Learning Autodesk Inventor 2010 - Volume 1 Slipstream
Learning Autodesk Inventor 2010 - Volume 1 Slipstream
Essentials
Autodesk ®
Inventor ®
2010
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
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Contents
Introduction ....................................................................................................... ix
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Application Menu
Quick Access Toolbar
Ribbon
Ribbon Tabs
ViewCube
Navigation Bar
Browser
3D Indicator
Graphics Window
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Click Help menu > Shortcut/Alias Quick Reference to access the reference.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Free Orbit Enables you to freely rotate the view of your model on screen.
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.
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.
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
Access
Free Orbit
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.
In the following example, using the Free Orbit enables you to view the top and bottom of the
assembly as it is orbited.
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.
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.
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
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%.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Access
Previous View
1. Open 3D Navigation.ipt
2. To switch to an isometric view, click the top left
corner of the ViewCube.
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.
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.
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.
Placed features are shown in the following illustration by the Fillet4 and Chamfer2 highlights.
Fillets (placed features) are added Length is changed in initial sketch, causing part to update
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
To achieve the same modifications in a nonparametric sketch, you would have to duplicate each edit
on both sides of the centerline.
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
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.
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.
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.
4. The sketch and any existing geometry are reoriented to the selected plane.
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
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.
2. Drag to a location representing the outside perimeter of the circle. Select that point to create the
circle.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Constraint Types
You can use the following constraint types to constrain your sketches.
Perpendicular: Use to
make selected elements
perpendicular to one another.
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.
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.
Access
2D Constraints
The geometry is now constrained horizontally based upon the two points selected.
3. Select the circle, line, or arc to which you want to apply the equal constraint.
Option Method
Viewing constraints Click the constraint glyph. The geometry referenced by the selected
constraint glyph is highlighted.
Deleting constraints Select the constraint glyph and press Delete, or right-click the selected
constraint glyph and click Delete.
Option Method
Shortcut menu Right-click in the graphics window and click Show All Constraints (sketch must
be active)
The constraint toolbars are displayed next to each sketch element. Click and drag the bars on the
toolbars to move them to another location.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Keyboard Shortcut: D
Access
General Dimension
Keyboard Shortcut: D
5. Right-click in the graphics window and click Done on the shortcut menu or continue placing
additional dimensions.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Without a dimensional relationship, a hole that was originally centered does not adjust if the length is
changed.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In this example, the sketch contains multiple closed loop profiles selected to form a single extruded
feature with holes.
Access
Extrude
The following features and options are available in the Extrude dialog box:
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.
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.
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.
Revolve Options
The Revolve dialog box is displayed when you start the Revolve tool.
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.
New Use to create a new solid body from the revolved feature.
Solid
2. Click Model tab > Create panel > Revolve. In the Revolve dialog box, adjust the options as
required.
4. Start the Revolve tool. Select the geometry to be included in the revolved feature. Adjust the
options as required.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Access
Construction Geometry
You can use the following buttons to create or change existing geometry types.
3. Click the Construction tool again to return to creating normal sketch geometry.
3. Click the Centerline tool again to return to creating normal sketch geometry.
2. On the ribbon, click the Centerline button. The selected geometry is changed to centerline
geometry.
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.
Access
Project Geometry
Autoproject Options
You can use the Autoproject functionality to speed projection of geometry to the sketch plane.
3. Hover over the geometry to project. It is automatically projected to the current sketch plane.
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.
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
The Extrusion1 feature has consumed Sketch1 and Extrusion2 has consumed Sketch4.
Sketch2 and Sketch5 are unconsumed sketches.
Access
Edit Sketch
2. After the sketch has been activated for editing, you can make changes to geometry, dimensions,
and constraints.
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.
Access
Parameters
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.
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.
Operator Meaning
+ addition
- subtraction
* multiplication
/ division
^ power
( expression delimiter
) expression delimiter
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
nano n 1.0e-9
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.
Function names are case sensitive. You must enter them exactly as they appear in
the previous table.
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.
exponentiation ^ Length^2
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.
1. Open Aux-Clutch-Lever.ipt.
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.
Tool Access
3D Grips
Shortcut Menu: Right-click a grip-editable face. Click 3D Grips.
Application Options
Ribbon: Tools tab > Options panel > Application Options > Part tab
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.
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.
Access
Work Plane
Keyboard Shortcut: ]
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.
Keyboard Shortcut: /
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.
Keyboard Shortcut: .
Access
Grounded Work Point
Keyboard Shortcut: ;
3. The work point is created at the intersection of the edge and plane.
1. Open Control-Valve.ipt.
2. Turn on the visibility of the default YZ plane.
1. Open Speaker-Base.ipt.
4. On the ribbon, click the Create 2D Sketch tool.
Select the work plane previously created.
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.
Access
Sweep
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.
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.
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.
2. Start the Work Plane tool and select your path sketch as shown.
6. Create your sweep feature using the profile and path sketches.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Access
Chamfer
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.
■ For a single distance chamfer, select the edge(s) to be chamfered. Enter a distance for the chamfer.
■ 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.
Access
Fillet
Keyboard Shortcut: F
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.
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.
1. Open Rod-Bearing-Mount.ipt.
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.
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
Keyboard Shortcut: H
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.
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.
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.
Flip Side Select this option to position the hole on the opposite side of the
selected edge.
The following options are available when you select Concentric placement.
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.
On Point
Select this option to position the hole on a work point.
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
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.
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.
Option Description
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.
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.
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.
4. Adjust the options in the Hole dialog box. Click Apply to create the hole and continue placing
other holes.
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.
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.
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).
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
The Location tab in the Thread dialog box includes the following options and specifications.
Face Click the icon to select the face(s) to apply thread features.
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.
Offset Specifies the distance from the start face of the thread
feature.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Symmetry Plane A
Features mirrored about Plane A
Symmetry Plane B
Features mirrored about Plane B
Access
Rectangular Pattern
When the Pattern Individual Features button is selected, you have the following selection option.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Access
Circular Pattern
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.
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.
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.
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.
3. Click the Include Work/Surface Features button and select any work features to be included in
the pattern. Select the Rotation Axis
5. Click OK. The entire solid along with the selected work features is patterned
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
When the Mirror Individual Features button is selected, you have the following selection options.
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.
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.
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.
2. On the ribbon, click the Mirror Feature tool and select the features to be mirrored.
1. Open Receiver-Face-Plate.ipt.
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.
Shell Options
The Shell dialog box is displayed when you start the Shell tool.
Option Description
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.
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
2. On the ribbon, click the Shell tool and select the faces to remove from the shell operation. Under
Thickness, enter a wall thickness.
1. Open Hair-Dryer-Housing.ipt.
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.
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.
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.
Mate/Flush Constraint
Used to align part features such as faces, edges, or axis.
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.
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.
Flange component
Collar component
Standard bolt component
Assembly model
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
When you open an assembly, drawing, or presentation file, the active project file is used to resolve
path locations to the referenced files.
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.
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.
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
Category Description
Type Defines the type of project. Unless you also have Autodesk Vault installed,
you only create single-user project files.
Use Style Libraries Defines whether or not the project uses a style library. Options are Yes,
Read Only, and No.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Access
Create or Edit Projects
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.
Access
Edit Projects
Windows Menu: Start > All Programs > Autodesk > Autodesk Inventor 2010 > Tools > Project
Editor
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.
Option Description
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.
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.
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.
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
Single user project type Vault project for larger complex designs and multiple users
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.