheels view manipulation tool, enable you to restore previous views.
The Previous View tool enables you to return to the view previous to your current view, while the
Rewind tool enables you to return directly to one of the previously defined views.
In the following illustration, the Rewind tool displays a filmstrip of previously visited views. As you
move your mouse over the previews, the main view updates to reflect the view being selected on the
filmstrip.

52 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


Access
SteeringWheel

Navigation Bar: SteeringWheel

Ribbon: View tab > Navigate panel


Shortcut: CTRL + W

Access
Previous View

Ribbon: View tab > Navigate panel

Shortcut: Right-click anywhere in the graphics window, click Previous View


Shortcut: F5

Lesson: View Manipulation ■ 53


Procedure: Restoring Views
The following steps describe the two main methods for restoring previous views.
1. To return to your previous view:
■ Press F5. Each time that you press F5,
you return to the view that was previous
to the current view.
2. To return directly to a previous view that was
active several views prior to your current
view:
■ Press CTRL+W to activate the
SteeringWheel.
■ Click Rewind.
■ Drag the cursor through the slideshow
ribbon that is displayed. When the
desired view is reached, release the
mouse button.

54 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


Exercise: Manipulate Your Model Views
In this exercise, you use the ViewCube and Home
View tools to navigate through and restore different
view orientations.

3. To view the current top view, on the ViewCube,


click Top.

The completed exercise

Completing the Exercise


To complete the exercise, follow the
steps in this book or in the onscreen
exercise. In the onscreen list of
chapters and exercises, click Chapter
1: Getting Started. Click Exercise:
Manipulate Your Model Views.

1. Open 3D Navigation.ipt
2. To switch to an isometric view, click the top left
corner of the ViewCube.

Your view is displayed as shown.

Lesson: View Manipulation ■ 55


4. To rotate the view: 6. To redefine the current view as the Front view:
■ On the ViewCube, click and hold Top. ■ Move the cursor to the ViewCube.
■ Drag the cursor toward the upper left ■ Right-click the cube. Click Set Current View
corner of the ViewCube until the model is as Front.
oriented as shown.

5. To return the view orientation to the original 7. To view the model in an isometric view, click
Home view: the upper left corner of the ViewCube.
■ Move the cursor to the ViewCube.
■ When the house image is displayed (1), click
the image.

56 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


8. To redefine the Home view to the current view: 10. To orbit the model:
■ Right-click the ViewCube. ■ Click View tab > Navigate panel > Free
■ Click Set Current View as Home > Fixed Orbit.
Distance. ■ Click the right quadrant line and drag the
cursor to the left until you can see the
bottom view of the computer housing.
■ Right-click anywhere in the graphics
window. Click Done.

9. To edit the options of the ViewCube:


■ Right-click the ViewCube. Click Options.
■ In the ViewCube Options dialog box, under
Document Settings, place a check in the box
next to the Show the Compass Below the
ViewCube option. 11. On the ViewCube, click Home View.
■ Click OK.
12. To constrain orbit the model:
■ Start the Constrained Orbit tool.
■ Click the right quadrant line and drag the
cursor to the left.
■ Right-click anywhere in the graphics
window. Click Done.
Notice that the orbit pivots about the axis.

Lesson: View Manipulation ■ 57


15. To rewind to a specific view:
■ Press CTRL+W to activate the
SteeringWheel.
■ Click Rewind and hold down the cursor.
■ Drag your cursor over the views filmstrip
and release the mouse button over the
specific view you want to restore.
■ Continue to use the Rewind tool to restore
other views.

13. To turn off the display of the ViewCube:


■ Click View tab > Windows panel > Toggle
Visibility drop-down > ViewCube.
■ Click the option again to turn the ViewCube
on.

16. Close the SteeringWheel tool.


17. Close all files. Do not save.

14. To return to your previous view:


■ Press F5.
■ Your previous view is restored.
■ Press F5 again to return the view previous
to the current view.

58 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


Lesson: Designing Parametric Parts

This lesson describes the characteristics of parametric part models and the overall process of their
creation.
Familiarity with the basic characteristics of parametric models simplifies the process of learning and
applying the tools to create such models.
A parametric part model is shown with dimensions displayed in the following illustration.

Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
■ Describe the characteristics of a parametric part model.
■ Identify guidelines for capturing design intent.
■ State the general workflow for creating parametric part models.
■ State the characteristics of the ribbon and browser when in the part environment.
■ Create a basic parametric part.

Lesson: Designing Parametric Parts ■ 59


About Parametric Part Models
You can create and edit 3D geometry using parametrics. Parametrics use geometric and dimensional
constraints to precisely control the shape and size of a 3D model.
A typical parametric part is shown in the following illustration, consisting of both 2D sketch geometry
with dimensional constraints and the resulting 3D solid geometry.

Parametric Part Models


A parametric model is a 3D model that is controlled and driven by geometric relationships and
dimensional values. You typically create parametric models from a combination of 2D sketches and
3D features. With a parametric part model, you can change a value of a feature and the part model is
adjusted according to that value and any existing geometric constraints.

Sketched Features
Sketched features are features that add or remove material and are typically based on a 2D closed
loop sketch. The sketch can be composed of lines, circles, and arcs.

Sketched features are shown in the following illustrations. After the sketch is used by a feature, it is
considered consumed by the feature and is displayed nested below that feature in the browser.

60 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


Placed Features
While sketched features start from a sketch, placed features have an internally defined shape for
adding or removing material. You need to determine only where and at what size the feature should
be created. Holes and fillets are two commonly used placed features.

Placed features are shown in the following illustration by the Fillet4 and Chamfer2 highlights.

Lesson: Designing Parametric Parts ■ 61


Base Features
The first feature that you create is typically a sketched feature. This first feature is also referred to as
the base feature. All subsequent features either add material to or remove material from the part
model.
Extrusion1 represents the base feature of the part in the following illustration.

Base sketch and base feature

Progression of a Parametric Model


A parametric model progresses through the stages of its creation in the following illustrations. The
model is transformed after the size of the base feature is increased upon inclusion of sketched and
placed features.

Initial sketch is created Base feature is created

62 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


Secondary sketch is added Secondary feature is created from secondary sketch

Fillets (placed features) are added Length is changed in initial sketch, causing part to update

Capturing Design Intent


Regardless of the type of design that you are creating, you should always aim to capture the intent
of the design as early in the process as possible. It is common for a design to change as a result
of inherent design problems or future revisions. The ability to capture design intent makes these
potential changes much easier to implement.
Design intent has been captured in the following illustration by using a simple formula (2) to calculate
the outside diameter of the part based on the inside diameter (1).

Lesson: Designing Parametric Parts ■ 63


About Capturing Design Intent
When you capture your design intent, you add intelligence to your design. This intelligence can exist
in several different forms. It can reside in a simple geometric constraint that forces two lines to be
parallel or two circles to be concentric. Intelligence can also reside in dimensional constraints that
force a feature's dimension to remain constant or enable the dimension to change based on a built-in
formula.
Just as each part design is unique, so is the design intent for each part. Capturing this intent is a
process in which you match the design intent with a feature or capability that makes it possible to
create the design in the most efficient way while enabling you the maximum flexibility in making
changes.
Different examples of design intent are shown in the following illustration being captured at the
earliest stage of the design. The toolbars show constraint symbols (glyphs).

Toolbars displaying geometric constraints applied to the geometry. Each icon illustrates a specific
type of geometric constraint that has been applied to the sketch, and as a result captures a
portion of the design intent. For example, the right-most icon on the top toolbar indicates a
tangent constraint between the top horizontal line and the arc on the right side of the sketch.
Coincident constraints are displayed by a yellow dot at the coincident point between two
segments.
Dimensional constraints applied to the geometry. These types of constraints capture design
intent by defining the size of objects in the sketch.

64 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


Guidelines for Capturing Design Intent
Consider the following guidelines when you begin a new part design. Each of the following points
indicates an area in which design intent can be captured.
■ Identify geometric relationships. For example, a feature's length may be directly related to its
width, or the width or length of another feature.
■ Identify areas of the design that may be prone to change as a result of design problems or
revisions.
■ Identify areas of symmetry or areas where features are duplicated or patterned.
Once you have identified the potential ways to capture your design intent, you can then match that
intent with a specific Inventor tool or capability.

Example of a Part Design Capturing Design Intent


A simple parametric design of a plastic indexer is shown in the following illustrations. Each one reflects
how a specific guideline of the design intent is captured and implemented into the design with a
parametric feature.

Capturing Geometric Relationships in Design Intent


Design intent for the indexer part dictates that the outside diameter should be equal to twice the
inside diameter in the following illustration. The design intent has been captured with the use of a
simple formula in the dimension parameter.

Inside diameter of the indexer part.


Outside diameter is determined by a formula equal to twice the inside diameter.

Lesson: Designing Parametric Parts ■ 65


Capturing Design Intent for Features That Are Prone to Change
Design intent has been captured to allow for potential design changes in the following illustration. As
the thickness of the part changes, so does the depth of the slots. This result is achieved by setting the
depth parameter for the slot to All, ensuring the slot always extrudes completely through the part.

With a 3 mm part height, slot depth cuts though the entire part.
With a change in part height from 3 mm to 6 mm, the slot depth continues to cut through the
entire part.

Capturing Symmetry in Design Intent


Design intent for symmetry has been captured in the part design in the following illustration by using
a parametric pattern feature. By capturing the design intent in this manner, you can easily change the
number or angled spacing of slots by editing the feature.

66 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


Original slot feature.
Circular pattern being created to duplicate the slot feature in a precise and easily editable
manner.

Creating Parametric Part Models


The overall process for creating parametric part models is very flexible. With this flexibility, you can
concentrate on your design, design intent, and essential design features instead of being limited by a
rigid modeling process.
In the following illustration, what begins as a simple circle is transformed into fully parametric model.

Process: Creating a Parametric Part


The following steps provide an overview of the process for creating a parametric part.
1. Create the initial sketch profile.

2. Capture the design intent by applying


constraints and dimensions.

Lesson: Designing Parametric Parts ■ 67


3. Use the part feature tools to create
the base feature.

4. Continue to develop the design by


creating additional sketched and
placed features.

Part Design Considerations


When creating a parametric part model, try to determine the basic building blocks of the part; that
is, how the part can be designed and built in stages. Also determine which aspects of the model are
the critical aspects of the part. You create those aspects first in the order of their importance and
relationship.

Part Design Workflow


The following steps represent the overall workflow for creating parts.
■ Use one of the part templates provided to create a new part.
■ All new parts you create have a blank sketch automatically placed. Create the profile of your
geometry on the initial sketch.
■ Use sketched features such as Extrude and Revolve to create your base feature.
■ Create additional sketched and placed features as required to generate the necessary 3D
geometry.

68 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


Part Design Environment
When you are editing a part file and the part environment is active, the ribbon and browser are
displayed with the tools and information relevant to this environment.
The part design environment is shown in the following illustration.

Part Features on Ribbon Model Tab: Displays part modeling tools while in part modeling mode.
Browser: Displays the feature history for the part or assembly.

Lesson: Designing Parametric Parts ■ 69


Model Tab
The Model tab is displayed when you are editing a part model. You use these tools to create sketched
and placed features on the part.

Browser
When you use the browser in the part design environment, it displays the Origin folder containing the
default X, Y, and Z planes, axes, and center point. It also lists all features you use to create the part.
Features are listed in the order in which they are created.

70 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


Exercise: Create a Parametric Part
In this exercise, you create a simple bracket by 1. Open Create-Parametric-Part.ipt.
extruding the predefined sketch. You then edit the
part by changing some of the parameters and add a The initial sketch profile has been created and
fillet feature. constrained.

The completed exercise

Completing the Exercise


To complete the exercise, follow the
steps in this book or in the onscreen
exercise. In the onscreen list of
chapters and exercises, click Chapter 1:
Getting Started. Click Exercise: Create a
Parametric Part.

Lesson: Designing Parametric Parts ■ 71


2. Click Model tab > Create panel > Extrude.
■ For Distance, enter 25 mm.
■ Click OK.

5. In the browser, right-click the Extrusion1


feature. Click Edit Feature.
■ For Distance, enter 40 mm.
■ Click OK.
3. In the browser, expand the Extrusion feature. The parametric part updates to reflect the new
parameter value.
■ The initial sketch is consumed by the 3D
extrusion feature.

4. In the browser, double-click Sketch1.


■ Double-click the 25 mm horizontal
dimension.
■ In the Edit Dimension dialog box, enter 35.
■ Press ENTER.
■ On the Sketch tab, click Finish Sketch.
The part is updated to reflect the new
dimension value.

72 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


6. Click Model tab > Modify panel > Fillet.
■ In the graphics window, select the inside
edge.
■ For Radius, enter 5 mm.
■ Click OK. The fillet feature is updated.

7. Close all files. Do not save.

Lesson: Designing Parametric Parts ■ 73


Chapter Summary

By using the context-sensitive user interface and the tools that are available, you can quickly create
basic parametric geometry. This chapter introduced you to the Autodesk Inventor user interface and
concepts supporting parametric part design and capturing design intent.
Having completed this chapter, you can:
■ Identify the main user interface components that are common to all Autodesk Inventor design
environments and describe how to access different tools.
■ View all aspects of your design by efficiently navigating around in 2D and 3D space.
■ Describe the characteristics and benefits of a parametric part model.

74 ■ Chapter 1: Getting Started


Chapter

Basic Sketching Techniques


The majority of the features that you create on your parametric part models start with constrained 2D
sketches. Intelligent and predictable part designs require a thorough understanding of how to create
2D sketches and how to capture design intent by applying geometric and dimensional constraints.

Objectives
After completing this chapter, you will be able to:
■ Use sketch tools to create 2D sketch geometry.
■ Use geometric constraints to control sketch geometry.
■ Apply parametric dimensions to your sketch geometry.

Chapter Overview ■ 75
Lesson: Creating 2D Sketches

This lesson describes how to create 2D sketch geometry using sketch tools.
Nearly every parametric part begins with a 2D sketch, and every sketch you create defines a 2D plane
on which your sketch geometry is created. These sketches not only form the foundation of each part,
but are also used throughout the design process.
A basic parametric part for which several sketches were used to create its features is shown in the
following illustration.

Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
■ Describe the differences between standard 2D sketching and 2D parametric sketches.
■ Explain the options for aligning geometry in 2D sketches.
■ Reorient the initial sketch to a different plane.
■ Use sketch tools to create sketch geometry.
■ Describe guidelines for creating successful sketches.

76 ■ Chapter 2: Basic Sketching Techniques


About Sketching
The sketch environment is where all 2D sketching takes place. When you create a new 2D sketch or
edit an existing sketch, the sketch environment is activated.
The sketch environment is activated as the sketch is edited, as shown in the following illustration.

When the sketch environment is active, the Sketch tab is displayed.


The active sketch is highlighted in the browser while all other elements are dimmed.
When you activate the sketch environment, the grid lines and X and Y axes are displayed by
default in the graphics window.

Parametric Sketching
A parametric sketch forms the base of each parametric part you create in Autodesk Inventor. Unlike 2D
sketches that you can create in a nonparametric 2D application, when you create a sketch in Autodesk
Inventor, you immediately begin to add intelligence to your part and capture design intent.

Lesson: Creating 2D Sketches ■ 77


Constraints in Parametric Sketches
A parametric sketch consists of 2D geometry on which constraints are applied to control the size
and potential behavior of the 2D geometry. There are two different types of constraints, geometric
constraints and dimensional constraints. As you create geometry in Autodesk Inventor, some
geometric constraints are applied automatically.
The symbols next to the geometry in the following illustrations are known as "glyphs" and represent
2D constraints. Glyphs are displayed while a sketch tool is active and you are sketching. The use of 2D
constraints is one way in which design intent is automatically captured as you are creating your sketch
geometry.

Indicates a parallel constraint being applied to the bottom horizontal line.


Indicates a parallel constraint with the top horizontal currently being drawn.
Indicates a tangent constraint between the arc and the horizontal line being drawn.

78 ■ Chapter 2: Basic Sketching Techniques


You must add dimensional constraints to each element of the sketch for which you need to specify
a dimension. Both types of constraints applied to sketch geometry are shown in the following
illustration.

Geometric Constraints
Geometric constraints, which are applied to geometry, are represented by the symbols on the
following toolbar. Each type of constraint is represented with a unique symbol.

From left to right:


■ Perpendicular constraint that forces the line to remain perpendicular to the left-side vertical
line.
■ Tangent constraint, forcing the line to be tangent to the arc.
■ Parallel constraint indicating that the line must remain parallel to the lower horizontal line.
■ Horizontal constraint that forces the bottom line to be parallel the X-Axis of the sketch.

Coincident Constraints
These constraints force the endpoints of lines to remain coincident or connected.
Dimensional Constraints
These dimensions control the size of the objects. The diameter dimension controls the size of the
circle, while the linear dimension controls the length of the horizontal line.

Parametric Sketches Versus Precise Sketches


Precise sketches created with AutoCAD®, by default have no parametric intelligence. A change in a
dimension does not force the geometry to update to reflect the new dimension value. Parametric
sketches in Inventor enable you to click and drag the geometry in directions allowed by the existing
constraints while all conditions controlled by the constraints are maintained. For example, if you drag
the outer arc to a different size, the horizontal lines remain tangent, horizontal, and one unit in length.

Lesson: Creating 2D Sketches ■ 79


Example
The effect of 2D geometric constraints is shown in the following illustration, where an element of the
sketch is dragged to reshape the geometry.

Original position of line element being moved.


Centerline element used with symmetry constraints.
Cursor dragging line to a new location.
New location of the line as it is being moved. Notice the same movement on the opposite side of
the sketch.
Dimensional constraint positioning the edge of the part. A change in this dimension would be
reflected on both sides of the centerline.

To achieve the same modifications in a nonparametric sketch, you would have to duplicate each edit
on both sides of the centerline.

Fully Constrained Sketch Geometry


When you apply constraints to a sketch, each constraint removes degrees of freedom from the
geometry. By removing degrees of freedom, you limit the direction or amount a given part of the
sketch can be moved or resized. When a sketch has all degrees of freedom removed, it is considered
to be fully constrained.
While it is not necessary to fully constrain a sketch before creating 3D features, it is recommended. A
fully constrained sketch is predictable in the manner in which it can change, and reduces the number
of errors as changes are made to the parametric part.

Identifying the Constraint Conditions


Once the sketch is fully constrained, the profile will be a single color.

Inventor uses color differences and numerical feedback to identify fully constrained as opposed to
underconstrained geometry. Represented in the following illustration, the lighter colored geometry
requires either geometric or dimensional constraints to fully constrain the sketch. You can use these

80 ■ Chapter 2: Basic Sketching Techniques


colors to identify which elements still require constraints. At the bottom right of the interface, the
application indicates "6 dimensions needed" to fully constrain the sketch geometry.

Colors used to show constraint conditions vary depending on your color configuration for Inventor.
Color differences occurring while using the Presentation configuration (white background) are the
least noticeable.

As your sketch increases in complexity, the number of constraints or dimensions


required to fully constrain the sketch also increases.

Point Alignment
When you are creating sketch geometry and you want to align to a point projected from existing
geometry, you have two different workflows you can follow depending on the current setting for point
alignment. To utilize and benefit from automatic point alignment, you need to understand what point
alignment is and where to toggle it on and off.

Lesson: Creating 2D Sketches ■ 81


The following illustrations show different point alignments automatically occurring during the creation
of sketch geometry.

Point Alignment
The automatic alignment of points during sketch creation is an option that you can toggle on and off.
Point alignment during sketch geometry creation enables you to create your sketch geometry with the
alignment you require as you create it. You can have the endpoints of the sketch geometry align to an
extension, be perpendicular, or align to a virtual intersection of other sketch geometry. You achieve
these point alignment locations by the position of the cursor. You do not need to scrub the cursor over
the intended referencing geometry first.
The automatic point alignment option is set globally for the installation of Autodesk Inventor. You
toggle on and off point alignment by selecting or clearing the Point Alignment On check box on the
Sketch tab in the Application Options dialog box.

82 ■ Chapter 2: Basic Sketching Techniques


Reorienting the Initial Sketch
Each time you create a new part, the default configuration places a new sketch on the XY plane. In
some cases you may want to begin sketching on a different plane. You can either delete the initial
sketch and create a new one, or you can reorient the initial sketch including any geometry that might
have been drawn.
The initial sketch of concentric circles has been reoriented from the XY plane to the YZ plane in the
following illustration.

Procedure: Reorienting the Initial Sketch


The following steps describe how to reorient the initial sketch to a different plane.
1. If the sketch is active, exit the sketch environment.
2. In the browser, right-click the initial sketch and click Redefine.

Lesson: Creating 2D Sketches ■ 83


3. In the browser, expand the Origin node and select a plane to reorient the sketch.

4. The sketch and any existing geometry are reoriented to the selected plane.

84 ■ Chapter 2: Basic Sketching Techniques


Basic Sketching Tools
A profile or path sketch can consist of objects such as points, lines, arcs, circles, and dimensional
geometry. When the environment of a sketch plane is active, the ribbon switches to display the
available sketch tools. The Sketch panel contains all the toolsfor creating, manipulating, and controlling
sketch geometry.

Sketch Tool
By default, the first sketch in a new part is automatically created on the XY plane. If you require
additional sketches, you use the Sketch tool to create them manually or to activate existing ones. The
Sketch tool prompts you to select a plane to create a sketch, or to select an existing sketch to edit. You
can select planes or sketches in the graphics window or in the browser. You can create a new sketch on
a part face, origin plane, or work plane.

Access
Create 2D Sketch

Ribbon: Model tab > Sketch panel

Shortcut Menu: Right-click a selected face or plane

Exiting a Sketch
To exit the sketch, use one of the following methods:
■ On the ribbon, click Finish Sketch.
■ Right-click in the drawing area and click Finish Sketch.

Lesson: Creating 2D Sketches ■ 85


Procedure: Creating Lines
The following steps describe how to create lines in your sketch.
1. Start the Line tool. Select a start point for the line segment.
2. Drag in the direction you want to draw the line. Notice that the constraint glyph (1) is displayed.
This glyph indicates the type of constraint being applied to the line segments.

Select a point to end the line segment.


3. Drag in the direction of the next line segment, again noticing the constraint glyph indicating the
automatic constraint.

Select a point to end the line segment.


4. Continue drawing line segments as required.
If the constraint glyph represents a constraint that you would like to change, brush the cursor
against the geometry on the sketch for which you want to apply the constraint and then
continue drawing the line segment.
5. Continue drawing line segments as required.

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

86 ■ Chapter 2: Basic Sketching Techniques


Procedure: Creating Circles

The following steps describe how to create circles in your sketch.


1. To create a center point circle, start the Center Point Circle tool. Select the center point of the
circle.

2. Drag to a location representing the outside perimeter of the circle. Select that point to create the
circle.

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


4. To create a three-point tangent circle, start the Tangent Circle tool.
5. Select three parts of the geometry for the circle to be tangent to.

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

Lesson: Creating 2D Sketches ■ 87


Procedure: Creating Perpendicular or Tangent Arcs
The following steps describe how to create a perpendicular or tangent arc in your sketch using the
Line tool.
1. Start the Line tool.

2. Click+drag the endpoint of an existing line or arc. Temporary tangent and perpendicular
construction lines are displayed at the arc start point.
■ To create a perpendicular arc, click+drag in the direction of the perpendicular construction
line.

■ To create a tangent arc, click+drag in the direction of the tangent construction line.

88 ■ Chapter 2: Basic Sketching Techniques


3. Continue to drag the endpoint to the final endpoint of the arc and release.

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

Procedure: Creating Three Point Arcs


The following steps describe how to create three-point arcs in your sketch.
1. Start the Three Point Arc tool. Select the start point of the arc.

2. Select a point for the endpoint of the arc.

Lesson: Creating 2D Sketches ■ 89


3. Drag to size the arc. Depending on existing geometry and arc size, constraint glyphs may be
displayed.

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

Procedure: Creating a Two Point Rectangle


The following steps describe how to create a two point rectangle in your sketch.
1. Start the Two Point Rectangle tool.
2. Select a point representing the first corner of the rectangle.
3. Select a point representing the opposite corner of the rectangle.

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

90 ■ Chapter 2: Basic Sketching Techniques


Guidelines for Successful Sketches
You can use several methods to create closed shapes. You can use tools such as the rectangle, circle,
or polygon, or you can constrain sketch geometry so that separate sketch elements come together
to create a closed shape. At times you may need to create sketch geometry that is not closed, for
example, a path for a sweep feature or to create a surface; however, these guidelines focus on creating
closed profiles.

Sketch Guidelines
Follow these guidelinesfor successful sketching:
■ Keep the sketch simple. Do not fillet the corners of a sketch if you can apply a fillet to the edges of
the finished 3D feature and achieve the same effect. Complex sketch geometry can be difficult to
manage as designs evolve.
■ Repeat simple shapes to build more complex shapes.
■ Draw the profile sketch roughly to size and shape.
■ Use 2D constraints to stabilize sketch shape before setting size.
■ Use closed loops for profiles.

Example of Sketching Guidelines


In the following illustration, the same part results from two different sketches. In the image on the left,
the sketch contains no fillets. The fillet features are created on the 3D part as placed features.

In the image on the right, the fillet features were placed at the sketch level. While this results in the
same part shape, this method complicates the sketch geometry.

Correct: Sketch with no fillets Incorrect: Sketch with fillets

Lesson: Creating 2D Sketches ■ 91


Exercise: Create 2D Sketches
In this exercise, you create a simple Support Bracket 2. Create a basic shape.
extrusion using the basic sketching tools.
■ Start the Line tool.
■ Select a point near the origin.
■ Drag the cursor to the right, making certain
the horizontal constraint glyph appears
near the cursor.
■ Select the second point of the line
approximately 25 mm from the start point.
Note: The line length is displayed as it is drawn
in the lower-right corner of the application
window.

The completed exercise

Completing the Exercise


To complete the exercise, follow the
steps in this book or in the onscreen
exercise. In the onscreen list of
3. With the Line tool still active, create an inline
chapters and exercises, click Chapter arc segment.
2: Basic Sketching Techniques. Click ■ Drag the endpoint of the line segment to
Exercise: Create 2D Sketches. the right to define the direction of tangency
for the arc.
■ Release the left mouse button when the
1. Create a new part using the Standard (mm).ipt endpoint of the arc is directly above the
template. start point. Use the grid spacing in the
■ On the Quick Access toolbar, click New. following illustration to define the size of
■ In the New File dialog box, click the Metric the arc.
tab.
■ Select Standard (mm).ipt.
■ Click OK.

92 ■ Chapter 2: Basic Sketching Techniques


4. With the Line tool still active, draw another line 8. Extrude the shape 5 mm.
segment to the left. ■ Click Model tab > Create panel > Extrude.
■ Move the cursor to the left until it is ■ In the Extrude dialog box, for distance,
positioned vertically above the start point enter 5 mm.
of and parallel to the first line segment. ■ Click OK.
Ensure that the constraint glyphs are
displayed as shown in the following
illustration.
■ Click to create the line segment.

5. Complete the sketch by creating the last line


segment as shown.

9. To create a new sketch on the front face of the


part:
■ Right-click the front face of the part.
■ Click New Sketch.

6. On the ribbon, click Finish Sketch to exit the


sketch.
7. On the ViewCube, click the top-right corner to
view the sketch in an isometric view.

Lesson: Creating 2D Sketches ■ 93


10. Draw a rectangle on the top surface. 12. Extrude the new sketch a distance of 10 mm.
■ Start the Two Point Rectangle tool. ■ Start the Extrude tool.
■ Select point 1 as shown. ■ Select a point inside the rectangle.
■ Select point 2 as shown. ■ In the Extrude dialog box, enter 10 mm.
Note: When selecting the points for the ■ Click OK.
rectangle, make sure the coincident constraint
glyphs appear. Depending on how your Sketch
Options are set, the edges on the face may not
be projected and thus the coincident contraints
will not appear. If this occurs, right-click in the
graphics window while sketching the rectangle
and select the AutoProject option.

13. Close all files. Do not save.

11. On the ribbon, click Finish Sketch to exit the


sketch.

94 ■ Chapter 2: Basic Sketching Techniques


Lesson: Geometric Constraints

This lesson describes geometric constraints and how to apply them to sketch geometry. You use
geometric constraints to control sketch geometry. For example, a vertical constraint applied to a line
segment forces that line segment to be vertical. A tangent constraint added to an arc forces that arc to
remain tangent to the geometry that has been constrained.

Geometric constraints represent the foundation of all parametric design. Using these objects, you can
capture your design intent and force the geometry to follow the rules set by each constraint.
2D constraints on a part sketch are shown in the following illustration.

Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
■ Describe geometric constraints and their effects on geometry.
■ Explain how constraint inference and persistence provide complete control over when, where, and
which constraints are created in a sketch.
■ Apply geometric constraints to sketch geometry.
■ View and delete constraints using the Show Constraints tool.
■ State key guidelines for successful constraining.
■ Explain how to display sketch degrees of freedom and how they can assist in creating fully
constrained sketches.

Lesson: Geometric Constraints ■ 95


About Geometric Constraints
Several different types of constraints exist, each with a specific capability and purpose. The selection
you choose depends largely on the design intent.
As you create sketches, some constraints are inferred (applied automatically). In most cases the
inferred constraints are sufficient for your initial constraints. As you continue to develop the sketch,
you may need to add additional constraints to properly stabilize the sketch geometry.
The effects of constraints on sketch geometry are shown in the following illustration. The sketch on
the left was purposely drawn using only some of the inferred constraints. The sketch on the right is
the result of adding additional constraints such as perpendicular, parallel, and collinear.

Initial inferred constraints only


After applying constraints

96 ■ Chapter 2: Basic Sketching Techniques


Definition of Geometric Constraints
Geometric constraints stabilize sketch geometry by placing limits on how the geometry can change
when you attempt to drag or dimension it. For example, if a horizontal constraint is applied to a line,
that line is forced to be horizontal at all times.
In the following illustration, the circle on the right is being resized. Tangent constraints have been
applied to the lines. As the circle is resized, the lines remain tangent to both circles.

Constraint Types
You can use the following constraint types to constrain your sketches.

Constraint Description Before Constraint After Constraint

Tangent: Use to make selected


elements tangent to one
another.

Perpendicular: Use to
make selected elements
perpendicular to one another.

Parallel: Use to make selected


elements parallel to one
another.

Coincident: Use to make two


points exist at the same point
location.

Concentric: Use to force two


arcs, circles, or ellipses to
share the same center point.

Lesson: Geometric Constraints ■ 97


Constraint Description Before Constraint After Constraint

Collinear: Use to force two


lines or ellipse axes to lie on
the same line.

Horizontal: Use to force the


element to be parallel to the
X axis of the current sketch
coordinate system.

Vertical: Use to force the


element to be parallel to the
Y axis of the current sketch
coordinate system.

Equal: Use to force two


elements to be of the same
length. In the case of arcs or
circles, the radius becomes
equal.

Fix: Use to cause an element


to be fixed in location to the
current sketch coordinate
system.

Symmetric: Use to cause the


elements to be symmetrically
constrained about a line.

Smooth: Use to cause


a curvature continuous
condition (G2) between a
spline and another curve, line,
arc or spline.

98 ■ Chapter 2: Basic Sketching Techniques


Horizontal Constraint Example
In the following illustration, the application of a horizontal constraint is shown. The two circles are
constrained to the endpoints of the line. The design intent requires these two circles to remain
aligned. After the horizontal constraint is applied to the line, the line updates and the circle on the
right side moves with the line.

About Constraint Inference and Persistence


By default, when you create sketch geometry, that geometry can automatically have geometric
constraints applied to it. To control when geometric constraints are automatically inferred and applied
in a sketch, you must understand what it means to have constraints inferred and the meaning of
persistence, and where and how to change their related settings.
In the following illustration, a sketch is shown being created along side the completed sketch with its
geometric constraints displayed. As the sketch geometry was being created, the geometric constraints
were automatically added to the geometry.

Definition of Constraint Inference and Persistence


As you are working in a sketch, several types of geometric constraints can be automatically applied to
sketch geometry as it is created. This includes constraints such as perpendicular, parallel, coincident,
horizontal, vertical, and tangent. The automatic application of geometric constraints is referred to as
constraint inference and persistence.
When you are sketching geometry and a valid geometric constraint to another sketch geometry is
identified, that constraint is said to be inferred. When a constraint is inferred, the constraint symbol
for that geometric type displays. If you click to create the sketch geometry when the constraint symbol
is displayed, and if the inferred geometric constraint is automatically applied to the sketch geometry,
then that constraint is said to be persistent. Depending on your settings, that inferred constraint may
or may not be automatically added to the sketch geometry.
The evaluation of sketch geometry for constraint inference occurs automatically based on the location
and relationship of the geometry being sketched to the existing geometry around it. You can have a

Lesson: Geometric Constraints ■ 99


specific piece of sketch geometry inferred by passing the cursor back and forth over the geometry.
Passing the cursor back and forth over the sketch geometry is referred to as scrubbing the geometry.
You can control the automatic application of geometric constraints through the use of the Constraint
Inference and Constraint Options settings or the CTRL key.
By changing the Constraint Inference and Constraint Persistence options, you control whether
constraints are automatically inferred and applied, only inferred but not applied, or neither inferred
nor applied. When you press and hold CTRL as you create sketch geometry, no geometric constraints
are inferred or applied.
Having geometric constraints automatically applied to the sketch geometry as you create it means you
decrease the number of constraints required later to control the sketch geometry's shape, size, and
position.

User-Controlled Constraint Inference and Persistence


As you create sketch geometry, the automatic inference of constraints is dependent on the setting of
the Constraint Inference option, and the settings for the Constraint Options, as set in the Constraint
Options dialog box. The actual creation of an inferred constraint in the sketch is dependent on the
Constraint Persistence option.

Icon Option Description

Constraint This setting controls whether or not sketch constraints are inferred.
Inference

Constraint This setting controls whether or not inferred sketch constraints are
Persistence created.

You change the settings for the Constraint Inference and Constraint Persistence options on the
Constrain panel of the ribbon. There are three different combinations of settings you can set for
constraint inference and persistence. You can have both settings off, only the inference setting on, or
both on. As you are creating sketch geometry, you can change the settings for Constraint Inference
and Constraint Persistence to match your requirements for the sketch geometry you are about to
create.

100 ■ Chapter 2: Basic Sketching Techniques


The following table illustrates the settings for Constraint Inference and Constraint Persistence and
describes the various behaviors associated with these options.

Option Description

Both Off: As you create sketch geometry, you do not infer geometric constraints other
than coincident constraints. Therefore, the sketch geometry does not automatically
have geometric constraints like horizontal, parallel, or perpendicular applied to its
geometry. Lines can still snap to horizontal and vertical, and point alignment can still
occur if it is enabled.

Inference Only: As you create sketch geometry, you can infer geometric constraints
like parallel, perpendicular, and tangent. However, the only geometric constraints
automatically applied to the sketch are coincident constraints. Use this setting to get
the initial sketch geometry aligned and positioned as you require without adding initial
geometric constraints.

Both On: As you create sketch geometry, you can infer geometric constraints such as
parallel, perpendicular, and tangent. Any inferred constraint is automatically added
and applied to that sketch geometry.

Constraint Inference Options


You access the Constraint Options dialog box by clicking Constraint Options in the shortcut menu when
a sketch is active for editing. Within the Constraint Options dialog box, there are two areas for setting
constraint inference: Selection for Constraint Inference and Scope of Constraint Inference.
In the Selection for Constraint Inference area, you select which geometric constraints you want to infer
as you are creating new sketch geometry. For these options to be selectable, the Constraint Inference
option must already be on.
In the Scope of Constraint Inference area, you set either to automatically evaluate all sketch geometry
to infer constraints from, or to use only the sketch geometry you preselect.

Lesson: Geometric Constraints ■ 101


Example Settings and Uses for Constraint Inference and Persistence
The way you set the Constraint Inference and Constraint Persistence options depends on the sketch
geometry you are creating and the workflow you want to follow. For example:
■ If you are sketching geometry that needs to be at varying angles other than horizontal, vertical,
parallel, and perpendicular to other geometry, you should have both settings off so the geometry
does not align in that manner nor have geometric constraints applied.
■ If you want to create the sketch geometry and manually apply each geometric constraint so it has
a specific constraint scheme, then you should have both settings off or have only the Constraint
Inference option on.
■ If you want to infer constraints and apply the constraints to the sketch geometry as you create it,
then you should have both settings on.
In the following illustration, the progressive steps used to create the sketch are shown along the top.
The settings that were used for constraint inference and constraint persistence are shown at the
bottom with their respective constraint results.

102 ■ Chapter 2: Basic Sketching Techniques


Applying Geometric Constraints
Each type of constraint can be applied to certain types of geometry and in certain situations. Some
constraints such as perpendicular are relational constraints and must be applied to two elements
in the sketch. A relational constraint defines a geometric relationship between two objects. Other
constraints such as vertical can be applied to a single object or two points.

Accessing Constraint Tools


2D constraints are available on the ribbon, Sketch tab, Constrain panel.

Access
2D Constraints

Ribbon: Sketch tab > Constrain panel

Procedure: Applying a Horizontal Constraint


The following steps give an overview for applying a horizontal constraint.
1. Click Sketch tab > Constrain panel > Horizontal.
2. Select the geometry to be constrained.

3. Add more horizontal constraints, or right-click and click Done.

Lesson: Geometric Constraints ■ 103


Procedure: Applying a Horizontal Constraint Between Point and Midpoint
The following steps give an overview for applying a horizontal constraint between two points.
1. Start the Horizontal constraint tool.
2. Select a point such as the endpoint of a line or center of a circle.

3. Select the midpoint of an existing line.

The geometry is now constrained horizontally based upon the two points selected.

104 ■ Chapter 2: Basic Sketching Techniques


Procedure: Applying an Equal Constraint
The following steps give an overview for applying an equal constraint to two circles.
1. Click Sketch tab > Constrain panel > Equal.
2. Select a circle, line, or arc.

3. Select the circle, line, or arc to which you want to apply the equal constraint.

4. The selected geometry is now constrained to be equal in size.

Lesson: Geometric Constraints ■ 105


Procedure: Applying a Symmetrical Constraint
The following steps give an overview for applying a symmetrical constraint.
1. Click Sketch tab > Constrain panel > Symmetric.
2. Select the first sketch element for the constraint.

3. Select the second sketch element for the constraint.

4. Select a sketch element to be used for the symmetry line.


Note: You only need to select the symmetry line once during the current session.

106 ■ Chapter 2: Basic Sketching Techniques


5. Continue selecting other sketch elements to apply the symmetric constraint.

Showing and Deleting Constraints


As you create and constrain your 2D sketches, you may need to view and possibly delete some
constraints. Using the Show Constraints tool, you can view the constraints applied to the selected
geometry and if necessary, select the constraint(s) and delete them. You can also use the Show All
Constraints tool to display the constraints on all the elements in your sketch.
The constraint glyphs for one piece of sketch geometry is shown in the following illustration. The
illustration also shows that selecting a constraint glyph highlights the geometry it is associated with.

Lesson: Geometric Constraints ■ 107


Showing Constraints on Multiple Objects
In the following illustration, the Show Constraints tool has been started. A selection window is used to
select multiple objects in the sketch. The constraints for each object selected are displayed. The cursor
is then moved to a single object to review the constraints related to that object.

Constraint Glyph Features


You can use the Constraint Glyphs in the following ways.

Option Method

Viewing constraints Click the constraint glyph. The geometry referenced by the selected
constraint glyph is highlighted.

Hide constraints Right-click the constraint glyph, and click Hide.

Deleting constraints Select the constraint glyph and press Delete, or right-click the selected
constraint glyph and click Delete.

Show All Constraints


Using the Show All Constraints tool, you can see all constraints applied to the active sketch geometry.
When you select the Show All Constraints tool, Show/Delete Constraint toolbars are displayed next
to each sketch element. Pause over or select the constraint symbol to highlight the constrained
geometry. Select the constraint symbol and press DELETE to delete the constraint.

108 ■ Chapter 2: Basic Sketching Techniques


Access
You can use the following methods to access the Show All Constraints tool.

Option Method

Shortcut menu Right-click in the graphics window and click Show All Constraints (sketch must
be active)

Keyboard F8: Show all constraints


shortcut
F9: Hide all constraints

The constraint toolbars are displayed next to each sketch element. Click and drag the bars on the
toolbars to move them to another location.

Guidelines for Successful Constraining


As you create sketch geometry, constraints are automatically applied. However, those constraints do
not always completely represent your design intent. Therefore, you must add constraints or delete
existing constraints.

Constraint Guidelines
The following list represents some guidelines to consider when you are placing constraints.
■ Determine sketch dependencies: During the sketch creation process, determine how sketch
elements relate to each other and apply the appropriate sketch constraints.
■ Analyze automatically applied constraints: As you create sketch geometry, some constraints are
automatically applied. After the sketch is created, you should determine whether any degrees of
freedom remain on the sketch. If required, delete the automatically applied constraints and apply
constraints to remove the degrees of freedom.
■ Use only needed constraints: When you apply constraints to your sketch geometry, take into
account the design intent and the degrees of freedom remaining on the sketch. It is not necessary
to fully constrain sketch geometry in order to create 3D features. In some situations you may be
required to leave sketch geometry underconstrained. You can use the constraint-drag technique to
see the remaining degrees of freedom on the sketch.

Lesson: Geometric Constraints ■ 109


■ Stabilize shape before size: Before you place dimensions on your sketch elements, you should
constrain the sketch to prevent the geometry from distorting. As you place the parametric
dimensions, the sketch elements update to reflect the correct size. By stabilizing the geometry
with constraints, you are able to predict the effect the dimensions have on the sketch geometry. If
necessary, use the fix constraint to fix portions of the sketch.
■ Identify sketch elements that might change size: When constraining sketches, take into account
features that may change as the design evolves. When you identify sketch features that may
change, leave those features underconstrained. When a feature is left unconstrained, the feature
can change as the design evolves.

Guideline Examples
The following list illustrates and describes some basic constraint guidelines.
Determine sketch dependencies: In this
illustration, the two short vertical line
segments must remain perpendicular
to the centerline, and the two diagonals
must remain parallel to each other.

Analyze automatically applied


constraints: In this illustration, the
automatically applied constraints on
the right-side vertical line and the
lower diagonal line are being analyzed.
The symbols (glyphs) on the toolbars
indicate the types of constraints that
have been applied. In this illustration the
perpendicular and parallel constraints
are highlighted.

Use only needed constraints: In this


illustration, the horizontal line has been
intentionally left underconstrained.
This enables the designer to adjust the
position between the horizontal line and
the centerline.

110 ■ Chapter 2: Basic Sketching Techniques


Stabilize shape before size: In this
illustration, constraints are shown but no
dimensions appear on this sketch. The
constraints have been added to stabilize
the sketch shape before dimensions are
applied to control its size.

Identify sketch elements that might


change size: In this illustration, the
dimensions complete the constraint
requirements. Notice how the short
horizontal line below the centerline is
not dimensioned for its position away
from the centerline. This line's position
has been identified as an element
that may need to change, and thus is
intentionally not dimensioned.

Toggling Sketch Degrees of Freedom Glyph Display


When you are constraining a sketch, if you understand how sketch geometry is free to move and
rotate, it makes it easier to figure out your strategy for applying geometry and dimensional constraints.
By understanding the purpose of sketch degree of freedom glyphs and how to display them, you will
find that it is much easier to constrain the sketch geometry as you require.
In the following illustration, a sketch has all of its degrees of freedom glyphs being displayed for
its sketch geometry. Based on these glyphs, you get a visual understanding of how each object or
endpoint can move or rotate.

Lesson: Geometric Constraints ■ 111


Sketch Degrees of Freedom
To visually identify how sketch geometry is underconstrained, you can have degrees of freedom (DOF)
glyphs appear for all or selected geometry in a sketch. As you constrain the sketch, the visible DOF
glyphs dynamically update to reflect the open degrees of freedom.
You toggle on and off the display of sketch geometry degrees of freedom glyphs in the active sketch by
clicking the corresponding option in the shortcut menu. When there is no sketch geometry selected,
the shortcut menu options are Hide All Degrees of Freedom and Show All Degrees of Freedom.
These options toggle on and off the DOF glyph display for all geometry in the active sketch. If sketch
geometry is selected when you right-click in the graphics window, you are then able to toggle on and
off the display of the degrees of freedom glyph for just that geometry by clicking the Display Degrees
of Freedom shortcut menu option.

In the following illustration, the same sketch is shown with sketch degrees of freedom glyphs before
and after adding three dimensions. After adding the three highlighted dimensions, much of the
geometry in the sketch had its degrees of freedom locked down. Degrees of freedom glyphs appear
only for the geometry that still has open freedom. The degree of freedom glyphs that are displayed
update to show just the open freedom for the geometry.

Procedure: Toggling Sketch Degrees of Freedom Glyph Display


The following steps give an overview of toggling on or off the display of all sketch degree of freedom
glyphs in an active sketch.
1. Right-click in an open area in the graphics window.
2. In the shortcut menu, click Hide All Degrees of Freedom or Show All Degrees of Freedom.

112 ■ Chapter 2: Basic Sketching Techniques


Exercise: Constrain Sketches
In this exercise, you create and constrain sketch 1. Open Pillow-Block.ipt.
geometry. Using the concepts and procedures learned
in this lesson, you create the slots on the Pillow Block
component.

2. The Model tab is active. Click Sketch panel >


Create 2D Sketch. Select the face on the part as
shown.
The completed exercise

Completing the Exercise


To complete the exercise, follow the
steps in this book or in the onscreen
exercise. In the onscreen list of
chapters and exercises, click Chapter
2: Basic Sketching Techniques. Click
Exercise: Constrain Sketches.

Lesson: Geometric Constraints ■ 113


3. Start the Two Point Rectangle tool. Sketch a 5. Start the Vertical Constraint tool and select the
rectangle on the face as shown. Press ESC to midpoint of the left edge and the centerpoint
exit the tool. on the circle.
Note: The XYZ Indicator has its text turned off in
the following image.

6. Start the Horizontal Constraint tool and select


the midpoint of the face and the midpoint of
4. Start the Centerpoint Circle tool and create the slot sketch.
circles centered on the edge of the rectangle
and coincident to the corners. Right-click in the
graphics window and click Done when finished
drawing.

The slot sketch is now centered on the face.


7. Press ESC to exit the Horizontal Constraint tool.
8. Right-click anywhere in the graphics window,
select Show All Degrees of Freedom. Observe
that while the slot is constrained centered on
the face, there are many degrees of freedom
remaining.
Note: The material is set to glass in the
following illustration to better display the DOF
symbols.

114 ■ Chapter 2: Basic Sketching Techniques


12. On the ViewCube, select the upper left corner
of the cube as shown.

13. Start the Create 2D Sketch tool and select the


face on the part as shown.

9. Right-click anywhere in the graphics window,


select Hide All Degrees of Freedom.
10. On the ribbon, click Finish Sketch to exit the
sketch.
11. Start the Extrude tool and select inside each
circle and the rectangle area of the sketch.
Adjust the options in the dialog box as shown.
Click OK.

14. Repeat steps 3 through 11 to create a slot on


this face of the part.

15. Close all files. Do not save.

Lesson: Geometric Constraints ■ 115


Lesson: Dimensioning Sketches

This lesson describes how to create and use various types of dimensions for your 2D sketch geometry.
Using dimensions for your sketches is a major aspect of constraining 2D geometry. While geometric
constraints stabilize the sketch and make it predictable, dimensions size the sketch according to your
design intent.

Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
■ Describe the function and properties of parametric dimensions.
■ Create linear, radial, angular, and aligned dimensional constraints.
■ Use additional options when applying dimensions.
■ Describe best practices for dimensioning your sketch.

116 ■ Chapter 2: Basic Sketching Techniques


About Dimensional Constraints
You create dimensional constraints by adding parametric dimensions to your sketch. This is the final
step in fully constraining your sketch geometry. When you apply a parametric dimension to a sketch
element, the sketch element changes size to reflect the value of the dimension.
Various types of dimensions that you can apply to sketch geometry are shown in the following
illustration.

Definition of Parametric Dimensions


A parametric dimension is a dimension that, when placed on sketch geometry, determines the size,
angle, or position of the geometry. Associative dimensions in nonparametric applications report the
size, angle, or position of an object, whereas changes to parametric dimensions affect the object's size,
angle, or position.

Lesson: Dimensioning Sketches ■ 117


In the following illustration, when the dimension is placed, the initial value is 47.232. When the value
is changed to 50 in the Edit Dimension dialog box, the width of the shape updates to reflect the new
value. Note the d0 text in the title area of the Edit Dimension dialog box. This is the parameter name.
Each time you place a parametric dimension, a unique parameter name is automatically assigned.

Unlike 2D CAD applications in which dimensions are simply numeric representations of the size of
the geometry, in a parametric 3D modeling application, dimensions are used to drive the size of the
geometry. With this technology, you can quickly change a dimension and immediately see how the
change affects the geometry.

Example
Several types of parametric dimensions are available, but only one dimension tool is used to create
them. The application places the appropriate type of dimension based on the geometry that you
select. When you are placing dimensions, the shortcut menu displays additional options for placing
the dimension.

118 ■ Chapter 2: Basic Sketching Techniques


Parametric Dimensions
The following illustration displays horizontal and vertical parametric dimensions and the shortcut
menu, which enables you to choose the type of dimension to place.

Creating Dimensional Constraints


You use the General Dimension tool to place dimensions on your sketch. You can produce linear,
aligned, angular, radial, and diameter dimensions with this single tool.

Lesson: Dimensioning Sketches ■ 119


Access
General Dimension

Ribbon: Sketch tab > Constrain panel

Keyboard Shortcut: D

Access
General Dimension

Ribbon: Sketch tab > Constrain panel

Keyboard Shortcut: D

Procedure: Applying Linear Dimensions


The following steps describe how to apply a linear parametric dimension.
1. Click Sketch tab > Constrain panel > General Dimension.
2. Select the sketch element for the linear dimension and place the dimension.

3. Select the dimension and enter a new value.

120 ■ Chapter 2: Basic Sketching Techniques


4. Press ENTER or click the green check mark on the Edit Dimension dialog box to have the
geometry change to reflect the new dimension.

5. Right-click in the graphics window and click Done on the shortcut menu or continue placing
additional dimensions.

Procedure: Applying Radial/Diameter Dimensions


The following steps describe how to apply radial or diameter parametric dimensions.
1. Start the General Dimension tool.
2. Select the sketch element for the radial/diameter dimension and place the dimension.

3. Select the dimension and enter a new value.

4. Press ENTER or click the green check mark on the Edit Dimension dialog box to have the
geometry change to reflect the new dimension.

5. Right-click in the graphics window and click Done on the shortcut menu or continue placing
additional dimensions.

Lesson: Dimensioning Sketches ■ 121


Procedure: Applying Angular Dimensions
The following steps describe how to apply an angular parametric dimension.
1. Start the General Dimension tool.
2. Select each element for the angular dimension and place the dimension.
Note: Select each element at any location other than their endpoints.

3. Select the dimension and enter a new value.

4. Press ENTER or click the green check mark on the Edit Dimension dialog box to have the
geometry change to reflect the new dimension.

5. Right-click in the graphics window and click Done on the shortcut menu or continue placing
additional dimensions.

122 ■ Chapter 2: Basic Sketching Techniques


Procedure: Creating Aligned Dimensions
The following steps describe how to apply an aligned parametric dimension.
1. Start the General Dimension tool.
2. Select the sketch element for the aligned dimension. Position the cursor near the geometry. Click
when the Aligned Dimension icon is displayed.

3. Place the dimension.

4. Select the dimension and enter a new value.

5. Press ENTER or click the green check mark on the Edit Dimension dialog box to have the
geometry change to reflect the new dimension.

6. Right-click in the graphics window and click Done on the shortcut menu or continue placing
additional dimensions.

Instead of positioning your cursor near the geometry to cause the Aligned Dimension
icon to be displayed, you can also select the element as you do when creating a linear
dimension. Before positioning the dimension, right-click and set the dimension type as
an aligned dimension by clicking Aligned on the shortcut menu.

Lesson: Dimensioning Sketches ■ 123


Dimension Values and Units
You click a dimension to define its value. If required, you can include specific units of measurement
such as millimeter, centimeter, meter, inch, and foot. It is not necessary to enter the suffix of the
default unit.
If your part consists of multiple units of measurement you must enter the nondefault unit suffixes. For
example, if the default unit of measurement is millimeters, you would enter a value of 50 millimeters
as 50 with no suffix. To specify a value of 50 centimeters in the same part, you would enter 50 cm.
The application evaluates the values as you enter them. Values shown in red indicate an improper
value or format, while values shown in black are considered to be valid.
Unit suffixes and parameters are case-sensitive. When you enter a unit suffix, it must be entered in
lowercase. For example, 50 cm would be evaluated correctly, while 50 CM is not valid.

Edit Dimension Flyout Menu Options


When applying parametric dimensions, the following options are available in the Edit Dimension
flyout.

Option Description

Measure Use to measure another sketch element or 3D feature. The resulting value is
placed in the Edit Dimension dialog box.

Show Use to select a feature on the 3D part to display the underlying dimensions.
Dimensions After the dimensions are displayed, you can select a dimension for use in the
existing dimension. The dimension being referenced can be used alone or in a
formula.

Tolerance Displays the Tolerance dialog box, which you can use to assign a tolerance to
the parametric dimension.

Recently Displays a list of recently used values. Select any value for use in the current
Used Values dimension.

124 ■ Chapter 2: Basic Sketching Techniques


Additional Dimension Options
The following list represents additional options available on the shortcut menu when you place
dimensions.

Option Description

Edit Dimension While placing a dimension, right-click in the graphics window, and on
the shortcut menu click Edit Dimension. With this option set, the Edit
Dimension dialog box is displayed automatically after each dimension is
placed.

Radial/Diameter When you place a dimension on an arc or circle, right-click in the graphics
Dimension Options window and on the shortcut menu click Diameter or Radius to switch the
default mode of the current dimension. When dimensioning an arc, the
default mode is Radius. When dimensioning a circle, the default mode is
Diameter.

Lesson: Dimensioning Sketches ■ 125


Option Description

Linear Dimension When you place a linear dimension to a line or two points at an angle,
Options right-click in the graphics window, and on the shortcut menu click the
desired dimension type.

Dimensioning to When you need to place a dimension to the quadrant of a circle, place
Quadrants the cursor near the quadrant and look for the quadrant dimension glyph.
Select the arc or circle at the point where the glyph is displayed.

About Dimension Display and Relationships


When you apply dimensions to your sketch elements additional options are available that you can
use to control the display of the dimensions. Also available are tools designed to assist you in creating
dimensions referenced from other features and/or dimensions.

Dimension Display
After you apply dimensions to your geometry, you can control the visibility of all dimensions in the
sketch and control the visual formatting of the displayed dimensions.
Being able to turn on and off the display of dimensions in a sketch means you have the flexibility
when working with complex sketch geometry to decide how much information you see. Turning off
the display of dimensions makes it easier to select the sketch geometry and review its general shape.
When dimensions are not displayed and you make a sketch invisible, the dimensions remain off when
you make the sketch visible again.
Using the optional display formats of Value, Name, Expression, Tolerance, and Precise Value can

126 ■ Chapter 2: Basic Sketching Techniques


help you evaluate the structure of equations in relational dimensions, toleranced dimensions, and
dimensions that contain equations.

Menu Description

Value The default mode. Displays the current value of the dimension at the precision
specified in the Document Settings dialog box.

Name Displays dimension names only. Dimension names are assigned automatically, or
you can specify them in the Parameters dialog box.

Lesson: Dimensioning Sketches ■ 127


Menu Description

Expression Displays the dimensions as expressions. An expression can be as simple as d0 =


26.4375; or a formula can be used, such as d0 = d1/2.

Tolerance Displays the dimensions in a format associated with the specific type of tolerance
applied. If a tolerance has not been applied to the dimension, there is no effect on
the dimension display.

Precise Value Displays the dimension using its exact numeric value, regardless of the Precision
setting in the Document Settings dialog box.

128 ■ Chapter 2: Basic Sketching Techniques


Procedure: Selecting the Dimension Display Mode
The following steps describe how to select the mode for displaying model dimensions.
1. With nothing selected, right-click in the browser or graphic window.
2. On the shortcut menu, click Dimension Display and then click the desired option on the cascading
menu.

Referencing Other Dimensions


When you define the value of a dimension, you can reference an existing dimension by selecting the
dimension in the graphics window. The dimension parameter name is automatically entered in the Edit
Dimension dialog box.

The illustration shows dimension d18 being created equal to dimension d17. When you want to
reference other dimensions in a new dimension, with the Edit Dimension dialog box open, select an
existing dimension to reference. Your cursor changes to indicate that you are referencing an existing
dimension. When you select the existing dimension, the parameter name of the dimension you
selected is entered in the Edit Dimension dialog box. A dimension that references another dimension
has fx: preceding its value.

Lesson: Dimensioning Sketches ■ 129


Dimension being created.
Dimension being referenced.

Dimensions Stored as Parameters


Each dimension you create is automatically named and stored as a parameter in the current part file.
Selecting the Parameters tool on the ribbon, Manage tab, displays the Parameters dialog box which
lists the model parameters.

Notice the parameter names d0 and d1. These names are generated each time a dimension is placed.
If you delete a dimension, its parameter is also deleted and the original dimension name is not used
again in the current part file. You can rename the default dimension names and modify their values in
the Parameters dialog box. In the previous illustration the parameter d2 is renamed to SleeveDia.

Quickly Change Parameters


You can change parameters on the fly to improve your productivity. While creating
dimensions, for example, you can enter Length=20 and the current parameter is
renamed to Length and the value is set to 20.

130 ■ Chapter 2: Basic Sketching Techniques


Guidelines for Dimensioning Sketches
Applying parametric dimensions is straightforward because you use a single command. Following
these guidelines assures that dimensions are properly applied to your sketch.

Guidelines for Dimensioning Sketches


Consider the following guidelines when adding dimensions to your sketch:
■ Use geometric constraints when possible. For example, place a perpendicular constraint instead of
an angle dimension of 90 degrees.
■ Place large dimensions before small ones.
■ Incorporate relationships between dimensions. For example, if two dimensions are supposed to be
the same value, reference one dimension to the other. With this relationship, if the first dimension
changes, the other dimension changes as well.
■ Consider both dimensional and geometric constraints to meet the overall design intent.
These guidelines are not presented in any particular order and you do not apply all of them on every
sketch.

Example of Relationships Between Dimensions


Building relationships between dimensions captures your design intent. In this illustration, the intent
is for the circle to always remain centered on the part. Building this dimensional relationship ensures
that if the sketch width or length changes, the hole also moves in order to remain centered on the
sketch. The dimension display is set to expression for clarity.

Lesson: Dimensioning Sketches ■ 131


In the following illustration, the length is changed. Notice how the hole moved to maintain its
centered position.

Without a dimensional relationship, a hole that was originally centered does not adjust if the length is
changed.

132 ■ Chapter 2: Basic Sketching Techniques


Exercise: Dimension Sketches
In this exercise, you apply dimensions to a sketch. Using the techniques learned in this lesson, you apply a
variety of parametric dimensions to the sketch geometry.

The completed exercise


1. Open m_Rod-Support.ipt.
Completing the Exercise
To complete the exercise, follow the
steps in this book or in the onscreen
exercise. In the onscreen list of
chapters and exercises, click Chapter
2: Basic Sketching Techniques. Click
Exercise: Dimension Sketches.

Lesson: Dimensioning Sketches ■ 133


2. To rotate the view: 6. Set the Edit Dimension dialog box to automatic.
■ On the ViewCube, click Front. ■ With the General Dimension tool still active,
■ Click the arrow to rotate the view right-click in the graphics window.
counterclockwise 90 degrees. ■ Click Edit Dimension.
■ The Edit Dimension dialog box is displayed
automatically as you place dimensions.

3. Constrain drag the sketch on various elements


to examine the constraint conditions.
7. Add a vertical dimension in relation to the
overall dimension just created.
■ Select the lower-left and upper-left corners
of the sketch.
■ When the Edit Dimension dialog box is
displayed, select the 50 mm horizontal
dimension.
■ In the Edit Dimension dialog box, enter /2
after the dimension parameter name. The
4. In the browser, double-click Sketch1 to activate final dimension expression reads d40/2.
the sketch. ■ Click the green check mark.
5. Place an overall parametric dimension.
■ Start the General Dimension tool.
■ Select the lower left and right corners of the
sketch.
■ Place the dimension and select it.
■ In the Edit Dimension dialog box, enter 50.
■ Click the green check mark.

134 ■ Chapter 2: Basic Sketching Techniques


8. Add an interior horizontal dimension. 11. On the ViewCube, click the Home icon.
■ Check to make sure that the General
Dimension tool is still active.
■ Select points as indicated.
■ In the Edit Dimension dialog box, enter 20.
■ Click the green check mark.

12. Close all files. Do not save.

9. Add additional dimensions as shown. Do not be


overly concerned with placement as you create
the dimensions. You can drag the dimensions to
locations after all of them have been created.
Double-click each dimension and adjust its
value to those in the following illustration if
necessary.

10. On the ribbon, click Finish Sketch to exit the


sketch.

Lesson: Dimensioning Sketches ■ 135


Chapter Summary

Properly constrained 2D sketches are the fundamental building blocks of parametric parts. By being
able to fully constrain the size and shape of your sketches, you can achieve the highest quality
parametric part designs.
Having completed this chapter, you can:
■ Use sketch tools to create 2D sketch geometry.
■ Use geometric constraints to control sketch geometry.
■ Apply parametric dimensions to your sketch geometry.

136 ■ Chapter 2: Basic Sketching Techniques


Chapter

Basic Shape Design


In earlier lessons, you learned how to create and constrain 2D sketches. In this chapter, you are
introduced to the fundamentals of basic shape design by learning how to extrude, revolve, and sweep
2D sketches to create 3D features. This chapter also covers the proper techniques for adding multiple
sketched features to your 3D design, creating more intelligent sketches by referencing existing part
edges and using construction geometry, and modifying your parametric parts at any stage of the
design process.

Objectives
After completing this chapter, you will be able to:
■ Create features using the Extrude and Revolve tools.
■ Use reference and construction geometry.
■ Use the browser and shortcut menus to edit parametric parts.
■ Use the 3D Grips tool to edit part geometry in the context of an assembly and in a stand-alone
part.
■ Create, locate, and utilize work features to perform modeling tasks.
■ Create swept shapes by sweeping a profile along a 2D or 3D path.

Chapter Overview ■ 137


Lesson: Creating Basic Sketched Features

Two basic types of features exist: sketched features and placed features. The term sketched feature
refers to a 3D feature that is based on a 2D sketch. The term placed feature refers to a 3D feature that
you place on the existing faces and edges of the part, and which does not require a sketch. This lesson
describes sketched features and how to create them using the Extrude and Revolve tools.
Because most 3D models includesome combination of extruded and revolved features, a basic
understanding of how to create them is essential to successful model creation.
The following illustration shows a 3D model that was created using multiple extrusion features.

Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
■ Define sketched features and their attributes.
■ Use the Extrude tool to create extruded features.
■ Use the Revolve tool to create revolved features.
■ Use the Operation and Extent termination options when adding 3D features.
■ Orient sketch planes based on other planes or faces.

138 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


About Sketched Features
You create most 3D models by combining multiple extruded and revolved features. You start by
creating a 2D sketch that represents the basic shape of the part and then use different feature creation
tools to turn that 2D sketch into a 3D feature.

Definition of Sketched Features


Sketched features are 3D features that are created from an existing 2D sketch. These features serve as
the basis for most of your designs. When you create a sketched feature, you begin by first creating the
sketch or profile for the 3D feature. For simple sketched features, this profile usually represents a 2D
section of the 3D feature being created. For more complex sketched features, multiple sketches can be
created and used within one sketched feature.
The first sketch feature you create is considered the base feature. After you create the base feature,
additional sketched and/or placed features are added to the 3D model. As you add the additional
sketched features, options are available that control whether the secondary sketched features add or
remove material from the existing 3D geometry.

Sketched Feature Attributes


The key attributes of sketched features include the following:
■ An unconsumed sketch is required (not used by another feature).
■ Sketches can be used for both base and secondary features.
■ The result of the sketched feature can add or remove mass from the 3D geometry.

Consumed and Unconsumed Sketches


When you create a new part, the initial sketch is used as the basis of your 3D geometry. After the
sketch is created, you can create a sketched feature, an extrusion for example, to create 3D geometry
from the initial sketch. When you create the 3D sketched feature, the sketch itself becomes consumed
by the 3D sketched feature. Prior to this time, the sketch is considered unconsumed and can be used
for any sketched feature.

Lesson: Creating Basic Sketched Features ■ 139


Unconsumed Sketch
The following illustration shows the initial sketch before it is consumed by the sketched feature.

Consumed Sketches
The following illustration shows sketches consumed by the sketched features. In the browser, the
sketches are nested below the sketched feature in which they were used.

140 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Typical Sketched Feature Creation
This illustration represents a typical workflow for creating a 3D part based upon sketched features. The
base sketch is created, which is used to create the base feature. Secondary sketches and features are
then added to the 3D model.

Creating Extruded Features


You use the Extrude tool to create extruded features from existing sketch profiles. Considered sketched
features, extruded features require an unconsumed and visible sketch to be available. If the sketch
contains a single closed profile, that profile is selected automatically when you start the Extrude tool. If
the sketch contains more than one profile, you are required to select the profiles to be included in the
extruded feature.

Lesson: Creating Basic Sketched Features ■ 141


Examples of Simple Extruded Profiles
In this example, the sketch contains multiple closed loop profiles selected to form a single extruded
feature.

In this example, the sketch contains multiple closed loop profiles selected to form a single extruded
feature with holes.

Access
Extrude

Ribbon: Model tab > Create panel

Toolbar: Part Features


Keyboard Shortcut: E

142 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Extrude Options
The Extrude dialog box is displayed when you start the Extrude tool.

The following features and options are available in the Extrude dialog box:

Dialog Box Option Description


Access

Profile Use to select geometry to be included in the extrusion. A red arrow


indicates that no profiles have been selected for the extrusion feature.

Solids The Solids selection tool is only active when the part contains more
than one solid body. Use to determine to which solid body the feature
is going to be applied.

Output Use to specify the desired output option, Solid or Surface.

Direction Select the direction icon or click and drag the preview of the extrusion
in the desired direction.

Operation Use to create an initial feature or add volume to models with Join.
Remove volume from models with Cut. Create a new feature from
shared volume of two features with Intersect.

New Use to create the extruded feature as a new solid body instead of
Solid using boolean operations to join, cut, or intersect the feature with an
existing solid body.

Lesson: Creating Basic Sketched Features ■ 143


Extrude Sample
You can select a corner of your part and drag the distance setting, as shown in the following
illustration.

144 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Procedure: Creating an Extruded Feature
The following steps describe how to create an extruded feature.
1. Create a new sketch.

2. Click Model tab > Create panel > Extrude.


3. In the Extrude dialog box, adjust the options as required.

4. The extruded feature is created.

Lesson: Creating Basic Sketched Features ■ 145


Creating Revolved Features
You use the Revolve tool to create revolved features from existing sketch profiles. You can revolve the
profile at a full 360 degrees or at a specified angle. The Revolve tool requires an unconsumed and
visible sketch to be available. When you start the Revolve tool, if the sketch contains a single closed
profile, that profile is selected automatically.

Examples of Simple Revolved Profiles


In the following illustration, the sketch contains a closed profile and one centerline. When you start
the Revolve tool, the centerline is automatically selected as the axis of revolution.

In the following illustration, the sketch contains a single closed loop profile, reference geometry, and
one centerline. The profile is revolved with the Cut feature relationship.

146 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Access
Revolve

Ribbon: Model tab > Create panel

Toolbar: Part Features


Keyboard Shortcut: R

Revolve Options
The Revolve dialog box is displayed when you start the Revolve tool.

Lesson: Creating Basic Sketched Features ■ 147


The following features and options are available in the Revolve dialog box:

Dialog Box Access Option Description

Profile Use to select geometry to include in the revolved feature. A


red arrow indicates that no profiles have been selected for
the revolved feature.

Axis Use to select the line segment to use as the axis for the
revolve feature.
Tip: If the sketch contains a centerline, it is selected
automatically as the axis.

Solids The Solids selection tool is only active when the part contains
more than one solid body. Use to determine to which solid
body the feature is going to be applied.

Output Use to specify the desired output option, Solid or Surface.

New Use to create a new solid body from the revolved feature.
Solid

Angle Use to specify an angle and direction for the revolution.

Full Use to revolve the profile 360 degrees.

148 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Facts About Revolved Features
■ If the sketch contains a centerline, it is selected automatically as the axis for the revolved feature.
■ If the sketch contains more than one profile, you are required to select the profiles to include in
the feature.
■ If the profile being revolved is closed, you can choose between a solid or surface for the result of
the revolution.
■ If the profile being revolved is open, the revolution results in a surface.

Procedure: Creating a Revolved Feature


The following steps describe how to create a revolved feature.
1. Create a new sketch containing a profile to revolve. If the profile is being revolved about a
centerline, consider using the Centerline style on the line segment.

2. Click Model tab > Create panel > Revolve. In the Revolve dialog box, adjust the options as
required.

Lesson: Creating Basic Sketched Features ■ 149


3. Create additional sketch geometry as required.

4. Start the Revolve tool. Select the geometry to be included in the revolved feature. Adjust the
options as required.

Specifying Operation and Extents


You use the Join, Cut, and Intersect operations to control how the feature you are creating affects
existing features or Solid Bodies. By default, the Cut and Intersect operations are not available with
base features and the New Solid button is automatically activated since the base feature will by
default create a New Solid.
You use the Extents options to define the termination of a feature. For example, you can extrude a 2D
sketch a specific distance or you can terminate the feature on an existing face of the model.

150 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Example of Operation and Extents
In the following example, multiple sketched features with different operations and extents were used
to define the shape of the part.

Specifying Operation: Join, Cut, and Intersect


When you create sketched and placed features, you can adjust operation options to control the effect
of the current feature on existing features. These operations are not available for the first feature of
the part.
The feature relationship options are available when using Extrude, Revolve, Loft, Sweep, and Coil. The
following illustration shows an example of these options in the Extrude dialog box.

Lesson: Creating Basic Sketched Features ■ 151


Use the following options with the extrude tool.

Dialog Option Description


Box
Access

Join This option joins the result of the extruded feature being created to
existing part geometry. Using this option results in material being added
to the existing part. A green preview indicates material is being added.

Cut This option cuts the result of the extruded feature being created from the
existing part. Using this option results in material being removed from the
existing part. A red preview indicates material is being removed.

152 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Dialog Option Description
Box
Access

Intersect This option removes material from the existing part by comparing the
volume of the existing features and the feature being created and leaving
only the volume shared between the existing features and the new
feature. A blue preview indicates an Intersect relationship.

New Solid
Using the New Solid option will create a new solid body from the feature definition.
Solid Bodies are beyond the scope of this course and are not covered in this lesson.

Lesson: Creating Basic Sketched Features ■ 153


Specifying Extents
When you create extruded and revolved features, you can specify termination options for the feature
in the dialog box. Depending on the option you choose, different interface options are available. By
specifying termination options, you can control where the feature starts and ends.
The following illustration shows the Extents options that are available in the Extrude dialog box.

Option Description

Distance This option extrudes the profile according to the distance specified.

To Next This option extrudes the profile to the next possible face or plane. Use
the Terminator icon to select a solid or surface on which to terminate the
extrusion.

154 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Option Description

To This option extrudes the profile to terminate on the selected face, plane,
or point. If the selected termination face does not completely enclose the
extrusion profile, select the Extended Face option to terminate the feature
on the extended face.

From To This option extrudes the profile by starting the extrusion at the face selected
with the From option and ending the extrusion at the second face selected.
If necessary, use the extend face option.

Lesson: Creating Basic Sketched Features ■ 155


Option Description

All This option extrudes the profile all the way through the part. If the part
changes, the extruded feature continues to go all the way through the part.

Extended Face This option extends a selected face with the To and From To options. The
extrude does not build the extrusion if the sketched feature extends beyond
the termination face. With the Extend option selected, a termination face
becomes infinite in size.

156 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Additional Extents Options for Revolve
The following options are available for the Revolve tool.

Option Description

Full This option revolves the profile a complete revolution around a specified
axis. If the part changes, the revolved feature continues to go all the way
around the part.

Angle This option revolves the profile a specified number of degrees around an
axis.

Lesson: Creating Basic Sketched Features ■ 157


Procedure: Specifying Operations
The following steps describe how to specify operations.
1. Create additional sketch geometry on an existing feature.

2. Start the Extrude tool.


3. In the Extrude dialog box, adjust the operations as required. In this example, Join is selected.

158 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


4. The additional extruded feature is added to the part.

Procedure: Specifying Extents


The following steps describe how to specify extents.
1. Create additional sketch geometry on existing features as required.

2. Start the Extrude tool.

Lesson: Creating Basic Sketched Features ■ 159


3. In the Extrude dialog box, adjust the options as required. In this example, All is selected.

4. The additional extruded feature is added to the part.

Orienting Sketches
When you create the first sketch for the base feature of your part, you usually use the default XY
origin plane. However, the sketches that you create to add new features to the part often need to be
oriented to other part faces.
The sketch plane has been oriented to the selected part face in the following illustration.

160 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Procedure: Creating Sketch Planes on a Part Face
The following steps describe how to create a new sketch plane aligned to a selected face.
1. Right-click in a face of the part. Click New Sketch.

2. The sketch plane is created on the selected face.

Lesson: Creating Basic Sketched Features ■ 161


Procedure: Creating Sketch Planes Offset from a Part Face
The following steps describe how to create a new sketch plane offset from a selected face.
1. Start the Create 2D Sketch tool.
2. Click in the face and drag the sketch plane away from the selected face.

3. In the Offset dialog box, enter a value for the offset and click the green check mark. The sketch
plane is created offset from the selected face at the distance you specified.

162 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Exercise: Create Extruded Features
In this exercise, you build an Index Slide part file using several extruded features. Some initial geometry has
been created, but you are required to create other sketch geometry.

The completed exercise


1. Open Index-Slide.ipt.
Completing the Exercise
To complete the exercise, follow the
steps in this book or in the onscreen
exercise. In the onscreen list of
chapters and exercises, click Chapter
3: Basic Shape Design. Click Exercise:
Create Extruded Features.

Create Extruded Features Specific Distances


In this portion of the exercise, you extrude an existing
sketch to create a base feature. Then you create a
new sketch and extrude it a specific distance to create
another sketched feature.

Lesson: Creating Basic Sketched Features ■ 163


2. Extrude the sketch 28 mm. 4. Right-click the face on the end of the part. Click
■ Start the Extrude tool. New Sketch.
■ Select the profile as shown.
■ For Distance, enter 28 mm.
■ Click OK.

5. Change your view to look normal to your sketch


plane.
■ On the Navigation bar, click View Face.
■ Select the same face on the part.

6. Use the ViewCube tool to change your display


3. On the Quick Access toolbar, select Nickel orientation.
(Bright).
■ In the upper left corner of your drawing,
move the cursor to the ViewCube.
■ Select the clockwise arrow to rotate the
view 90 degrees.

164 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


7. Verify that your view looks like the following 10. Apply a colinear constraint to the two lines
illustration. marked (A) and (B).

8. Use the Project tool to create geometry for the


sketched feature.
■ On the ribbon, click Project Geometry.
■ Select the edges marked (A), (B), (C), (D),
and (E). 11. Apply a horizontal constraint to the midpoint of
line (C) and the midpoint of the bottom edge
Note: Some edges may have been automatically (D).
projected when you created the sketch. If so,
delete those edges and project only the edges
shown.

12. Apply parametric dimensions to the sketch.


■ Start the General Dimension tool.
9. Using the Line tool, sketch the line segments for ■ Place dimensions as shown here.
the profile as shown. ■ Right-click anywhere in the graphics
window. Click Done.

Lesson: Creating Basic Sketched Features ■ 165


13. Right-click anywhere in the graphics window. Create Extruded Features to Existing
Click Home View. Geometry
14. On the ribbon, click Finish Sketch to exit the
sketch. In this portion of the exercise, you create a new
15. Extrude the new sketch and remove material sketch and extrude it to a point on the part to create a
from the part. sketched feature.
■ Start the Extrude tool. 1. Open Index-Slide2.ipt.
■ In the graphics window, select the profile
shown.
■ For Distance, enter 48 mm.
■ Select Cut and make certain the extrude
direction is as shown.
■ Click OK.

2. Turn on the Autoproject Edges option for


sketching.
■ Click Tools tab > Options panel > Application
Options.
■ In the Options dialog box, Sketch tab, select
the Autoproject Edges for Sketch Creation
and Edit option.
■ If this option is already checked, leave it as
is.
■ Click Close.

16. Close all files. Do not save.

166 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


3. Right-click the top face of the part. Click New 6. Apply a horizontal constraint to the sketched
Sketch. circles.
■ Start the Horizontal constraint tool.
■ Select the centerpoints marked (A) and (B).
■ Right-click anywhere in the graphics
window.
■ Click Done.

4. Change your view to look normal to the sketch


plane.
■ On the Navigation bar, click View Face.
■ Select the top face of the part.

7. Remove a portion of the sketched circles.


■ On the Sketch tab, click Modify panel >
Trim.
■ Select the circles at a point outside of the
boundary of the part.

5. Using the Center Point circle tool, create two


concentric circles.

Lesson: Creating Basic Sketched Features ■ 167


8. Use the General Dimension tool to locate and 12. Close all files. Do not save.
size the sketch.
■ Start the General Dimension tool.
■ Place dimensions on the arcs and center
point as shown.

9. Return to the home view.


10. On the ribbon, click Finish Sketch to exit the
sketch.
11. To extrude the new sketch to a specific point on
the part, start the Extrude tool.
■ Select the profile created by the two arcs
(1).
■ In the Extents list, select To.
■ Select the corner vertex point (2) for the To
point.
■ Click the Cut operation option. Click OK.

168 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Exercise: Create Revolved Features
In this exercise, you create a simple Indexer part file using the Revolve tool. The origin Z axis is projected on
the first sketch and changed to a centerline. You use the Project Geometry and Project Cut Edges tools to
create different profiles to be revolved.

The completed exercise


1. Open Indexer.ipt.
Completing the Exercise 2. In the browser, double-click Sketch1.
To complete the exercise, follow the
steps in this book or in the onscreen
exercise. In the onscreen list of
chapters and exercises, click Chapter
3: Basic Shape Design. Click Exercise:
Create Revolved Features.

Create Revolved Features that Add Material


to the Part 3. Change your display to a view that is normal to
the sketch.
In this portion of the exercise, you create a sketch and
revolve it into the base feature. You create another ■ On the Navigation bar, click View Face.
sketch and revolve it, creating another sketched ■ In the browser, select Sketch1.
feature that adds material to the part.

Lesson: Creating Basic Sketched Features ■ 169


4. Use the Two Point Rectangle tool and sketch a 8. Start the Revolve tool.
rectangle similar to the following illustration. ■ The profile is selected automatically
because it is the only closed profile on the
sketch.
■ The centerline is also selected automatically
as the axis.
■ Click OK to accept the default settings.

5. Use the General Dimension tool to dimension


the sketch as shown here.

9. Create a new sketch using the default XZ plane.


■ Start the Create 2D Sketch tool.
6. Switch to the home view. ■ In the browser, expand the origin folder.
7. On the ribbon, click Finish Sketch to exit the ■ Select the XZ Plane.
sketch.

170 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


10. Press F7 to activate the Slice Graphics mode. 12. Use the Project Geometry tool to create an axis
This viewing mode slices the graphics at the for the Revolve feature.
location of the current sketch. It is available ■ Start the Project Geometry tool.
only in sketch mode. ■ In the browser, select the Z axis. This
projects the origin Z axis onto the current
sketch.

11. Start the Project Cut Edges tool.


Reference geometry is created based on the
location of the current sketch as it passes
through the part.

13. Create new sketch geometry.


■ Start the Two Point Rectangle tool.
■ Sketch two rectangles as shown.

Lesson: Creating Basic Sketched Features ■ 171


14. Apply a colinear constraint to the edges marked 18. Complete the settings for the revolved feature.
(A) and (B). ■ From the Extents list, select Angle.
■ For Angle, enter 60 deg.
■ Select Flip Direction if required to match
the following illustration.
■ Click OK.

15. Complete the sketch by adding dimension


constraints.
■ Start General Dimension.
■ Dimension the sketch geometry as shown.

19. Close all files. Do not save.

16. On the ribbon, click Finish Sketch to exit the Create Revolved Features that Remove
sketch. Material from the Part
17. To revolve the new sketch, start the Revolve
tool. In this portion of the exercise, you use Revolve to
create an additional sketched feature that removes
■ Select the profiles as shown. material from the part.
■ Click Axis. Select the line created from the
projection of the Z axis. 1. Open Indexer2.ipt.
2. Begin a sketch by using the YZ plane in the
browser.

172 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


■ Start the Create 2D Sketch tool. 5. Sketch and constrain two rectangles.
■ In the browser, expand the Origin node and ■ Start the Two Point Rectangle tool.
select the YZ plane. ■ Sketch two rectangles as shown.
■ Use the General Dimension tool to apply
the dimensions as shown.

6. Project the Z axis for use in the Revolve


operation.
■ Start the Project Geometry tool.
3. Press F7 to switch to Slice Graphics mode. ■ In the browser, select the Z axis.
4. Start the Project Cut Edges tool.

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

Lesson: Creating Basic Sketched Features ■ 173


8. Revolve the two rectangles to remove material 9. Complete the settings for the revolved feature.
from the part. ■ From the Extents list, select Angle.
■ Right-click in the graphics window. Click ■ In the Angle field, enter 60.
Create Feature > Revolve. ■ Click Cut Feature Relationship.
■ Select the two profiles as shown. ■ Click OK.
■ Click Axis.
■ Select the line that was projected from the
Z axis.

10. Change your display by using Orbit.


■ On the Navigation bar, click Orbit.
■ Rotate your part to view the cuts on the
bottom of the part.

11. Close all files. Do not save.

174 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Lesson: Intermediate Sketching

This lesson describes the use of reference and construction geometry to add design intelligence to
sketches on your parts. As your part progresses, you add multiple sketched features. Each sketch may
require the use of reference and construction geometry to fully constrain your sketches.
In the following illustration, reference geometry and construction lines are used to constrain the
rectangle geometry on the face of the part.

Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
■ Describe sketch linetypes and their behavior.
■ Use the 2D sketch tools to create construction geometry.
■ Project part edges onto a sketch plane.

Lesson: Intermediate Sketching ■ 175


About Sketch Linetypes
As your part design progresses, you need additional sketching tools to capture design intent within
your sketch and to establish parametric relationships to existing faces and edges on your 3D part. As
you create 2D sketch geometry, such as lines, arcs, circles, and prismatic shapes, you can use different
linetypes for different purposes.
In the following example, several linetypes are used to define, position, and constrain geometry on
the part.

Normal sketch geometry


Construction geometry
Reference geometry
Centerline geometry

Definition of Sketch Linetypes


The following illustration shows the appearance of the different linetypes. Different linetypes display
in different colors in the sketch environment; however the exact color is based on the color scheme
you have selected. In the following illustration, using the Presentation scheme, lines 2 and 3 are
displayed orange, while the reference geometry (4) is green. The reference geometry consists of
projected edges of the solid model (arrows).

176 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Sketch Linetypes
The following are the different linetypes and how they are used.

Linetype Description

Normal This is the default linetype in a sketch. Normal lines define the profile or
path that is used to define the shape of a sketched feature.

Construction Construction lines are used to aid in constructing and constraining


normal geometry. You use construction lines when you need additional
geometry to constrain a sketch but do not want that additional geometry
to participate in defining the profile for the feature.

Centerline The Centerline linetype is another type of Construction linetype. It can be


used to define the centerline about which to revolve a profile to create
a revolved feature. When you add dimensions between centerlines and
other sketch geometry, they are treated as diameter dimensions.

Reference Reference geometry is geometry that is projected onto your sketch from
existing part vertices, edges, and faces. You use reference geometry
to constrain normal sketch geometry to existing features on the part.
Reference geometry remains associative to the original part vertices,
edges, and faces. You can also use reference geometry to define the profile
or path for a sketched feature.

Lesson: Intermediate Sketching ■ 177


Normal Linetype Example
The notched rectangle sketch on the left, consumed in the block feature on the right, has been
created with the Normal linetype. While sketching, normal lines are represented as solid lines.

178 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Construction Linetype Example
In the following example, the diagonal dotted line in the left image is a construction line. The
endpoints of the construction line are constrained to the opposite corners of the face. The midpoint of
the construction line is used to orient the center of the circle, which is defined with a normal linetype.
The circle is then extruded with the Cut option to define a shaft opening in this block.

Reference Geometry Example


The current sketch plane in this example is coplanar with the side of the base of the part. Reference
geometry is projected to the sketch plane from the perimeter of the part, from the hole through the
part, and from the spherical cutout on the top.

Lesson: Intermediate Sketching ■ 179


Centerline Linetype Example
The dashdot line on the left is a centerline. The circle is revolved around the centerline to create the
torus feature on the right.

Creating and Using Construction Geometry


You can use construction geometry to help you control and define a sketch by using geometric
construction techniques rather than complex dimensions and formulas. You can constrain and
dimension construction geometry like any other 2D sketch geometry. You can use construction
geometry as a reference for dimensions to other normal sketch geometry, as well as to constrain
normal sketch geometry.
In the following illustration, construction lines (1) are used to position the slot from the center of the
circle and along the angled construction line.

180 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Tools for Creating Construction and Centerline Geometry
The ribbon contains two buttons for creating construction and centerline geometry. Unlike other
toolbar buttons, these buttons also indicate the current status of the selected geometry or drawing
mode. When you click a button, you activate that specific mode. The selected mode remains active
until you click the button again.

Access
Construction Geometry

Ribbon: Sketch tab > Format panel

You can use the following buttons to create or change existing geometry types.

Icon Option Description

Construction When this button is selected, all 2D geometry drawn is construction


Geometry geometry. To change existing geometry to construction, select the
geometry, then click this button.

Centerline When this button is selected, all 2D geometry drawn is centerline


Geometry geometry. To change existing geometry to centerline, select the geometry,
then click this button.

To convert normal geometry or dimensions, select the geometry or dimension and


then click the appropriate button on the ribbon.

Lesson: Intermediate Sketching ■ 181


Procedure: Creating Construction Geometry
The following steps outline the procedure for creating construction geometry.
1. On the ribbon, click the Construction tool.
2. Using standard sketching tools, create the required 2D geometry.
In the following example, a construction line was sketched between the opposite corners of a
rectangle. The lines defining the rectangle are normal sketch lines.

3. Click the Construction tool again to return to creating normal sketch geometry.

Procedure: Converting Existing Geometry to Construction Geometry


The following steps outline the procedure for converting existing sketch geometry to construction
geometry.
1. To change existing geometry to construction geometry, select the geometry in the graphics
window.
In the following example, a circle was selected.

182 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


2. On the ribbon, click the Construction button. The selected geometry is changed to construction
geometry.

Procedure: Creating Centerline Geometry


The following steps outline the procedure for creating centerline geometry.
1. On the ribbon, click the Centerline tool.
2. Using standard sketching tools, create the required 2D geometry.
In the following example, a vertical centerline was sketched to the left of the normal sketch
geometry.

3. Click the Centerline tool again to return to creating normal sketch geometry.

Lesson: Intermediate Sketching ■ 183


Procedure: Converting Existing Geometry to Centerline Geometry
The following steps outline the procedure for converting existing sketch geometry to centerline
geometry.
1. To change existing geometry to centerline geometry, select the geometry in the graphics
window.
In the following example, a horizontal line that bisects the slot shape is selected.

2. On the ribbon, click the Centerline button. The selected geometry is changed to centerline
geometry.

Creating and Using Reference Geometry


Reference geometry is geometry that is created when existing vertices and edges of the part are
projected onto the active sketch plane. Reference geometry is not drawn; rather it is created when
you define a new sketch plane on a planar face of the part or by using the Project Geometry tool.
Without reference geometry, you cannot dimension or constrain sketch geometry to the existing
features on the 3D part.

184 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


New Sketches and Reference Geometry
When you create new sketches on a planar face of the part, the edges of the selected face are
automatically projected onto the sketch as reference geometry. You can use this reference geometry:
■ To dimension to other sketch geometry.
■ For relational constraints to other sketch geometry.
■ As the basis for defining the path or profile for a sketched feature.

The following example demonstrates how reference geometry is created and used when defining a
new sketch on an existing part face.

A new sketch is created on an Create additional sketch geometry and use the
existing part face. The coplanar projected reference geometry for dimensions or
edges of the existing part face are constraints.
automatically projected onto the
new sketch.

Lesson: Intermediate Sketching ■ 185


Project Geometry Tool
You use the Project Geometry tool to project additional part vertices and edges that are not coplanar
to the sketch plane onto the sketch as reference geometry. When you use the Project Geometry
tool, you are prompted to select geometry to project onto the current sketch plane. As you select
the geometry, it is projected onto the current sketch plane as reference geometry and is always
associative to the original source geometry. This means that if the source geometry changes, the
reference geometry also changes. However, after a reference geometry linetype is changed to another
linetype, it loses its associativity.

Projecting Part Edges


Following are some key attributes for projecting part edges:
■ Can be used as the basis for dimensions to new sketch geometry
■ Can be used to apply relational constraints to new sketch geometry
■ Cannot be dimensioned
■ Cannot be trimmed
■ Can be mirrored
■ Cannot be drawn; can only be created by using Project Geometry tool or by selecting the
Autoproject Edges option

Access
Project Geometry

Ribbon: Sketch tab > Draw panel

Toolbar: 2D Sketch Panel

Autoproject Options
You can use the Autoproject functionality to speed projection of geometry to the sketch plane.

Autoproject for Sketch Creation


When you place a check in the box next to the Autoproject Edges for Sketch Creation and Edit option
on the Sketch tab in the Application Options dialog box, the edges of the selected planar face are
automatically projected onto the new sketch when you create a new sketch plane on an existing face.

186 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Autoproject Edges
When the Autoproject Edges During Curve Creation option is selected, you can autoproject geometry
by hovering the pointer over the geometry to be projected while sketching.

Lesson: Intermediate Sketching ■ 187


Sketching Shortcut Menu
While sketching, right-click in the drawing area and click AutoProject. This enables you to hover over
geometry to automatically project onto the current sketch plane.

Procedure: Referencing Model Edge Geometry


The following steps outline how to create reference geometry during curve creation in a sketch by
autoprojecting model edge geometry.
1. Create a new sketch on the existing part.

188 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


2. Begin sketching the required geometry. Right-click in the graphics window and click AutoProject
on the shortcut menu.

3. Hover over the geometry to project. It is automatically projected to the current sketch plane.

4. Continue sketching the required geometry as required.


Tip: You may consider turning off the AutoProject option until it is needed again. This action
prevents the accidental projection of geometry while sketching over existing part features.

Lesson: Intermediate Sketching ■ 189


Exercise: Create a Part Using Construction and Reference
Exercise: Geometry
In this exercise, you apply the Construction andCenterlineattributes to sketch geometry. You also project and
use referencegeometry to create and constrain sketch features.

The completed exercise


2. Click the Tools tab > Application Options.
Completing the Exercise ■ On the Sketch tab, clear both of the options
To complete the exercise, follow the to autoproject edges.
steps in this book or in the onscreen ■ Click OK or Close.
exercise. In the onscreen list of
chapters and exercises, click Chapter
3: Basic Shape Design. Click Exercise:
Create a Part Using Construction and
Reference Geometry.

1. Create a new part using the Standard (mm).ipt


template.
■ On the Quick Access toolbar, click New.
■ In the New File dialog box, click the Metric
tab.
■ Select Standard (mm).ipt.
■ Click OK. 3. Turn on the centerline linetype.
On the Sketch tab, click Centerline. The button
is displayed with a blue background when
active.

190 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


7. Revolve the sketch around the centerline using
an Extents value of Full. Your profile and axis
are selected automatically when you start the
Revolve tool.

4. Start your sketch by creating a vertical


centerline.
■ Sketch a vertical line approximately 50 mm
long.
■ Right-click and click Done.
■ On the ribbon, click Centerline to turn off
centerline. The button is displayed without
a blue background when off.

8. On the Quick Access toolbar, select Blue Pastel


in the Color list.
9. Create a new sketch plane and project a circle
5. Sketch and constrain the remaining objects as as reference geometry.
shown. ■ Rotate your view as shown.
■ Create a sketch plane on the top of the part
as shown.
■ On the Sketch tab, click Project Geometry.
Select the large diameter to project it to
the sketch plane.

6. Right-click anywhere in the graphics window.


Click Home View.

Lesson: Intermediate Sketching ■ 191


10. Sketch and constrain a rectangle using the 12. Create a new sketch plane on the bottom of
projected reference geometry. the part.
■ Sketch a rectangle and add the 4 mm ■ Create a new sketch plane on the bottom
general dimension. surface as shown.
■ Use a tangent constraint on each end of the ■ Use the Project Geometry tool and select
rectangle to the reference circle. the outside edge of the sketch face to
■ Use a horizontal constraint between the project it as reference geometry.
midpoint of the left side of the rectangle
and the center point of the reference
geometry to locate the rectangle centered
on the part.

13. Create construction geometry that you use to


locate a new sketch.
■ On the ribbon, click Construction to turn on
the Construction linetype.
11. Extrude the rectangle sketch using the Cut
option and a distance of 6.3 mm as shown. ■ Sketch three separate lines (1) as shown.
Tip: Right-click and click Restart to sketch
separate lines.
■ If necessary, use a coincident constraint to
constrain the endpoints to the center of the
circle (2).
■ On the ribbon, click Construction to turn off
the Construction linetype.

192 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


14. Add the following dimensions to the 16. Complete the feature by extruding the new
construction lines. sketch with a cut operation.
■ Start the Extrude tool.
■ Select the two sketch circles for the profile
and click the Cut option.
■ For Extents select To. Select the circular
face as shown. Click OK to create the
extrusion.

15. Add geometry constrained to the construction


geometry and reference geometry.
■ Draw two circles as shown.
■ Use coincident constraints to constrain the
circles to both the construction geometry
(1) and the reference geometry (2).
■ Dimension the circles as shown.

17. Your completed extrusion looks like the


following illustration. Save your part with the
name Latch-Nut.ipt and close all files.

Lesson: Intermediate Sketching ■ 193


Lesson: Editing Parametric Parts

This lesson describes the various methods used to make changes to parametric part models. You can
edit sketches, modify features, and create and use parameters while making modifications to your
models.
Statistics show that designers spend more time making part modification and engineering changes
than they spend creating new parts. You need to be able to modify your existing part models
accurately and efficiently.
The following illustration shows a parametric part model before and after implementing changes to
existing features.

Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
■ Edit features from the browser.
■ Edit sketches from the browser or toolbar.
■ Create and modify parameters and equations.

194 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Editing Features
After you create features on your parametric part, you can modify those features at any time.
Sometimes all you need to change is the size of the feature. Other times you may need to make a more
significant change. Autodesk Inventor provides multiple options for editing your designs.
The following illustration shows a part model before, and then after the extrusion distance was
modified.

Options for Editing Features


There are three basic ways to modify features on your parametric parts. With both sketched and
placed features, you can display and modify the dimensions to simply change the size of the feature,
or you can access the feature dialog box to make a more significant change, like changing an operation,
extrusion direction, or the extents of the feature. For sketched features you also have the option to
modify the sketch geometry. For example, you can add and delete dimensions or constraints, or you
can even modify the shape of the sketch by changing the sketch geometry.

Lesson: Editing Parametric Parts ■ 195


In the following illustration, the left browser image shows the three options for editing a sketched
feature. The browser image on the right shows the two options for editing placed features.

Editing Features Using Show Dimensions


If you want to change thesize of a feature, you can use the Show Dimensions option to change the
value of an existing dimension. All sketch dimensions are displayed as well as other dimensions that
are used to define the feature size, such asextrusion depth, revolution angle, or taper value.

196 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Editing Features Using Edit Feature
When you use the Edit Feature option to edit a feature, you are presented with the same dialog box
that you used when you created the feature.You can change the parameters, such as distance, feature
relationships, and termination options. You can also reselect geometry to be included in the feature.

Access
Show Dimensions

Browser: Double-click the feature. (Note: Dimensions are only visible on the underlying
sketch while the feature is being edited.)
Browser: Right-click the feature > Show Dimensions.

Access
Edit Feature

Browser: Double-click the feature.


Browser: Right-click the feature > Edit Feature.

Lesson: Editing Parametric Parts ■ 197


Procedure: Modifying a Feature Using Show Dimensions
The following steps describe how to edit a feature using the Show Dimensions option.
1. Right-click the feature in the browser and click Show Dimensions. All the controlling dimensions
are displayed on the feature in the graphics window.
2. Double-click the dimension to modify and enter a new value in the Edit Dimension dialog box.
3. Click Update on the Standard toolbar to apply the changes to the part.

Procedure: Modifying a Placed Feature Using Edit Feature


The following steps describe how to edit a placed feature using the Edit Feature option.
1. Right-click the feature in the browser and click Edit Feature. The dialog box used to create the
feature is displayed.
2. Change the settings or values in the dialog box, then click OK. The part automatically updates.

Procedure: Editing Extruded Features


The following steps describe how to edit extruded features.
1. In the browser, right-click the feature. Click Edit Feature.
2. In the Extrude dialog box, adjust the options as required to edit the feature.

Procedure: Editing Revolved Features


The following steps describe how to edit revolved features.
1. In the browser, right-click the feature. Click Edit Feature.
2. In the Revolve dialog box, adjust the options as required.

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Editing Sketches
As you build your parametric model, you create multiple sketches. When the sketch is used by a
feature such as Extrude or Revolve, the sketch becomes consumed by the feature and is displayed
under the feature in the browser. You can see each of the sketches in the browser by expanding the
particular feature(s). Even though this sketch is consumed by the feature, it can still be modified.
The following illustration shows how sketches are consumed by the feature for which they are used.

The Extrusion1 feature has consumed Sketch1 and Extrusion2 has consumed Sketch4.
Sketch2 and Sketch5 are unconsumed sketches.

Editing Consumed Sketches


One powerful way to modify a feature is to edit the sketch. Editing the sketch places the model in
a rolled-back state, where only the features existing at the time this sketch was created are visible.
When you edit sketches, you are returned to the sketch environment and the panel bar changes,
providing you with access to all the sketch tools initially used in creating the sketch. You can add,
replace, or delete dimensions or constraints and even modify the sketch geometry. To return to the
part modeling environment, click Return on the Standard toolbar.

Lesson: Editing Parametric Parts ■ 199


In the following illustration, Sketch1 has been consumed by Extrusion1 in the browser. You can expand
the Extrusion1 feature to expose and edit the consumed sketch. Notice the browser background color
changes to indicate the active sketch.

Access
Edit Sketch

Browser: Double-click the sketch.


Browser: Right-click the feature > Edit Sketch.
Toolbar: Standard > Sketch > Select the sketch in the browser.

200 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Procedure: Editing Sketches
The following steps describe how to edit sketches.
1. In the browser, right-click the feature or sketch, and click Edit Sketch.

2. After the sketch has been activated for editing, you can make changes to geometry, dimensions,
and constraints.

Lesson: Editing Parametric Parts ■ 201


3. Continue to make edits to the sketch as required.

4. When you have finished editing the sketch, on the ribbon, click Finish Sketch to exit the sketch
and return to the part model. The changes in the sketch are applied to the 3D features of the
part.

202 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Using Parameters
When you establish a relationship between one dimension and another, you can incorporate basic
design intent into your model and quickly modify a model. You can define and control complex
relationships by creating mathematical equations in a dimension or user-defined parameter.
Equations can range from simple equations to more complex equations that include complex internal
parameters.
The Parameters dialog box is shown here. The User Parameters are exoanded to show there are two
user parameters for hole spacing and the space for each hole.

Access
Parameters

Ribbon: Manage tab > Parameters panel

To establish a valid relationship to a parameter name, the spelling and capitalization


must exactly match the name displayed in the Parameters dialog box. Select a custom
parameter name from the list to ensure that spelling and capitalization match.

Lesson: Editing Parametric Parts ■ 203


Parameters Dialog Box
The Parameters dialog box is displayed when you start the Parameters tool.

The following illustration shows the Parameters dialog box with model, reference, and user
parameters. Notice that some model parameters were renamed to clarify use and facilitate access.
The equations in this example range from a single numeric value to more complex equations that use
functions and parameters.

Managing Parameters
Every dimension that you add when you create or assemble parts is accessible in the Parameters
dialog box. You canmanage parameters in the Parameters dialog box to accomplish the following
tasks:
■ Create new user parameters.
■ Change the name of model and user parameters to add meaning. For example, you can give
model parameters a generic letter d and an incremental number (d0, d1, d2, and so on).
■ Change the unit of measure to match your design data. For example, you can create a user
parameter to store a volume value and use it later in an equation to calculate the size of a part.
■ Establish a mathematical equation to calculate a value.
■ Add or adjust the tolerance or precision for a dimension.
■ Adjust a dimension with tolerances at the maximum, minimum, median, or nominal value.
■ Select a parameter to export to a custom iProperty value.
■ Add a general comment to explain the function or purpose of a parameter.

204 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


List Parameters
You can select an existing custom parameter name for any dimension value. Right-click the value
or click the arrow button on the right side of the value and click List Parameters to display a list of
available custom parameter names.

In this image, you right-click the value 10 This image shows the Parameters list that opens
or click List Parameters. when you click List Parameters.

Using Equations and Parameters


You can use equations wherever you can enter a numeric value. For example, you can write equations
in the Edit Dimension dialog box, feature dialog boxes, and the Parameters dialog box. Equations can
vary in complexity, and you can use them to calculate feature sizes, calculate assembly constraint
offsets or angles, or simulate motion among several components.
Equations can be simple or contain many algebraic operators, prefixes, and functions. For example,
here is a simple equation:
2 ul * (6 + 3)
The following complex equation uses internal parameters such as pi:
( PI rad /5 ul + (25 deg * PI rad / 180 deg ) )

Supported Algebraic Operators


The following table lists the algebraic operators supported by Autodesk Inventor.

Operator Meaning

+ addition

- subtraction

% floating point modulo

Lesson: Editing Parametric Parts ■ 205


Operator Meaning

* multiplication

/ division

^ power

( expression delimiter

) expression delimiter

; delimiter for multiargument functions.

Supported Unit Prefixes


The following table lists the unit prefixes supported by Autodesk Inventor.

Prefix Symbol Value

exa E 1.0e18

peta P 1.0e15

tera T 1.0e12

giga G 1.0e9

mega M 1.0e6

kilo k 1.0e3

hecto h 1.0e2

deca da 1.0e1

deci d 1.0e-1

centi c 1.0e-2

milli m 1.0e-3

micro micro 1.0e-6

nano n 1.0e-9

206 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Prefix Symbol Value

pico p 1.0e-12

femto f 1.0e-15

atto a 1.0e-18

When you use unit prefixes in an equation, enter the prefix symbol. Do not enter the prefix itself. For
example, an equation that includes the unit nanometer might look like this: 3.5 ul * 2.6 nm.

When you add the unit prefix for nano to the meter unit, your equation is calculated based on the
length of 2.6 nanometers.

Prefix symbols are case sensitive. You must enter them exactly as they appear in the
previous table.

Supported Functions
The following table lists the supported functions.

Syntax Returns Unit Type Expected Unit Type

cos(expr) unitless angle

sin(expr) unitless angle

tan(expr) unitless angle

acos(expr) angle unitless

asin(expr) angle unitless

atan(expr) angle unitless

cosh(expr) unitless angle

tanh(expr) unitless angle

acosh(expr) angle unitless

asinh(expr) angle unitless

sqrt(expr) unit^1/2 any

Lesson: Editing Parametric Parts ■ 207


Syntax Returns Unit Type Expected Unit Type

sign(expr) unitless any (Return 0 if negative, 1 if positive.)

exp(expr) unitless any (Return exponential power of expression; for


example, return 2 for 100, 3 for 1000, and so on.)

floor(expr) unitless unitless (Next lowest whole number.)

ceil(expr) unitless unitless (Next highest whole number.)

round(expr) unitless unitless (Closest whole number.)

abs(expr) any any

max(expr1;expr2) any any

min(expr1;expr2) any any

ln(expr) unitless unitless

log(expr) unitless unitless

pow(expr1;expr2) unit^expr2 any and unitless, respectively

random(expr) unitless unitless

isolate(expr;unit;unit) any any

Function names are case sensitive. You must enter them exactly as they appear in
the previous table.

208 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Unit Types
The unit type that you use with an equation depends on the type of data that you are evaluating. For
example, to evaluate a linear or angular value, you typically use a unit type of millimeters, inches, or
degrees (mm, in, or deg).
Some equations must return a unitless value, for example, an equation to solve the number of
occurrences in a pattern. You designate a unitless value with the characters ul. For example, 5 ul
means that the equation has been evaluated and returned the number 5, as in the number of
occurrences in a pattern.

Unit Types: Keep Them Consistent


Keep units consistent within equations containing parameters that represent
different unit types. You can do this using the Isolate function. For example, to
calculate the number of occurrences for a pattern that is based on one occurrence for
each unit of a parameter named Width, your linear equation would be:

isolate(Width;mm;ul)

The Number of Occurrences value in a dialog box requires a unitless (ul) result, but
you are referencing the unit width, which is a linear value. Therefore, you must
convert the Width parameter to a unitless value.

The following illustration shows how to break down the equation.

Lesson: Editing Parametric Parts ■ 209


Order of Algebraic Operations
Equations are evaluated from the inside out, and evaluation precedence is given to functions. For
example, in the equation (15 * (25 + 3)), 25+3 is evaluated first, and the sum is multiplied by 15. The
result is 420.

The following table shows the algebraic operations in descending order.

Operation Symbol Example

parentheses () (abs( 5 * -2))

exponentiation ^ Length^2

negation - (-4.00 + Width)

multiplication or division * or / (Length * Width) or (Length / Width)

addition or subtraction + or - (-5.00 + Length - 0.50 * Width)

Equation Color
When you create equations, the equation text is displayed in red until it is considered
valid. At that point, the equation text turns black.

Procedure: Using Equations in Dimensions


The following steps outline how to use equations in dimensions.
1. On the ribbon, click the General Dimension tool.
2. Select the geometry that you want to dimension.
3. Place the dimension.
4. In the Edit Dimension dialog box, enter the equation.

5. Click the check mark icon to accept the value.

210 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Procedure: Using Equations in a Dialog Box
The following steps outline how to use equations in a dialog box.
1. On the ribbon, click the feature type that you want to create.
2. Select the geometry required for the feature.
3. Enter the equation in any text box that requires a numerical value.

4. Click OK to create the feature and close the dialog box.

Lesson: Editing Parametric Parts ■ 211


Exercise: Edit Parametric Parts
In this exercise, you implement changes to the clutch lever by editing sketches and features. You discover that
changing one feature may create problems with other features that you will then need to edit as well.

The completed exercise


2. Display the dimensions on the original base
Completing the Exercise sketch for editing:
To complete the exercise, follow the ■ In the browser, right-click Extrusion1.
steps in this book or in the onscreen ■ Click Show Dimensions.
exercise. In the onscreen list of
chapters and exercises, click Chapter 3:
Basic Shape Design. Click Exercise: Edit
Parametric Parts.

1. Open Aux-Clutch-Lever.ipt.

212 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


3. Modify the leftmost 25 mm dimension: 6. Change the counterbore holes to countersink
■ Double-click the leftmost 25 mm dimension clearance holes:
and change it to 30 mm. ■ In the browser, right-click Hole4. Click Edit
■ On the Quick Access toolbar, click Update. Feature.
■ In the Hole dialog box, set hole type to
Countersink (1) and Clearance (2) by
clicking the option button as shown.
■ Under Fastener, for Standard, select Ansi
Metric M Profile (3).
■ For Fastener Type, select Flat Head
Machine Screw (4).
■ For Size, select M2.5 (5). Click OK.

4. The previous edit caused a problem with


Extrusion3. You now edit Extrusion3 to correct
its size:
■ In the browser, right-click Extrusion3.
■ Click Edit Sketch.
5. Add a colinear constraint to control the left
edge of the slot:
■ On the ribbon, click the Colinear constraint
tool.
■ Select the left edge of the sketch and set it
colinear to the left edge of the feature as
shown.
■ On the ribbon, click Finish Sketch.

Lesson: Editing Parametric Parts ■ 213


7. Modify the depth of the main extrusion: 9. Change the size of the chamfer on the
■ In the browser, double-click Extrusion1. The Extrusion4 slot:
Extrude dialog box is displayed. ■ In the browser, right-click Chamfer1. Click
■ Change the 35 mm depth dimension and Edit Feature.
change it to 40 mm as shown. ■ Change the Distance value to 0.5 mm.
■ Click OK. ■ Click OK to implement the change.

10. Close all files. Do not save.


8. Modify the slot size of Extrusion4:
■ In the browser, expand Extrusion4.
■ Double-click Sketch10 to display its
dimensions on the model.
■ Using the ViewCube tool, reorient the part
as shown.
■ Double-click the 20 mm dimension and
change it to 25 mm as shown.
■ On the Quick Access toolbar, click Return.

214 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Exercise: Create Parameters and Equations
2. On the ribbon, Manage tab, click Parameters.
In this exercise, you change the names of some of
the existing dimensions to make them easier to ■ In the Parameters dialog box, select the
identify and reference. You also create relational model parameter d0. Change its name to
dimensions, dimensions that include both equations Depth. Press ENTER.
and parameters, and a user parameter.

The completed exercise

Completing the Exercise In the Parameters dialog box, review the


To complete the exercise, follow the existing model, reference, and user parameters.
steps in this book or in the onscreen Notice any custom parameter names or
parameters with an existing equation instead of
exercise. In the onscreen list of a single numeric value.
chapters and exercises, click Chapter
3: Basic Shape Design. Click Exercise: ■ Click Done.
Create Parameters and Equations. 3. In the browser, right-click the feature Hole1-
Index. Click Show Dimensions.
4. Right-click in the graphics window. Click
1. Open Wall-Cabinet-Side.ipt. Dimension Display > Expression. Notice that all
the dimensions have custom names. Also notice
the use of reference dimensions to return a
distance between sketch geometry.

Lesson: Editing Parametric Parts ■ 215


5. In the browser, right-click Extrusion1. Click Edit
Sketch.
■ Change Height from 500 mm to 650 mm.
■ On the Quick Access toolbar, click Update.
The part looks like the following illustration.
Notice that the number of holes did not
automatically change when the height changed.
You change this later in the exercise.

8. In the browser, right-click the MidHole feature.


6. In the browser, right-click Extrusion1. Click Edit Click Properties.
Sketch.
■ Under Suppress, select the If check box.
■ Change the dimension Depth from 300 mm ■ Select RemainWidth from the list of
to 200 mm. parameters.
■ On the Quick Access toolbar, click Update. ■ Enter 300 mm for the Less Than value.
The part looks like the following illustration.
■ Click OK.

7. In the browser, right-click the feature Hole1-


Index. Click Properties.
Notice the conditional suppression. In this
case, the value for the reference dimension
RemainWidth is less than 250 mm, and the
feature is automatically suppressed. Click
Cancel.

216 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


9. On the ribbon, Manage tab, click Parameters. 11. In the row for the new HolesPerColumn user
■ In the row for the Depth model parameter, parameter, click the Unit column.
click the Equation column. ■ In the Unit Type dialog box, change the unit
■ Change its value to 400. Press ENTER. specification to ul.
■ Click OK.

10. To add a user parameter:


■ Click Add.
■ Under User Parameters, enter
HolesPerColumn for the parameter name 12. In the row for the new parameter, click the
for the new user parameter. Equation column.
■ Press TAB. ■ Enter the following equation to calculate
the number of spaces as a whole number
that can fit in the remaining area.
floor(SpaceForHoles/HoleSpacing) + 1
■ Press ENTER. Click Done.

Lesson: Editing Parametric Parts ■ 217


13. In the browser, right-click the feature
Rectangular Pattern1. Click Unsuppress
Features.
14. In the browser, right-click the feature
Rectangular Pattern1. Click Edit Feature.
15. In the Rectangular Pattern dialog box:
■ Delete the current value of 5 ul.
■ Right-click the text box. Click List
Parameters.

16. In the Parameters list, select HolesPerColumn.


Click OK.
17. On the ribbon, click Parameters. Enter the
following values in the Equations column for
the corresponding parameters.
■ Depth = 300 mm. Press ENTER.
■ Height = 820 mm. Press ENTER.
■ Click Done.
■ On the Quick Access toolbar, click Update.
The part looks like the following illustration.

18. Close all files. Do not save.

218 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Lesson: 3D Grip Editing

In this lesson, you learn how to use the 3D Grips tool to edit part geometry in the context of an
assembly and in a stand-alone part environment.

Instead of changing a parametric dimension value or adjusting sketch geometry to modify the size of a
part, you can use the 3D Grips tool to resize a part by dynamically modifying its faces or edges.

Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
■ Describe 3D grip editing and its benefits.
■ Utilize the 3D Grips tool and adjust the geometry a visual distance, a numeric distance, or to a
specific geometric location.

Lesson: 3D Grip Editing ■ 219


About 3D Grip Editing
Modifying geometry with 3D Grips is a very fast and efficient way to adjust the geometry of your
model. You can also adjust fully constrained geometry with 3D Grips, thereby eliminating the need to
directly edit the dimension values that drive the feature.
Unlike the Edit Sketch and Edit Feature tools, with 3D grip editing, you can edit the geometry in a
direct and dynamic way without first having to activate the sketch or feature.
In the following illustration, the Edit Offset tool is used to apply an offset distance to the selected face.
The end result of this 3D grip edit directly affects the underlying sketch without having to activate it.

Definition of 3D Grip Editing


Editing with 3D Grips means quickly adjusting part geometry by selecting a face or edge, and then
selecting a new location for it, or specifying a distance to change its location.

220 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


The following list summarizes basic benefits of using 3D Grips.
■ Adjusting geometry with 3D Grips is useful during the conceptual design phase when the exact
distances and part relationships are not known.
■ You can use 3D Grips for sizing part geometry correctly within the context of the assembly.

3D Grip Edit Example


The following illustrations show the effects of grip editing a wrench component within the context of
an assembly.
1. Before editing with 3D Grips.

2. The edit with 3D Grips.

3. After editing with 3D Grips.

Lesson: 3D Grip Editing ■ 221


Using the 3D Grips Tool
You use the 3D Grips tool to push or pull the faces of an extruded, revolved, or swept feature.
You can use 3D Grips in the following ways:
■ Drag the grip the desired distance.
■ Select other geometry to adjust to.
■ Enter a specific value.

Tool Access

3D Grips
Shortcut Menu: Right-click a grip-editable face. Click 3D Grips.

Access to the 3D Grips tool is based on the following requirements:


■ The 3D Grips tool is available only in assembly and part environments.
■ The 3D Grips tool is available from the shortcut menu only after you select a feature, face, or
sketch.

222 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


3D Grips Application Options

Application Options

Ribbon: Tools tab > Options panel > Application Options > Part tab

Application Options 3D Grip Settings


The following illustration shows the Application Options dialog box, Part tab, 3D Grips area.

Choose to enable or disable 3D grips.


Choose to display a grip when selecting the face or an edge of the part.
Control how dimensional constraints are handled by 3D grip actions.
■ Never Relax: Use this setting to prevent grip editing of a feature defined with a linear or
angular dimension.
■ Relax if No Equation: Use this setting to prevent grip editing of a feature defined with an
equation.
■ Always Relax: Use this setting to allow grip editing of a feature regardless of how it is defined.
■ Prompt: Use this setting to receive a prompt, giving you the option to always relax when grip
editing a feature defined with a dimension or equation.
Control how geometric constraints are handled by 3D grip actions.
■ Never Break: Use this setting to prevent grip editing of a feature controlled by a constraint.
■ Always Break: Use this setting to allow grip editing of a feature regardless of constraints.
■ Prompt: Use this setting to receive a prompt giving you the option to always break when grip
editing a feature controlled with a constraint.

Lesson: 3D Grip Editing ■ 223


Restrictions for Using 3D Grips
Be aware of the following issues when editing with 3D Grips:
■ When you modify a part from within an assembly environment, the model geometry is modified
and saved within the individual part file.
■ The 3D Grips tool can adjust only face geometry that is created from an extruded, revolved, or
swept feature. Because the part file is manipulated, 3D Grips is not available for assembly-level
features.
■ Extruded and revolved features have grips positioned on the faces and the edges of the feature.
For face grip editing, you can grip edit only the faces that are not in the plane of the original
sketch.
■ A sweep feature has grips available only for manipulating the profile sketch.
■ When your 3D Grip options are set to allow it, during grip editing, any dimensional constraint is
ignored and manipulated as if it were a reference dimension. When you finish the grip edit, the
dimension value is updated to reflect the new distance or angle.
■ You can select and change the value of any dimension that is displayed during a 3D grip edit in the
same way that you can with the Edit Sketch command.

Dimensions with Formulas


If a 3D grip edit changes the value for a parametric dimensionandthat parametric
dimensioncontaineda formula prior to the edit,the formula will be replaced by the
exact measurement value.

Editing with the 3D Grips Tool


You can edit 3D grips dynamically, by specifying a distance or angle, or by selecting another edge or
face to align to.

Procedure: Grip Editing Dynamically


The following procedure shows how to access the 3D Grips tool and edit a feature or face dynamically.
1. Right-click the feature, face, or sketch to be edited. Click 3D Grips.
2. Place the cursor over the desired grip circle to display a vector normal arrow or edge line. Left-
click and drag the arrow or line indicator the desired distance.
3. Continue to select and edit additional grips as required. Right-click anywhere in the graphics
window. Click Done.

224 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Procedure: Grip Editing a Specific Distance or Angle
The following procedure shows how to use 3D Grips to adjust geometry by a specific distance or angle.
1. Right-click the feature, face, or sketch to be edited. Click 3D Grips.
2. Place the cursor over the grip circle of the face to edit, so the vector normal arrow is displayed.
Right-click the arrow. Click Edit Dimension, Edit Offset, or Edit Extent.
3. In the appropriate dialog box, change the numeric value.
4. Right-click the feature, face, or sketch. Click Done.

Procedure: Grip Editing to Selected Geometry


The following procedure shows how to use 3D Grips to adjust geometry to an existing edge, face, or
vertex.
1. Right-click the feature, face, or sketch to be edited. Click 3D Grips.
2. Place the cursor over the desired grip circle, so a vector normal arrow or edge line is displayed.
Left-click the arrow or edge line.
3. Click on the vertex, edge, or face of the geometry to align with.
4. The feature preview is updated to reflect the new position.
5. Right-click the feature, face, or sketch. Click Done.

Lesson: 3D Grip Editing ■ 225


Exercise: Edit with 3D Grips
In this exercise, you use the 3D Grips tool to dynamically lengthen the ends of a wrench, adjust their width a
set distance, and adjust the opening in the handle so that it aligns with other geometry.

The completed exercise


2. Set selection priority to Faces and Edges.
Completing the Exercise ■ On the Quick Access toolbar, click Select >
To complete the exercise, follow the Select Faces and Edges.
steps in this book or in the onscreen ■ Select the face on the top of the wrench
exercise. In the onscreen list of head.
chapters and exercises, click Chapter 3:
Basic Shape Design. Click Exercise: Edit
with 3D Grips.

1. Open the file AlignmentWrench.iam.

3. Right-click the wrench head. Click 3D Grips.

226 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


4. Notice the dimensional equation fx:d3 = d2 / 8. Move a face a specific distance:
3 ul in the top illustration. As you grip edit the ■ Position the cursor over the right-side face
part, because of the equation, the entire part grip and the subsequently displayed arrow.
changes shape. Right-click anywhere in the ■ Right-click the grip arrow.
graphics window. Click Cancel.
■ Click Edit Offset.

5. Change a 3D grip setting:


■ Click Tools tab > Options panel >
Application Options. 9. In the Edit Offset dialog box, for Edit Offset
■ Click the Part tab. Distance, enter 15 mm. Click OK.
■ Under 3D Grips, for Dimensional
Constraints, select Always Relax.
■ Click OK.
6. Repeat step 3 to start 3D Grips editing again.
7. Click and drag the face grip for the end of the
wrench head to lengthen it to approximately 30
mm.

Lesson: 3D Grip Editing ■ 227


10. Right-click in the graphics window. Click Done 13. Right-click in the graphics window. Click Done.
to accept your edits.

14. The slot is increased.

11. Set your selection priority to Features and


select a feature:
■ SHIFT+right-click anywhere in the graphics
window. Click Feature Priority. 15. Close all files. Do not save.
■ Select the open slot in the handle.
■ Right-click the selected feature. Click 3D
Grips.

12. Click the side-face grip arrow (1). Click the


straight left edge of the handle (2).

228 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Lesson: Creating Work Features

In this lesson, you learn to create and use work planes, work axes, and work points. You use these
work features to assist in creating geometry, placing constraints, and completing other modeling tasks.
The construction of most part models requires the use of work features to complete. The more
complex your parts, the more work features you will likely use while creating it.
The following illustration shows how work planes, axes, and points are displayed in your parts.

Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
■ Locate, display, and use the default work features and create new work features on a part.
■ Use the Work Plane tool to create work planes on a part.
■ Use the Work Axis tool to create work axes on a part.
■ Use the Work Point tool to create work points on a part.

Lesson: Creating Work Features ■ 229


About Work Features
Every part contains a default set of work planes, work axes, and a center point.These default work
features are located in the Origin folder of the Part browser. You use these default work features to
define the initial orientation of your part design. You can usethese default objects for the basis of
new sketches, for feature termination options, and as the basis for creating new work features. As
your part design progresses, you may need to create additional work plane, work axis, and work point
featuresthat are based on faces, edges, and vertices of your part.
The following illustration shows the default work planes, axes, and center point located in the Origin
folder of the browser.

Definition of Default Work Features


There are three default work planes, each representing a different coordinate plane. The three
planes represented are the YZ plane, XZ plane, and XY plane. There are three default work axes, each
representing a different coordinate axis. The three axes represented are the X axis, Y axis, and Z axis.
There is a single Center Point work point, it represents the 0,0,0 coordinate. Work planes and work
axes extend outward from this point.
When you create a new part file, the initial sketch is created on one of these default planes. You can
create additional sketches or features using the model or the default work planes.

230 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


The following illustration shows the three default work planes and the center point.

The following illustration shows the three default work axes and the center point.

The default planes are not visible when starting a new part file. You can control their visibility in the
browser. The following illustration shows all of the default work features selected in the browser. By
clicking on Visibility, they will all become visible in the drawing.

Lesson: Creating Work Features ■ 231


Parametric Work Features
You create and use work features when physical geometry does not exist on the part for a specific
task. For example, as you develop your part design, you typically orient sketches for your features on
existing planar faces of the part. When a planar face does not exist, you can create one or more work
features to define and orient a plane for that sketch.

Example of Parametric Work Features


In the following illustration, two work axes were used to create a centerline work plane. This work
plane is then used to create a sketched feature on the end of the part.

232 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Browser Appearance of Parametric Work Features
The following illustration shows how work features are displayed in the browser.

Work Feature Appearance


The appearance of work features is controlled in several different ways. You can turn on or turn off the
appearance of work features individually or globally. To turn off the visibility of a single work feature,
right-click it in the browser and click Visibility.

Lesson: Creating Work Features ■ 233


Controlling Global Visibility
On the ribbon, click View tab > Object Visibility to turn the visibility of work features and sketches on
and off, as shown in the following image. Select the appropriate option. You can also use the keyboard
shortcuts.

Creating Work Planes


You use the Work Plane tool to create work planes in the current part. Work planes are used to
define planar surfaces when the existing geometry does not represent the required plane. When you
create work planes, you select geometry and/or other work features. Each selection defines either
orientation or position for the new work plane. Work planes are parametrically attached to the model
geometry or default work planes. When you create a work plane using features of existing geometry,
if the geometry changes, the work plane also changes. For example, if you create a work plane that is
tangent to a cylindrical surface with a radius of 2 mm, and that radius later changes to 5 mm, the work
plane moves to retain the tangent relationship with the cylinder.

Uses for Work Planes


The following list summarizes some potential uses for work planes:
■ Basis for new sketches
■ Feature termination options
■ Basis for new work features

234 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


In the following illustration, the work plane (1) is created at a 30-degree angle from a part face. The
circular extrusion (2) is created from the work plane extruding to meet the part face. As the angle
of the part face changes, the work plane updates to maintain the 30-degree angle, and the circular
feature changes with the work plane.

Access
Work Plane

Ribbon: Model tab > Work Features panel

Keyboard Shortcut: ]

Lesson: Creating Work Features ■ 235


Creating Work Planes: Process Overview
When you create work planes, the type of work plane is based completely on the geometry you
select. For example, there is no dialog box to create a planar offset work plane. All work planes are
created based on two or three selections. Each selection represents either an orientation or position.

Follow these steps to create a work plane that is aligned with the Origin XY plane and tangent to the
outside of the cylinder.
1. Select the feature or plane.

2. Select the second feature or plane.

The resulting work plane is created.

236 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Procedures: Creating Work Planes
When you create work planes, the type of work plane is based completely on the geometry you select.
For example, there is no dialog box to create a planar offset work plane. All work planes are created
based on two or three selections. Each selection represents either an orientation or position.
Use the following approaches to create work planes.

Aligned to Origin Plane/Tangent to Cylindrical Surface


Selection 1 - Origin Work Selection 2 - Cylindrical Result
Plane Feature

Aligned to Face/Midpoint Between Two Faces


Selection 1 - Part Face Selection 2 - Part Face Result

Offset from Plane or Surface


Selection 1 - Click and drag Selection 2 - Release the Result
from plane or surface mouse and enter an offset
distance

Lesson: Creating Work Features ■ 237


Angle from Face/Along an Edge
Selection 1 - Edge on Part Selection 2 - Planar Surface Result
on Part, Enter Angle

Work Plane on Three Points


Selection 1 - Vertex on Geometry Selection 2 - Vertex on Geometry

Selection 3 - Vertex on Geometry Result

238 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Parallel to Face/Midpoint of Edge
Selection 1 - Plane/Face Selection 2 - Midpoint of Result
Edge

Procedure: Resizing Work Planes


Place your cursor over the corner of the work plane. When the resize indicator appears, click and drag
the corner of the work plane to resize it.

Procedure: Moving Work Planes


Place your cursor over an edge of the work plane. When the move indicator appears, click and drag the
work plane to a new location within that same plane. In the following illustration, the move idicator is
displayed (1) and the work plane is moved to a new location (2).

Lesson: Creating Work Features ■ 239


Creating Work Axes
The Work Axis tool is used to create work axes in the current part. Work axes are used to define an
axis when the existing geometry does not represent the required axis. Work axes are parametrically
attached to the model geometry and/or default work features. When you create a work axis using
features of existing geometry, if the geometry changes, the work axis updates to reflect those
changes.

Uses for Work Axes


The following are some potential uses for work axes:
■ Axis of revolution for circular pattern
■ Basis for new work features
■ Representation of centerlines on sketches

240 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Access
Work Axis

Ribbon: Model tab > Work Features panel

Keyboard Shortcut: /

Procedure: Creating Work Axes


When you create a work axis, the type of work axis is based completely on the geometry you select.
For example, there is no dialog box to create an axis at the intersection of two planes. All work axes are
created by selecting existing geometric features or other work features. Follow these steps to create a
work axis.

Procedures: Creating Work Axes


Use the following approaches to create work axes.

Work Axis at Center of Circular Feature


Selection 1 - Circular Feature Result

Lesson: Creating Work Features ■ 241


Work Axis at Intersection of Two Planes
Selection 1 - Plane or Selection 2 - Plane or Result
Planar Surface Planar Surface

Work Axis Through Point/Normal to Plane


Selection 1 - Plane or Selection 2 - Point Result
Planar Surface

Work Axis Through Two Points


Selection 1 - Point or Selection 2 - Point or Result
Midpoint Midpoint

242 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Creating Work Points
You use the Work Point tool to create parametric construction points on part features. Several
methods are available for creating these work points. Each method creates a work point that is
parametrically attached to the geometry or other work features. If this geometry changes, the work
point changes accordingly.

Work points are used as construction geometry to assist in the creation of other geometry and
features.
Grounded Work Points are fixed in space and have no association to other geometry. In part files, you
place grounded work points at vertex points on the part. Once placed, you can modify the point using
options found on the short cut menu.

Uses for Work Points


The following are some potential uses for work points:
■ Projection onto sketches.
■ Basis for new work features.
■ Creation of 3D sketches by drawing lines between work points.

Lesson: Creating Work Features ■ 243


Access
Work Point

Ribbon: Model tab > Work Features panel

Keyboard Shortcut: .

Access
Grounded Work Point

Ribbon: Model tab > Work Features panel

Keyboard Shortcut: ;

244 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Procedures: Creating Work Points
Use the following approaches to create work points.

Creating a Work Point on a Vertex


1. On the panel bar, click the Work Point tool and select a vertex on the part.

2. The work point is created on the selected vertex.

Lesson: Creating Work Features ■ 245


Creating a Work Point at the Midpoint of an Edge
1. On the panel bar, click the Work Point tool and select the midpoint of an edge.

2. The work point is created on the midpoint of the selected edge.

246 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Creating a Work Point at the Intersection of an Edge and Plane
1. On the panel bar, click the Work Point tool and select an edge or axis.

2. Select a plane or surface.

3. The work point is created at the intersection of the edge and plane.

Lesson: Creating Work Features ■ 247


Work Point at the Intersection of a Line or Axis and a Surface
Selection 1: Line or Axis Selection 2: Surface Result

Work Point at the Intersection of a Plane and a Curve


Selection 1: Plane or Face Selection 2: Curve Result

248 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Exercise: Create Work Planes
In this exercise, you create a cylindrical control valve using both origin planes and work planes.

The completed exercise


■ In the browser, expand the Origin folder.
Completing the Exercise ■ Right-click YZ Plane.
To complete the exercise, follow the ■ Click Visibility.
steps in this book or in the onscreen
exercise. In the onscreen list of
chapters and exercises, click Chapter
3: Basic Shape Design. Click Exercise:
Create Work Planes.

1. Open Control-Valve.ipt.
2. Turn on the visibility of the default YZ plane.

Lesson: Creating Work Features ■ 249


3. Mirror the new feature to the other side. 5. Create a new work plane tangent to the top of
■ On the ribbon, click the Mirror tool. your part and parallel to the XY plane.
■ Select the Extrusion2 feature. ■ On the ribbon, click the Work Plane tool.
■ Click the Mirror Plane button. ■ In the browser, select XY Plane.
■ Select the YZ origin plane as shown here. ■ Select the top of the cylinder as shown
Click OK. here.

6. Create an offset plane to the plane just created.


■ On the ribbon, click the Work Plane tool.
■ Click and drag the work plane just created.
■ In the Offset dialog box, enter 10.00 mm
and click the green check mark.

4. In the graphics window, right-click the work


plane. Click Visibility on the shortcut menu to
turn off the work plane visibility.

250 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


7. Turn off the visibility of Work Plane1. 11. Create a new sketch for an added feature.
■ In the graphics window, right-click Work ■ Using standard sketching tools, sketch,
Plane1. constrain, and dimension the geometry as
■ Click Visibility on the shortcut menu to turn shown here.
off the work plane visibility. ■ Note the horizontal and vertical constraints
on the geometry midpoints.

12. Right-click in the graphics window. Click Home


View.
13. On the ribbon, click Finish Sketch to exit the
sketch.
14. Extrude the new sketch to create the feature.
■ On the ribbon, click the Extrude tool.
■ Select the profile as shown.
■ In the Extents list, select To Next. Click OK.
8. Create a new sketch using the offset work
plane.
■ On the ribbon, click the Create 2D Sketch
tool.
■ Select the work plane.

9. On the Navigation bar, click the View Face tool


and select the work plane.
10. On the ribbon, click the Project Geometry tool
and project the edges indicated.

Lesson: Creating Work Features ■ 251


15. On the keyboard press ALT+] to toggle all user
work planes off.

16. Close all files. Do not save.

252 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Exercise: Create Work Axes
In this exercise, you use work axes to add features to an existing part. You utilize both origin work axes as well
as new work axes to create the additional features required for the part.

The completed exercise


1. Open Control-Block-45.ipt.
Completing the Exercise
To complete the exercise, follow the
steps in this book or in the onscreen
exercise. In the onscreen list of
chapters and exercises, click Chapter
3: Basic Shape Design. Click Exercise:
Create Work Axes.

Lesson: Creating Work Features ■ 253


2. Turn on the visibility of default work features. 5. On the ribbon, click Finish Sketch to exit the
■ In the browser, expand the origin folder. sketch.
■ While pressing CTRL, select X Axis, Z Axis, 6. Turn off Autoproject Edges for Sketch Creation.
and Center Point. ■ Click Tools tab > Application Options.
■ Right-click one of the objects. Click Visibility. ■ In the Options dialog box, select the Sketch
tab.
■ Clear the check mark for Autoproject Edges
for Sketch Creation and Edit.
■ Click OK.
7. Create a new sketch plane.
■ Right-click the face of the part.
■ On the shortcut menu, click New Sketch.

3. Activate an existing sketch using the browser.


■ In the browser, expand Extrusion1.
■ Right-click Sketch1.
■ Click Edit Sketch. 8. Project the default X axis to the new sketch
4. Examine the sketch and dimensions. Notice plane.
how the sketch is constrained and dimensioned ■ On the ribbon, click the Project Geometry
to origin features such as the Center Point and tool.
Work Axes.
■ In the browser, select Origin X Axis.
■ Right-click in the graphics window. Click
Done.
9. On the ribbon, click Finish Sketch to exit the
sketch.

254 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


10. Create a hole using the projected sketch point. 11. Create a new work axis using the center point
■ On the ribbon, click the Hole tool. and a part face.
■ The point projected from the origin work ■ On the ribbon, click the Work Axis tool.
axis should be automatically selected. If ■ In the browser, select the Origin Center
not, select the projected point. Point object.
■ In the Termination list, select Through All. ■ Select the angled face of the part as shown
■ In the preview window of the Hole dialog here.
box, enter 7 mm.
■ Click OK.

12. Verify the display of the work axis. If your work


axis is not displayed, perform the following
steps.
■ In the browser, right-click Work Axis1.
■ Click Auto-Resize. Your axis resizes and
extends outside the part boundary.
13. Right-click the angled face of the part. Click
New Sketch.

Lesson: Creating Work Features ■ 255


14. On the ribbon, click the Project Geometry tool. 17. In the browser, double-click Sketch1 to edit the
Select the work axis you created previously. sketch.

18. Edit the angle of the upper extrusion.


15. On the ribbon, click Finish Sketch to exit the ■ Double-click the 45-degree angle
sketch. dimension.
16. Create a new hole using the new projected ■ In the Edit Dimension dialog box enter 60
point. deg.
■ On the ribbon, click the Hole tool. ■ Click the green check mark.
■ The point projected from the work axis
should be automatically selected. If not,
select the projected point.
■ In the Termination list, select To. Select the
inside face of the first hole you created.
■ In the preview window of the Hole dialog
box, enter 7 mm, if required.
■ Click OK.

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19. On the ribbon, click Finish Sketch to exit the
sketch. Notice that the changes are applied to
all affected features including the work axis and
hole.

20. Close all files. Do not save.

Lesson: Creating Work Features ■ 257


Exercise: Create Work Points
2. On the ribbon, click the Work Point tool. Select
In this exercise, you create a PC speaker base the midpoint of the front edge of the Speaker-
component by using sketched features and work Base part.
points. To save time, the sketch geometry has already
been created.

3. Create a new work plane using the point


projected previously.
■ On the ribbon, click the Work Plane tool.
■ In the browser, select Origin XY plane.
The completed exercise ■ Select the Work Point1 feature previously
created.

Completing the Exercise


To complete the exercise, follow the
steps in this book or in the onscreen
exercise. In the onscreen list of
chapters and exercises, click Chapter
3: Basic Shape Design. Click Exercise:
Create Work Points.

1. Open Speaker-Base.ipt.
4. On the ribbon, click the Create 2D Sketch tool.
Select the work plane previously created.

258 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


5. On the ribbon, click the Project Geometry tool. 8. Extrude the sketch through all with a cut.
Select the work point as shown. ■ On the ribbon, click the Extrude tool.
■ Select the circle profile.
■ In the Extrude dialog box, select the Cut
feature relationship button.
■ From the Extents list, select All.
■ Click the direction button as shown. Click
OK.

6. Sketch and dimension a circle from the


projected work point as shown here.

9. On the ribbon, click the Grounded Point tool.


7. On the ribbon, click Finish Sketch to exit the In the browser, expand the Origin folder and
sketch. select the Center Point object.

Lesson: Creating Work Features ■ 259


10. Create a grounded work point offset up from 12. In the graphics window, right-click the work
the Center Point object. plane just created. Click New Sketch.
■ When the work point triad appears, select
the Z axis arrow as indicated.
■ Enter 25 mm for Z.
■ Click OK to create the work point.

13. On the ribbon, click the Project Geometry tool


and select the work point.

11. Create a new work plane parallel to the XY


plane and through the grounded work point.
■ On the ribbon, click Work Plane.
■ In the browser, select the Origin XY plane.
■ Select the Work Point 2 that you just
created.

14. Sketch and dimension a circle from the


projected work point as shown here.

260 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


15. On the ribbon, click Finish Sketch to exit the 17. Add a taper to the extrusion.
sketch. ■ In the Extrude dialog box, click the More
16. Extrude the sketched circle to the main body. tab.
■ On the ribbon, click Extrude. ■ For Taper, enter 5. Click OK.
■ Select the circle profile.
■ From the Extents list, click To Next.

18. On the keyboard, press ALT+] to turn off all


user work planes.
19. Close all files. Do not save.

Lesson: Creating Work Features ■ 261


Lesson: Creating Basic Swept Shapes

This lesson describes how to create basic swept shapes using the Sweep tool. The Sweep tool creates
a sketched feature by sweeping a profile along a path.
When you need to create a shape that follows a predefined path, consider creating it as a sweep
feature.

Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
■ Decide when to use a sweep feature.
■ Use the Sweep tool to create sweep features that follow 2D and 3D paths.
■ State the guidelines for creating sweeps.

262 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


About Swept Shapes
A swept feature is similar to an extrude feature, except that instead of extruding the profile to a
specified or calculated distance, the profile is extruded or swept along a path. As the profile is swept
along the path, it maintains the same cross section as the original profile, unless you use the Taper
option. In that case, the taper angle is applied equally to all sides of the profile as it is swept along the
path.
Sweep features can be used as base features (the first feature on the part) or secondary features used
to cut, join, or intersect existing part geometry.
The following illustration shows the path sketch (2) and profile sketch (1) before and after executing
the Sweep tool (3).

Lesson: Creating Basic Swept Shapes ■ 263


Definition of Sweep Features
You use sweep to create any nonlinear or nonperpendicular extrusions. Extrude always creates a
feature that is perpendicular to the sketch plane. With sweep, you can define the extrusion path that
is not perpendicular to the sketch plane, and the path can be 2D or 3D.

Example of a Sweep Feature


Many housings require a ledge around them to produce a seal with a lid that is made to cover the
container in some way. The following illustration shows how a sweep feature produced the ledge on
this simple housing.

264 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Creating Sweep Features
The process of creating a sweep feature is similar to using other sketched features, in that you must
have a sketch profile. Where the sweep feature differs is that you must also have a sketched path for it
to follow. Therefore, in order to create a sweep feature, you must havetwo unconsumed sketches, one
for the path and onefor the profile. The path can consist of lines, splines, and other sketch geometry,
or it can be created using 3D sketch tools such as lines, splines, and bends.

Access
Sweep

Ribbon: Model tab > Create panel

Keyboard Shortcut: CTRL + SHIFT + S

Sweep Dialog Box


Use the Sweep dialog box to select the profile and path geometry and adjust the output options for
the sweep feature.

Lesson: Creating Basic Swept Shapes ■ 265


The following features and options are available in theSweep dialog box:

Option Description

Profile Click this button to select one or more profiles to sweep along the
selected path. A red arrow indicates that no profiles have been selected
for the sweep feature.

Path Click this button to select the path along which the profile is swept. A red
arrow indicates that no profiles have been selected for the sweep feature.

Solids The Solids selection tool is only active when the part contains more than
one solid body. You use this button to determine to which solid body the
sweep feature is going to be applied.

Output Specify the desired output option, Solid or Surface.

Operation Select the appropriate icon for a join, cut, or intersect operation. Click
New Solid to make the joined, cut, or intersected objects a new solid
object.

Sweep Type Select from the following types of Sweeps:


■ Path: Create a sweep feature by sweeping a profile along a path.
■ Path & Guide Rail: Create a sweep feature by sweeping a profile along
a path. The guide rail controls scale and twist of the swept profile.
■ Path & Guide Surface: Create a sweep feature by sweeping a profile
along a path. The guide surface controls the twist of the swept profile.

Orientation Path holds the swept profile constant to the sweep path while Parallel
holds the swept profile parallel to the original profile.

Taper Sets taper angle for sweeps normal to the sketch plane. The taper is not
available for parallel orientation.

Optimize Automatically advances to next selection after a single selection is made.


for Single Clear the check mark to make multiple selections.
Selection

Preview Toggles the Preview feature on and off.

266 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Procedure: Creating a Workplane Normal to a Path
The following steps describe how to create a work plane normal to a sketch path. The work plane can
then be used to create a sketch profile that will be swept along the path.
1. Start by creating a sketch to use as the path for your sweep feature.

2. Start the Work Plane tool and select your path sketch as shown.

3. Select the point at the end of your sketched path as shown.

Lesson: Creating Basic Swept Shapes ■ 267


4. Create a new sketch on the work plane just created.

5. Sketch and constrain a profile for the sweep.

6. Create your sweep feature using the profile and path sketches.

Procedure: Creating Sweep Features


The following steps describe how to create sweep features.
1. Create and constrain the sketch geometry used for the path.

268 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


2. Create a new sketch, then create and constrain the geometry to be used for the profile. In the
following illustration, a work plane was created that is coincident to the endpoint of the path
and normal to the path. The work plane was then used to align the new sketch for the profile.
This method ensures that the profile is normal to the path.

3. On the ribbon, click the Sweep tool and select the profile geometry. Click the Path button and
select the path geometry.

4. If necessary, adjust the operation options for join, cut, or intersect. Optionally, enter a taper
angle for the sweep feature.

Lesson: Creating Basic Swept Shapes ■ 269


5. The sweep feature is created according to the settings that you specified in the Sweep dialog
box.

Guidelines for Creating Swept Shapes


There are several ways to create sweep features. Your path sketch can be either open or closed, and
it can be either a 2D or 3D sketch. Your profile must be closed if creating a solid, but can be open if
creating a surface. While it is not mandatory, creating your path and profile on perpendicular planes
produces the best results.

Swept Shape Guidelines


Follow these guidelines for successful sweeps.
■ Your path can be an open or closed loop, but it must pierce the profile plane.
■ You must have two unconsumed sketches, the profile and path, to create a sweep.
■ If Preview is enabled and the preview does not appear, it is likely that the sweep feature will not
be created.
■ Remember to avoid creating a profile that would self intersect when being swept along a path
containing a bend.
■ The taper creates sweeps normal to the sketch plane and is not available for parallel sweeps or
closed paths.
■ A positive taper angle increases the profile cross section while a negative angle decreases as the
sweep moves away from the start point.
■ Use a guide rail or guide surface to control twist and scale of the swept profile.
■ An open profile cannot be used to create a solid base feature.

270 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Example of a Sweep Feature
When creating a base feature sweep, it may be a good idea to use the default work planes for your
path and profile sketches. In the following illustration, the path was created using the default XY plane,
and the profile was created using the default ZX plane.

Relationship Between Path and Profile


When you create path and profile geometry, keep in mind that some items are optional, while others
are crucial to achieving the desired results.

Intersecting Path and Profile


When you create a sweep feature, if the path and profile do not intersect, the following message
is displayed. If you click Yes to continue, the application attempts to create the sweep. However,
depending on the position of the profile and path, if errors do occur they can be difficult to diagnose.

Lesson: Creating Basic Swept Shapes ■ 271


Radius of Bends in Path
If the path includes bends, you must consider the radius of the bend compared to the furthest point
on the profile from the path. As the profile is swept along the path, when it encounters a bend, if the
radius is too tight, the swept geometry intersects itself as it changes direction. In that case, a message
similar to the following is displayed.

The following illustration is an example of an incorrect positional relationship between the profile (2)
and the path (1). Notice that the bend dimension (3) of 2 mm is less than the furthest distance (4) of
the profile from the path. As the profile changes directions at the location of the bend, the resulting
inside radius would be less than zero, and the geometry would be self-intersecting.

To correct this problem, the profile dimension would have to be less than or equal to the bend
dimension. You can accomplish this by changing either the profile dimension or the bend dimension.

272 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Exercise: Create Sweep Features
In this exercise, you use the Sweep tool to add a swept shape on the AirBox2component to allow the AirBox
Lid component to seal.Instead of creating new geometry for the path, you use existing geometry on the part.

The completed exercise


1. Open Air-Box-2.ipt.
Completing the Exercise
To complete the exercise, follow the
steps in this book or in the onscreen
exercise. In the onscreen list of
chapters and exercises, click Chapter
3: Basic Shape Design. Click Exercise:
Create Sweep Features.

Lesson: Creating Basic Swept Shapes ■ 273


2. Right-click the top face of the part. Click New 6. Right-click the work plane. Click New Sketch.
Sketch.

3. If the edges of the face are not automatically


projected, use the Project Geometry tool to 7. On the ribbon, click the Project Geometry tool
project the outside edges. These edges will be and select the edge, as shown. This action
used as the path for the sweep profile. creates a point that can be used to constrain
your new geometry.

4. On the ribbon, click Finish Sketch to exit the


sketch.
5. Create a work plane using an edge and a point.
■ On the ribbon, click the Work Plane tool
and select the edge (1) of the AirBox2 part.
■ Select the endpoint of the edge (2), as
shown.
8. Using standard sketching tools, sketch and
constrain the geometry, as shown.

274 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


9. On the ribbon, click Finish Sketch to exit the
sketch.
10. Create a sweep using the path and profile just
created.
■ On the ribbon, click the Sweep tool
and select the profile that you created
previously.
■ For the path, select the outer edge of the
part and click OK.

11. Notice that the profile is swept around the


entire part.

12. Close all files. Do not save.

Lesson: Creating Basic Swept Shapes ■ 275


Chapter Summary

This chapter presented the tools and recommended workflows for basic shape design. Using these
techniques, you can now create more complex 2D sketches at different locations on your part,
combine multiple 3D features to create various shapes, and modify those shapes at any time during
the design process.
Having completed this chapter, you can:
■ Create features using the Extrude and Revolve tools.
■ Use reference and construction geometry.
■ Use the browser and shortcut menus to edit parametric parts.
■ Use the 3D Grips tool to edit part geometry in the context of an assembly and in a stand-alone
part.
■ Create, locate, and utilize work features to perform modeling tasks.
■ Create swept shapes by sweeping a profile along a 2D or 3D path.

276 ■ Chapter 3: Basic Shape Design


Chapter

Detailed Shape Design


This chapter enhances your basic part modeling skills by providing additional tools and recommended
workflows for detailed shape design. Common industry practice dictates the use of chamfers and
fillets to break sharp corners and relieve stress. Holes and threaded features often must be added
for fasteners. Some parts, such as stampings or molds, must be designed as thin-walled shapes.
Additionally, most parts include some shapes or features that are patterned or mirrored.

The lessons in this chapter cover the tools required to meet each of these design requirements.

Objectives
After completing this chapter, you will be able to:
■ Create both chamfers and fillets on a part.
■ Use the Hole and Thread tools to place hole and thread features on your part model.
■ Create rectangular and circular patterns and mirror existing features.
■ Create thin-walled parts using the Shell tool.

Chapter Overview ■ 277


Lesson: Creating Chamfers and Fillets

This lesson describes how to create both chamfers and fillets on your part. Fillets are commonly used
on a part to reduce the potential of stress cracking, and for aesthetic reasons. Chamfers are used for
angled faces, relief clearance, and also for aesthetic purposes.
Chamfer and fillet features are standard on most manufactured components and are among the most
widely used placed features on any 3D part.
The following illustration shows a part where all sharp edges have been replaced with fillet or chamfer
features.

Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
■ Describe the difference between chamfers and fillets and give an example of how they are used.
■ Use the Chamfer tool to create chamfers.
■ Use the Fillet tool to create constant radius fillets.
■ State the guidelines for creating chamfers and fillets.

278 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


About Chamfers and Fillets
A fillet creates a radius edge on an interior or exterior corner of your part, whereas a chamfer bevels
an edge. Cast and molded parts rarely have true sharp edges. Chamfer and fillet features are applied
to almost all the edges of your part designs. When completing a machined part on the shop floor, you
always remove all sharp edges. You also apply this same principle to your parametric part designs.
The following illustration shows a cast part with fillets and rounds on edges and then chamfers placed
on the holes to represent the machining process.

Definition of Fillets
A fillet is defined by a single constant radius, or in the case of a variable radius fillet, by more than one
radius. Consider a fillet to be an interior shape, placed between faces of less than 180 degrees, which
adds material to your part. A round is an exterior shape placed between faces of any angle, which
removes material from your part when created.

Lesson: Creating Chamfers and Fillets ■ 279


Fillet
Round
Full round

Definition of Chamfers
A chamfer is defined using equal distances, a distance and an angle, or two different distance values.
Chamfers are used to break sharp edges and as lead-ins on holes or bosses. Most angles faces in
parametric parts are created using chamfers.

280 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


Distance
Distance and Angle
Two Distances

Example of Using Chamfer for a Lead-in


In most circumstances, placing a fastener into a hole is aided through the use of a chamfer. In the
following illustration, it is easier to assemble the parts on the right that have a chamfer used as a lead-
in.

Creating Chamfers
You use the Chamfer tool to add chamfer features to edges on your part. These features, like other
features, are fully parametric and easily editable after you create them. When you create chamfer
features, you can choose from three different methods which determine how the chamfer is specified.
With any of the methods, the end result is the replacement of the selected edge(s) with a face(s) at an
angle specified either directly or indirectly through the use of distances.

Lesson: Creating Chamfers and Fillets ■ 281


The following illustration shows a part before and after adding chamfer features.

Access
Chamfer

Ribbon: Model tab > Modify panel

Keyboard Shortcut: CTRL+SHIFT+K

Chamfer Dialog Box


The Chamfer dialog box is displayed when you start the Chamfer tool.

282 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


Option Description

Distance Specify a distance for the chamfer. The distance is applied to both sides of the
selected edge, resulting in a 45-degree chamfer.

Distance Select a face adjacent to the edge you are chamfering. The angle is measured from
and this face. Select the edge(s) to be chamfered. This option is disabled until you
Angle select a face. The edge(s) selected must be adjacent to the selected face. Specify a
distance for the chamfer. The distance is measured from the selected edge along
the selected face. Enter an angle for the chamfer. The angle is measured from the
selected face.

Two Select the edge to be chamfered. When you use this method, only one edge can
Distances be chamfered at a time. Specify the first distance of the chamfer. This distance
is measured along one of the adjacent faces. Specify the second distance of the
chamfer. This distance is measured along the opposite adjacent face.

Procedure: Creating Chamfers


The following steps describe how to create chamfer features.
1. On the ribbon, click the Chamfer tool.
2. In the Chamfer dialog box, select the desired method to create the chamfer.

■ For a single distance chamfer, select the edge(s) to be chamfered. Enter a distance for the chamfer.

The resulting chamfer is created.

Lesson: Creating Chamfers and Fillets ■ 283


■ For the distance and angle method, select the Distance and Angle option. Select the face, and then
select the edge(s) to be chamfered. Enter a distance and angle for the chamfer.

The resulting chamfer is created.

■ For the two distances method, select the Two Distances option. Select the edge to be chamfered.
Enter distance values in the Distance1 and Distance2 fields.

284 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


Click OK to create the chamfer.
The resulting chamfer is created.

Lesson: Creating Chamfers and Fillets ■ 285


Creating Fillets
You use the Fillet tool to create fillets and rounds on existing 3D geometry. You can create both
constant radius and variable radius fillets with the Fillet tool.
The following illustration shows a block before and after adding fillet features.

Access
Fillet

Ribbon: Model tab > Modify panel

Keyboard Shortcut: F

286 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


Constant Radius Fillet Options
The Fillet dialog box is displayed when you start the Fillet tool.

The following creation methods and options are available in the Fillet dialog box.

Option Description

Edge Adds fillets or rounds to one or more edges of a part. All fillets and rounds created
in a single operation become a single feature.

Face Adds fillets or rounds between two selected face sets. The face sets do not need to
share an edge.

Full Adds fillets or rounds that are tangent to three adjacent faces. The center face is
Round replaced by the fillet.

Select Mode selection enables easy selection of objects to fillet. Select Edge for edge
Mode selection priority; Loop for face selection priority; and Feature for feature priority
selection.

Solids This button is only available when multiple solid bodies exist in the part file. When
this is the case, the user can click the solids button to select one or more solid
bodies to use with the All Fillets and All Rounds selection options.

Options Use the All Fillets or All Rounds check boxes to quickly select all fillet edges or all
round edges on the part. Select them both to have all edges on the part selected.

Lesson: Creating Chamfers and Fillets ■ 287


Procedure: Creating Constant Radius Fillets
Follow these steps to create constant radius fillet features.
1. On the ribbon, click the Fillet tool.
2. With the Fillet dialog box displayed, in the graphics window, select the edges to be filleted and
specify a radius for each edge set. Create an edge set for each different radius. In the following
illustration, two edge sets have been created. The first edge set contains two edges to receive a
2 mm fillet and the second set contains three edges to receive a 1 mm fillet.

3. Click OK to create the fillet feature. Notice that in the browser only one fillet feature is displayed
even though five edges were filleted in this example.

288 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


Guidelines for Creating Chamfers and Fillets
Although both fillets and chamfers are relatively simple shapes, they are often a challenge to create
with consistency where multiple edges intersect. Following the guidelines presented here can improve
your success in creating these features.

Chamfer and Fillet Creation Guidelines


■ Avoid creating all of your fillets and chamfers with a single feature. You will have greater success
creating and changing features with less edges selected.
■ Create these features on parallel edges of a part first. When you create additional features, you can
select the resulting face to complete the remaining edges at the same time.
■ Remember that using the Two Distances option with the Chamfer tool limits you to creating the
feature on one edge at a time.
■ Pressing CTRL while clicking removes geometry from the selection.
■ Because fillets and chamfers are considered finish features, consider creating them toward the end
of the design process after all other features have been defined.
■ Avoid including fillets and chamfers in your sketch geometry and instead create them as part
features.

Example of Creating Separate Features


In the following example, by creating your side fillets first, you can select the continuously tangent
edge as a single selection rather than having to select all the edges individually. Creating your fillet
features in this way gives you more flexibility for possible changes to the part later.

Lesson: Creating Chamfers and Fillets ■ 289


Exercise: Create Chamfers
In this exercise, you add chamfer features to an existing part.

The completed exercise


2. Create a chamfer on the inside edge of the
Completing the Exercise large hole.
To complete the exercise, follow the ■ On the ribbon, click the Chamfer tool.
steps in this book or in the onscreen ■ Select the inside edge of the large hole.
exercise. In the onscreen list of ■ For Distance, enter 1.5 mm . Click OK.
chapters and exercises, click Chapter 4:
Detailed Shape Design. Click Exercise:
Create Chamfers.

1. Open Rod-Bearing-Mount.ipt.

290 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


3. Create a 1.0 mm chamfer on the inside edge of 5. Add a chamfer between the cylinder and main
the two small holes. face.
■ Restart the Chamfer tool. ■ Restart the Chamfer tool. Click the Two
■ Select the inside edges of the smaller holes. Distances method.
■ For Distance, enter 1.0 mm. Click OK. ■ Select the edge labeled (1) in the following
illustration.
■ For Distance1, enter 1.5 mm. For Distance2,
enter 2.5 mm.
■ Click OK.

4. Create a chamfer around the top surface of the


part.
■ Restart the Chamfer tool. In the Chamfer
dialog box, click the Distance and Angle
option.
■ Select the side face of part (1). Select the
top edge of the part (2).
■ For Distance, enter 1.5mm. For Angle, enter
30 deg. Click OK.

Lesson: Creating Chamfers and Fillets ■ 291


6. Add a chamfer to the base of the two small
bosses.
■ Restart the Chamfer tool. Click the Distance
and Angle method.
■ Select the top face of the part (1). Select
the two edges of the smaller bosses (2).
■ For Distance, enter 1.0 mm. For Angle,
enter 60 deg. Click OK.

7. Close all files. Do not save.

292 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


Exercise: Create Fillets
In this exercise, you create constant radius fillets on an existingpart.

The completed exercise


1. Open Pillow-Block-Rev-2.ipt.
Completing the Exercise
To complete the exercise, follow the
steps in this book or in the onscreen
exercise. In the onscreen list of
chapters and exercises, click Chapter 4:
Detailed Shape Design. Click Exercise:
Create Fillets.

2. Create fillets from two edge sets on one end of


the part.

Lesson: Creating Chamfers and Fillets ■ 293


■ On the ribbon, click the Fillet tool. 4. Create a fillet on the top edges.
■ Select the geometry labeled (1). For Radius, ■ Click the Fillet tool.
enter 2 mm. ■ Select the two edges along the top of the
■ Click the Click To Add option and create a part as shown in the following illustration.
second edge set by selecting the geometry ■ For the Radius, enter 20 mm. Click OK.
labeled (2). For Radius, enter 4 mm.
■ Click OK to create the feature.

3. Repeat the previous steps to create the same


fillets on the opposite side of the part.
■ On the ViewCube, click the top-left corner
to rotate the view until it appears as shown.
■ On the keyboard, press F and create the
same fillet feature as in step 2.

294 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


5. Create a fillet along each edge. 6. Create fillets on the remaining edges.
■ On the ribbon, click the Fillet tool. ■ Click the Fillet tool and select the edges
■ Select the edges as shown in the following shown here.
illustration. Notice that a single pick selects ■ For the Radius, enter 4 mm. Click OK.
all the curves on a side due to the fillet
created on the top face in the previous step.
■ Set the Radius to 4 mm. Click OK.

7. Create the same fillet features on the opposite


side of the part as you did in the previous step.

8. Close all files. Do not save.

Lesson: Creating Chamfers and Fillets ■ 295


Lesson: Creating Holes and Threads

This lesson describes how to use the Hole tool to create parametric hole features and the Thread tool
to create threads on existing model features. You use hole features to create parametric holes on
parts. Although hole features are considered to be placed features, you can use unconsumed sketch
geometry to represent the center point locations for the holes.
The most common method of joining two or more components together is with threaded fasteners.
You should master the use of both the hole and thread features to produce the best models possible.
The following illustration shows a part that contains a combination of hole and thread features.

Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
■ Define a hole feature.
■ Use the Hole tool to create holes on your part.
■ Use the Thread tool to create external thread features.

296 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


About Hole Features
Hole features are parametrically created features that are placed on existing part geometry. You can
create hole features with a number of different options, such as counterbore, countersink, flat bottom,
spotface, threads, tapered threads, and fastener clearances.
The following illustration shows a part with various types of holes. The enlarged view (1) shows the
bitmap thread representation.

Definition of Parametric Holes


There are many different ways to fasten parts together and most require a hole. Although you can
create holes by extruding a circle with a cut operation, the Hole tool provides greater flexibility in
the variations and types of holes that you can create, such as counterbore, countersink, and threads.
Using the Hole tool, you can create the various hole types in a single dialog box, rather than having to
manually edit or create geometry.

Lesson: Creating Holes and Threads ■ 297


A primary benefit of using the Hole tool is the ability to annotate holes in the drawing environment
with the Hole Note and Hole Chart tools. A sample of the automatic hole note callout is shown in the
following illustration.

Example of Fastening Parts


Two metal components are often fastened together using a socket head cap screw. The following
illustration shows the clearance hole for the screw in one part and the threaded hole in the mating
part.

298 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


Benefits of the Hole Tool
Benefits of using the Hole tool include the following:
■ You use a single tool to create holes with various options.
■ You can annotate holes created with the Hole tool in the drawing with the Hole Note and Hole
Chart tools.
■ You can determine hole size by specifying the fastener thread type or clearance.
■ Options such as the counterbore, countersink, and spotface enable you to add features in a single
operation.

Creating Holes
When you use the Hole tool, different options are available for defining the location of the hole as
well as for the type of hole to be created. You can define hole locations based on sketch geometry or
existing planes, points, and edges on the part. You can create standard drilled holes, counterbored
holes, and countersunk holes. Additional options are available for the drill point and thread options.

Access
Hole

Ribbon: Model tab > Modify panel

Keyboard Shortcut: H

Lesson: Creating Holes and Threads ■ 299


Hole Dialog Box
The Hole dialog box is displayed when you start the Hole tool.

Hole Placement Options


You can use any of the following options in the Hole dialog box for placing a hole feature.

From Sketch
Select this option to create holes based on locations on a sketch. Hole locations can consist of Point/
Hole Center objects, endpoints of lines or curves, or centers of projected circular geometry.

300 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


The following option is available when you select From Sketch placement.

Dialog Box Option Description


Access

Centers Select the center points for the holes. Use this option to create a
series of identical holes with one feature.

Solids This option is only available when the part contains multiple solid
bodies. When available, you can use this option to select the solid
body that the hole feature will apply to.

Linear
Select this option to position the hole relative to two selected edges.

The following options are available when you select Linear placement.

Dialog Box Option Description


Access

Face Select a face on the part to orient the hole.

Solids This option is only available when the part contains multiple solid
bodies. When available, you can use this option to select the solid
body that the hole feature will apply to.

Reference 1 Select a part edge as the first reference. A dimension is placed


from the selected edge to the center of the hole. The dimension
can be edited as a standard parametric dimension.

Reference 2 Select a part edge as the second reference. A dimension is placed


from the selected edge to the center of the hole.

Flip Side Select this option to position the hole on the opposite side of the
selected edge.

Lesson: Creating Holes and Threads ■ 301


Concentric
Select this option to position the hole concentric to another circular part edge.

The following options are available when you select Concentric placement.

Dialog Box Option Description


Access

Plane Select a part face to orient the hole.

Solids This option is only available when the part contains multiple solid
bodies. When available, you can use this option to select the solid
body that the hole feature will apply to.

Concentric Select a circular edge or face to position the hole concentrically.


Reference

On Point
Select this option to position the hole on a work point.

302 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


The following options are available when you select On Point placement.

Dialog Box Option Description


Access

Point Select a work point to position the hole.

Solids This option is only available when the part contains multiple solid
bodies. When available, you can use this option to select the solid
body that the hole feature will apply to.

Direction Select a plane, face, edge, or work axis to define the direction of
the hole. If you select a plane, the hole direction is normal to the
face or plane.

Hole Type and Size Options


You can use any of the following options in the Hole dialog box to define the type and size of the hole.

Hole Type
Use the following options to define a standard drilled hole, counterbore hole, spotface, or countersink
hole.

Hole Parameters
Depending on the hole type selected, enter the hole parameters in each available field.

Lesson: Creating Holes and Threads ■ 303


Drill Point
Select flat or angled drill point. If you select angled, either enter an angle for the drill point or accept
the default value.

Termination
Select the termination option for the hole from the drop-down list.

Option Description

Distance The depth of the hole is based on the distance that you entered in the hole
parameters area.

Through All The hole is created through the entire part, even if the part depth at the location
of the hole changes.

To Select a face or plane to calculate the depth of the hole.

Additional Hole Type Options


Use the additional hole type options to define a simple hole, tapped hole, or clearance hole.

Option Description

Creates a simple hole with no thread features.

Creates a tapped hole based on the thread designation and options entered in the
Threads area of the dialog box. The Threads area appears only when this option is
selected.

304 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


Option Description

Creates a clearance hole based on the fastener selected. Available clearance options
are Close, Normal, and Loose. The Fastener area appears only when this option is
selected.

Creates an NPT tapped or Taper threaded hole based on the thread designation and
options entered in the Threads area of the dialog box.

Lesson: Creating Holes and Threads ■ 305


Procedure: Creating Hole Features Using the Linear Option
Follow these steps to create hole features using the Linear placement option of the Hole tool.
1. On the ribbon, click Hole and select Linear from the Placement list.

2. Select the face to orient the top of the hole, then select two reference edges to locate the hole.
The edges that you select do not need to be on the same plane as the face that you select.

306 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


3. Select each dimension and enter its precise value in the Edit Dimension dialog box.

4. Adjust the options in the Hole dialog box. Click Apply to create the hole and continue placing
other holes.

Lesson: Creating Holes and Threads ■ 307


Procedure: Creating Hole Features Using the Concentric Option

Follow these steps to create hole features by using the Concentric placement option of the Hole tool.
1. On the ribbon, click Hole and select Concentric from the Placement list.

2. Select the plane or face (1) to orient the hole, then select a curved surface (2) as the concentric
reference.

308 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


3. Adjust the options in the Hole dialog box. Click Apply to create the hole and continue placing
other hole features.

Procedure: Creating Hole Features Using the From Sketch Option


Follow these steps to create and edit holes using sketch geometry for the hole locations.
1. Create a new sketch that contains the center point location for the hole features.

2. On the ribbon, click Finish Sketch to exit the sketch.

Lesson: Creating Holes and Threads ■ 309


3. On the ribbon, click Hole and select the From Sketch placement option. If you use the Point/Hole
Center sketch object, the hole centers are automatically selected. Adjust the options in the dialog
box depending on the type of hole you need to create. Click OK to create the hole.

Procedure: Creating Hole Features Using the On Point Option


Follow these steps to create hole features using the On Point placement option of the Hole tool.
1. Create a work point (1) at the location of the hole.

310 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


2. On the ribbon, click Hole. Select On Point from the Placement list and then select the work
point.

3. Select a face, edge, or axis to define the direction of the hole. If you select a face or plane, the
direction is normal to the face or plane.

Lesson: Creating Holes and Threads ■ 311


4. Adjust the options in the Hole dialog box. Click Apply to create the hole and continue placing
other holes, or click OK to create the hole and end the process.

Creating Threads
Using the Thread tool, you can create thread features on external and internal surfaces. Many of the
options available for internal threads using the Hole tool are also available when you use the Thread
tool. Threads are considered a placed feature, so the Thread tool does not require an unconsumed
sketch. All that is required is existing cylindrical surfaces to apply the thread feature.
The following illustration shows external thread features (1).

312 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


About Thread Features
With the Thread tool, you can turn your cylindrical faces into threaded features. You should create
your cylindrical diameters to the nominal size of the thread. The Thread tool automatically selects the
correct thread for that diameter.

Your threaded features do not affect the mass property calculations. They do however work with the
Hole Note callout in the drawing environment.
While in most cases you use the Hole command to produce internal threads, on occasion you need to
use the Thread tool. This most often occurs when you produce an internal diameter with the Revolve
Feature tool. The model in the following illustration was produced with the Revolve tool. Both the
internal and external threads were produced using the Thread tool.

Access
Thread

Ribbon: Model tab > Modify panel

Toolbar: Part Features

Lesson: Creating Holes and Threads ■ 313


Thread Options
The Thread dialog box is displayed when you start the Thread tool.

The Location tab in the Thread dialog box includes the following options and specifications.

Dialog Box Access Option Description

Face Click the icon to select the face(s) to apply thread features.

Display in Select this option to display the thread bitmaps on the


Model model. If this option is not selected, the thread feature is
created but is not displayed on the geometry.

Full Length Select this option to apply the thread feature to the entire
length of the selected face. When this option is not selected,
the next three following options become available.

Flip Click this button to flip the direction of the thread feature.

Length Specifies the length of the thread feature on the selected


face.

Offset Specifies the distance from the start face of the thread
feature.

314 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


The Specification tab in the Thread dialog box includes the following options and specifications.

Dialog Box Access Option Description

Thread Type Select the required thread type.

Size The nominal thread size is automatically


selected based upon the diameter of the
selected face. Selecting a nominal size other
than the size automatically selected may
result in an error when you click OK.

Designation Select the appropriate thread pitch from the


list.

Lesson: Creating Holes and Threads ■ 315


Dialog Box Access Option Description

Class Select the appropriate thread class from the


list.

Right or Left Select to designate your desired thread hand.


Hand

Procedure: Creating Thread Features


The following steps describe how to create external thread features using the Thread tool.
1. On the ribbon, click Thread and select a cylindrical face on the part. On the Location tab, adjust
the Thread Length options as required.

316 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


2. On the Specification tab, select the appropriate thread type and adjust the other settings as
required.

3. Click OK to create the thread feature. The thread feature is displayed on the model geometry
as well as in the browser. Just like with other parametric features, you can right-click the thread
feature and click Edit Feature to edit the feature using the same dialog box used in creating the
feature.

Lesson: Creating Holes and Threads ■ 317


Exercise: Create Holes and Threads
In this exercise, you use the Hole tool with multiple placement options to create tapped, countersink,
counterbore, and clearance holes. You also use the Thread tool to create an internal and external thread.

The completed exercise


1. Open Hole_Thread_Features1.ipt.
Completing the Exercise
To complete the exercise, follow the
steps in this book or in the onscreen
exercise. In the onscreen list of
chapters and exercises, click Chapter 4:
Detailed Shape Design. Click Exercise:
Create Holes and Threads.

Create Holes
In this portion of the exercise, you use the Hole
tool with multiple placement options to create
tapped holes and a through hole using the On Point
placement option.

318 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


2. Create a tapped hole on the part face. 5. To locate the hole:
■ On the ribbon, click the Hole tool. ■ Click the Reference 1 dimension.
■ In the Hole dialog box, select Linear from ■ Enter a distance of 4 mm.
the Placement list. ■ Click the Reference 2 dimension.
■ Click Face. ■ Enter a distance of 4 mm.

6. Finish selecting your settings and create the


3. Select a location near the lower left corner on hole.
the front planar face. ■ Specify that the hole is M6 x 1 tapped with
a 6 mm countersink and a depth of 10 mm
(1).
■ In the Threads area, select the Full Depth
option (2).
■ Click Apply to create the hole.

4. Select the left edge as Reference 1. Select the


bottom edge as Reference 2.

Lesson: Creating Holes and Threads ■ 319


7. Repeat the previous steps to create a similar 10. Create an M6 x 1 tapped hole through the
hole on the opposite side of the face. flange.
■ Select the circular edge of the machined
flange to set the concentric reference.
Holes can be placed concentric to a circular
edge or a cylindrical face.
■ Change the settings as needed to create an
M6x1 tapped hole through all.
■ Click Apply to create the hole.

8. In the Hole dialog box, select Concentric from


the Placement list.

11. Repeat the previous steps to create two


additional holes on the remaining small
flanges. Close the Hole dialog box when done.

9. Select the top plane of the part that contains


the three small machined flanges.

320 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


12. In the browser, right-click Work Axis3. Click 14. Select the point and specify direction for the
Visibility. Rotate your view as shown. On Point hole.
■ In the graphics window, select Work Point3.
■ Select Work Axis3 to define the direction of
the hole.
Note: Planes, axes, and edges can be used
to define the direction of a hole. If the hole
is previewed outside the part, it may be
necessary to click the Flip Direction tool.

13. Create a hole using the On Point option.


■ Press H to start the Hole tool.
■ In the Holes dialog box, select On Point
from the Placement list.

15. Finish the On Point hole.


■ Change the hole diameter to 4 mm.
■ Set Termination to Through All.
■ Click Apply to create the hole.
16. Close all files. Do not save.

Lesson: Creating Holes and Threads ■ 321


Create Holes and Threads 3. In the graphics window, select Work Point2 on
the large flange.
In this portion of the exercise, you use the Hole
tool with multiple placement options to create
countersink, counterbore, and clearance holes. You
also use the Thread tool to create an internal and
external thread.
1. Open Hole_Thread_Features2.ipt.

4. In the graphics window, select the face on


which the point exists to define the hole
direction.

2. Create a screw clearance hole.


■ Start the Hole tool.
■ For Placement, select On Point.
■ For Hole Type, select Clearance Hole.

322 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


5. Complete the clearance hole as specified: 7. Add a thread feature to the underside of the
■ Specify a loose fit clearance hole with part. Rotate your view as necessary to select
counterbores for a 5 mm Ansi Metric the faces.
Hex Head Cap Screw. The data used ■ On the ribbon, click the Thread tool.
for clearance holes is stored in the ■ Select the outside face as shown.
Clearance.xls spreadsheet, located in
the Design Data folder of the Inventor
installation directory tree.
■ Click Apply.

8. Set the specification settings for the thread.


■ In the Thread dialog box, click the
Specification tab.
■ Set Designation to M90x4. Click OK to
create the thread.

6. Repeat the previous steps to create a similar


hole for the large flange on the opposite side of
the part. Click Done to exit the Hole dialog box.

Lesson: Creating Holes and Threads ■ 323


9. Create a thread on an internal feature. 11. Create a spotface threaded hole.
■ Start the Thread tool. ■ Start the Hole tool, Linear placement.
■ Select the inner face as shown. ■ Select the Spotface and Taper Thread Hole
options.
■ Select the face as shown.

10. Complete the thread by making the


specification settings.
■ In the Thread dialog box, click the
Specification tab.
■ Set the Designation to M30x2.5 and click
Left Hand. 12. To locate the hole:
■ Click OK to create the thread. ■ For the first linear reference, select an edge
along the front face. Enter 12.
■ For the second linear reference, select the
top or bottom face. Enter 22.5.

324 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


13. For the thread specification: 15. Click OK to create the spotface taper thread
■ For thread type, select DIN Taper. feature.
■ For size, select M5.

14. To define the hole:


■ Enter 12 for the spotface diameter. 16. Close all files. Do not save.
■ Enter 1 for the spotface depth.
■ Enter 15 for the drill depth.

Lesson: Creating Holes and Threads ■ 325


Lesson: Patterning and Mirroring Features

This lesson describes how to mirror features, and how to reuse existing features in rectangular and
circular patterns. Mirroring and patterning can save you time in creating the geometry, as well as in
editing the features when the design changes.
When you create patterns or mirror existing geometry, you reduce the need to manually draw and
edit these duplicate features.

Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
■ Identify situations in which you should pattern or mirror part features instead of creating new
ones.
■ Use the Rectangular Pattern tool to create rectangular patterns.
■ Use the Circular Pattern tool to create circular patterns.
■ Use the Mirror tool to create symmetric features.

326 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


About Feature Reuse
Many designs require patterns of features or geometry that consist of features that are symmetric
about a given plane. Instead of creating these features independently, you can use the Pattern and
Mirror tools to populate your parts with existing features.

Definition of Patterns
You use patterns to duplicate existing geometry according to parameters that you specify. When you
create patterns, occurrences of the original features are created. You can create these occurrences in
a circular or a rectangular pattern. When you create these patterns, the occurrences are associative to
the original feature, so any changes in the original feature are automatically reflected in the pattern
occurrences.

Lesson: Patterning and Mirroring Features ■ 327


Definition of Mirroring Part Features
Parts often include features that can be considered symmetric about a plane of symmetry to other
features on the part. You can use the Mirror tool to mirror this geometry.
In the following illustration, Rectangular (1) and Circular (2) patterns have been created based on
individual features.

Features That Can Be Reused


The following features can be patterned or mirrored:
■ Most sketched and placed features
■ Entire solids
■ Work features

Benefits of Reusing Features


Benefits associated with patterning and mirroring features include the following:
■ You need to create only one of the patterned or symmetric features.
■ Changes that you make to the original feature are automatically applied to the patterned or
mirrored features.

328 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


Appearance of Rectangular and Circular Patterns in the Browser
The way that patterns are displayed in the browser is different from the way that other features are
displayed. When you expand a rectangular or circular pattern, the difference is immediately apparent.
Any sketches used as a path, along with a folder containing the features used in the pattern, are
displayed under the pattern feature. Beneath that is an Occurrence item for each occurrence in the
pattern. The first Occurrence item represents the initial feature used in the pattern, followed by an
Occurrence item for each occurrence created.

Right-click an occurrence and click Suppress on the shortcut menu to suppress the selected
occurrence. This option is not available on the first occurrence.

Lesson: Patterning and Mirroring Features ■ 329


Example of Mirrored Features
In the following illustration, the part consists of several features that are symmetric about a plane of
symmetry. The symmetry planes are identified, along with the features that have been mirrored about
them.

Symmetry Plane A
Features mirrored about Plane A
Symmetry Plane B
Features mirrored about Plane B

330 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


Creating Rectangular Patterns
You use the Rectangular Pattern tool to duplicate one or more features in a rectangular pattern.
You can pattern a feature along one or two directions and/or paths, with options to control feature
spacing.

Access
Rectangular Pattern

Ribbon: Model tab > Pattern panel

Keyboard Shortcut: CTRL+SHIFT+R

Lesson: Patterning and Mirroring Features ■ 331


Rectangular Pattern Dialog Box
The Rectangular Pattern dialog box is displayed when you start the Rectangular Pattern tool.

Pattern Type Options


The following pattern types are available in the Rectangular Pattern dialog box.

Dialog Box Access Option Description

Individual Click this button to pattern individual features.


Feature

Entire Click this button to pattern the entire solid.


Solid

When the Pattern Individual Features button is selected, you have the following selection option.

Dialog Box Access Option Description

Features Select one or more features to be patterned.

Solid This button is only available when multiple solid bodies exist. You
use this button to determine to which solid body the feature is
going to be applied.

332 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


When the Pattern Entire Solid button is selected, you have the following selection option.

Dialog Box Access Option Description

Include Select the work features to include in the pattern.


Work/
Surface
Features

Solid This button is only available when multiple solid bodies exist. You
use this button to determine to which solid body the feature is
going to be applied.

Direction Pattern Options


The following options are available in the Direction 1 and Direction 2 areas of the Rectangular Pattern
dialog box.

Dialog Box Access Option Description

Path Select the path for Direction 1. This can be the edge of a part or a
2D sketch that represents the path for the pattern. Valid selections
include 2D and 3D lines, arcs, splines, part edges, axes, and
trimmed ellipses. Click the Flip button to flip the path direction.

Mid Creates a pattern where the occurrences are distributed on both


Plane sides of the original feature.

Count Enter the number of occurrences for the pattern. This number
includes the original feature.

Length Enter a value for the pattern distance. This value represents either
the total distance of the pattern or the spacing between the
features.

Method Specifies the total distance and direction of the pattern, the
spacing between occurrences, or if the pattern is equally fitted to
the length of the selected curve.

Lesson: Patterning and Mirroring Features ■ 333


Compute Options
The following options are available in the Compute area of the Rectangular Pattern dialog box.

Dialog Box Access Option Description

Optimized For pattern occurrences of 50 or more, increases pattern


performance.

Identical With this method, each occurrence uses an identical termination


method, regardless of where it intersects other features.

Adjust Enables each occurrence termination to be calculated.


This method requires more processing and can increase
computational time on large patterns.

Orientation Pattern Options


The following options are available in the Orientation area of the Rectangular Pattern dialog box.

Dialog Box Access Option Description

Identical Occurrence orientation is identical to that of the first feature.

Adjust Specifies which direction controls the position of patterned


Direction features. Rotates each occurrence so that it maintains its
orientation to the 2D tangent vector of the path.

Procedure: Creating an Optimized Rectangular Pattern


Follow these steps to create an optimized rectangular pattern.
1. Create a part with one or more features to be patterned.

334 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


2. On the ribbon, click the Rectangular Pattern tool and select the feature to be patterned. Click the
Path button under Direction 1 and select a path, part edge, or origin axis for the pattern. Enter
the number of occurrences and distance values and adjust the spacing method as necessary.
Optionally include information for Direction 2, then click OK.

3. As soon as the total number of occurrences is equal to or greater than 50, you are prompted to
consider using the Optimized Compute option. Click OK to close the message box.

Lesson: Patterning and Mirroring Features ■ 335


4. In the Rectangular Pattern dialog box, click the More button to expand the dialog box, and then
select Optimized.

5. Click OK to create the optimized pattern.

336 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


Creating Circular Patterns
You use the Circular Pattern tool to duplicate one or more features in a circular pattern. When you
start the Circular Pattern tool, you first choose to pattern individual features or the entire solid.
You then select a rotation axis, which serves as the center of the pattern. Next you set the pattern
properties, such as number of occurrences and angle. There are also options for controlling the
creation method and positioning method.
The following illustration demonstrates a circular hole pattern being created.

Access
Circular Pattern

Ribbon: Model tab > Pattern panel

Keyboard Shortcut: CTRL+SHIFT+O

Lesson: Patterning and Mirroring Features ■ 337


Circular Pattern Dialog Box
The Circular Pattern dialog box is displayed when you start the Circular Pattern tool.

Pattern Type Options


The following pattern types are available in the Circular Pattern dialog box:

Dialog Box Access Option Description

Individual Click this button to pattern individual features.


Feature

Entire Click this button to pattern the entire solid.


Solid

338 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


Feature-Axis Selection
When the Pattern Individual Features button is selected, you have the following selection options.

Dialog Box Access Option Description

Features Select one or more features to be patterned.

Rotation Specifies the axis, or pivot point, about which features are rotated.
Axis Click Flip to reverse the direction of the pattern.

Solid This button is only available when multiple solid bodies exist. You
use this button to determine to which solid body the feature is
going to be applied.

When the Pattern Entire Solid button is selected, you have the following selection option.

Dialog Box Access Option Description

Include Select the work features to include in the pattern.


Work/
Surface
Features

Solid This button is only available when multiple solid bodies exist. You
use this button to determine to which solid body the feature is
going to be applied.

Pattern Placement Options


The following placement options are available in the Circular Pattern dialog box:

Dialog Box Access Option Description

Count Specify the number of occurrences for the pattern. This number
includes the original feature.

Angle Specify the angle for the pattern. The result of this angle is based
on the positioning method you select.

Mid Creates a pattern where the occurrences are distributed on both


Plane sides of the original feature.

Lesson: Patterning and Mirroring Features ■ 339


Creation Method Options
The following options are available in the Creation Method section of the Circular Pattern dialog box:

Dialog Box Access Option Description

Optimized For pattern occurrences of 50 or more, increases pattern


performance.

Identical With this method, each occurrence uses an identical termination


method, regardless of where it intersects other features.

Adjust Enables each occurrence termination to be calculated.


This method requires more processing and can increase
computational time on large patterns.

Positioning Method Options


The following options are available in the Positioning Method section of the Circular Pattern dialog
box:

Dialog Box Option Description


Access

Incremental Sets the angle value to represent the angle between occurrences.

Fitted Sets the angle value to represent the total rotational angle of the
pattern.

Procedure: Creating Circular Patterns of the Entire Solid


The following steps describe to create circular patterns of the entire solid while including work
features in the pattern.
1. Create a part that contains the feature or features to be patterned.

340 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


2. On the ribbon, click the Circular Pattern tool and click the Pattern the Entire Solid button.

3. Click the Include Work/Surface Features button and select any work features to be included in
the pattern. Select the Rotation Axis

Lesson: Patterning and Mirroring Features ■ 341


4. Specify the quantity placement information.

5. Click OK. The entire solid along with the selected work features is patterned

342 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


Mirroring Features
When you mirror part features, you must first have the features to be mirrored and a plane to use as
the symmetry plane. The symmetry plane can be any of the following:
■ An existing face on the part.
■ Any one of the origin work planes.
■ A new work plane.

With these conditions met, click the Mirror tool, select the features to be mirrored, then select the
face or work plane to use as the mirror plane. The features are mirrored about the selected plane and
displayed in the browser, with the included features and occurrences nested underneath the mirror
feature.
The features to be mirrored are highlighted in the browser.

Access
Mirror

Ribbon: Model tab > Pattern panel

Keyboard Shortcut: CTRL+SHIFT+M

Lesson: Patterning and Mirroring Features ■ 343


Mirror Dialog Box
The Mirror dialog box is displayed when you start the Mirror tool.

Mirror Type Options


The following mirror types are available in the Mirror dialog box:

Dialog Box Access Option Description

Individual Click this button to mirror individual features.


Feature

Entire Click this button to mirror the entire solid.


Solid

When the Mirror Individual Features button is selected, you have the following selection options.

Dialog Box Access Option Description

Features Select one or more features to be patterned.

Mirror Select a face or work plane to be used as the plane of symmetry.


Plane

Solid This button is only available when multiple solid bodies exist. You
use this button to determine to which solid body the feature is
going to be applied.

344 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


When the Mirror Entire Solid button is selected, you have the following selection option.

Dialog Box Access Option Description

Solid This button is only available when multiple solid bodies exist. You
use this button to determine to which solid body the feature is
going to be applied.

Include Select the work features to be included in the mirror.


Work/
Surface
Features

Mirror Select a face or work point to be used as the plane of symmetry


Plane

Remove Placing a check in the box next to this option will delete the
Original original solid that was originally used to pattern the feature.

Creation Method Options


The following options are available in the Creation Method area of the Mirror dialog box:

Dialog Box Access Option Description

Optimized Optimizes pattern performance.

Identical The default; creates the mirrored occurrences identical to the


original features.

Adjust to Enables the new mirrored occurrences to adjust to changes in


Model model geometry. For example if you are mirroring a cut feature
that extrudes through the part, using this option enables that cut
feature to extrude the part on the opposite side, even if the part's
thickness changes.
Note: Use this option only when necessary, because additional
processing resources are required to calculate the new
occurrences.

Lesson: Patterning and Mirroring Features ■ 345


Example: Creation Method = Identical

Original hole features with through all termination option.


Mirrored hole features.

Example: Creation Method = Adjust to Model

Original hole features with through all termination option.


Mirrored hole features.

346 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


Procedure: Mirroring Part Features
The following steps give an overview of mirroring part features.
1. Open or create a part that contains the geometry intended to be symmetric.

2. On the ribbon, click the Mirror Feature tool and select the features to be mirrored.

Lesson: Patterning and Mirroring Features ■ 347


3. In the Mirror Pattern dialog box, click the Mirror Plane button and select a plane or face that
represents the plane of symmetry for the mirrored features. Click OK.

4. The mirrored features are created.

348 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


Exercise: Create Pattern Features
In this exercise, you open the face plate component and create both rectangular and circular patterned
features. You then edit the patterned features to suppress occurrences within each.

The completed exercise


2. Create a rectangular pattern.
Completing the Exercise
To complete the exercise, follow the
steps in this book or in the onscreen
exercise. In the onscreen list of
chapters and exercises, click Chapter 4:
Detailed Shape Design. Click Exercise:
Create Pattern Features.

1. Open Receiver-Face-Plate.ipt.

Lesson: Patterning and Mirroring Features ■ 349


■ On the ribbon, click the Rectangular Pattern 3. Share a sketch to use as a pattern path.
tool and select the Extrusion3 feature ■ The Hole3 feature was created on a sketch
as shown in the following illustration. It that can be used as the path for the next
may be easier to select the feature in the pattern. In the browser, expand the Hole3
browser. feature to expose the Sketch9 feature.
■ Under Direction 1, click the Path button and ■ Right-click the Sketch9 feature. Click Share
select the edge labeled 1 in the following Sketch. This action makes the sketch
illustration. If necessary, use the flip button available for additional features.
to flip the path direction.
■ Under Direction 2, click the Path button and
select the edge labeled 2 in the following
illustration. If necessary use the flip button
to flip the path direction.
■ Adjust the occurrence and distance options
as shown and click OK.

350 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


4. Create a pattern using a sketch as a path. 5. Continue the pattern creation from the
■ On the ribbon, click the Rectangular Pattern previous step.
tool and in the browser select Hole3. ■ Under Direction 1, from the Spacing list,
■ In the Rectangular Pattern dialog box, under select Curve Length.
Direction 1, click the Path button. ■ In the Number of Occurrences box, enter 8.
■ Select the shared sketch as shown in the Click OK.
following illustration.

6. In the browser, right-click Sketch9. Click


Visibility on the shortcut menu to turn off the
visibility of the shared sketched.

Lesson: Patterning and Mirroring Features ■ 351


7. Create a circular pattern of a hole. 9. In the Number of Occurrences field, enter 10.
■ On the ribbon, click Circular Pattern. Click OK.
■ Select the hole feature as shown in the
following illustration.

10. Some of the occurrences that you just created


are not required. You can suppress these
8. In the Circular Pattern dialog box, click the occurrences by expanding the feature in the
Rotation Axis button and select the inside face browser.
of the large hole as shown.

352 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


■ In the browser, expand the Circular Pattern2
feature to expose the occurrences.
■ While holding CTRL, select the occurrences
as shown in the following illustration. Right-
click one of the selected occurrences. Click
Suppress.

11. Close all files. Do not save.

Lesson: Patterning and Mirroring Features ■ 353


Exercise: Mirror Part Features
In this exercise, you create a torsion bar component that consists of multiple features that can be mirrored
instead of recreated. You then create a new fillet feature and add that feature to the mirrored features.

The completed exercise


1. Open Torsion-Bar-Mirror.ipt.
Completing the Exercise
To complete the exercise, follow the
steps in this book or in the onscreen
exercise. In the onscreen list of
chapters and exercises, click Chapter 4:
Detailed Shape Design. Click Exercise:
Mirror Part Features.

354 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


2. On the ribbon, click Mirror and select the 4. In the browser, click and drag the Extrusion3
Extrusion1, Hole2, and Extrusion2 features. Do feature to move it under the Mirror3 feature.
not select the spline cut feature.

Because the extrusion was created using the


Through All option, it now cuts through the
part.
5. On the ribbon, click Mirror. In the browser,
select the features as shown.

3. In the Mirror dialog box, click the Mirror Plane


button. Select the bottom face of the part and
click OK.

Notice that because the spline feature was


not included in the mirror it does not extrude
through the part.

Lesson: Patterning and Mirroring Features ■ 355


6. In the Mirror dialog box, click the Mirror Plane 8. In the browser, click and drag the Extrusion3
button. In the browser, expand the Origin feature to drag it below the Mirror4 feature.
folder and select YZ Plane, as shown. Your part looks like the following illustration.

9. In the browser, click and drag the End of Part


marker above the Mirror4 feature.

7. Click OK to create the mirror feature. The


spline extrusion is no longer displayed because
the results of the mirror feature override the
extrusion feature.

You do this so that you can create new features


before the Mirror4 feature is considered.
Dragging the End of Part marker enables you
to roll back the model history and temporarily
disregard all features below it.

356 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


10. Create a new sketch. 12. On the ribbon, click the Fillet tool and select all
■ Create a new sketch plane on the top the edges around the web feature that you just
surface. created. Under Radius, enter 1 mm and click
■ Draw and constrain the sketch as shown OK.
using the projected circle to locate it.

11. Extrude the new sketch to form a rib on the


part:
■ Start the Extrude tool.
■ Select your sketched rectangle as the
profile.
■ For Extents, use From To.
■ Select the two inside part faces as your
surface to start and surface to end feature 13. In the browser, click and drag the End of Part
creation. marker below the Extrusion3 feature.
■ Click OK to create the feature.

Lesson: Patterning and Mirroring Features ■ 357


14. Edit the mirror feature to include the new 16. In the browser, right-click the Hole2 feature.
extrusion and fillet. Click Edit Feature.
■ In the browser, right-click the Mirror4 17. Change the hole diameter to 5 mm and click
feature. Click Edit Feature. OK. The original hole feature and all mirror
■ In the Mirror Pattern dialog box, click occurrences are automatically changed to the
the Features button and select the new new diameter.
extrusion and fillet features in the browser.
This action adds the features to the mirror
feature.
■ Click OK to save the changes to the mirror
feature.

18. Close all files. Do not save.

15. Confirm that your model looks like the


following illustration.

358 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


Lesson: Creating Thin-Walled Parts

This lesson describes creating thin-walled parts using the Shell tool. You use shell features to remove
material from existing solid features. By using shell features, you can create the overall shape of your
part and then create a cavity in the part by specifying a wall thickness for the faces.

Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
■ Define a thin-walled part.
■ Use the Shell tool to create shelled features.

Lesson: Creating Thin-Walled Parts ■ 359


About Thin-Walled Part Design
A thin-walled part is the result of offsetting existing faces to create new faces and then removing the
remaining volume of the part. This process creates a hollow interior for the part.
While there is always more than one way to create parts, using the Shell tool to create thin-walled
parts is generally the most efficient method. The following illustration demonstrates a solid both
before and after applying a shell feature.

Definition of Thin-Walled Parts


You apply the Shell tool to existing part models to produce a shell. Objects like a drinking cup, cell
phone case, and a computer casing can be considered thin-walled parts. These parts are originally
created as complete solid models. You use the Shell tool to remove the unwanted material.

360 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


Example of Thin-Walled Parts
Plastic containers for consumer products, such as soda or cleaning solution bottles, are other examples
of thin-walled containers. The following illustration of a plastic bottle is representative of these.

Creating Shell Features


You use the Shell tool to create shelled features on existing solid geometry. With the Shell tool, you can
remove material from an existing part and create a cavity in the part by specifying a wall thickness for
the faces. One key advantage to using the Shell tool is that you can create differing wall thickness for
each face of the part. Generally, you select at least one face on the part to be removed from the shell
feature leaving the remaining faces as the shell walls.
The following illustration shows the part before and after adding a shell feature.

Lesson: Creating Thin-Walled Parts ■ 361


Access
Shell

Ribbon: Model tab > Modify panel

Shell Options
The Shell dialog box is displayed when you start the Shell tool.

362 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


The following features and options are available in the Shell dialog box:

Option Description

Inside The thickness is applied to the inside of the existing faces.

Outside The thickness is applied to the outside of the existing faces.

Both Half of the thickness is applied to each side of the face.

Remove Faces Click this icon to select the face(s) to remove from the shell feature. The
remaining faces serve as walls for the shell feature. If you do not remove
any faces from the shell feature, the result is a cavity in the part with no
open faces.

Automatic Face When selected, all faces that are tangent to the selected face are selected.
Chain Clear this selection to prevent tangent faces from being automatically
selected.

Solids This button is only available when multiple solid bodies exist in the part
file. When this is the case, the user can click the solids button to select one
or more solid bodies to use the Shell tool on.

Thickness Specify value for the wall thickness.

Unique Face Enter a value to apply to the selected face(s). Select the face(s) to apply
Thickness - a unique wall thickness. This value overrides the default thickness for the
Thickness/Select selected face(s) only.

Unique Face Click the Click to Add area of the dialog box to create unique face
Thickness - Click thicknesses for the shell feature.
to Add

Lesson: Creating Thin-Walled Parts ■ 363


Procedure: Creating Shell Features
The following steps describe how to create shell features.
1. Create a part representing the overall shape required.

2. On the ribbon, click the Shell tool and select the faces to remove from the shell operation. Under
Thickness, enter a wall thickness.

364 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


3. To assign unique wall thicknesses, click the [>>] button to expand the dialog box. Select the
Click to Add area and select the face(s) to assign a unique wall thickness. Under Unique Face
Thickness, specify a thickness for the selected face(s). Click OK to create the shell feature.

4. The shell feature is created.

Lesson: Creating Thin-Walled Parts ■ 365


Exercise: Create and Edit Shell Features
In this exercise, you create a shell feature for the part 2. To create a shell feature:
applying a common wall thickness to all faces. You ■ On the ribbon, click the Shell tool.
then edit the shell feature to include unique wall
thicknesses on different features. ■ Clear the Automatic Face Chain option.
■ Select the faces indicated in the following
illustration.
■ In the Thickness box, enter 1 mm and click
OK.
Note: The thickness is applied to all remaining
faces on the part.

The completed exercise

Completing the Exercise


To complete the exercise, follow the
steps in this book or in the onscreen
exercise. In the onscreen list of
chapters and exercises, click Chapter 4:
Detailed Shape Design. Click Exercise:
Create and Edit Shell Features.

1. Open Hair-Dryer-Housing.ipt.

366 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


3. Notice that the shell feature is created as 5. Add another face to be removed from the shell:
shown in the following illustration. ■ In the Shell dialog box, click the Remove
Faces button.
■ Select the opposite end of the component
as shown in the following illustration.

4. You now edit the feature to remove another


face and create a unique wall thickness around
the hole features.
■ In the browser, right-click the Shell5
feature.
■ Click Edit Feature.

Lesson: Creating Thin-Walled Parts ■ 367


6. Add a unique thickness to the handle area of 8. Add one more unique thickness to the two
the part: smaller holes:
■ Select the Automatic Face Chain option. ■ Select the Click to Add area.
■ Click the [>>] button to expand the dialog ■ Select the inside surface of the two smaller
box. holes.
■ Select the Click to Add area and select the ■ Under Unique Face Thickness, in the
faces as shown below. Thickness column, enter 1.5 mm. Click OK.
■ Under Unique Face Thickness, in the
Thickness column, enter 2 mm.

9. Notice that the shell feature is updated to


reflect the additional removed face, as well as
the unique wall thickness.

7. Add a unique thickness to the large hole:


■ Select the Click to Add area.
■ Select the inside face of the large hole.
Under Unique Face Thickness, in the
Thickness column, enter 2.5 mm.

10. Close all files. Do not save.

368 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design


Chapter Summary

This chapter enhanced your basic part modeling skills by providing additional tools and recommended
workflows for detailed shape design. Understanding how to create chamfers and fillets, place hole and
thread features, pattern and mirror features, and create thin-walled parts greatly extends your 3D part
modeling capabilities to cover most part design requirements.
Having completed this chapter, you can:
■ Create both chamfers and fillets on a part.
■ Use the Hole and Thread tools to place hole and thread features on your part model.
■ Create rectangular and circular patterns and mirror existing features.
■ Create thin-walled parts using the Shell tool.

Chapter Summary ■ 369


370 ■ Chapter 4: Detailed Shape Design
Chapter

Assembly Design Overview


In previous chapters, you learned the fundamental concepts and workflows for parametric part design.
Because most products include more than one component, you need to understand how to work with
multiple parts in a single design environment.

In this chapter, you are introduced to different approaches and workflows you can use to combine
multiple 3D parts into an assembly design. Due to the number of unique and standard components
included with all assembly designs, you also need to understand how to easily manage and organize
multiple files using Inventor project files.

Objectives
After completing this chapter, you will be able to:
■ Describe the assembly modeling process, the Autodesk Inventor assembly modeling environment,
and recommended assembly design workflows.
■ Describe how to use Autodesk Inventor project files to manage design projects.

Chapter Overview ■ 371


Lesson: Designing Assemblies

This lesson describes the assembly modeling process, the Autodesk Inventor assembly modeling
environment, and recommended assembly design workflows.
Assembly models enable you to create fully parametric 3D representations of your design. You
can use these models to validate design options and identify problem areas before a single part
is manufactured. Assembly modeling can also reduce and in some cases eliminate the need for
traditional prototypes.
The following illustration shows a typical assembly model comprised of multiple parts and fasteners.

Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
■ Describe assembly modeling and the procedures you use to create an assembly model.
■ Describe the basic approaches to assembly modeling.
■ Identify the key interface elements of the assembly design environment and their overall function.
■ State the recommended assembly design workflow.

372 ■ Chapter 5: Assembly Design Overview


About Assembly Design
Using assembly modeling, you create or bring individual components into a common environment and
use various tools to assemble them. You create new geometry, place existing parts or assemblies, and
manage the relationships among the parts in the assembly.

Definition of an Assembly Model


You create an assembly by combining multiple components and/or assemblies into a single
environment. Parametric relationships are created between each component that determines
component behavior in the assembly.
These relationships can range from simple constraint-based relationships that determine a
component's position in the assembly, to advanced relationships such as adaptivity. Adaptivity enables
a component to change size based upon its relationship to other components in the assembly.

Lesson: Designing Assemblies ■ 373


Assembly Constraints
You use assembly constraints to create parametric relationships between parts in the assembly. Just
as you use 2D constraints to control 2D geometry, you use 3D constraints in an assembly to position
parts in relation to other parts. There are four basic assembly constraints, each with unique solutions
and options.

Mate/Flush Constraint
Used to align part features such as faces, edges, or axis.

Before Mate Constraint After Mate Constraint

Before Flush Constraint After Flush Constraint

374 ■ Chapter 5: Assembly Design Overview


Angle Constraint
Used to specify an angle between two parts. Applied to faces, edges, or axes.

Before Angle Constraint After Angle Constraint

Tangent Constraint
Used to define a tangential relationship between two parts. Generally applied to circular faces and
planar faces. One of the selected faces must be circular.

Before Tangent Constraint After Tangent Constraint

Insert Constraint
Used to insert one component into another. This constraint effectively combines a mate axis/axis and a
mate face/face constraint. Generally applied to bolts, or pins, or any part that needs to be inserted into
a hole on another part. Applied by selecting a circular edge on each part.

Before Insert Constraint After Insert Constraint

Lesson: Designing Assemblies ■ 375


Assembly Design Approaches
Before you create assembly models, you must understand the three basic methods you use to create
them and how to choose the correct assembly modeling approach.
■ Using existing components
■ Designing components in-place
■ Grouping components using subassemblies
Regardless of which method you use to create the assembly, the part data resides in individual part
files and is referenced into the assembly file.

Process: Using Existing Components


The following steps provide an overview of the process of using existing components in an assembly
design. Individual components for an assembly are designed outside of the assembly where they are
placed.
1. Each part file is designed separately from the assembly and other parts.
2. After you create the parts, they are placed into the assembly and constrained to other parts.

376 ■ Chapter 5: Assembly Design Overview


The following image illustrates how separate components are gathered together into a new assembly.

Flange component
Collar component
Standard bolt component
Assembly model

Process: Designing Components In-Place


The following steps provide an overview of the process of designing components in-place for an
assembly. All assembly components are designed in the context of the assembly.
1. Create a new assembly and create a
new component while in the context
of the assembly.

Lesson: Designing Assemblies ■ 377


2. Design each component while still in
the assembly environment.

3. As you design each component,


you are applying the required
assembly constraints, and are making
changes to parts based upon their
relationships to other components in
the assembly.

Subassemblies
You use subassemblies to organize large assemblies into smaller groups. A subassembly is essentially
an assembly placed into another assembly. In the context of the overall assembly, the subassembly
behaves as a single part. Components within the subassembly are constrained to each other, while
the subassembly is constrained to the overall assembly as a single component. You must edit
constraints within the assembly where they were created. To do this, you activate the subassembly by
double-clicking the subassembly in the browser.

378 ■ Chapter 5: Assembly Design Overview


Guidelines
Keep the following general guidelines in mind for assembly design.
■ You can use all three approaches to assembly design and switch between them at any time.
■ You can begin the assembly using one method and change to a different one.
■ As you become more proficient with the application, and understand the benefits of each
modeling approach, you can choose the best approach for a given task.

Assembly Design Environment


The assembly environment in Autodesk Inventor is virtually the same as the part modeling
environment, with the exception of tools that are unique to assembly modeling.

Autodesk Inventor Assembly Environment


A typical view of the Inventor assembly environment is shown in the following illustration.

Assembly Panel: Contains tools specific to assembly modeling.


Assembly Browser: Lists all parts and their constraints. When a part is activated for editing, the
browser functions are identical to the part modeling environment.

Lesson: Designing Assemblies ■ 379


Assembly Coordinate Elements: Identical to the part environment, each assembly also contains an
independent coordinate system. Expand the Origin folder to expose the origin planes, axes, and
centerpoint.
Assembly Components: Each component in the assembly is listed. Expand the components to
expose the assembly constraints that have been applied.
3D Indicator: Displays the current view orientation relative to the assembly coordinate system.

Assembly Ribbon
Similar to the Part Modeling ribbon, the Assembly ribbon contains the tools specific to assembly
modeling. As you create your assembly model, the ribbon automatically switches among assembly,
part, and sketch modes depending on the context you are using.

The Assembly ribbon is shown in the following illustration.

After you become familiar with the assembly tool icons, you can turn off the text display with icons.
Right-click anywhere on the ribbon, select Ribbon Appearance > Text Off.

By turning off the text display with icons, you make more room available for the assembly or part
browser.

380 ■ Chapter 5: Assembly Design Overview


Assembly Browser
The assembly browser offers several options for working in the assembly environment and is your
primary tool for interacting with assembly components and features.

When you open the browser in the assembly modeling environment, it displays the origin folder
containing the default X, Y, and Z planes, axes, and center point. It also lists all parts that you use in the
assembly.

Nested under each part, you see the assembly constraints. If you select an assembly constraint, an edit
box is displayed at the bottom of the browser. This enables you to edit the offset or angle value for the
constraint.

Note: If you select the Assembly View list, you can select Modeling View to switch the browser to
display the part features nested under the parts instead of the assembly constraints. This result is
useful when performing part modeling functions in the context of the assembly.

Lesson: Designing Assemblies ■ 381


Recommended Assembly Design Workflow
When you create an assembly, the approach and process you utilize can and will vary depending on
the design requirements.

Process: Creating Assemblies


The following steps represent the overall workflow for creating assemblies using Autodesk Inventor.
1. Create a new assembly using one of the assembly templates provided.
2. Place existing parts into the assembly or create new parts in the context of the assembly.
3. Use standard assembly constraints such as Mate, Angle, Tangent, and Insert to position and
constrain the parts to other parts in the assembly.
4. Repeat the steps above until all components are added to the assembly.

Example of a Typical Assembly Design


The following illustration shows a typical assembly modeling workflow. The first part is created in
the context of the assembly. The next part is then created in the context of the assembly. Additional
components such as standard parts are also added to the assembly. How parts are created, whether
in the context of the assembly or outside of the assembly as a separate part, has no effect on how the
parts are constrained.

382 ■ Chapter 5: Assembly Design Overview


Exercise: Use the Assembly Environment
In this exercise, you open an assembly and explore 1. Open Fixture.iam.
the assembly modeling environment. You experiment
with different interface objects in the assembly, part
modeling, and sketching environments.

2. The Assembly ribbon is automatically loaded


when you open an assembly file.
3. To edit an assembly constraint:
The completed exercise ■ In the browser, expand Fixture_Base:1 and
select the Insert:1 constraint.
■ At the bottom of the browser, in the edit
Completing the Exercise box, enter 10.00 and press ENTER.
To complete the exercise, follow The offset value of the insert constraint
the steps in this book or in the changes.
onscreen exercise. In the onscreen
list of chapters and exercises, click
Chapter 5: Assembly Design Overview.
Click Exercise: Use the Assembly
Environment.

Lesson: Designing Assemblies ■ 383


4. Compare the new position of the 6. To edit a part feature:
Fixture_RightSide:1 component with the ■ In the browser, right-click Extrusion1.
following illustration. ■ Click Edit Feature.

5. In the browser, on the Assembly View flyout,


click Modeling View.
The browser displays the part features instead
of assembly constraints.

7. In the Extrude dialog box, click Cancel. The Part


Modeling ribbon is displayed automatically.
8. On the ribbon, click Return to exit the part and
return to the assembly.
9. To open a part in a separate window:
■ In the browser, right-click the
Fixture_Base:1 component.
■ Click Open.
The part is opened in a separate window and
the ribbon switches automatically to display the
Part Modeling ribbon.

384 ■ Chapter 5: Assembly Design Overview


10. In the browser, expand Extrusion1 and double-
click Sketch1. The ribbon switches automatically
to the 2D Sketch ribbon.

11. On the ribbon, click Finish Sketch to exit the


sketch.
12. Close all files. Do not save.

Lesson: Designing Assemblies ■ 385


Lesson: Using Project Files in Assembly
Lesson: Designs

This lesson describes the characteristics and implementation of Autodesk Inventor project files.
You use project files to resolve path locations. When an assembly file is loaded, the location of the
part files must be resolved. The same is true when loading a drawing or presentation file.

Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
■ Describe the characteristics and functions of project files.
■ Set up projects.
■ Create a project file for a single user.
■ Edit project files.
■ State some recommendations for setting up project files.

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About Project Files
When you use Autodesk Inventor software to create designs, each one consists of multiple files and
file types. The design and documentation of a single part file require at least two separate files: (a) a
part file and (b) a drawing file. The design and documentation of assembly models require a minimum
of three different file types: (a) assembly files, (b) part files, and (c) drawing files.
Using separate files for each file type is critical for performance and is common among most
parametric modeling systems. By storing path information for each project, the application can search
for the required files when opening an assembly, presentation, or drawing file. The need to search in
different path locations for files is the primary purpose of project files.
The following illustration shows file dependencies in a typical assembly design.

Assemblies reference parts.


Drawings reference parts.
Drawings reference assemblies.
Drawings reference presentations.
Presentations reference assemblies.

When you open an assembly, drawing, or presentation file, the active project file is used to resolve
path locations to the referenced files.

Lesson: Using Project Files in Assembly Designs ■ 387


Definition of Project Files
A project file is an ASCII text file that is stored with an *.ipj file extension. The file contains information
about paths and other options that enable Inventor to resolve the file references of other files when
you open an assembly, presentation, or drawing file.
When you create designs you probably organize them in different folder locations. The same is true
for Autodesk Inventor project files. You generally create one project file for each design you create.
While there is no limit to the number of project files you can create, only one project can be active at
a time.
In the following illustration, the active project is identified by the check mark.

Example of a Project File


It is recommended that you store your project file in the upper level folder of your project design
folders. This keeps your project file organized with your designs and simplifies portability issues.

The following illustration shows the folder structure for a project and where the project file is located.

A typical project might have parts and assemblies unique to the project, standard components unique
to your company, and off-the-shelf components such as fasteners, fittings, or electrical components.
To reduce the possibility of file resolution problems, set up a folder structure before you create a
project and start saving files. To help organize your design files, it is a good idea to set up subfolders
under your project workspace or workgroup folder. You can keep all your design files for a project
in the subfolders, making it a logical way to organize the files used in a design project. Because
references are stored as relative paths from project folders, if you change the folder structure, move,
or rename files, you are likely to break file references.
Always save new files in the workspace or workgroup defined for your project or one of its subfolders.

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Projects Folder Option
Because you can store your project files in several different locations, you need an efficient way of
locating them. Rather than search every folder on your computer or network, Autodesk Inventor uses
Microsoft Windows shortcuts to point to the project files that have been accessed on your computer.

Click Tools tab > Application Options, then click the Files tab in the Application Options dialog box. The
default Projects Folder option is set to your Documents\Inventor folder. If you want to use a different
path for your project files, enter or browse to a new location.

Lesson: Using Project Files in Assembly Designs ■ 389


In the following illustration, the Documents\Inventor folder is selected to list all files. The Project file
shortcuts in the right pane of the Explorer window are not the actual project files. They are Microsoft
Windows shortcuts to the actual project files.

Project File Configuration


Each project file contains a series of categories and options. To successfully design a project file, you
must understand how to use these categories and options, to ensure proper file referencing when you
design assemblies.

Projects Dialog Box


You use the Projects dialog box to create, edit, or set a project file to current. The dialog box is divided
into two panes. The top pane lists the currently available projects, while the lower pane shows the
settings and configured options for the selected project.

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Option Description

Select Project Select a project to edit it, or double-click a project to make it active.
Pane
Note: You cannot edit the active project or activate a different project if there
are files open in Autodesk Inventor.

Edit Project Select the category or right-click the option you want to change. When you
Pane edit search paths they are divided into two sections: (a) Named Shortcut and
(b) Category Search Path.

Named Enter the shortcut name as you would like it to appear in the Open dialog box.
Shortcut This enables you to navigate easily to the search path.

Category Enter the path name or click the browse button to define the path location.
Search Path

Lesson: Using Project Files in Assembly Designs ■ 391


Open Dialog Box: Location Shortcuts
When you open files, the Locations area of the dialog box displays all of the named shortcuts
contained in the active project.

Project File Categories


Each project file is divided into separate categories in which you define different paths. A typical
design makes use of some or all of these categories depending on the structure of your assembly and
the environment in which you are working.

Category Description

Type Defines the type of project. Unless you also have Autodesk Vault installed,
you only create single-user project files.

Location Displays the physical location of the project file.

Use Style Libraries Defines whether or not the project uses a style library. Options are Yes,
Read Only, and No.

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Category Description

Workspace A personal location where you edit your personal copy of design files. Only
one designer should have access to the files in the folder called out in the
workspace.

Workgroup Search Within this group you can define multiple search paths for accessing files.
Paths You do this when you want to add levels of organization to your design
files or access files from another designer.

Libraries You use this category to define search paths for part libraries. Part libraries
can consist of standard off-the-shelf components that you use in your
designs or can also include common parts that you design. Common
factors in all libraries include that the path is considered by the application
to be read-only, and parts stored within a library search path rarely, if ever,
change. If library folders are defined, each needs a descriptive name that
should not change. Because the library name is stored in the reference,
changing the library name later breaks library references.

Frequently Used This group is used to define paths of frequently used subfolders within the
Subfolders project folder structure.

Folder Options This group contains options for setting the folder locations of style
libraries, templates, and Content Center files.

Options You use these properties to set specific options for the project file.

Project Categories: Search Order


Knowing and remembering the category search order is critical to properly implementing and
managing project files. The following illustration represents a typical project file with path locations
defined in each category. When the application needs to locate referenced files, it searches for files
using paths contained in each category using the following order.
1. Libraries
2. Workspace
3. Workgroup Search Paths

Lesson: Using Project Files in Assembly Designs ■ 393


A simple way to remember the search order is to remember libraries first, and then the order that
each category is displayed in the project window.

File Resolution
When examining this diagram, you see the assembly file is stored in a different location from the
component files.
■ Component files exist in the Components folder.
■ Assembly files exist in the Robot Assembly folder.
Because the Components folder is a subfolder of the defined workspace, it is used to resolve the
component locations. The Hex Cap Screw is stored in a folder defined as a Library category.

Relative Paths in Your Project Files


When you add paths to each category, the application stores only the relative path. The relative path
is created by removing the project file location from the path text and leaving only the remaining path
information. Using relative paths enables greater portability of your project files and data sets. When
you view the paths under each category, the path settings begin with . followed by the folder location
relative to the physical location of the project file. In the following example, the Robot-Assembly.ipj
file is stored in the folder C:\Designs\Robot Assembly.

By storing only relative paths in your project file, it is possible to physically move the entire folder
structure to another location or storage device. As long as the folders maintain their relative location
to the storage location of the project file, the application can resolve the files as required.

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Location of project file
Relative path
Full path
Full path

Frequently Used Subfolders


Projects have a Frequently Used Subfolders category that you can use to list commonly used
subfolders for accessing Autodesk Inventor files. Adding subfolder locations to this category simplifies
the task of navigating to these folders when opening files.
It is important to note the following:
■ The folder specified must be a subfolder of an existing search path in the project being worked on.
■ The folder entries have no effect on file resolution and are used only to aid in navigating when
opening and saving files.
The following illustration represents a project file containing several paths in the Frequently Used
Subfolders category.

Lesson: Using Project Files in Assembly Designs ■ 395


The Open and Save dialog boxes display the Frequently Used Subfolder locations. Click the folder in
the Locations list to navigate to the folder.

Project File Folder Options


Folder options identify where project level files such as templates and styles are stored.

Option Description

Design Data Identifies where the project-specific style definitions are stored.

Templates Specifies the location of the Autodesk Inventor document templates for
the project.

Content Center Files Specifies the location of the Content Center files used in the project.

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Project Options
The following options can be set for each project.

Option Description

Old Versions to Keep Specifies the number of versions to keep when you save changes. Older
on Save versions of each file are stored in an Old Versions subfolder of the file
location.

Using Unique File Specifies whether all files in the project have unique file names. Not
Names applicable for library locations.
Yes: Indicates that no duplicate file names are used in the project. The
application searches through all editable project locations to find the file
name, even if it was last accessed from a different folder.
No: Indicates that duplicate file names exist in the project. If duplicate file
names are found when resolving files, the Resolve Files dialog box opens
so you can browse to the correct file to manually reestablish the link.

Name Indicates the name of the project file.

Shortcut Indicates the name of the project file shortcut.

Owner Identifies the project owner, typically the lead engineer or CAD
administrator.

Release ID Identifies the version of the released project data. If a project is used as
a library by another project, the release ID may be useful in identifying
which project to use.

Imported Identifies the name of the folder where imported components are stored.
Components Folder
Name

Imported Top Level Identifies the name of the folder where imported top level assembly data
Assemblies Folder is stored.
Name

Lesson: Using Project Files in Assembly Designs ■ 397


Results of the search are listed in the Non-Unique Project File Names dialog box.

The use of unique file names within a project helps ensure that the correct files are always resolved
when you open an assembly or other document that references other Autodesk Inventor files.

Vault Options
The following illustration represents vault options that are available. Autodesk Vault must be installed
for these options to be displayed.

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Creating a Project File
You begin to create project files through a wizard. You are prompted to fill in relevant information
such as project name, workspace folder, and libraries to import from other projects. After the initial
creation is complete, you proceed to add the required paths to the categories you will use.

Access
Create or Edit Projects

Ribbon: Get Started tab > Launch panel

Open or New Dialog Boxes: Projects

Lesson: Using Project Files in Assembly Designs ■ 399


Procedure: Creating a Single-User Project File
The following steps describe how to create a single-user project.
1. Access the Projects dialog box by clicking File menu > Projects.
2. Select the New Single User Project type and click Next.

3. In the Name field, enter a name for the project. In the Project (Workspace) Folder field, enter a
path location for storing the files for this project. Click Next.

4. If you have any projects with libraries defined, they are displayed in this list. You can use this
information to copy library paths from other project files.
■ Click Finish to create the project.
■ If you are prompted to create the path, click OK.

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Editing Project Files
You can use the internal project editor or the stand-alone project editor located on the Microsoft
Windows Start menu to edit projects. Under Select Project, select the project to edit. In the Edit
Project area, select the category or option you need to edit. Depending on the item you edit, different
options are available on both the shortcut menu and to the right of the Edit Project area.

Access
Edit Projects

Ribbon: Get Started tab > Launch panel

Windows Menu: Start > All Programs > Autodesk > Autodesk Inventor 2010 > Tools > Project
Editor

Lesson: Using Project Files in Assembly Designs ■ 401


Editing Projects
When editing projects, right-click a category or option to display the available editing tools in a
shortcut menu.

Editing the Active Project


You must close all files in Autodesk Inventor before attempting to edit the active
project.

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Workspace and Library Category Options

Option Description

Add Path This option adds a path to the workspace category. Enter a named shortcut
and search path in the fields below the category.

Add Paths from File This option adds the workspace path contained in another project file. A
dialog box is displayed for you to select the project file.

Paste Path This option pastes a path that was copied to the clipboard.

Delete Section Paths This option deletes all paths from the category.

Workgroup Category Search Path Options

Option Description

Add Path This option adds a path to the workspace category.

Add Paths from File This option adds the workspace paths contained in another project file. A
dialog box is displayed for you to select the project file.

Lesson: Using Project Files in Assembly Designs ■ 403


Option Description

Add Paths from Select this option to add the path of a selected directory including all
Directory subdirectories.

Paste Path Select this option to paste a path that was copied to the clipboard.

Delete Section Paths Select this option to delete all paths from the category.

Edit and Position Buttons


Edit and position buttons are displayed on the right side of the Projects dialog box.

Button Option Description

Move Up Select this option to move the selected path up in the search order
within its category.

Move Down Select this option to move the selected path down in the search order
within its category.

Add Path Select this option to add a path to the selected category.

Edit Path Select this option to edit the selected path.

Expand Click this button to display the Workspace and Workgroup categories.
These categories are hidden by default.

Find Duplicate Located in the Project Editor interface. You use the Find Duplicate
Files Files button to search the current project for files with duplicate
names within the editable search paths.

Configure Click this button to display the Configure Libraries dialog box and
Content Center configure the Content Center libraries.
Libraries

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Recommendations for Project Files
Your project file design will depend largely upon the type of design project for which it is intended
to be used. For example, if your current design task only involves 1 person, you would probably use
a Single User project file. This could apply even if you are part of a larger design team or company.
For example, you might be working on a small R&D project that only requires one designer. In this
case, even though you are part of an engineering and design department of a large company, the R&D
project requirements dictate a Single User project file.
On the other hand, you may, at the same time be required to collaborate with other designers on
larger design/manufacturing projects. In this case, the recommended project type would be a Vault
project. The Vault project type would enable all designers to interact with the design data at the same
time without the fear of overwriting the work of others. This is because the Vault project type requires
each user to check files out of the vault before they can be edited. Other files that are not being edited
can still be referenced, as they remain in the vault.

Guidelines for Creating Project Files


Consider the following guidelines when you design projects for simple design projects.
■ When you create the project file, select the Single User project type.
■ Store the physical project file at the root of your design folders. This will allow the data stored in
subfolders to be stamped with a relative path designation. This makes your design project portable
and will simplify the transition process if the design makes it through the R&D process into an
actual design/manufacturing project where other designers may be required to collaborate.
■ Add a path to common components as a Library path. This path is read-only and the components
that are stored there, rarely, if-ever change.
■ If additional paths are required, add them as Workgroup Search Paths.

Lesson: Using Project Files in Assembly Designs ■ 405


Guidelines for Project Files Used in Complex Projects or Large Design Teams
Consider the following guidelines when designing project files for complex design projects, or when
large design teams collaborate on design projects.
■ When you create the project file, select the Vault project type. Autodesk Vault must be installed.
■ For more information on Autodesk Vault, refer to the AOTC: Autodesk Vault Essentials courseware
or inquire about training options with your local training center or reseller.

Examples of Project Types


The following illustrations show the differences between a project design for use by a single user
and small amounts of design data, and a project designed for use by several users and large amounts
of design data. In the single-user example, the design data is stored on a local drive or perhaps a
network drive, but is generally edited by only one person at a time. In the Vault project the design
data is stored in the Vault and is available to several designers at the same time. The Vault manages
the data and prevents the users from overwriting each others' work, while at the same time offering
other capabilities that would be required in a large design project.

Single user project type Vault project for larger complex designs and multiple users

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Exercise: Create a Project File
In this exercise, you create a single-user project file 3. Click the Get Started tab > Launch panel >
with a workspace and library. Projects.
4. In the Projects dialog box:
■ Notice the name of the active project,
identified by a check mark.
■ Click New.
5. To define the project as a single-user project:
■ In the Inventor project wizard dialog box,
verify that New Single User Project is
selected.
■ Click Next.
6. To name and locate the project file:
■ For Name, enter R&D.
The completed exercise ■ Click the Browse button next to the Project
(Workspace) Folder field and browse for the
C:\R&D Designs folder.
Completing the Exercise ■ Select the folder and click OK.
To complete the exercise, follow the ■ Click Finish.
steps in this book or in the onscreen 7. To add a library path:
exercise. In the onscreen list of ■ In the Projects dialog box, right-click the
chapters and exercises, click Chapter Libraries category.
5: Assembly Design Overview. Click ■ Click Add Path.
Exercise: Create a Project File.

1. Ensure that all files in Autodesk Inventor are


closed.
2. To set up the exercise, you need to create
some folders to simulate a theoretical design
scenario.
Using Windows Explorer, create the folders as
shown to simulate a typical R&D Designs folder
structure and a StandardParts folder for storing
commonly used components.

Lesson: Using Project Files in Assembly Designs ■ 407


8. To name and configure the library path: 11. To test the project:
■ In the Name text box, enter StandardParts. ■ Click Open.
■ In the Search Path text box, enter C: ■ In the Open dialog box, with the Workspace
\StandardParts. selected (1), make sure the R&D folders (2)
■ Click Save. that you created earlier are visible.
■ Select the StandardParts (3) library. Ensure
that the Look In list changes to reflect
the StandardParts folder that you created
earlier.

9. To activate the project, double-click it in the


Project dialog box.
When it is activated, a check mark is displayed
next to the project.
12. Click Cancel to close the Open dialog box.
Note: Your list of available projects differs from
the list shown. 13. Click Projects. Double-click the previously active
project file.
14. Click Done.

10. Click Done to close the dialog box.

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Chapter Summary

With the information you learned in this chapter, you can make informed decisions about assembly
design before you start a design project. With your understanding of the different approaches,
workflow options, and the basics of assembly design, you can continue on to subsequent chapters
that cover the individual tools and specific workflows that are available in the assembly design
environment.
Having completed this chapter, you can:
■ Describe the assembly modeling process, the Autodesk Inventor assembly modeling environment,
and recommended assembly design workflows.
■ Describe how to use Autodesk Inventor project files to manage design projects.

Chapter Summary ■ 409


410 ■ Chapter 5: Assembly Design Overview

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