Auto Desk Inventor 9 Manual
Auto Desk Inventor 9 Manual
Auto Desk Inventor 9 Manual
Autodesk Inventor® 9
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Introducing Autodesk Inventor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Data Files for Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
File Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Application Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Document Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Styles and Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Using Short Cut Keys and Hot Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Viewing Models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Zoom Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Pan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Look At . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Rotate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Shaded, Hidden Edge, and Wireframe Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Ground Shadow Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Orthographic and Perspective Camera Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Importing and Exporting Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
AutoCAD Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Autodesk Mechanical Desktop Files. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
SAT Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
STEP Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
IGES Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Using the Design Support System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Autodesk Inventor Launchpad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Tutorials and Show Me Animations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Contents | iii
Help for AutoCAD Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Click File > Getting Started > Help for the AutoCAD user. This is a home
page for information about the transition from AutoCAD
to Autodesk Inventor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Feedback Links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Skill Builders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
iv | Contents
Adding Sketched Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Extrude Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Revolve Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Sweep Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Loft Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Coil Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Rib and Web Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Modifying Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Contents | v
Setting Up Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Project Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Set Up Folder Structures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Read-only Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120
Creating Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
Set Project Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124
Use Search Paths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125
Included File Paths for Semi-Isolated Workspace Projects . . . . . . . .126
Creating or Opening Files In Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133
Creating Files in Semi-isolated Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133
Checking Out Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .137
Understand the File Status Browser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140
Cancel Checkouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .143
Checking In Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .145
vi | Contents
Constraining Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
iMates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Place Constraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Motion Constraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Viewing Constraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Editing Constraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Tips for Managing Assembly Constraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Contents | vii
Using Drawing Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .208
Sheet Layouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .208
Edit Default Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .209
Format Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .209
Drawing Borders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .210
Title Blocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .210
Hole Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .213
Parts Lists. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .213
Tips for Creating Drawings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .214
viii | Contents
Working with Dimensions and Annotations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Turn Off Tangent Edge Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Format Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Printing Drawing Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Tips for Annotating Drawings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Contents | ix
x
Introduction
In This Chapter
1
Introducing Autodesk Inventor
Autodesk Inventor is a 3D mechanical design system built with adaptive
technology and solid modeling capabilities.
The Autodesk Inventor software includes features for 3D modeling,
information management, collaboration, and technical support. With
Autodesk Inventor, you can:
■ Create 3D models and 2D manufacturing drawings.
■ Create adaptive features, parts, and subassemblies.
■ Manage thousands of parts and large assemblies.
■ Use third-party applications, with an Application Program Interface (API).
■ Use VBA to access the Autodesk Inventor API. Create programs to
automate repetitive tasks. On the Help menu, choose Programmer Help.
■ Import SAT, STEP, and AutoCAD® and Autodesk® Mechanical Desktop®
(DWG) files for use in Autodesk Inventor. Export Autodesk Inventor files
to AutoCAD, Autodesk Mechanical Desktop, and IGES formats.
■ Collaborate with multiple designers in the modeling process.
■ Link to Web tools to access industry resources, share data, and
communicate with colleagues.
■ Use the integrated Design Support System (DSS) for help as you work.
Getting Started
When you start Autodesk Inventor, the Open > Getting Started dialog box
displays the window you had active during your last session of Autodesk
Inventor. You can use this window to specify a project, add a new project,
edit an existing project, start a new file, and open an existing file.
Projects
Autodesk Inventor uses projects to represent a logical grouping of a complete
design project. A project organizes your data by maintaining information
about where design data is stored, where you can edit files, and maintains
valid links between them. You use projects when you work in a team, work
on multiple design projects, and share libraries among several design
projects. See chapter 13, “Autodesk Inventor Utilities” on page 259, for
detailed information about setting up and using projects.
2 | Introduction
Data Files for Exercises
When you install Autodesk Inventor, a project called tutorial_files is created.
You need to make this project active so that you can locate the data files that
are used for some exercises in this book.
File Types
Once you define your project, you can open an existing file or start a new file.
In the What To Do pane, click New to see the New File dialog box with
templates for a new part, assembly, presentation file, sheet metal part,
weldment, or drawing. You can choose from several templates with
predefined units.
Templates are stored in the Autodesk\Inventor(version number)\Templates
directory or in the English or Metric subdirectories. Subdirectories in the
Templates directory are displayed as tabs in the Open New File dialog box.
You can create and save custom templates in the Templates directory.
A template can contain property information, such as part and project data,
and drawing views. In the Properties dialog box, the information on the
Summary, Project, Status, and Custom tabs is available outside of Autodesk
Inventor through the Design Assistant or Microsoft® Windows® Explorer.
Getting Started | 3
Application Options
Autodesk Inventor provides a dialog box for you to change the look and feel
of the application. When you select Tools > Application Options, the Options
dialog box is displayed. Using the tabs on the Options dialog box, you can
control the color and display of your Autodesk Inventor work environment,
the behavior and settings of files, the default file locations, and a variety of
multiple-user functions.
Application options remain in effect each time you start Autodesk Inventor.
Document Settings
In addition to application options, you can control settings in individual
files. When you select Tools > Document Settings, the Document Settings
dialog box is displayed. Using the tabs on this dialog box, you can control
settings for the active document, such as settings for the active standard,
units of measure, sketch and modeling preferences, and default tolerance.
4 | Introduction
Try it: View the Styles and Standards Editor dialog box
1 In Autodesk Inventor, click File > New and select the drawing template.
2 On the Standard toolbar, click Format > Styles Editor.
3 In the Styles and Standards Editor dialog box, click Standard in the Style Type
browser, and then double-click a listed standard.
4 Click the General tab to see the values controlled there, and then click the
Available Styles tab to see the list of styles. As you click through the style type
list, you may notice that most names are checked. If the check box is cleared,
that style is not available for use in the current document.
5 Click the Dimension style in the Style Type browser, and then click one of
the dimension styles. Click through the tabs to see the values set for units,
alternate units, text, tolerance, and other settings. Click a different
dimension style to see if any of the values differ.
6 In the top right corner of the dialog box, click the Filter list and change the
filter type. Notice how the list of available styles changes if you select All
Styles, Local Styles (for the current document), or Active Standard.
You may notice differences in the lists because the local styles may have had
some unused styles purged to make the file size smaller.
7 Click Done to close the dialog box. Any values you may have changed are
discarded.
Click Save to preserve any changes.The changes are saved only in the current
document.
Key Result
E Extrudes a profile.
Backspace In the active Line tool, removes the last sketched segment.
6 | Introduction
Key Result
SHIFT + Rotate tool Automatically rotates model in graphics window. Click to quit.
CTRL +ENTER Disables inferencing when entering precise input sketch points.
Viewing Models
Use viewing tools on the Standard toolbar and on right-click menus in the
graphics window to view a model:
■ Select one of the viewing tools in the Standard toolbar to achieve a specific
view.
■ Right-click in the graphics window, and then select Isometric View from
the menu. The view vector changes to the isometric orientation.
■ Right-click in the graphics window, and then select Previous View from
the menu. The view changes back to the previous view.
■ Press F5 to return the model to the last view.
To rotate a view in 3D, use the Rotate tool in the Standard toolbar to rotate a
view around one of the coordinate axes. When Rotate is active, press the
SPACEBAR to use the Common View tool, a “glass box” with a view vector on
each face and corner.
Viewing Models | 7
Zoom Tools
The zoom tools are located in the Standard toolbar.
Zoom
Use the Zoom button on the Standard toolbar to achieve the desired scale.
Click the button, and then in the graphics window press the cursor as you
move it up or down to zoom the view dynamically in or out. You can zoom
the view while other tools are active.
Zoom All
Use the Zoom All button on the Standard toolbar to zoom a part or assembly
so that all elements are displayed in the graphics window. You can zoom a
drawing so that the active sheet fits within the graphics window.
8 | Introduction
Zoom Window
Use the Zoom Window button on the Standard toolbar to define an area of a
part, assembly, or drawing to fill the graphics window.
Zoom Selected
Use the Zoom Selected button on the Standard toolbar to zoom a selected
edge, feature, or other element to the size of the graphics window.
Viewing Models | 9
Pan
Use the Pan button on the Standard toolbar to move the view in the graphics
window in any direction planar to the screen. You can pan the view while
other tools are active.
Look At
Use the Look At button on the Standard toolbar to zoom and rotate the
display in the graphics window. You can position a selected planar element
parallel to the screen or position a selected edge or line horizontal to the
screen.
10 | Introduction
Rotate
Use the 3D Rotate tool on the Standard toolbar to:
Viewing Models | 11
Orthographic and Perspective Camera Views
The Camera View tool has two settings: Orthographic Camera mode and
Perspective Camera mode.
In Perspective Camera mode, part or assembly models are displayed in three-
point perspective, a visual effect where parallel lines converge on a vanishing
point. This is the way real objects are perceived by the human eye or by a
camera.
The following chart shows how the other viewing tools behave and how they
can be modified in each camera mode.
12 | Introduction
Importing and Exporting Data
You can import SAT, STEP, IGES and AutoCAD and Autodesk Mechanical
Desktop (DWG) files for use in Autodesk Inventor. You can save Autodesk
Inventor parts and assemblies in a number of file formats, and you can save
Autodesk Inventor drawings as DXF or AutoCAD drawing (DWG) files.
The options for opening AutoCAD files in Autodesk Inventor are:
■ Layer mapping.
■ Selection of an AutoCAD template.
■ Support for DFX files back to version 12.
■ Creation of AutoCAD Mechanical files, if AutoCAD Mechanical is
installed.
AutoCAD Files
You can open AutoCAD (DWG or DXF) files back to version 12. When you
open an AutoCAD file in Autodesk Inventor, you can specify the AutoCAD
data to translate. You can select:
If you translate 3D solids, each solid becomes a part file containing an ASM
solid body.
When you import AutoCAD (DWG) drawings into a part sketch, a drawing,
or a drawing sketch overlay, the converter takes the entities from the XY
plane of model space and places them on the sketch. In a drawing, certain
entities, such as splines, cannot be converted.
SAT Files
SAT (*.sat) files contain non parametric solids. They may be Boolean solids or
parametric solids with the relationships removed. A SAT file can be used in
an assembly. You can add parametric features to the base solid.=
When you import a SAT file that contains a single body, it produces an
Autodesk Inventor part file with a single part. If it contains multiple bodies,
it produces an assembly with multiple parts. Surface data in a SAT file is also
supported.
STEP Files
STEP files are the international format developed to overcome some of the
limitations of data conversion standards. Past efforts in developing standards
have resulted in localized formats such as IGES (U.S.), VDAFS (Germany), or
IDF (for circuit boards). Those standards do not address many developments
in CAD systems. The STEP converter for Autodesk Inventor is designed for
effective communication and reliable interchange with other CAD systems.
When you import a STEP (*.stp, *.ste, *.step) file, only 3D solid, part, surface,
and assembly data are converted. Drafting, text, and wireframe data are not
processed by the STEP converter. If a STEP file contains one part, it produces
an Autodesk Inventor part file. If it contains assembly data, it produces an
assembly with multiple parts.
14 | Introduction
IGES Files
IGES (*.igs, *.ige, *.iges) files are a standard in the United States. Many
NC/CAM software packages require files in IGES format. Autodesk Inventor
imports and exports IGES files, including wireframe data.
For information about other Autodesk products, go to www.autodesk.com, and
navigate to Product Center.
16 | Introduction
Help
Click Help > Help topics for easy access to the Help topics, Skill Builders,
Tutorials, and Show Me animations, and for the Index and Search functions.
18 | Introduction
Feedback Links
Two links provide direct communication to the DSS development team.
Click the Comments Link on a Help topic page to address specific topics,
provide general feedback about the DSS, and submit input about what you
want and need from the Autodesk Inventor DSS.
Click the Survey button at the top of the Help home page to participate in
the survey and send comments to the DSS development team.
20 | Introduction
Creating Sketches
In This Chapter
1
In Autodesk Inventor®, sketching is the first step in ■ About sketching
■ Creating sketches
creating a part. This chapter gives you an overview of
■ Constraining sketches
the sketch environment and the work flow for creating
■ Dimensioning sketches
21
Understanding Sketches
Every part starts with a sketch. A sketch is the profile of a feature and any
geometry (such as a sweep path or axis of rotation) required to create the
feature.
All sketch geometry is created and edited in the sketch environment, using
the Sketch tools in the panel bar or from the 2D Sketch Panel toolbar. You
can select tools to control the sketch grid, and to draw lines, splines, circles,
ellipses, arcs, rectangles, polygons, or points. You can fillet corners, extend or
trim curves, and offset and project geometry from other features.
To start a sketch from scratch, open a new part file, select a Sketch tool, and
then start sketching in the graphics window. As you sketch, constraints are
automatically applied to the various sketch elements based on references
that you imply as you sketch. Any implied sketch constraint can be modified
or deleted. Constraints can also be added manually to any sketch element.To
exit a given sketch tool right-click and then select Done, or press ESC.
You create a 3D model from a sketch by projecting the profile or revolving it
around an axis.
Understanding Sketches | 23
TRY IT: Reposition the sketch origin in the coordinate system
1 To start, open a part file. In the browser, click the plus sign in front of a
feature to expand the display.
2 In the expanded feature display, right-click the sketch, and then click Edit
Coordinate System on the menu.
In the graphics window, the axis icon is displayed for the highlighted sketch.
3 On the axis icon, click the red arrow to realign the X axis, or the green arrow
to realign the Y axis.
4 Use one of the following methods to reposition the sketch origin.
■ To change the position of the axis icon dynamically, move the cursor over
the sketch geometry, such as the edges and vertex. Click at a new position.
■ To move the coordinate system on geometry that is not a vertex, right-
click and select Select Other, and then cycle through available geometry.
Click the green check mark to select.
■ To rotate the coordinate system, select an edge of the feature, or move the
cursor around the Z axis.
■ To flip the axis, right-click and select Flip axis from the menu.
■ Automatically project edges of the part to the sketch plane as you sketch
a curve.
■ Create dimensions and constraints to edges of the part that do not lie on
the sketch plane.
■ Control the automatic projection of part edges to the sketch plane.
■ Click the Project Geometry tool, and then select any part edge.
■ Select an edge of the part while creating a dimension or constraint.
NOTE You can also use model edge referencing of continuous loops or points.
Creating Sketches
In this exercise, you create a new part file, and then create sketch geometry
using basic sketching techniques. You learn how to use the Autodesk
Inventor Design Support System to assist in the design process. The following
illustrates a completed sketch and sketched feature.
Creating Sketches | 25
Create a Sketch
When you open a new part file, the Sketch environment is active.
The current grid setting provides a visual clue to the size of sketches. There
are Application Options and Document Settings to define the grid display.
NOTE Use the zoom tool to zoom out if a line of 100 units does not fit in the
graphics window.
As you sketch, the position of the current point, length, and angle of the line
are dynamically displayed in the lower right border of the graphics window.
The position of the current line point is relative to the sketch 0,0 coordinates.
The line angle is relative to the sketch X axis. Symbols to indicate implied
constraints are displayed next to the current line point as you sketch.
2 Move the cursor to the left and create a horizontal line of approximately 30
units. The parallel constraint symbol is displayed.
3 Move the cursor down and create a vertical line of approximately 10 units.
4 Move the cursor to the left to create a horizontal line of approximately 40 units.
5 Move the cursor up until the parallel constraint symbol is displayed and a
dotted line appears. Click to specify a point.
Creating Sketches | 27
6 Move the cursor left until the parallel constraint symbol is displayed and a
dotted line appears, and then click to specify a point.
7 Move the cursor down until it touches the first point you specified at the
beginning of the exercise. When the coincident constraint symbol is
displayed, click to close the sketch.
NOTE Use the Zoom tool to zoom out and view the entire line if it is not visible
in the graphics window.
5 Move the cursor up and to the left, and then click to create a sloping line.
The exact angle is not important.
Creating Sketches | 29
TRY IT: Complete the sketch
1 Click the end of the line, hold and drag the endpoint to create a tangent arc.
Release the mouse button to place the endpoint of the arc.
2 Move the cursor to the start point of the profile and click when the
coincident constraint symbol is displayed.
3 In the graphics background, right-click, and select Done, and then right-click
and select Finish Sketch.
The sketch is completed.
Do not save the file.
End of exercise.
NOTE The term constraints is often used in Autodesk Inventor to refer to both
geometric constraints and dimensions. Keep in mind that dimensions and
geometric constraints work together to create a sketch that meets design intent.
Add Constraints
Define your design intent by adding geometric constraints to the sketch. You
can use autodimensioning to confirm whether a sketch is fully constrained
and apply any needed constraints. You can also create constraints by
inference by dragging geometry until the cursor brushes the geometry you
want to constrain.
vertically aligned
dragged geometry
snap indicator
TRY IT: Activate the project file and open the tutorial file for an exercise
1 In the Standard menu, click File > Projects.
2 In the Project Editor, top pane, double-click the tutorial_files project to make
it the active project.
3 In the side pane, click Open.
4 In the Open File dialog box, click the file consketch.ipt see a preview of it, and
double-click it to open it.
The file opens in Autodesk Inventor. You are ready to start the exercise.
Constraining Sketches | 33
TRY IT: Add constraints to the first sketch
1 On the Standard toolbar, click the Look At tool, and then select any curve.
The plan view is displayed.
2 Click the Zoom All tool on the Standard toolbar to view the three loops.
6 Move the cursor over the constraint symbols to highlight the sketch
geometry that is constrained.
In this example, there are two coincident constraints.
The sloping lines in the sketch should be vertical, so you will now add a
vertical constraint.
7 Click the down arrow beside the Constraint tool in the panel bar or the 2D
Sketch Panel toolbar to open the pop-up menu, and then click the Vertical
constraint tool.
Click the three sloping lines (be sure that you do not select the midpoint of
the lines).
NOTE The cursor displays the constraint type. In the previous step, the vertical
symbol is displayed
3 Right-click the graphics window, and then choose Hide All Constraints.
4 Click the Return button on the Standard toolbar to exit the sketch.
Constraining Sketches | 35
TRY IT: Add constraints to a sketch
1 Double-click Sketch2 in the browser.
2 On the Standard toolbar, click the Zoom Window tool, and then drag a
window around the second sketch loop.
The second sketch loop is centered on your screen.
3 Click the arrow beside the Constraint tool in the panel bar or on the 2D
Sketch Panel toolbar to open the pop-up menu. Click the Colinear constraint
tool. Click the horizontal lines at the top of the sketch.
Your sketch should look like the following figure.
colinear lines
4 Press ESC to cancel the Colinear constraint tool. Drag the top-right
horizontal line down and note how the sketch changes. This is known as
constrained drag.
5 Click the down arrow beside the Constraint tool again, and then click the
Equal constraint tool. Click the horizontal line at the lower left of the sketch
and then click the horizontal line at the upper left.
Make the two horizontal lines on the right side equal to the line at the lower left.
Your sketch should look similar to the following figure.
3 Click the Show Constraints tool in the panel bar or on the 2D Sketch Panel
toolbar. Pause the cursor over the vertical line at the left of the sketch. The
constraints are displayed.
Your sketch should look like the following figure.
4 Move the cursor over the Equal constraint symbol, and then click to select it.
Right-click, and then select Delete to remove the constraint.
5 Click the down arrow beside the Constraint tool in the panel bar or the 2D
Sketch Panel toolbar to open the pop-up menu. Click the Horizontal
constraint tool.
Constraining Sketches | 37
6 Click the center point of the arc at the left of the sketch, and then click the
center point of the arc in the center of the sketch.
Repeat this process for the third center point.
Your sketch should look like the following figure.
7 Apply a tangent constraint to the arc and line at the left side of the sketch.
8 Apply equal constraints to the radii of the three arcs.
Your sketch should look like the following figure.
9 In the graphics background, right-click, and then click Finish Sketch to exit
the sketch.
Do not save the file.
End of exercise.
To create dimensions, you use the General Dimension tool in the panel bar
or on the 2D Sketch Panel toolbar. You select the sketch geometry you want
to dimension, and then place the dimension.
The selection of geometry and the placement of the dimension determine
the kind of dimension that is created. For example, if you select the edge of
one circle, a radial dimension is created. If you select the edges of two circles,
then a linear dimension is established between their center points.
Place Dimensions
Parametric dimensions define the size of your sketch. After you add a
dimension, you cannot change the size of a line or curve by dragging it. In
Autodesk Inventor, you cannot apply double dimensions to a sketch.
Dimensioning Sketches | 39
TRY IT: Create a parametric dimension
1 Create a sketch, or open an existing sketch.
2 In the Sketch environment, on the panel bar or on the 2D Sketch Panel
toolbar, click the General Dimension tool.
3 Select the sketch geometry you want to dimension, and then drag to a point
to display the dimension.
4 Double-click the dimension.
The Edit Dimension dialog box is displayed.
5 Enter a dimension value. You can enter numeric values or the parameter
names associated with other dimensions or equations.
Automatic Dimensions
You can also use the Auto Dimension tool in the panel bar or from the 2D
Sketch Panel toolbar to speed up the dimensioning process. You individually
select sketch geometry such as lines, arcs, circles, and vertices and
dimensions and constraints are automatically applied. If you don’t
individually select sketch geometry, all undimensioned sketched objects are
automatically dimensioned. The Auto Dimension tool provides a fast and
easy way to dimension sketches in a single step.
You can:
You can define dimensions with other dimension values. The names of
dimensions are parameters. When you edit a dimension, you can enter an
equation that uses one or more parameters.
You can display sketch dimensions in one of three forms:
■ Calculated value
■ Parameter name
■ Parameter name and calculated value
You can modify dimensions using the Edit Dimension dialog box. To display
the Edit Dimension dialog box, click the dimension when it is placed, or
double-click the dimension when the General Dimension tool is not active.
There are two ways to display the Edit Dimension dialog box upon
placement of a dimension:
■ On the Tools menu, choose Application Options > Sketch tab, and turn on
Edit Dimension when Created
■ With General Dimension active, right-click in the graphics window and
select Edit Dimension.
Dimension Types
In some cases the dimension preview does not meet the design intent. You
can change the dimension type by repositioning the dimension, or you can
right-click, and then select the desired type from the menu. You can also
control which type of linear dimension is applied by selecting and edge or a
vertex. For example, when you dimension an edge to a vertex, the dimension
automatically aligns itself with the edge.
Diametric Dimensions
In the design process of creating a revolved part, you can add a centerline as
the axis of rotation. If this centerline is used in a sketch dimension, it is
placed as a diametric dimension by default.
Dimensioning Sketches | 41
Driven Dimensions
You can place driven dimensions with Autodesk Inventor, and you can
change the dimension type of an existing dimension to driven. A driven
dimension reflects the size of the geometry, but you can’t edit the dimension
value. Use driven dimensions to display dimension values for reference
purposes only.
■ For an existing dimension, select the dimension, and then select the
Driven dimension button from the Standard toolbar.
■ To create driven dimensions on the fly, while the General Dimension tool
is active, select the Driven dimension button from the Standard toolbar.
Dimension Profiles
In this exercise, you add dimensional constraints to a sketch. The completed
exercise is shown in the following figure.
6 Click the dimension to display the Edit Dimension dialog box. Enter 135,
and then click the check mark.
Dimensioning Sketches | 43
In this example, you clicked the dimension to display the dialog box. If you
are placing many dimensions, you can display the Edit Dimension dialog
box automatically.
7 With the General Dimension tool active, right-click the graphics window
background, and select Edit Dimension from the context menu.
8 Complete the dimensional constraints as follows:
Add a dimension of 10.
Dimensioning Sketches | 45
Add dimensions of 25 and 30.
9 Right-click the graphics window and select Done from the context menu to
exit the General Dimension tool.
Notice that the Auto Dimension dialog box now indicates that two dimen-
sions are required. This is due to two missing Fix constraints.
5 Click Done in the Auto Dimension dialog box to close it.
6 In the sketch, select and reposition dimensions so they are easier to read.
Dimensioning Sketches | 47
Tips for Creating Dimensions
■ Place critical dimensions using the General Dimension tool, and then use
Auto Dimension to speed up the dimensioning process. For remaining
objects to dimension, you may find it faster to automatically dimension
all sketch geometry. You can then delete undesired dimensions instead of
selecting sketch geometry individually for automatic dimensioning.
■ If Auto Dimension doesn’t dimension your sketch as desired, you can
experiment with selecting some of the sketch geometry to control how
automatic dimensions are applied.
■ If you use automatic dimensions, you may find it easier to accept sketch
default dimension values, and then edit them with correct values in an
order (usually large to small) that lets you control sketch behavior.
■ Use geometric constraints when possible. For example, place a
perpendicular constraint instead of using a dimension value of 90 degrees.
■ Place large dimensions before small ones.
■ Incorporate relationships between dimensions.
■ Consider both dimensional and geometric constraints to meet the overall
design intent.
Modifying Sketches
After you create sketch geometry, you can refine and adjust the proportions
of the sketch by applying dimensions or geometric constraints. You can also
drag any unconstrained or underconstrained geometry.
horizontally aligned
Patterning Sketches
You can use the Circular and Rectangular pattern tools on the Sketch toolbar
to create patterns of your original sketch. The pattern geometry is fully
constrained. These constraints are maintained as a group; if you remove the
pattern constraints, all constraints to the pattern geometry are deleted.
Patterning Sketches | 49
Workflow overview: Create a circular sketch pattern
1 Use sketch tools to create the geometry to include in the pattern.
2 Click the Circular Pattern tool on the Sketch toolbar and then select the
sketch geometry to pattern.
3 In the Circular Pattern dialog box, click the Axis button, and then select the
point, vertex, or work axis to use as the pattern axis.
4 In the Count box, specify the number of elements in the pattern.
5 In the Angle box, specify the angle to use for the circular pattern.
6 If desired, click the More button, and then choose one or more options:
Delete sketches
If a sketch has been used in a feature, you cannot delete the sketch. You can edit
the feature sketch and delete sketch geometry, but the feature may not update
properly. You may need to edit the sketch or feature to recover the feature.
NOTE To delete individual sketch curves, edit the sketch, select the curve, and
then press Delete.
You can remove dimensional constraints from a sketch, and allow the sketch
to resize as needed. Parts with adaptive features resize in assemblies when
they are constrained to fixed geometry.
Delete sketches | 51
Workflow overview: Delete sketch dimensions
1 Right-click the sketch in the browser and choose Edit Sketch.
2 Click the Select tool.
3 Right-click the dimension in the graphics window and select Delete.
NOTE If the sketch is part of a feature, click Update after you delete
dimensions.
In This Chapter
2
In this chapter, you learn about parametric part ■ Parametric part modeling
■ Analyzing models for workflow
modeling and the process for creating sketched features
■ Using part templates
on parts.
■ Creating base features
■ Creating sketched features
■ Modifying features
53
Parametric Part Modeling
A part model is a collection of features. Parametric modeling gives you the
flexibility to design solid models that are intelligent. In parametric modeling,
when you adjust the parameters that control the size and shape of a model,
you can quickly see the effect of your modifications.
To create a 3D part model in Autodesk Inventor®, you extrude sketch
geometry, sweep or project sketch geometry along a path, or revolve sketch
geometry around an axis. These models are often called solids because they
enclose volume, unlike wireframe models which only define edges. The solid
models in Autodesk Inventor are feature-based and persistent.
Feature-based means that a part is a combination of features such as holes,
flanges, fillets, and bosses.
Persistent means that you can edit the characteristics of a feature by returning
to its underlying sketch or changing the values used in feature creation. For
example, you can change the length of an extruded feature by entering a new
value for the extent of the extrusion. You can also use equations to derive one
dimension from another.
You can create five kinds of features using Autodesk Inventor. They are
sketched, placed, work, pattern, and catalog. Some features require that you
create sketches or paths, while others do not. Some represent visible
geometry, and some, such as work features, help you precisely position
geometry on a part. A feature can be edited at any time.
Parent/child relationships exist between features, which means that one
feature controls another. There can be multiple levels of parent/child
relationships. A child feature is created after the parent feature. A child
feature cannot exist without a parent feature. For example, you can create a
boss on a casting, and it may or may not have a hole drilled in it, depending
on the application. The boss (the parent) can exist without the hole (the
child), but the hole cannot exist without the boss.
Base Features
The first feature you create in a part is called the base feature. The base feature
is most commonly based on a sketch profile, and represents the most basic
shape in the part. The base feature may also be an imported base solid (.sat
or.step file format). You can also create a work feature as the base feature.
You can add or delete constraints later to modify the shape of the sketch.
Dimensions define the size of the objects in your sketch.
4 Click the General Dimension tool in the panel bar or from the Sketch toolbar
and apply dimensions.
You can change the lengths of lines and the radii of arcs within the sketch at
a later time.
7 Document the part in an Autodesk Inventor drawing file to create the desired
annotated 2D drawing views.
Any time during the part modeling process, you can create a drawing file
(.idw) and begin making a fabrication drawing of your part. Changes you
make to your part are automatically reflected in drawing views of the part.
Extrude Features
Use the Extrude tool to create a feature by adding depth to an open or closed
profile or a region.
Revolve Features
Use the Revolve tool on the Part Feature panel bar to create a feature by
rotating one or more sketched profiles around an axis. The axis and the
profile must be coplanar. If this is the first feature, it is the base feature.
Loft Features
Use the Loft tool on the Part Features panel bar to blend the shapes of two or
more profiles on work planes or planar faces.
To use an existing face as the beginning or end of a loft, create a sketch on the
face so the edges of the face are selectable for the loft. If using the loop of a
planar or non planar face, select it directly without creating a sketch on the face.
NOTE If there is more than one loop in a sketch, first select the sketch, and
then select the curve or loop.
Workflow overview: Set the sketch plane and create profile geometry for a rib
1 Create a work plane to use as the sketch plane.
2 Click the 2D Sketch tool, and then click the work plane or a planar face to set
the sketch plane.
3 Use the Look At tool to reorient the sketch.
4 Use tools on the Sketch toolbar to create an open profile to represent the rib
shape.
rib web
Modifying Features
There are several methods available to modify an existing feature. In the
browser, right-click a feature, and then use one of three options on the menu:
Show Displays the sketch dimensions so you can edit them.
Dimensions
■ Change the dimensions of a feature sketch.
■ Change, add, or delete constraints
After you modify a part sketch, exit the sketch and the
part is updated automatically.
Edit Feature Opens the dialog box for that feature.
■ Choose a different method to terminate the feature
■ Choose whether the feature joins, cuts, or intersects
another feature.
In This Chapter
3
In this chapter, you learn about placing and editing ■ Holes
■ Fillets
features on parts. The procedures step you through
■ Chamfers
creation of holes, fillets, chamfers, threads, shells, and
■ Threads
patterns. ■ Shells
■ Patterns of features
■ Mirror features
■ Analyzing faces
67
Adding Placed Features
Placed features are common engineering features that do not require a sketch
when you create them with Autodesk Inventor. When you create these
features, you usually provide only the location and a few dimensions. The
standard placed features are shell, fillet, chamfer, face draft, hole, and thread.
A single placed feature can be used to create feature patterns. A feature pattern
feature is a rectangular, circular, or mirrored duplication of features or groups
of features. Individual occurrences in a pattern can be suppressed, as necessary.
These are some of the tools for placed features, located on the Part Features
panel bar:
Fillet Places a fillet or round on selected edges.
Chamfer Breaks sharp edges. Can add material to an inside edge.
Hole Places a specified hole in a part.
Thread Creates regular and tapered external and internal threads
on parts.
Shell Produces a hollow part with a wall thickness you define.
Rectangular Creates a rectangular pattern of features.
Pattern
Circular Creates a circular pattern of features.
Pattern
Mirror Feature Creates a mirror image across a plane, line, or axis.
Dialog boxes define values for placed features, such as the Hole dialog box in
the following illustration.
■ Drill
■ Counterbore
■ Countersink
You can specify hole depth using one of three termination options: Distance,
Through All, and To.
Custom thread and end options can be specified in these hole operations.
Use the Drill Point option to set flat or angle drill points.
The following illustration shows examples of drilled, counterbored,
countersunk, and tapped holes.
When you create a tapped hole, the tap data is stored with the hole and the
threads are displayed when any isometric view is active.
6 Click OK.
The hole you defined is placed on the face.
2 Click the Sketch tool on the Standard toolbar, and then click the rectangular
face.
The edges of the face and arc centers are projected onto the new sketch,
allowing you to position the hole features.
3 In the graphics background, right-click, and then click Finish Sketch to close
the sketch tool.
5 Click OK.
The hole feature is created, and is added to the browser. Notice that one
feature defines all four holes.
You can use the All Fillets and All Rounds selection modes to apply fillets to
multiple edges as shown in the following figure.
When you create variable radius fillets and rounds, you choose between a
smooth blend from one radius to another and a straight blend between radii.
The method you choose depends on your part design and the way adjacent
part features blend into the edge.
You can also specify points between the start and endpoints of a selected
edge, and then define their relative distances from the start point and their
radii. This provides flexibility when creating variable radius fillets and
rounds.
You can model special fillet applications where more than three edges
converge. You can choose a different radius for each converging edge, if
needed.
To find the radius of an existing fillet, right-click the feature in the browser,
and then choose Show Dimensions. The fillet radius is displayed on your part.
■ Distance
■ Distance and Angle
■ Two Distances
A distance chamfer creates a new face at an equal distance along the two faces
that meet at the selected edge. A Distance and Angle chamfer is established
at a distance from the edge and at an angle from a selected face. A two
distances chamfer creates a new face at different offset distances from the
edge.
NOTE You may need to rotate the model to select the appropriate edges.
Press F6 to return to the default isometric view.
Next, you add different distance chamfers to complete the basic shape of the
socket support.
edge selection
Click the Direction button to see how the preview changes when the
distances are switched.
8 Click the Direction button again to return to the original settings, and then
click OK to create the chamfer feature.
9 Repeat this process to add the same size chamfer to the other side of the part.
Next, you add fillets to complete the final shape of the part.
2 Rotate the part, and then select the same two edges on the other side. In the
Fillet dialog box, change the radius to 16 mm.
3 Under the edges and radius text, click the line that reads Click to Add. For the
next set of edges, select the two vertical edges at the corners at the top of the
part.
4 Change the radius for the fillet to 32 mm. When your dialog box and preview
look like the following figure, click OK.
6 In the Fillet dialog box, enter 30 mm for the radius, and then click the Click
to Add text button.
7 Select the two horizontal edges shown in the following figure.
8 In the Fillet dialog box, change the radius for the second selection set to
22 mm. Click the Click to Add text button to create a third selection set.
9 Rotate the model and select the horizontal edge on the back face directly
opposite the second selection set. Enter 10 mm for the radius. When your
dialog box and preview look like the following figure, click OK.
10 Click Fillet, and then select the three edges where the rib meets the cylinder
at the top of the part. Change the radius to 2 mm, and then click OK.
11 Click Fillet. Select the two front edges of the rib, and then select the back
edge of the rib (A). These edges are added to the selection set.
12 Select the three edges on each side where the base meets the other features (B).
13 In the Fillet dialog box, select the Loop option in the Select Mode section.
Select anywhere on the back edge of the part above the base (C). Notice how
the Loop option automatically selected additional edges.
14 Verify that the fillet radius is set to 2 mm. When your preview looks like the
following figure, click OK. The fillet fails, and an error box is displayed.
17 Add a 2 mm fillet to the edges where the base meets the other features of the
part. Notice how the fillets from Fillet 4 connect all the edges so only one
selection point is required on each side.
The completed part looks like the following figure.
Thread Features
In this exercise, use the Thread tool to create custom threads on mating faces
of a plastic bottle and cap.
3 In the graphics window or browser, select the cap, and then right-click and
turn off visibility in the context menu.
4 In the graphics window or browser, double-click the bottle to activate editing
mode.
5 Click the Thread tool on the Part Features panel bar.
NOTE You can temporarily change the part color in order to see the threads
more easily.
9 Click the Return button to exit edit mode for the bottle, and then turn off
visibility for the bottle.
10 In the browser, double-click cap:1 to activate editing mode.
11 Repeat steps 5 through 8 and select the inside surface of the cap as shown in
the following figure.
12 Double-click the assembly in the browser, turn on visibility of the bottle, and
then restore the Isometric view.
Shell Features
The Shell tool uses a specified wall thickness to create a hollow cavity in a
part. It removes material from a part by offsetting existing faces to create new
ones on the inside, outside, or both sides of the part. Use the shell feature to
create multisided parts like casings or enclosures. A part can have multiple
shell features.
When you start the shelling process, you specify which part faces to remove
or offset, and you can specify a unique wall thickness for each face on a part.
Use the Shell tool on the Part Features panel bar to remove material from a
part interior, creating a cavity with walls of a specified thickness.
Start with a single feature, a part, or a part in an assembly.
Rectangular Patterns
Features can be duplicated and arrayed in a rectangular or circular pattern. In
the first part of this exercise, you create a single hole and then use it to add
a rectangular pattern of holes to a plastic cover plate. You also complete an
exercise that uses a circular pattern.
The following is an illustration of the completed exercises.
2 On the Standard toolbar click Sketch, and then click the top surface of the part.
3 In the Part Features panel bar, click the Point, Hole Center tool, and then
click a point anywhere in the lower left corner of the part.
4 On the Standard toolbar, click Return, and then in the panel bar, click the
Hole tool.
5 In the Hole dialog box, Placement, select Linear. Click the Face button, and
then select the top face of the part.
6 In the Hole dialog box, click the Reference1 button.
7 In the graphics window, click the leftmost edge of the part for Reference 1,
and then the bottom edge for Reference 2.
Dimensions from the part edges to the hole center are displayed.
9 In the Holes dialog box, Termination, select Through All, and verify the hole
diameter is 3 mm.
Click OK.
The hole is created in the part according to the specifications you entered.
Click OK.
occurrences to suppress
The occurrences are suppressed, and your part looks like the following figure.
Circular Patterns
In a previous exercise, you added hole features to a cylinder head for a face
valve pump. In this exercise, you create a circular pattern using the
counterbored hole.
2 In the Part Features panel bar, click the Circular Pattern tool.
Click OK.
The circular pattern is added to the part.
7 To create a pattern with multiple rows, click Direction 2, and then set the row
direction, count, and spacing, distance, or curve length.
■ If appropriate, click Start, and then click a point on the path to indicate
the start of one or both columns. If path is a closed loop, a start point is
required.
■ Under Compute, choose Optimized to create optimized pattern, Identical
to create identical features, or Adjust to Model to terminate features when
encounter a face.
■ Under Orientation, select Identical to orient all features the same as the
first selected, or Direction 1 or Direction 2 to specify which path controls
the rotation of pattern features.
9 Choose OK.
■ To suppress all occurrences, select the pattern icon in the browser, right-
click, and then select Suppress.
■ To suppress an individual occurrence, expand the pattern icon in the
browser, select the occurrence, right-click, and then select Suppress.
■ To restore all occurrences, select the pattern icon in the browser, right-
click, and then select Unsuppress Features.
■ To restore individual occurrences, expand the pattern icon in the browser,
select the occurrence, right-click, and then select Unsuppress.
■ To hide all work features in all pattern occurrences, select the pattern icon
in the browser, right-click, and then select Hide All Work Features.
■ To hide an individual work feature in a pattern occurrence, expand the
pattern icon in the browser. Expand the occurrence icon in the browser,
select the work feature, right-click, and then switch off the Visibility
option.
■ To restore all work features in all pattern occurrences, select the pattern
icon in the browser, right-click, and then select Show All Work Features.
■ To restore individual work features, expand the pattern icon in the
browser. Expand the occurrence icon in the browser, select the work
feature, right-click, and then switch on the Visibility option.
Analyzing Faces
Analyzing faces provides information for evaluating surface quality. Zebra-
pattern analysis is used to show continuity between surfaces. Draft analysis
is used to evaluate if a model can be manufactured by casting. A spectrum
shows draft angle changes within a specified range.
You define analysis styles for a specific model. Each model may have multiple
analysis definitions. For example, you can define several ways to analyze a
particular set of surfaces on the same model.
Analyzing Faces | 97
Workflow overview: Analyze part faces
1 Open a part file or double-click a part in an assembly.
2 In the Tools menu, click Analyze Faces.
3 In the Analyze Faces dialog box, click the Zebra style or Draft analysis style
button.
4 In the style list, select the style you want to use.
5 Select Part to analyze the entire part, or Faces to analyze selected faces and
then select the appropriate geometry.
6 For draft analysis, click an edge or an axis to specify the pull direction. If
appropriate, click Flip to reverse the direction.
7 Click OK to analyze. If you prefer, click Apply to analyze and keep the dialog
box open, and then select another analysis style.
Zebra Style
The zebra style analyzes faces by projecting parallel lines onto the model.
Results show curvatures on the face to help identify areas that may be flat
(stripes are parallel) or that are not continuously tangent (stripes are jagged
where the curvature is not constant).
The default draft style is named Primary Zebra. You can create a new style
based on an existing style. You specify the direction that shows the most
contrast between stripes to indicate transition between surfaces, stripe
thickness by relative proportion of black to white, and opacity of stripes.
Analyzing Faces | 99
100
Creating and Editing
Work Features
In This Chapter
4
In this chapter, you learn about creating and editing ■ About work features
■ Work planes
work features.
■ Work axes
■ Work points
■ Editing work features
101
Defining Work Features
Work features are abstract construction geometry that you can use when
other geometry is insufficient for creating and positioning new features. To
fix position and shape, constrain features to work features.
Work features include work planes, work axes, and work points. The proper
orientation and constraint conditions are inferred from the geometry you
select and the order in which you select it.
The work feature tools provide on-screen prompts to help you with selection
and placement. You can:
■ Create and use work features in the part, assembly, sheet metal, and 3D
sketch environments.
■ Use and refer to work features in the drawing environment.
■ Project work features into a 2D sketch.
■ Create work features on the fly to help you define a 3D sketch. Work
features can be adaptive.
■ Turn the visibility of work features on or off.
Work Planes
A work plane is a flat plane extending infinitely in all directions along one
plane. A work plane is similar to the default origin YZ, XZ, and XY planes.
However, you create the work plane as needed, using existing features,
planes, axes, or points to locate the work plane.
Use a work plane to:
Work Axes
A work axis is a straight vector extending infinitely in two directions. A work
axis is similar to the default origin X, Y, and Z axes, however, you create the
work axis as needed, using existing features, planes, or points to locate the
work axis.
Use a work axis to:
■ Create work planes and work points.
■ Project into a 2D sketch to create curves for profile geometry or reference.
■ Provide a line of rotation for a revolved feature.
■ Provide a reference for assembly constraints.
■ Provide a reference for drawing dimensions.
■ Provide reference for a 3D sketch.
■ Provide reference for a circular pattern.
■ Create lines of symmetry.
The following illustrations show some of the methods you can use to define
a work axis.
The following illustrations show some of the methods you can use to define
a work point.
The hole was created from a sketch on the work plane, making the hole
dependent on the work plane.
A work axis was added to the hole, making the work axis dependent on the
hole.
The angle of the plane is modified to 15 degrees and the hole and work axis
adjust accordingly.
In This Chapter
5
In this chapter, you learn about how the projects ■ Types of projects
■ Activating projects
functionality works to organize and manage your data.
■ Setting up projects
You learn to plan and set up your projects based on your
■ Folder structures in projects
107
Key Terms
Term Description
active project The project that Autodesk Inventor automatically defaults to when opening,
saving, or editing components. Can be a project you have specified or the
default installed project.
cancel check out Clears the check-out status of the file and does not save edits. In semi-isolated
projects, the file is removed from the workspace, so it is made available for other
designers to check out for editing from the workgroup.
default project A blank project installed with Autodesk Inventor. In the absence of a defined
project, the default project is active.
editable locations Folders where parts you create are stored. In a project, editable locations are the
workspace and workgroup search paths. Use only one editable location per
project.
file check in/check out In semi-isolated or shared projects, check out reserves a file and marks it in the
file status browser to prevent multiple designers from editing it simultaneously.
The check-in tool makes the file available for others to check out. In semi-isolated
projects, the check-out tool copies files to your personal workspace and check in
copies them back to the workgroup. In shared projects, other designers see your
saved edits when they open the checked-out file.
file status browser In a multi-user project, a browser pane shows the status for each open file.
Performs operations such as check out, check in, cancel check out, and refresh.
frequently used Named subfolders of project folders (including libraries) that are frequently
subfolders accessed. Folders are not used to resolve references or store references. They are
listed on file access dialogs so that you can easily locate the folders. The path to
frequently used subfolders always begins with the name of the project root
folder.
included file A semi-isolated master project shared by the design team is included in
individual projects so that all data in the workgroup folder are accessible and
managed from a single project.
libraries Libraries are project locations containing read-only files that are referenced, but
not edited. Within a project, each library must have a unique name. Within a
library, give each file a unique name.
master project In semi-isolated projects, data is shared by the group. The master project
specifies the workgroup location and libraries used by the entire design team.
nested folder locations A root project location defined as a subfolder of another folder in the project
search paths. They are shown in red in the Project Editor because they may cause
file reference errors. Avoid specifying search paths that point to nested folders in
projects.
options Project settings that define such things as the number of old file versions to keep
and whether unique file names are being used. Release ID (such as a project
version) and Owner (such as who controls the released project) are intended for
use with released projects.
project A text file with an .ipj extension that defines single or multi-user types, number of
versions to save, and file storage locations for both edited and referenced files.
project shortcut When you create a new project or browse to an existing project, a shortcut is
created in the projects folder to create a link to the project file. Project shortcuts are
used by the Project Editor to create the list of available projects in the project list
pane.
projects folder A folder location for each designer where shortcuts to projects are stored. The
default folder is under My Documents.
proxy file When you place a Mechanical Desktop part as a component in an assembly,
Autodesk Inventor® creates a proxy file that contains links to the Mechanical
Desktop file and the translated data. Typically, the original Mechanical Desktop
file is stored in a library and the translated proxy files are stored in a proxy library.
The proxy library has the same name as the Mechanical Desktop library except
that it is preceded by an underscore (_) character. Similarly, iParts are typically
stored in a library. When a member part is generated, it is stored in a proxy
library that uses the same naming convention.
referenced file A file used in the current design. A referenced file may be editable or it may be
read-only, as in the case of library parts.
relative path In projects, paths are relative to the location of the projects file (.ipj). Autodesk
Inventor uses relative paths to locate referenced files.
root folder The top-level folder in a project search path. It contains the project file. Data files
in subfolders nested under the root folder are located by a relative path from the
root folder. Store all files that belong to the current project in a root folder or one
of its subfolders.
search paths The file locations specified in a project. When you open a file, Autodesk Inventor
searches all the paths specified in the active project to find referenced files.
semi-isolated project Designers share a workgroup and library locations, but edit files in a personal
workspace. Check out and check in operations copy files between the workgroup
and workspace locations. The file status browser shows check-out status of files.
Other designers do not see changes until the files are checked back into the
workgroup location.
shared project Designers share the same project and file locations. Check out reserves a
workgroup file so that only one designer can edit it at a time. Files are not copied
to a personal workspace so saved edits are visible to all designers. The file status
browser shows file check-out status. Cancel check out does not restore a file to its
state before check out.
single user project Data file locations are located in the workspace of the project. Files within the
project are accessed by one user and one Autodesk® Inventor session at a time.
Files are not checked in or out.
storage locations Folders on a local computer or network that contain design files. Storage
locations are identified by search paths in a project as a workspace, workgroup,
or library.
styles library A folder defined in the project Folder Options that specifies where the style
definitions used in the project are located. The default is the Design Data folder.
subfolders A folder nested below a specified folder that contains data files. A file in a
subfolder is referenced by a relative path from the root (parent) folder.
templates folder A folder defined in the project Folder Options that specifies where the templates
used to create new files for the project are located. The default is the templates
folder created during setup.
type The type of project (formerly, the Multiuser option). Types may be Single User,
Shared, Semi-isolated Workspace, Semi-isolated Master, or Vault. Project type
determines certain restrictions and options, enables collaboration, and file check-
in and check out. Autodesk Vault must be installed to use the Vault project type.
UNC path A system for naming files (Universal Naming Convention) so that a file name has
the same path regardless of its computer location (for example:
..\\computername\sharename\relativepath\filename.ext). Used to identify folder
locations when relative paths are not used. The shared folder must be accessible
to all design team members with read privileges for the library, and read/write
privileges for workgroups.
workgroup location Workgroup folder locations are defined in the project workgroup search path
and are the master project locations used by shared and semi-isolated projects
for file check out and check in.
workspace location A personal location where you edit your personal copy of design files in single-
user, semi-isolated, and vault projects. For single-user and vault projects, the
workspace should be the only defined editable location. Only one designer
should use a project with a defined workspace in a single session of Autodesk
Inventor at a time.
Activate Projects
The active project specifies the options and paths to folders containing
design files and libraries. When you work on a different design project, you
must make its project active before you can create or edit data files.
The lower pane of the Projects dialog box reflects information about the
selected project in the top pane.
■ File references are stored as a relative path from the project root
containing it. If the file is in a library, the library name is also stored.
■ If the referenced file is not in a project root folder, but the file is stored in
the same folder or a subfolder of the file that references it, the reference is
stored as a relative path.
To avoid file resolution problems, projects always use relative paths rather
than absolute paths so the reference paths are relative to a project file
location (the workgroup for the master project, the workspace for personal
projects, or to a named library).
Always save new files in the workspace or workgroup defined for your project
or one of its subfolders.
Except for library files, a file can be moved to a different non library location
specified in the project, as long as the relative path is maintained.
Library locations contain library components or other files that are referenced
by another file, but not edited. Autodesk Inventor searches for a library
reference in the library location named in the project.
NOTE When you install Autodesk Inventor, you can set an option to edit
content library files. Be very cautious when using this option because other
designs that reference an edited content library file are affected.
Because other design groups may also use the same library parts, the same
library locations may be specified in multiple projects. It is a good practice to
make library locations and the files in them read-only.
For more information see “Creating or Opening Files In Projects” on page
133.
Setting Up Projects
To effectively manage your data files, assess the requirements of your design
team for access and security. You set the project type when you create or edit
a project. The type determines where files can be edited and saved, who has
access to files, and check-in and check-out behavior.
It is a good practice to set up your file structure and understand who can
access the file data before you create a project.
Project Types
Autodesk Inventor has four project types:
■ Single user
■ Shared
■ Semi-isolated (workspace and master versions)
■ Vault (Autodesk® Vault must be installed to use this project.)
When multiple designers must have access to data, it is recommended that
you install Autodesk Vault because of its extensive data management
capabilities, such as keeping all versions of a file and giving you the ability to
search and query design data. If the vault is not installed, the semi-isolated
project has greater flexibility than shared projects. Use single user projects if
you work alone or if no one else needs access to your files.
■ All design files are in one folder (the workspace) and its subdirectories,
except for files referenced from libraries.
■ Original files are stored in a personal workspace that is intended to be used
by only a single user.
■ Store the project file (.ipj) in the workspace (root) folder and specify .\ as
the workspace.
■ The file check-out status is not available in the browser.
Frequently Used Subfolders One or more may be defined, each identifying a subfolder of
the workspace or one of the libraries.
Shared Projects
Shared user projects are only appropriate for small design groups with well-
defined roles for editing files. Of the multi-user projects, shared is the least
flexible because all design team members share a single workgroup location.
A shared project defines a workgroup location and one or more library
locations. Locate the Workgroup at .\ and place the project (.ipj) in the
workgroup folder.
■ Share the workgroup location, where they make and save file changes.
■ Open, work on, and save the original files directly in the workgroup
folders where they are stored, rather than copy them to a local workspace.
■ Can see when someone has a file checked out and are prevented from
replacing the work of one another. Note that checking out a file does not
protect it from being moved, copied, or deleted using Microsoft®
Windows® Explorer.
■ Can check in or check out files. Unlike vault or semi-isolated projects,
cancel check out does not restore the file to the pre-checkout state.
■ Always have access to the most up-to-date versions when they open files
or refresh them.
■ Can use a file status browser to view the check-out status of project files in
the workgroup locations, and check files in and out. Canceling a check
out makes it available to other designers but does not restore it to its state
before check out.
Type Shared
Libraries One or more defined. Use UNC paths and provide read
access to the library folder for each design team member.
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 will break
library references.
Frequently Used Subfolders One or more may be defined, each identifying a subfolder of
one of the workgroups or libraries.
When you check in or save a file, the previous version is moved to the
OldVersions folder. Any designer that already had the file open will continue
to access that version until they refresh or close and reopen the file. Because
the workspace is private, other designers should not have access to it.
When working in semi-isolated projects, a master project defines the shared
workgroups and libraries. Each designer has a personal project that defines
only a workspace and includes a path to the master project.
Location One workgroup location defined at .\. The project file (.ipj)
must be in a shared folder with read and write privileges for
all members of the design team.
Frequently Used Subfolders Typically, none are defined in the master project but
individual workspace projects specify each designers own
frequently used folders.
Workgroup location Not defined. Inherited from the master project file.
Included file Location of the workgroup project using a UNC path. You
can browse to the included file from the project editor or
enter the path.
Frequently Used Subfolders One or more may be defined, each identifying a subfolder of
the workspace or one of the workgroups or libraries.
Folder Options Not defined. Inherited from the master project file.
Vault Projects
To use the vault, the Autodesk Vault software must be installed. Designers
never view or work directly on the vaulted version of a file. Each designer
uses a project file that defines a personal workspace where Autodesk Vault
copies the vaulted files for viewing and editing. Changes to files made by
other designers, and checked back into the vault, are not visible until you
refresh your files to get the latest versions in your workspace. Autodesk Vault
maintains copies of all of the previous checked-in versions of data files, and
stores additions about edit history, file properties, and file dependencies in
its database. You can set up queries on file properties, track file references,
and retrieve past configurations.
For a vault project, you must have a workspace located at a path relative to the
project file folder (such as .\ or .\workspace) and no other editable locations.
Type Vault
Frequently Used Subfolders One or more may be defined, using folders in the workgroup
hierarchy. Named subfolders are listed in the Open dialog
box to assist in locating files. Not used for file resolution.
■ Follow your company standards and naming conventions for the project
folders.
■ If you plan to edit files from existing designs, copy them to a subfolder of
the workspace or workgroup.
NOTE Set the project option Using Unique File Names to Yes. Avoid using
duplicate names, even when naming files in different paths, so that you do not
confuse locations or documents, or overwrite files.
Read-only Data
Your company may have unique stock parts or assemblies that are reused.
Because these parts were created in-house, you may not think of them as
library parts. However, treat them like library parts since you do not intend
to edit them. For your purposes, they are exactly like library parts because
you reference them, but do not change them.
You cannot edit files in libraries. To safeguard your custom data, consider
designating read-only and reference-only data folders as libraries in projects:
■ When creating or editing a project, you can name one or more libraries.
When adding a library location, browse to the root folder and select it. The
root folder and all of its subfolders are now accessible as libraries.
■ The library name is saved with the reference, so Autodesk Inventor always
recognizes a reference to a file from a library as specific to that library.
■ When giving the design to a vendor or archiving it, you can copy only the
library files you referenced instead of the whole folder. Your references
remain intact.
NOTE When you install Autodesk Inventor, you can set an option to edit
Content Center files. Use caution because other designs that reference the
edited Content Center file are affected.
Libraries One or more One or more One or more Inherited from One or more not
master nested under
workspace
NOTE In the Project Editor, select the master project before you create a semi-
isolated workspace project so that its location is automatically entered in the
Master Project File box.
■ Click the right arrow to move a library location to the New Project.
■ Click the left arrow to remove a library location from the New Project.
The Library location box shows the location of a library selected in the left
or right panes.
7 Click Finish to complete definition of the project file.
Once the project is created, highlight it in the Project Editor, and then
customize it by setting options.
■ The project type of an included project file overrides the setting in the
recipient project file. You cannot override the type setting of an included
project.
■ The administrator can create a master project that includes all the
workgroup and library locations and settings needed for the entire design
project. Each designer creates a personal project with only the workspace
and Included file specified. Designers share the same project settings and
the common paths from the included file, and need to set only a personal
workspace. If a workgroup or library location is added to the master
project, the Included path means that each personal project is
automatically updated when you refresh or reopen the file.
Workspace
A workspace is intended to contain files that you are editing. They are not
accessible by other designers and changes you save to the workspace are not
visible to other designers. The workspace may be a network location, but
your files open faster if you specify your local hard disk.
You can specify a workspace in single-user or semi-isolated projects, but not
shared projects. In vault projects, the workspace is required and is the only
editable location. It must be in a subfolder or the same folder as the folder
containing the project (.ipj) file.
NOTE When naming libraries, remember that files using a library part store
the library name and relative path from the library folder. If you later need to
rename the library, all the library references will be broken.
You typically create library locations for Library parts that you or someone
else created, such as iPart factories and other parts that will not be edited.
Keep in mind:
Workflow overview: Set Library locations for Mechanical Desktop parts and
proxy files
1 Verify that all Autodesk Inventor files are closed.
2 In the Project Editor, double-click a project to activate it.
3 In the lower pane, right-click Libraries, and then click Add Path on the menu.
Add a new named path for the Mechanical Desktop file.
4 Right-click the newly-created library location, and then click Add Proxy Path
on the menu.
5 Continue to define libraries as needed, assigning a descriptive name to each
library.
Workflow overview: Set library locations for iPart factories and proxy files
1 Verify that all Autodesk Inventor files are closed.
2 In the project editor, double-click a project to activate it.
3 In the lower pane, right-click Libraries, and then click Add Path on the menu.
Add a new named path for the iPart factory location.
4 Right-click the new library location, and then click Add Proxy Path on the
menu.
5 Continue to define library locations as needed, assigning a descriptive name
to each library.
NOTE If you specified Frequently Used Subfolders in the project options, they
are also listed in the Locations pane.
In the illustration of the tuner assembly, two new parts are listed at the
bottom of the browser. When you use the Create In-Place Component tool,
you specify the location where you want to store the part.
To view the File Status browser in a semi-isolated or shared project, click the
arrow in the browser header, and then click File Status.
The names of the new parts indicate that the first part (New Workgroup Part)
was set to be saved to a workgroup location and the second part (New
Workspace Part) was set to be saved to a workspace location. Neither has yet
been saved and are marked with an asterisk to indicate the files have been
modified.
The next illustration shows that the new parts have been saved. The first part
is saved to the workgroup or one of its subfolders and is designated by a status
of . The second part is saved to the workspace or one of its subfolders and
its status is .
Note that the file will be checked in at the same path relative to the
workgroup as you saved it relative to the workspace.
When you try to resolve a file of unknown status, the Resolve Checkout
dialog box opens. By selecting a project workgroup from the drop-down list,
you can specify where you want to store the file.
After you use Resolve Checkout, the file initially saved to the workspace has
a status of to show that the file is checked out and that the file in the
workspace is a different version than the one in the workgroup.
If a workspace file has never been checked in, the file in the workgroup is
conceptually a version 0 and contains only the checkout information. If you
cancel such a check out, the workgroup file is also removed.
NOTE Do not copy or edit files if you have not checked them out. If you do,
you risk having your work replaced by another designer who checks out the files.
Check-out properties are placed in the workgroup file and the workspace files
indicating:
When you save a new file in the workgroup, it is automatically checked out
to you. Other users cannot edit the file until you check it in.
Workflow overview: Check out files using the file status browser
1 In the part or assembly browser, right-click the title bar, and then click File
Status on the menu. The File Status browser is displayed with status icons to
the left of each file listed.
2 In the File Status browser, right-click a file name with the Available for check
out status icon in front of it.
3 Click Check Out on the menu.
Once you check out files, they are automatically copied to your personal
workspace for editing.
When files are associated with a project, a status box is shown beside each
file in the File Status browser. The status box is missing if the file is in a library
or outside the project altogether.
Symbol Definition
You checked out the file, but have not saved edits.
The file is checked out by someone else and is unavailable for edits.
There is a discrepancy between the Check Out status of the file in the
workgroup and the workspace. The most common reason is that a new file
was created and saved to the workspace. Because the file was never checked
in, it is unknown to other users. On the File Status menu, you can use the
Resolve option to define the status of the file.
The file is out of date relative to the most current version available. This
results from someone else updating a file in the workgroup (check out in
semi-isolated mode or save in shared mode) that you currently have open. To
see the latest version, you must reopen the assembly or use the Refresh tool.
You canceled the check out of a file that you edited and saved to your
workspace. However, what you currently see is the edited file (now in the
OldVersions folder in the workspace) and not the original on the server. To see
the current version on the server, you must reopen the assembly or use the
Refresh tool.
Refresh Browser
Show Unresolved
Show Edited
Show All
You use the Refresh Browser button to synchronize the status in the browser
with the actual status of open files.
If the file you have open is in the workspace, the full status relative to the
workgroup file is only updated when you Check In or Out, Cancel Check
Out, Resolve Check Out, or refresh the browser.
This example is a semi-isolated project with no files checked out. The context
menu for each item contains a Check Out entry, and if the selected item is
an assembly, there is a Check Out Tree entry.
The Check Out option reserves only the selected item and copies it from the
appropriate workgroup to your workspace. The Check Out Tree does the
same for the assembly and all dependents.
In this example, the Check Out Tree was selected to check out the tuner
assembly and all of its components. After the assembly is checked out, each
item in the File Status browser is marked with a check mark.
After you check out the files, the large cap and shaft parts are edited, but not
saved. The File Status browser indicates files that have unsaved edits by
appending an asterisk symbol (*) to the end of the name.
Notice that the tuner also shows that it has been edited even though you did
not make any changes to the file. Many Autodesk Inventor actions make
changes to a file and indicate that it has been edited. You can save the file or
wait until you make more edits.
When you click the Save tool, the Save dialog box lists each file that you
edited as well as those that were changed by Autodesk Inventor. Each file
shows its check-out status and by default, a Save option. Autodesk Inventor
assumes that you want to save all files that are checked out and were edited.
If you do not want to save a file, click Yes to switch to No.
When you save the files, the File Status browser shows to indicate that
the files have been edited and saved.
If the status does not automatically update, click the File Status browser
Refresh button.
NOTE You can view the check-out status of files using Microsoft Windows
Explorer. Browse to a file, right-click its file name, and then click iProperties. Click
the status tab to display the check-out status information.
NOTE Always check in all files before you migrate data from one release of
Autodesk Inventor to a newer release. If you do not want to check in edits, use
the Cancel Checkout option to clear the check-out status of all files.
Once you have canceled the check out, the files are shown as available for
check out.
If someone else checks the files out, you must click the Refresh button on the
file status browser to see the new status mark on the files.
After you cancel the check out, the files have a status of to indicate that
the assembly still shows the edited versions of the files that were checked out
to your personal workspace.
To see the correct version of the files, Refresh or close the assembly and
reopen it.
Checking In Files
When you are ready to post changes back to the server for others to see, use
the Check In option on the File Status browser:
Check In skips all parts that were edited, but were not checked out. You can
check in only files that are marked as checked out to you.
NOTE If you want to override the check out to check in a file, such as a file that
is a different version, checked out to someone else, or not checked out, you must
first go through the resolve process in the Resolve dialog box.
■ The check in location does not exist. In the File Status browser, use Resolve
Check Out to make the location legitimate, or use Cancel Check Out.
■ The workgroup is locked. A message states that the workgroup is locked,
and the operation is terminated.
In This Chapter
6
This chapter provides an introduction to assembly ■ About assembly modeling
■ Assembly environment
modeling and general information about working in
■ Working in the Assembly
assemblies. In this chapter, you will learn about the browser
■ Restructuring assemblies
assembly browser and working in the assembly
■ Bills of material
environment. ■ Packaging assemblies.
■ Tips for working in assemblies
147
Assembly Environment
In this manual, the term component refers to a part of a subassembly. You
place components that act as a single functional unit into an assembly
document. Constraints define the relative position these components
occupy with respect to each other.
When you create or open an assembly file (.iam), you are in the assembly
environment. Assembly tools manipulate whole subassemblies and
assemblies. You can group parts that function together as a single unit and
then insert the subassembly into another assembly.
When you open a part file (.ipt), you are in the part environment. Part tools
manipulate sketches and features, which combine to make parts. You insert
parts into assemblies and constrain them in positions they will occupy when
the assembly is manufactured.
You can insert parts into an assembly or use sketch and part tools to create
parts in the context of an assembly. When you do this, all other components
in the assembly are visible.
To complete a model, you can create assembly features that affect multiple
components, such as holes that pass through multiple parts. Assembly
features often describe specific manufacturing processes such as post-
machining.
The assembly browser is a convenient way to activate components you want
to edit, edit sketches, features, and constraints, turn component visibility on
and off, and other tasks.
■ Can you modify an existing assembly or do you have to start a new one?
■ Can you break the larger assembly down into subassemblies?
■ Can you use existing parts or iFeatures?
■ Which constraints drive the functionality of the design?
Each default workplane is coplanar with its respective axes. For example, the
YZ plane is coplanar with the Y axis and the Z axis.
YZ plane
Y axis
Z axis
Assembly Analysis
After you create your assemblies, you can analyze them to calculate mass
properties and check for part interference. Properly constrained assemblies can
be animated through a range of motion, so you can check for design problems.
■ The master location of files (the workgroup), when you work in a design
team.
■ A private workspace specified by each designer, where files are created and
edited.
■ Libraries of standard and custom components.
■ Locations of templates and style libraries.
■ The names of frequently used subfolders, to make file location faster.
In addition to locations, projects also set preferences for other options such
as whether you use unique file names in a project file structure (which can
help locate files more easily), how many versions of a file to keep, and release
information.
■ Delete a component.
■ Display the degrees of freedom of a component.
■ Designate a component as adaptive.
■ Designate a component as grounded.
■ Edit or delete the assembly constraints between first-level components.
Component Visibility
Controlling the component visibility is critical to managing large assemblies.
You may need some components only for context, or the part you need may
be obscured by other components. Assembly files open and update faster
when the visibility of nonessential components is turned off.
The visibility of any component in the active assembly can be changed, even
if the component is nested many layers deep in the assembly hierarchy.
Assembly Structures
The structure of an assembly is the organization of the components.
Grouping parts into subassemblies simplifies the browser. Subassemblies can
also reflect manufacturing processes. With Autodesk Inventor, you can
change the contents of subassemblies or create new ones at any point during
the design process and over the life span of a product.
The top level of an assembly structure can consist of parts and subassemblies.
Each subassembly can consist of parts and more subassemblies. Moving a
component (a part or subassembly) into a subassembly is demoting. Moving
a component out of a subassembly is promoting. If you promote or demote a
component, the system deletes the constraints.
NOTE For more information, see “Changing File Structure” on page 279.
159
Placing Components In Assemblies
In the assembly environment, you combine parts and subassemblies to create
an assembly. You can add existing parts and subassemblies or you can create
new parts and subassemblies in-place. When you create a new component (a
part or subassembly) in-place, you can place the sketch on one of the
assembly origin planes or constrain it to the face of an existing component.
A component can be an unconsumed sketch, a part, a surface, or any mixture
of both.
When a component is active, the rest of the assembly dims in the browser
and graphics window. Only one component can be active at a time.
When you place existing components in an assembly, choose a fundamental
part or subassembly (such as a frame or base plate) for the first component.
Except for the first placed component, all placed components are
unconstrained and ungrounded — you add constraints, as needed.
You must drop the files over the graphics window where the assembly model
is displayed. A single occurrence of each component is placed in the
assembly file. The dropped components appear at the bottom of the browser
in the receiving assembly.
Grounded Components
Grounded components are fixed in position, relative to the assembly
coordinate system. A grounded component will not move when you apply
assembly constraints. The first component placed or created in an assembly
is automatically grounded, so that subsequent parts may be placed and
constrained in relation to it. You can remove the grounded status of a
component, including the first component.
To restore the degrees of freedom (unground) of a component, right-click the
component occurrence in the graphics window or the Assembly browser, and
then clear the check mark beside Grounded. Grounded components are
displayed with a pin icon in the assembly browser.
There is no limit to the number of grounded components you can have in an
assembly, but most assemblies have only one. Grounded components are
appropriate for fixed objects in assemblies because their position is absolute
(relative to the assembly coordinate origin), and all degrees of freedom are
removed.
Constraining Components
After you place or create components in an assembly file, you use assembly
constraints to establish the orientation of the components in the assembly
and to simulate mechanical relationships between components. For
example, you can cause two planes to mate, specify that cylindrical features
on two parts remain concentric, or constrain a spherical face on one
component to remain tangent to a planar face on another component.
■ You can specify that some parts are adaptive. Autodesk Inventor allows
adaptive part features to change size, shape, and position based on the
applied assembly constraints.
■ Assembly constraints remove degrees of freedom from components,
positioning them relative to one another. As you modify the geometry of
your components, the assembly constraints ensure that the assembly stays
together, following the rules you have applied.
■ The correct application of assembly constraints also provides Autodesk
Inventor with the information it needs to perform interference checking,
collision and contact dynamics and analysis, and mass property
calculations. When you apply constraints properly, you can drive the
value of an essential constraint and view the movement of components
in the assembly.
iMates
Component interfaces called iMates can be applied to a part. An iMate is a
constraint that is saved with a component and reused later. iMates are stored
in a component to tell it how to connect with other components in an
assembly. When you insert a component with an iMate, it snaps into place
with another component with a matching iMate. The component can be
replaced by another component while preserving these intelligent iMate
constraints. Components with iMates speed accurate placement and
replacement of components in assemblies.
A composite iMate is a collection of individual iMates into a single entity.
Parts drawn from standard libraries snap together quickly with composite
iMates. Visual and audio cues are provided to assist in the placement of
components with iMates.
Place Constraints
In Autodesk Inventor, four types of 3D assembly constraints define
positional relationships between components: mate, angle, tangent, and
insert. Each type of constraint has multiple solutions. The solutions are
defined by the direction of a vector normal to the component. The
constraint solution is previewed to show the orientation of the affected
components before you apply the constraint.
■ Temporarily turn off the visibility of the foreground objects before you
place a constraint.
In the Place Constraint dialog box, select Pick Part First. Click the
component you want to constrain. Clear the check box to restore the
ability to select all components.
Selectable geometry is limited to features on the selected component.
■ Point the cursor to the required geometry. Right-click, and then choose
Select Other.
Click the arrows in the Select Other box to cycle through the underlying
face, curve, and point selections.
Click the green center button to accept the highlighted selection.
If you find it difficult to select faces, edges, or points, you can adjust the
Locate Tolerance option to change selection priority.
Mate Constraint
The mate constraint makes a set of geometry on one component coincident
with geometry on another component.
Angle Constraint
The angle constraint specifies an angle between planes or lines on two
components.
Angle Type Specifies an angle between planes, axes, or lines on two
components. The two sets of geometry need not be of the same type. For
example, you can define an angle constraint between an axis and a plane.
Constraints of this type are often used to drive assembly motion.
Angle Solution Orients the surface normal of a selected plane or the direction
of the axis described by a selected line. When you select a face or line, an
arrow shows the default direction of the solution.
■ Direct Angle applies the right-hand rule. Some cases, such as zero or 180°,
may flip in the opposite direction.
■ Undirected Angle applies either right-hand or left-hand rule. The left-
hand rule is applied automatically if the solved position more closely
resembles the last-calculated position. This is the default behavior.
Inside Solution Positions the first selected part inside the second selected
part at their tangent point.
Insert Constraint
The insert constraint causes a circular edge on one component to be
concentric and coplanar with a circular edge on another component. The
offset value for an insert constraint is the distance between the two faces
containing the circular edges. For example, you can use this constraint to
place a pin or a capscrew in a hole.
Viewing Constraints
The assembly browser provides two schemes for showing assembly
constraints. You select Position View or Assembly View on the assembly
browser toolbar to switch between the two schemes.
Position View Shows each constraint under component occurrences in
the browser. Constraints are listed under both constrained
components.
Assembly View Shows all assembly constraints collected into a folder
labeled Constraints, located immediately below the top-
level assembly. Each constraint is listed only once, in the
order of placement.
When you hover the cursor over an assembly constraint in the browser, the
constrained components are temporarily highlighted in the graphics
window. Selecting the constraint in the Assembly browser highlights the
geometry in the graphics window until you click again in the graphics
window or the browser.
Workflow overview: Edit constraint values in the Edit Constraints dialog box
1 Right-click a constraint in the assembly browser, and then select Edit from
the menu, or double-click a constraint in the assembly browser.
2 In the Edit Constraint dialog box, edit any of the constraint parameters
displayed.
You can change the selected geometry for one or both components, change
the solution, and revise the offset, angle, or depth value of the constraint.
Under certain conditions, the constraint type can be changed without losing
the current selections. For example, you can change a mate constraint
between two planar surfaces to an angle constraint. The OK button is not
available if you select a new constraint type that cannot be applied.
172
Creating Assemblies
In This Chapter
8
This chapter provides the basic information and ■ Creating parts in place
■ Projecting edges for new parts
concepts for creating components in assemblies. You
■ Creating subassemblies
learn how to create parts and assemblies in place, and
■ Adaptivity and assemblies
173
Creating Assembly Components
Assembly modeling combines the strategies of placing existing components
in an assembly, and creating other components in place within the context
of the assembly. In a typical modeling process, some component designs are
known and some standard components are used, but new designs must also
be created to meet specific objectives.
You may find that for your workflow in Autodesk Inventor, creating at least
some of the components in the assembly environment is more accurate and
efficient.
Parts In Place
You can use the Create Component tool to create a component in place in an
assembly. When creating an in-place component, you can sketch on the face
of an existing assembly component or a work plane, or you can place the
sketch plane normal to the view with the origin at a selected point. An
option is available in the Create In-Place Component dialog box to
automatically constrain the sketch plane to the selected face or work plane.
When you specify the location for the sketch, the new part immediately
becomes active, and the browser, panel bar, and toolbars switch to the part
environment. The Sketch tools are available to create the first sketch of your
new part. Edges and features of existing components can be referenced for
sketching.
Most components created in the assembly environment are created in
relation to existing components in the assembly. Optionally, you can click
the graphics window background to define the current view orientation as
the XY plane. If the YZ or XZ plane is the default sketch plane, you must
reorient the view to see the sketch geometry.
After you create the base feature of your new part, you can define additional
sketches based on the active part or other parts in the assembly. When
defining a new sketch, you can click a planar face of the active part or
another part to define the sketch plane on that face. You can also click a
planar face and drag the sketch away from the face to automatically create
the sketch plane on an offset work plane.
When you create a sketch plane based on a face of another component,
Autodesk Inventor automatically generates an adaptive work plane and
places the active sketch plane on it. The adaptive work plane moves as
necessary to reflect any changes in the component on which it is based.
The following illustration shows the sketch plane for an in-place part created
by clicking in the graphics window.
Projected geometry remains linked to the part from which it was projected
and automatically updates to match changes in the original part's geometry.
When you project geometry from an existing component onto a new sketch
it becomes a reference sketch. You can use a reference sketch to create an
adaptive matching part that automatically updates to reflect any
modifications to the outer boundary of the component from which the
geometry was projected.
Use the Project Geometry tool on the Sketch toolbar to project faces, edges,
and features onto the current sketch.
Projected geometry is positioned normal to the current sketch plane. If the
selected edge lies in a plane that is not parallel to the sketch plane, the
projected geometry is different from the original sketch. Reorient the view to
the sketch to see a true view of the projected geometry.
Independent Instances
You can also make one or more component pattern elements independent of
a pattern. When you make an element independent:
You can restore an independent element to the pattern at any time by right-
clicking it in the browser, and then selecting Independent again to clear the
check mark. The copied components created when the element was made
independent are not automatically deleted from your model.
Mirroring Assemblies
The Mirror Component tool is useful for designing symmetrical parts. Use it
to create a mirror of a source assembly and its components across a mirror
plane. You create half of the assembly, and then mirror it to create the second
half. The mirrored components are exact copies, positioned relative to the
mirror plane.
You can either save a new assembly file with mirrored components and open
it in a new window, or reuse components and add the mirrored components
to the existing assembly file.
182
TRY IT: Mirror assembly components
1 To begin, open the assembly you want to mirror.
2 On the assembly toolbar, click the Mirror Components tool.
3 In the graphics window or the assembly browser, select all of the components
of the assembly. Select the assembly, or a parent subassembly to
automatically select all of the children.
The assembly and its components are listed in the Mirror Components dialog
box browser.
4 In the Mirror Components dialog box, click Mirror Plane, and then select the
plane in the graphics window or the assembly browser.
5 Click the status button of a component to change its selection status as
needed.
Status Description
■ To enable the mirrored state for library components, unselect the Reuse
Content Library Components check box.
By default, only instances of the library parts are created in the current or
new assembly file.
■ To display status of mirrored components in the ghost color in the
graphics window, In Preview Components, select check boxes.
8 Click OK.
■ Select the Prefix check box, and then enter a prefix, if appropriate.
■ To increment numbered files, select the Increment check box.
■ Accept the default suffix (_MIR) or enter a different suffix. Clear the check
box to remove the suffix.
If you remove the suffix, give the file a unique name to avoid overwriting
the original file.
11 Click Apply to update the file names, or click Revert to return to the original
values.
12 In the Component Destination box, choose one of the following:
Status Description
4 To enable copying of library components, click the More button and unselect
the Reuse Content Library Components check box.
5 Choose OK to open the Copy Components: File Name dialog box.
■ To edit the file name, click in the New Name box. To search in listed file
names, right-click in the New Name column, and choose Find. To find and
replace a string, choose Replace.
■ To change the location from Source Path to Workspace or User Path, right-
click in the File Location box. If you select User Path, click in the File
Location box and set the path.
■ Keep the default location so the file can be located when you reopen the
assembly.
■ Select the Prefix check box, and then enter a prefix, if appropriate.
■ To increment numbered files, select the Increment check box.
■ Accept the default suffix (_CPY) or enter a different suffix if appropriate.
■ To remove the suffix, clear the check box.
If you remove the suffix, give the file a unique name to avoid overwriting
the original file.
8 To update the filenames, click Apply. To return to the original values, click
Revert.
9 In the Component Destination box, choose one of the following:
In This Chapter
9
In this chapter, you learn to analyze assembly ■ Checking for interference
■ Animating assemblies
components for interference by simulating the motion
■ Degrees of freedom
of the assembly components.
■ Drive constraints
187
Checking for Interference
In the physical assembly built from your design, two or more components
cannot occupy the same space at the same time. To check for such errors,
Autodesk Inventor can analyze assemblies for interference.
Analysis is performed between two selected sets of components. If
interference is found, the interfering volumes are temporarily displayed, and
a report is generated describing the components and the interference
volumes. You can then modify or move the components to eliminate the
interference.
Analysis takes longer when complex components are involved. An efficient
strategy is to analyze only a few components at a time, such as those in close
proximity to one another. It is a good idea to analyze, reposition, and
redesign components on a regular basis rather than analyzing the complete
assembly all at once.
Creating components in place, using faces of adjacent components as sketch
planes, and projecting geometry from other component faces for use in
sketches reduces the chance of interference between parts.
interference
Unconstrained Drag
You can move unconstrained components by dragging them in the graphics
window.
Partially constrained components sometimes need to be moved or rotated to
facilitate constraint placement. Use the Move Component and Rotate
Component tools to temporarily release all assembly constraints so you can
reorient a component. Any assembly constraints that have been placed are
reapplied to the assembly as soon as you click Update.
Constrained Drag
Dragging a single constrained component causes other components in the
assembly to move, according to the relationships defined by their assembly
constraints. This technique is very useful in determining the suitability of
assembly constraints placed on a component.
Drag a component after applying an assembly constraint to quickly gauge
the effects of the constraint. Grounded components cannot be moved in this
manner.
Careful planning and placement of assembly constraints is the key to
obtaining proper assembly motion. Apply as many assembly constraints as
needed to position, or in the case of an adaptive part, size your component.
Temporarily suppress assembly constraints that interfere with assembly
motion.
Drive Constraints
After you constrain a component, you can animate mechanical movement
by changing the value of the constraint. The Drive Constraint tool
repositions a part by stepping through a range of constraint values. You can
rotate a component, for example, by driving an angular constraint from zero
to 360 degrees. The Drive Constraint tool is limited to one constraint. You
can drive additional constraints by using the Parameters tool to create
algebraic relationships between constraints.
2 Select Degrees of Freedom from the View menu. The NewSleeve.ipt part is
unconstrained, so all six degrees of freedom are available.
3 Click the Constraint tool in the panel bar or from the Assembly toolbar. Place
a mate constraint between the major axis of NewSleeve.ipt and the axis
through the cylinder feature of NewSpyder.ipt. This constraint removes two
translational degrees of freedom and two rotational degrees of freedom from
the sleeve.
second selection
first selection
5 The sleeve is now constrained to move only along the axis of the spider.
Select View > Degrees of Freedom to hide the DOF symbols.
6 Use the Rotate and Zoom tools to orient your view of the assembly as shown
in the following figure.
7 Slowly drag the NewLiftRing.ipt. All components with constraints that are
linked to the dragged component move in response, while honoring their
own assembly constraints.
After you isolate the selection set, you may notice that some components
you expect to be included are not visible. This is a quick way to see which
components are not constrained to the first-selected component.
You can highlight components relative to the size of the selected component.
You may also want to try using some of the other selection methods,
including:
■ Sphere Offset
■ Select by Plane
■ External Components
■ Internal Components
■ All in Camera
■ Visible Filter
In This Chapter
10
This chapter provides basic information and concepts ■ Using drafting standards
■ Customizing drawings
about defining drafting standards for drawings and
■ Drawing resources
working with title blocks.
■ Sheet formats
■ Title blocks
■ Parts lists
199
Introduction to Drawings
After you create a model, you can create a drawing file (with .idw extension)
to document your design. In a drawing file, you place views of a part model
that can include any combination of model dimensions (parametric
dimensions extracted from the part file) and drawing dimensions (created in
the drawing file). You can add and suppress dimensions in each view as
needed, and place dimensions, annotations, and symbols that adhere to
styles associated with the ANSI, BSI, DIN, GB, ISO, and JIS standards. You can
also define your own custom dimension styles.
You can change the alignment, label, scale, and displayed dimensions in any
view. You can also edit your part by changing the parametric model
dimensions from within the drawing file. Similarly, your drawing file will
automatically update with any changes saved in the part file.
NOTE When you select New Drawing from the drop-down menu next to the
New button, Autodesk Inventor looks for a file named Standard.idw in the
Autodesk\Inventor (version number)\Templates folder.
You start with a drawing template when you create a new drawing.
NOTE Usually, when you create or edit a style in a document, it remains in the
document. If you want to include the style in the style library, you need to use
Save to Style Library. When you do this, you replace the master definition of the
style with the new version. Use caution when you do this because it can affect
other documents that reference the style library and use the style for formatting.
It is a good idea to use style libraries on projects so that styles can be shared
among designers, documents are uniformly formatted, and updates are easy.
When you update the main style definition in the library, all documents that
use the style library can update their formatting.
■ Templates are a good place to store information that stays the same, such
as title blocks, borders, default views, sheet sizes, and so on.
■ Styles libraries are a good way to control formatting. If a style is stored in
a template, it is only available to future documents created with the
template, so previously created documents must be manually updated.
With styles libraries, a style definition is available in any document simply
by refreshing the library.
■ You can use Format > Save Styles to Style Library to save a new or edited
style to the style library, where it is available for use in any document.
■ You can use the Styled Editor Import/Export tool to select one or more
styles and export them at once. The same process is used to import styles.
TRY IT: Examine the available styles for the drafting standard
1 With an .idw file open, on the Format menu, click Styles Editor.
2 In the dialog box, notice the browser pane. All available styles for the current
drafting standard are listed here. Click Standard to expand, then double-click
a standard name.
3 In the Standard window, the name of the standard is listed. Values that are
associated with the Standard style are shown on the General and Available
Styles tabs.
On the Available Styles tab, notice that the Style Type lists styles you can use.
Usually, an individual style is indicated by a check box. If the check box is
cleared, the style is not available in the current document.
NOTE Some styles are repeated on several tabs. For example, the Dimension
Text tab specifies appearance of text used in dimensions. The formatting
originates in the Text style, accessed in the browser pane. When a style
references another style for some of its formatting, the referenced style is called
a sub-style.
The first folder at the top of the browser is Drawing Resources. You can
expand Drawing Resources to show the sheet formats, borders, title blocks,
and sketched symbols that are available to use in the drawing. You can
customize, add to, or delete items from Drawing Resources.
Sheet Layouts
When a new drawing is created, it automatically includes at least one sheet.
You can change the default sheet size to a standard or custom sheet size, and
specify its orientation.
You can insert borders, title blocks, and views onto the sheet. Available
borders and title blocks are listed in the Drawing Resources folder in the
browser. Icons in the browser represent the sheet and all its component
elements.
You can add multiple sheets to a drawing. Use the browser to move views
between sheets. Only one sheet is active at a time. Inactive sheets are
dimmed in the browser.
■ Sheet name
■ Sheet size
■ Orientation
■ Count attribute
■ Print attribute
To edit the sheet attributes, right-click the sheet in the browser, and then
select Edit Sheet. The Edit Sheet dialog box is displayed.
Format Sheets
You can create a new sheet with a predefined layout of border, title block, and
views by using a sheet format from Drawing Resources > Sheet Formats.
Right-click the sheet resource, and then select New Sheet. The format
corresponds to a standard sheet size with an appropriate title block and
border.
If the format you choose contains one or more views, the Select Component
dialog box is displayed when you create a new sheet. Use the Browse button
to specify the component to be documented. Default views of the
component are then created automatically.
Sketch Overlays
You can create a sketch overlay sheet to add graphics or text to your drawing
without affecting drawing views. You can redline a drawing, for example, by
working on the sketch overlay.
Title Blocks
The title blocks in an Autodesk Inventor drawing are intended to be dynamic
and to reflect information about the drawing, the sheet, and the design
properties. As this information changes, the title block is automatically
updated to display the current information.
■ Title
■ Author
■ Part number
■ Creation date
■ Revision number
■ Sheet size
■ Number of sheets
■ Approved by
The standard drawing templates contain title block formats that you can
customize and use. You can also create your own title block formats.
NOTE The new title block is added to the Drawing Resources folder in the
drawing browser.
Hole Tables
Hole tables in drawings show the size and location of some or all of the hole
features in a model. Hole tables eliminate the need to add notations for each
hole feature in a model.
Parts Lists
To create a parts list in a drawing in Autodesk Inventor, use the Parts List tool.
You can generate a parametric parts list for an assembly. The properties for each
part or subassembly are displayed in the parts list. You can specify the items
you want in the list, such as part number, description, and revision level. Parts
lists can be edited.
In This Chapter
11
This chapter provides basic information and concepts ■ About drawing views
■ Base views
about the types of drawing views you can create using
■ Section views
Autodesk Inventor®.
■ Auxiliary views
■ Broken views
■ Detail views
■ Modifying views
215
Creating Drawing Views
Drawing views are referenced from, and associative with, external part files.
You can produce multiview drawings consisting of principal orthographic
views and auxiliary, detail, section, and isometric views. You can also create
views from assembly design views and presentation views. Autodesk
Inventor calculates and displays hidden lines as required.
The first view in any drawing is a base view. This view is the source for
subsequent views, such as projected and auxiliary views. A base view sets the
scale for dependent views, except detail views. A base view also sets the
display style for dependent projected orthographic views.
For a part model, the first view is usually a standard view such as a front or
right-side view.
NOTE A draft view is a special view in a drawing that does not contain a
representation of a 3D model. A draft view has one or more associated sketches.
You can place a draft view and construct a drawing without an associated model,
or use a draft view to provide detail that is missing in a model.
Projected Views
Projected views are created with a first-angle or third-angle projection,
depending on the drafting standard specified in the drawing. You must have
a base view before you can create a projected view. Projected views can be
orthographic or isometric. You can create multiple views with a single
activation of the tool.
Orthographic projections are aligned to the base view and inherit scale and
display settings. If the base view is moved, view alignment is maintained. If
the scale of the base view is modified, the scale of the projected view changes.
NOTE Isometric projections are not aligned to the base view. They default to
the same scale as the base view, but do not update if you change the scale of the
base view. The default display style is Remove Hidden Lines.
The position of the cursor relative to the base view determines the
orientation of the projected view. A view preview is displayed as you move
the cursor. Clicking a point on the sheet places the view. You can continue
to place views until you right-click, and then select Create, or press ESC.
Editing Views
After you create a view, you can edit it to make changes. If the view is a base
view, changes to the view parameters will be reflected in the dependent
views. You can remove the association between dependent views and base
views by editing the dependent view. Independent scale, style, and
alignment can then be set for the derived views.
To edit view parameters, select the view, right-click, and then select Edit
View. The Edit View dialog box is displayed.
Base Views
In this exercise, you create a base view, and then project views to create a
multiview orthographic drawing. Finally, you add an isometric view to the
drawing.
6 Position the view preview in the lower left corner of the sheet, in Zone B7.
Click the sheet to place the view.
NOTE You can use the CTRL key to prevent constraining the view projection
line.
2 Click the Zoom Window tool on the Standard toolbar, and then create a
window around the top view.
3 Click the Section View tool in the Drawing Views panel.
4 Click inside the top view.
Place the cursor over the midpoint of the left edge of the part (A'), move the
cursor to extend the projection line away from the part (A), and then click to
place the start point of the section line.
5 Drag horizontally past the center of the part (B), and then click to define the
first segment of the section line.
6 Drag the cursor to create an inferred constraint along the slot center (C').
Next, drag horizontally until a perpendicular constraint appears (C), and
then click to define the second segment of the section line.
7 Drag horizontally to the right of the part (D), and then click to create the last
segment of the section line.
Right-click, and then select Continue.
8 Zoom out. Drag the section preview down to Zone D6, and then click to place
the view.
NOTE Press F5 to return to the previous view after zooming in to place the
cutting plane.
Auxiliary Views
With Autodesk Inventor, you can create and place a full auxiliary view of a
selected view. The auxiliary view is projected from and aligned with a
selected edge or line in the base view. The selected edge or line in the base
view defines the projection direction.
Auxiliary views are labeled, and display a projection line to the base view.
NOTE To create a partial auxiliary view, select the objects to be removed from
the auxiliary view, right-click, and then set Visibility off. Or, use the Section View
tool to place a projection line that excludes the geometry you do not want in the
view.
5 Move the preview down and to the left. Click the sheet in Zone B7 to place
the auxiliary view.
5 Zoom out enough to drag the preview to the left of the top view, and then
click.
Draft Views
A draft view is a special view in a drawing that does not contain a
representation of a 3D model. A draft view has one or more associated
sketches. You can place a draft view and construct a drawing without an
associated model, or use a draft view to provide detail that is missing in a
model.
When you import an AutoCAD file to an Autodesk Inventor drawing, the
data is placed in a draft view. Dimensions, text, and other annotations are
placed on the drawing sheet and geometry is placed in the associated sketch
NOTE To place a section view without an alignment constraint, press and hold
the CTRL key as you place the view.
Delete Views
Views that are no longer needed can be deleted. If you delete a base view,
dependent projected and auxiliary views can either be deleted or retained.
Section and detail views require a base view and cannot be retained.
To delete a view, select the view, right-click, and then select Delete. In the
Delete View dialog box, click the More button (>>) to select the dependent
views to retain.
Align Views
Alignment is the constraint relationship between a dependent view and its
parent view. An aligned view can be moved only within its constraints. If the
parent view is moved, the aligned view moves to maintain its alignment.
Most dependent views are created with an alignment, but you can add,
change, or remove alignment relationships. There are four possible
alignment relationships between a dependent view and its parent view:
Vertical, Horizontal, In Position and Break.
■ Pattern
■ Angle
■ Line weight
■ Scale
■ Shift
In the following steps, you edit the section view hatch pattern to represent
the material as bronze using the ANSI 33 hatch pattern.
Rotate Views
You can rotate views by edge or by angle. Views rotate as rigid bodies,
including any sketches. When a view is rotated, annotations maintain their
associativity to the view and model geometry. Depending upon the drawing
standard used, additional information may be provided in the View label
indicating that the view is rotated out of its normal position.
NOTE When you rotate a view, if a section view cutting plane line is not
updated, you can edit the section line as you would edit a sketch, including
constraints.
Move Views
You can move a view by clicking and dragging the red border. You can move
multiple views with a crossing selection. Specify a crossing selection by
clicking, moving your pointing device from right to left, and then clicking
again. Views that are fully or partly within its borders are selected. To move
the selected views, click and drag one of the red borders.
Use these techniques to lay out drawings and document model design.
■ Use the CTRL key to suppress alignment when placing section views.
■ Use the context menus for quick access to editing operations and
common commands.
In This Chapter
12
This chapter provides basic information and concepts ■ About annotations
■ Dimensions
about annotating drawings using dimensions, center
■ Dimension styles
marks, centerlines, hole notes, and leader text.
■ Center marks and centerlines
■ Notes and leader text
■ Hole notes
■ Creating dimensions in drawings
■ Printing sheets
235
Annotation Tools
While drawing views define the shape of a component, drawing annotation
provides the additional information needed to complete documentation of
the component. In Autodesk Inventor®, styles define annotations, according
to the active drawing standard. Each standard has a default set of available
styles, which can be customized as needed.
Custom drawing elements, such as title blocks, borders, and other standard
annotations can be added to a drawing template so they are available in
every drawing based on the template.
NOTE Legacy documents usually had styles defined in a template. When using
style libraries, you should import styles as needed from template-based
documents to the library, and then purge all unused styles to avoid making the
file size larger. Styles that are in use cannot be purged.
Baseline Dimension Add baseline drawing dimensions to a view when you want to
add multiple dimensions to drawing views in an automated
fashion.
Hole/Thread Notes Add hole and thread notes to features created using the Hole
feature or Thread feature tools in parts.
Center Mark Center mark extension lines are automatically sized to fit the
geometry. You can copy and paste center marks.
Symbols Add Symbols for surface texture, welding, feature control frames,
and feature identifiers. You can create leaders for symbols.
Datum target leaders Create one or more leaders for datum target symbols. The color,
target size, line attributes and measurement units of the symbol
are determined by the active drafting standard.
Text or Leader Text Both Text and Leader Text use a word processor with minor
formats such as font type, bold, and special symbols. Leader Text
attached to geometry is associative, and moves with the drawing
view.
Balloons Add balloons to individual parts or all parts at once. You can add
balloons to a custom part after it is added to the parts list.
Revision table Use the Revision table button on the Drawing Annotations
toolbar to place a revision table on a drawing sheet.
Change Dimensions
After you place a dimension, you can double-click the dimension and use the
Dimension Tolerance dialog box to change the tolerance type, nominal
value, change precision and tolerance, and override the model value.
When you change values, Autodesk Inventor previews the new settings on
the drawing.
Place Dimensions
You can use two types of dimensions to document your design in a drawing:
model dimensions and drawing dimensions.
Model Dimensions
Model dimensions define the sizes of features. If you change a model
dimension in a drawing, the source component updates to match. Model
dimensions are also referred to as a bidirectional or driving dimensions.
Only model dimensions parallel to the view plane are available in that view.
If you select the option, Modify a Model Dimension from a Drawing, when
installing Autodesk Inventor, you can edit a model dimension and the source
component will also update.
Use the Retrieve Dimension tool to display model dimensions. The right-
click menu in a view lists options to retrieve, remove, and edit model
dimensions.
When you place a view, you can choose to display model dimensions. Only
those dimensions that are planar to the view are displayed. Usually, model
dimensions are in the first, or base view in a drawing. In subsequent
projected views, only those model dimensions not shown in the base view
are displayed. If it is necessary to move a model dimension from one view to
another, delete the dimension from the first view and retrieve model
dimensions in the second view. As an alternative, you can add a drawing
dimension to the second view.
NOTE If you choose to change the model dimensions in the drawing, make
only minor changes to single dimensions. If there are significant changes, or if
you need to modify dimensions that are referred to by other dimensions, open
the part and edit the sketch or feature there.
TRY IT: View dimension styles in the Styles and Standards Editor dialog box
1 Open an existing drawing or create a new drawing.
2 Choose Format > Styles Editor.
3 Click Dimension in the browser pane and then double-click a dimension
style. Click the tabs to see how attribues are defined, and then click Done to
close the dialog box.
The settings for the default dimension style can be changed, or you can
create your own variation of the dimension style and save it under a new
name. You can apply a dimension style to any number of drawing
dimensions.
NOTE Do not create a new style in an existing library unless you have
authority to do so. You could replace an existing definition that could affect the
formatting of other documents.
Creating Annotations
Some of the commonly used annotations besides dimensions are:
■ Center Mark
■ Center Line
■ Center Line Bisector
■ Centered Pattern
Add center marks and centerlines before adding drawing dimensions. You
can dimension to the ends of the center marks and centerlines and maintain
correct gaps.
Use the Hole/Thread Notes tool to add hole notes and thread information to
holes and threaded features in drawing views.
Autodesk Inventor captures the information used when creating holes and
threaded features on a part. This information can then be used to accurately
generate the hole or thread notes in drawing views. If you modify a hole or
threaded feature, the hole or thread note is automatically updated.
Thread Representation
Autodesk Inventor drawings present threads using the simplified method.
Visible external threads display in side views, sections views, and shaded views.
To qualify for a hole note, the selected geometry must be a hole feature or a
thread feature.
In section views, the hole must either be displayed in its face normal position
or seen as a profile.
You can also annotate holes in isometric views.
Title Blocks
Title block information that is typically entered at the completion of a
drawing is obtained from the drawing properties. Right-click the drawing
name in the drawing browser and select iProperties. You enter information
in the Properties dialog box, and the values are displayed in the
corresponding locations in the title block.
The Drawing Properties dialog box has six tabs for entering information:
■ General
■ Summary
■ Project
■ Status
■ Custom
■ Save
While some of the title block information is entered when you start the drawing,
approvals and approval dates are not entered until the drawing is complete.
Other information displayed in the title block is derived from the operating
system, the drawing, and the sheet.
NOTE The date format is set by the system Regional Settings application,
located in the Control Panel folder.
6 Position the view preview in the lower left corner of the sheet (in Zone C6).
Click the sheet to place the view.
7 Click the Projected View tool in the panel bar or from the Drawing Views
panel bar.
Click the base view and move the cursor vertically to a point above the base
view. Click the sheet in Zone E6 to place the top view.
8 Move the cursor horizontally to the right of the base view. Click the sheet in
Zone C3 to place the right-side view.
9 Move the cursor above the right-side view. Click the sheet in Zone E3 to place
the isometric view.
10 Right-click the sheet, and then select Create.
3 Select each of the dimensions except for the 45.0 horizontal dimension and
the 40.0 horizontal dimension.
4 Click apply. Each of the dimensions that were selected are displayed. The
dimensions that were not selected are hidden.
NOTE If you accidentally selected a dimension, hold down the CTRL key and
reselect it to remove it from the selection set.
2 Pan to display the top view, right-click, and then choose Done.
3 Right-click the top view, and then choose Retrieve Dimensions. In the
Retrieve Dimensions dialog box, click the Select Dimension tool. The model
dimensions that are planar to the view are displayed.
NOTE To align a dimension when dragging it, move the cursor over an
existing dimension and acquire an alignment point. Move the cursor back to the
dimension being placed. The dotted line indicates an alignment inference. Click
to place the dimension.
7 Use the General Dimension tool to add the R21.0 radial dimension, right-
click, and then choose Done.
8 Drag the 16.0 dimension to a position that avoids crossing the extension
lines.
Format Dimensions
The dimensions can be formatted to add additional information, to adjust
precision, or to add tolerances.
Click OK.
The formatted dimensions are displayed.
Notice how the position of the boss was affected by the change to the model
dimension.
3 Click the Status tab and select the current date from the Checked Date list.
■ Printer selection
■ Print range if you have a multisheet drawing
■ Scale
■ Print all colors in black and white
■ Remove object line weights
■ Number of copies
From the Print Drawing dialog box, you can display a preview of the plot
based on the selected printer and the current settings.
In This Chapter
13
In this chapter, you learn how to change from one ■ Editing projects
■ Resolving file links
project to another, and edit an existing project. You
■ Keeping old file versions
copy, move, rename and delete data, and change the file
■ Techniques for editing projects
259
Editing Projects
When using the Project Editor, you cannot edit the active project while files
are open in Autodesk Inventor. If you need to edit the active project or
change which project is active, first close all open Autodesk Inventor files.
File locations are specified in the project when it is created. For semi-isolated
workspace (master) projects and shared projects, only one workgroup is
specified. Individual designers create semi-isolated workspace projects that
include a path to the master project and that define only one workspace.
In general, use the default number of locations specified by the Project wizard.
Avoid creating multiple workgroups or workspaces. File resolutions problems
greatly increase when you use a complicated file structure.
Keep in mind:
■ If you delete a path, Autodesk Inventor cannot find referenced files from
that path.
■ To add a single folder to a project path, right-click a search path label, and
then select Add Path. Browse to the individual folder and add it to the project.
■ To add an editable location for each immediate subfolder of a folder, right-
click a search path, and then select Add Paths from Directory. Browse to
the root folder and add it to the project.
■ To change the order in which search paths are listed, select a specific
search path, and then use the Move Up or Move Down arrow on the right
side of the Project Editor.
3 In the Project Editor, double-click a project name in the top pane to make it
the active project. A check mark indicates the active project.
4 In the lower pane, right-click the type of path to edit, and then select an
option from the menu:
Add path Browse to the folder you want to add. Add a custom name for the
folder, if desired.
Add paths from file Browse to another project file. The paths from the file are
added to the current project file.
Add paths from directory Browse to any folder on any disk drive where you
have files in one of its subfolders. A path is automatically generated for each
subfolder. For best results, during file resolution avoid nesting paths.
Paste paths Paste a path from the Clipboard into the selected section of the
project.
Delete section paths Delete the selected path from the project.
If you prefer, select the type of path to edit, and use the Add or Edit button
on the right side of the dialog box.
5 Right-click other options as needed to make changes. You can, for example,
add frequently used subfolders, rename the project, expand and change
folder options, or change the project owner and release ID.
6 Click Save, and then click Close.
NOTE To review definitions of all project options, click the Help button on the
Project Editor dialog box.
NOTE Sometimes the file located at a referenced location must also have the
same database ID as the originally referenced file. For example, the reference
from a derived part to its base will be broken if the base file is replaced with an
unrelated file.
■ The file no longer exists in any of the storage locations defined by the
active project.
■ The file was renamed or moved to a different subfolder and the setting for
the project option Using Unique File Names is No.
■ The project file was edited to remove or rename a library or editable
location.
■ The file was moved from one library to another or from an editable
location.
■ The file was moved from one subfolder to another within a library.
■ There are network or server problems.
■ The data set was taken off site without the shared libraries. This may be
acceptable, but the Resolve Link dialog box is displayed. Choose the Skip
All option.
■ Move the file to a location in the active project. If you move the file to a
subfolder of a location, you use the Resolve Link dialog box once to
establish the correct subfolder path to the new location of the file.
■ If the new location of the file is included in the active project, use the
Resolve Link dialog box to find the new location of the file.
■ Save the referencing file to update the reference information.
Sometimes an entire set of files is missing if, for example, the library name
was changed or a subfolder was moved or renamed. Because many files
would be missing for the same reason, Autodesk Inventor automatically
attempts to find other unresolved files that were originally in the named
library or folder by searching in the new location you specify in the Resolve
Link dialog box.
The search stops when Autodesk Inventor finds a project location that
contains the referenced file. If a referenced file is contained in multiple project
locations, the reference uses the relative path from the first one found. The
relative path from that project location is stored in the reference. If the project
location is a library, the name of the library is also stored in the reference.
Autodesk Inventor uses a different search procedure for resolving library and
nonlibrary references.
NOTE Whenever possible, avoid using duplicate file names, even for files in
different directories. If so, set the project option Using Unique File Names to Yes.
The Resolve Link dialog box opens only if the file cannot be located in any project
location.
■ Select the check box called Search for other unresolved references using
this location.
■ Specify a library location. You may be able to edit the substitution rule,
usually by deleting a tail portion of the path, or browse to the new library
location. Depending on the library location, you might need to remove
both the source and replacement folder paths.
Click the More button (>>) to see the current substitution rule or modify it,
if necessary.
In the following example, we want to change the name of folder ABC to DEF:
Workgroup TEST
TEST TEST
Autodesk Inventor automatically shows the new subfolder path. If you make
sure the check box is selected and edit both paths to remove the \yyy\zzz tail
as shown below, all the parts will be found.
When you click Open, you indicate that the path is correct. Then, when
Autodesk Inventor attempts to find part 2.ipt, and each of the other
referenced parts, it automatically substitutes DEF for the ABC subfolder
portion of the relative path.
■ A renamed library.
■ Files moved from one library to another.
■ Files moved from a library to an editable location.
■ Files moved from an editable location to a library.
NOTE If you do not want a substitution rule created, clear the check box
named Search for other unresolved references using this location. It is checked
by default.
OldVersions
Every time you save a file, Autodesk Inventor writes a new globally unique
version ID (GUID) to the file to identify it. Each Autodesk Inventor session
remembers what version ID it is accessing. If you try to reopen the file at the
normal location and the version ID has changed, Autodesk Inventor assumes
someone else saved or checked the file in. It searches the OldVersions\ folder,
and then opens the appropriate version of the file. The version of the file that
is opened is used from then on to access additional information.
NOTE To save memory, Autodesk Inventor loads only the portion of a file that
is needed for an operation. Additional information is loaded as needed.
Therefore, do not delete an Autodesk Inventor file if there is a chance that
someone else is using the file in an active Autodesk Inventor session.
You can set the number of versions to keep when you create or edit a project.
Each time a file is saved, the previous version is moved to its OldVersions\
folder. When the folder contains the maximum number of versions, and a
newer file is moved into the folder, the oldest version is automatically purged
from the OldVersions\ folder and deleted, if it is not open in any current
Autodesk Inventor session.
NOTE A facility provided through the PDM API allows some added control
over the creation and management of OldVersions\ to accommodate the
controls in PDM systems.
■ Choose names for library paths carefully. Designers in all design projects
should use the same name for libraries that are used in different projects.
■ If you use Pack and Go to make copies of subassemblies, check the Keep
Folder Hierarchy option. This makes it easier for the recipient to recognize
common libraries and to organize the top-level assembly project
■ Projects for subassemblies should use as few editable locations as possible.
Ideally, specify one workgroup or workspace and a minimal number of
libraries.
■ Avoid using common file names such bracket or leg. Every file within a
project or library should have a unique name
NOTE Open the files immediately after you move them and resolve the links.
If you do not, you might forget where you moved the files or another designer
might try to open the files and not know the new location. Do not move files
when anyone has the file open.
■ In all cases, close all Autodesk Inventor sessions before you move or copy
files.
■ Back up your files. Create a zip file or use Pack and Go to package the
entire data set so you can restore data if necessary.
■ Use the Where Used tool in Design Assistant to determine where a file is
used in other designs. For example, drawing D.idw might have an indirect
reference to P.ipt (if, for example, it has a dimension or annotation to a
face or edge or P). If you rename P.ipt, use the Where Used tool to locate
S.iam, and then use Where Used again to find D.idw. Using this recursive
search, the references are preserved, along with annotations and
dimensions in the indirect references.
■ Use Design Assistant to move, copy, or rename files and repair the
references from referencing files at the same time.
For semi-isolated workgroup (master) and shared project types, you can
use the Project Editor to change the project type to Single User, and then
use Design Manager to make desired changes. When finished, edit the
project type back to semi-isolated master or shared.
After you copy or move files, open them in Autodesk Inventor to verify that
all of the links are correct before you give them to a vendor or other designer
to use.
TRY IT: Move or copy Autodesk Inventor data using zip files
1 Copy each project location folder to a zip file, including subfolder paths and
files.
Do the same for the Styles Folder, Template Folder, and Content Center Files
folder. (If you share these folders across multiple projects, you may get files
that are not used in your project.)
2 Name each zip file with the location name of the project.
3 Include each zip file and the project in another zip file.
NOTE If your project has thread data, also include the Threads.xls file from the
Design Data folder. You may need to restore the file to retrieve thread data for
the project, but be sure to preserve the original file so other projects that
reference the file are not damaged.
4 The recipient unzips each project location folder into a new separate folder
and resets the project so that each location goes to the new destination
folder.
You can use Pack and Go to package an Autodesk Inventor file and all or a
selection of its referenced files under a single folder, even though the files are
stored in multiple network locations. You can also include files that reference
the selected Autodesk Inventor file. When you package a file, the files are
copied to the specified location without changing the contents of any of the
source files.
All referenced files must be resolvable using the current project (.ipj) file. If
not, it is important to either open the correct .ipj file and make it current
either in Autodesk Inventor or the standalone project editor, or to browse to
it in the Pack and Go dialog box in the Project File field.
TRY IT: Move or copy Autodesk Inventor data using Pack and Go
1 Either in Microsoft Windows Explorer or in a Design Assistant session started
outside Autodesk Inventor, find the file to package.
2 Select the file, right-click, and then select Pack and Go.
3 In the Pack and Go dialog box, specify the Destination Folder for the
package.
4 Set the path and packaging options.
5 Make sure that the path in the Project File field identifies the appropriate
project file for the selected file. If not, use the Browse button to browse to it.
6 Click the Search Now button to search for referenced files. The total files
found and required disk space are displayed when the search is complete.
7 Click the Start button to begin packaging the files. As the files are packaged,
the status is shown in the Progress box. A new project file and a log file are
created in the destination folder reflecting the structure chosen in the
packaging options.
NOTE The log file is replaced each time you package an Autodesk Inventor file
to the same destination.
8 If the Missing File dialog box is displayed, click the Set Project button. Select
the project to use for resolving referenced file locations. Click Open, and
then click Start to begin the search.
Clicking the Cancel button on the Find Missing File dialog box cancels the
action and displays the Pack and Go dialog box without referenced files.
You can use Design Assistant to copy an entire assembly file (.iam), including
the referenced drawing file (.idw). Close all Autodesk Inventor files and use
Windows Explorer to open the Design Assistant.
TRY IT: Copy assembly and referenced drawing files using Design Assistant
1 In Windows Explorer, right-click the .iam file (for example, test1.iam), and
then click Design Assistant.
2 In the left panel, click the Manage button (if it is not already selected by
default).
3 Highlight the entry for the .iam file (test1.iam) in the upper pane.
4 Select the Drawing Files check box in the bottom right pane, and then select
Find Files.
A message box is displayed, indicating if files were found. The list of files
found will be displayed in the lower part of the right pane.
5 Right-click in the Action column for the .iam file (test1.iam) in the upper
pane and then click Copy.
6 Right-click in the Name column for the .iam file (test1.iam) in the upper
pane, and then click Change Name. Enter the new name for the Assembly
(for example, test2.iam). Enter a new path to specify a new location, if
desired.
7 Repeat steps 5 and 6 for the .idw file. Use the same name you used for the
assembly file, but use an extension of .idw (for example, test2.idw).
8 On the File menu, click Save to save the settings.
All changes are saved and new files (test2.iam and test2.idw) are created.
NOTE The newly created (or copied) drawing file (test2.idw) is referenced only
to the newly created (or copied) assembly file (test2.iam). All changes made in
the original assembly file (test1.iam) will be reflected only in the copied test2.idw
that references it.
■ If you copy a file that has a library reference, the same library needs to be
defined in the destination project. It can be to the same UNC location as
the original.
■ If you copy a file that has a nonlibrary reference, it resolves to a file in the
editable location(s) in the destination project. Therefore, you can copy the
entire contents of a workgroup or workspace (including subfolders) to
another project workgroup or workspace, and the files resolve to the
copies rather than to the source files.
■ You can copy an entire reference hierarchy in the same way, but you must
preserve the original subfolder structure from the project root location for
the copied files.
When the above is true, the design files are usable immediately after you
copy them.
If one or more of the above conditions are not met, you may need to edit the
destination project (.ipj) to specify the new paths for each of the copied
folders.
You may find it helpful to use Pack and Go when copying an entire project.
You can create a zipped copy on a CD-ROM, for example, and send it to a
customer, vendor, or client. You can include only those library files that are
referenced instead of an entire library, if appropriate. Pack and Go can also
create a read-only library copy so you can continue to make changes to the
project data, but the recipient can use the copy as a library.
■ Verify that the file or files you intend to delete are not referenced or open
in Autodesk Inventor. If the file is open when you delete it, additional data
cannot be retrieved from the file and the open file cannot be saved. The
person using the file will permanently lose any in-memory edits that have
not been saved.
■ Back up your data before you delete the file. Copy the file to another
location or create a zip file so that you can recover it if necessary.
■ Use The Where Used tool in Design Assistant to find out where the file is
being referenced by other Autodesk Inventor files (including drawings,
parts, assemblies, and presentations).
When you are certain it is safe to delete the file, use Microsoft Windows
Explorer to delete the file.
The deleted file is temporarily placed in the Recycle bin and can be restored
to its original location if necessary. When you empty your Recycle bin, the
file is permanently lost.
NOTE Before you open files after moving them, select Tools > Application
Options. On the Save tab, select the Reference Resolution Changes check box.
Open all files and save them to update the references to the new location.
3 Add the top-level folders of the new paths to the project as Frequently Used
Subfolders. They will be listed in the Locations box of the file Open dialog
box.
4 For safekeeping, make a copy of all of the data files, before you move them
to a new directory or delete old folders. After they are safely moved to a new
folder, delete the copy.
Index | 281
chamfer features, 68, 75 dialog boxes (continued)
check files out and in, 137 Drive Constraint, 192
Check In command, 145 Edit Constraint, 166
circular patterns, 88, 92 Edit Dimension, 38, 41, 44, 239
coil features, 59 Edit Feature, 66
Coil tool, 64 Edit Parts List, 213
Comments feedback link in Help, 19 Fillet, 79
component patterns, 178 Holes, 70, 72, 89
components, dragging into assemblies, 161 Interference Detected, 188
composite iMates, 164 Open File, 3
Constraint tool, 165 Open Getting Started, 2, 16
constraints Open New File, 3
angle, 169 Open Version, 269
assemblies, 151, 163, 172 Place Constraint, 165
degrees of freedom, 194 Project Editor, 121, 260
deleting from sketches, 37 Properties, 3, 193
editing in assemblies, 166, 172 Resolve Checkout, 135
insert, 170 Resolve Link, 263, 267, 280
mate, 167 Shell, 87
motion, adding, 167 Thread Feature, 83
showing, 34, 171 diametric dimensions, 41
sketch, 32, 34, 35 Dimension Tolerance dialog box, 238
tangent, 165, 170 dimensioning sketches, 39
tips for creating, 38 dimensions
tips for managing, 172 automatic, 40
Content Library in Autodesk Inventor, 131 deleting and adding, 46
coordinate system diametric, 41
assembly, 150 driven, 42
sketch, 23 formatting, 252
Create In-Place Component dialog box, 161 model, in drawings, 238, 240, 248, 254
Create Parts List dialog box, 213 modifying, 41, 254
custom parts, 120 repositioning, 249
styles in drawings, 240
tips for creating, 46
D types, changing, 40
data files for exercises, 3, 33 displays, graphics window, 156
data files, managing with Autodesk Vault, 280 Document Settings dialog box, 4
data, migrating in projects, 143 DOF (degrees of freedom), 189
datum target leaders, 237 draft analysis, 97
default project, 108, 111 draft styles
degrees of freedom (DOF), 189, 194 Primary Draft, 99
Design Assistant, 272, 276 Primary Zebra, 98
design files, moving and copying, 271 draft views in drawings, 217, 229
Design Support System (DSS), 15 drawing dimensions, 240
design views in drawings, 216 drawing files ((*.dwg), managing, 13
Detail View dialog box, 227 Drawing Resources folder, 208
detail views in drawings, 217, 227 drawing sheets, printing, 258
dialog boxes drawing view types, 218
application Options, 4 drawings, 200
Auxiliary View, 225 annotating, 242
Broken View, 229 borders, 210
Chamfer, 77 creating, 202
Create In-Place Component, 161 dimensions, creating, 238, 251
Create Parts List, 213 model dimensions, editing, 202
Detail view, 227 model dimensions, formatting, 252
Dimension Tolerance, 238 multiview, creating, 219
Document Settings, 4 notes and leader text, 254
282 | Index
drawings (continued) file locations
parts lists, creating, 213 Autodesk Mechanical Desktop, 130
plotting and printing, 258 central storage for workgroups, 260, 271
sheets, adding, 208 Content Library, 131
templates, 201 editable, 108
thread representations, 244 read-only, 108
tips for creating, 214 search order, 263, 265
title blocks, 210, 244, 255 semi-isolated, 116
views, creating, 216, 245 workgroup and workspace, 110
views, modifying, 230 file names, 136, 271
views, moving, 208, 231, 233 file status browser, 108, 137, 140
Drive Constraint dialog box, 192 file status icons, 138
Drive Constraint tool, 191 file storage in projects, 110
driven dimensions, 42 file structures, 119, 152
DSS (Design Support System), 15 changing, 279
nested, 108
files
E canceling checkouts, 143
Edit Constraint dialog box, 166 central file storage, 260
Edit Dimension dialog box, 38, 41, 44, 239 central storage for workgroups, 271
Edit Feature dialog box, 66 checking in and out, 108, 138, 145
Edit Parts List dialog box, 213 deleting in projects, 278
editable locations, 108 drawing, 200
enabled components, 162 editing in projects, 137, 143, 144
environments naming, 135, 136, 268, 271
assembly, 148 old versions, keeping, 268, 270
part modeling, 55 old versions, restoring, 269
semi-isolated, 116, 133 opening in projects, 133, 270
sketch, 23 proxy, 109
errors upon check in, 146 referenced locations, finding, 112
Extrude tool, 59 resolving links, 135, 263, 266
templates, 3
Fillet dialog box, 79
F fillet features, 68, 73, 79
folder structures, 119
faces on models, analyzing, 97
folders in projects, 109
features
base, 56
chamfer, 68, 75 G
coil, 64
editing, 66, 153 General Dimension, 237
extrude, 59 General Dimension tool, 237
fillet, 68, 73, 79 geometry, sketch, 22
hole, 68, 69, 70, 89 graphics window displays, controlling, 156
lofted, 62 grid displays, setting, 26
mirrored, 68, 94 Ground Shadow tool, 11
pattern, 68, 88 grounded components, 162
persistent, 54 grounded work points, 104
placed, 68
revolve, 61
rib and web, 65 H
shell, 68, 86 hatch patterns, editing, 233
sketched, 59 Help system, 15, 17
swept, 62 AutoCAD users, 18
thread, 68, 82 feedback links, 19
work, 102 skill builder links, 20
file check-in/check-out, 108 Hidden Edge tool, 11
Index | 283
Hole Center tool, 89 modes
hole features, 68, 69, 70, 89 semi-isolated, 109, 116, 133
hole notes in drawings, 243 shared, 109, 114, 115
hole patterns, 90 single user, 110
Hole table tool, 237 motion constraints, 167
hole tables in drawings, 213 multi-user Off (single user) mode, 113
Hole/Thread Notes tool, 237 multiview drawings, 219
Holes dialog box, 70, 72, 89
hot keys, 5
N
nested file structures, 108
I New Project (personal or group), 122
IGES files, importing, 15 notes in drawings, 243
iMates, 164
import/export data
AutoCAD (*.dwg), 13 O
IGES (*.igs, *.ige, *.iges), 15 occurrences in patterns, suppressing, 91, 96
Mechanical Desktop (*.dwg), 14 Open File dialog box, 3
SAT (*.sat), 14 Open Getting Started dialog box, 2, 16
STEP (*.stp, *.ste, *.step), 14 Open New File dialog box, 3
included project files, 108 Open Version dialog box, 269
insert constraint, 170 Options dialog box, 4
interfaces, component, 164 options in projects, setting, 124
Interference Detected dialog box, 188 Ordinate Dimension Set tool, 237
iPart factories locations, 131 Ordinate Dimension tool, 237
iProperties in proxy files, 130 orthographic camera view, 12
L P
leader text in drawings, 243, 254 Pack and Go function, 271, 274, 275
Leader Text tool, 237 Pan tool, 10
libraries, 108, 125, 129 parametric dimensions, 39
Autodesk Mechanical Desktop parts, 130 parent/child parts in models, 54, 153
defining files for, 132 part modeling environment, 55
file locations, searching, 265 part models, 54
iParts, 131 creating, 3, 55
locations, 112 displaying, 11
naming, 137, 268, 271 editing in drawings, 202, 239
proxy files, 130 feature-based, 54
specifying, 124 modifying, 66
various types, 132 parent/child relationships, 54
library search paths, 129, 265 pattern features, 88
iParts, 131 placed features, 68
loft features, 59 sketch planes, 59
Loft tool, 62 templates, creating for files, 3
Look At tool, 10 viewing, 7
workflows, 56
Parts List tool, 237
M parts lists in drawings, 213
master projects, 108 paths
mate constraint, 167 relative, 109
middle-out assembly design, 150 UNC (Universal Naming Convention), 110
migration of data in projects, 143 pattern features, 68, 178, 179
mirror features, 68, 94 along 3D paths, 94
missing files, finding, 266 circular, 92
model dimensions in drawings, 238, 239 independent elements, 180
284 | Index
pattern features (continued) projects (continued)
occurrences, suppressing, 91, 96 master project setup, 117
rectangular and circular, 88 moving entire projects, 273
rectangular from holes, 90 naming, 123
pattern occurrences, suppressing, 91 new for existing design folder, 124
persistent features, 54 opening files, 133
personal project setup, 116 options, setting, 124
perspective camera view, 12 personal, 116
Place Constraint dialog box, 165 search paths, setting, 125
placed features, 68 setting up, 113
plotting drawings, 258 shortcuts, 109
precise values in sketches, 25, 29 vault mode, 118
Primary Zebra draft style, 98 wizard, 122
printing drawings, 258 workspaces and workgroups, 123
profiles, 22 Properties dialog box, 3, 193
dimensioning, 42 proxy files, 109, 130
Project Editor dialog box, 121, 260 purchased parts, referencing, 125
project file locations, search order, 125
project files, 121
included, 108 R
master, 117 read-only data, managing, 120
parent, 126 read-only file locations, 108, 112
personal, 116 read-only parts, referencing, 125
project folders, 109 rectangular patterns, 88
Project Geometry tool, 176 referenced files, 109
project modes locations, finding, 112, 125, 265
semi-isolated, 109, 116 referenced model edges in sketches, 24
setups, recommended, 121 relative paths, 109
shared, 109 Resolve Checkout dialog box, 135
project setups Resolve Link dialog box, 263, 267, 280
master project, 117 restructure assemblies, 155
personal project, 117 Retrieve Dimensions tool, 237, 248
recommendations, 121 Revision table tool for annotations, 237
semi-isolated mode, 116 revolve features, 59
shared mode, 115 Revolve tool, 61
Vault, 118 rib and web features, 59
project shortcuts, 109 Rib tool, 65
project types, 113, 122 root folders in projects, 109
changing, 272 Rotate tool, 3D, 11
Personal Workspace for Group Project, 122
projected edges in sketches, 24
projected views in drawings, 217, 218 S
projects, 2, 111
SAT files, importing, 14
activating, 111
search order in projects, 265
active, 108
search paths
creating with Project Editor, 122 Autodesk Mechanical Desktop parts, 130
default, 108
library, 129, 137
default folder location, setting, 121
project, 110
deleting files, 278
projects, setting, 125, 262
editing, 260, 262
workgroup, 128
file structures, changing, 279
workspaces, 126
files, moving and copying, 271, 274
section views in drawings, 217, 222
files, moving between projects, 277
semi-isolated mode, 109, 113, 116, 126, 133,
folder structures, 119
137
included, 108
settings, application and document, 4
library types, 132
Shaded Display tool, 11
master, 108
shared mode, 113, 114, 137
Index | 285
shared multi-user mode, 109 U
sheets, drawing, 208
Shell dialog box, 87 UNC (Universal Naming Convention) path, 110
shell features, 68, 86
short cut keys, 5
Show Constraints tool, 33, 34
V
single user mode, 110, 113 Vault mode in projects, 113, 118
sketch coordinate system, 23 viewing tools, 7
sketch environment, 23 views
sketch planes, 59, 175 adding to drawings, 245
sketched features, 59 aligning, 231
sketches, 22, 23 changing, 7
completing, 27, 30 creating, 219
constraining, 32, 35, 42 deleting, 230
deleting constraints, 37 editing, 218, 247
dimensioning, 39, 41 modifying, 230
edges, projecting, 24, 176 moving, 208, 233
modifying, 48 rotating, 233
precise values, 25, 29 visibility of assembly components, 153
profiles with tangencies, 28
starting, 26, 29
tips for creating, 31 W
using drag to resize, 30 Wireframe Display tool, 11
skill builders, 15, 20 work features, 102
solid models, 54, 57 adaptive planes, 174
STEP files, importing, 14 axes, 103
storage locations for files, 110 in assemblies, 181
structures, assembly, 154 modifying, 105
structures, folder, 119 planes, 102
subassemblies, 177 points, 104
editing, 153 visibility, 97
subfolders, 110 workgroups
substitution rules in projects, 266 locations, 110
Survey feedback link in Help, 19 search paths, 128
sweep features, 59 workspaces
Sweep tool, 62 locations, 110
Symbol tool for annotations, 237 search paths, 126
symbols in drawing annotations, 237
Z
T Zoom tools, 8
tangent constraint, 170
tangent edge displays in drawings, 247
templates for new files, 3
templates, drawing, 201
Text tool, 237
Thread Feature dialog box, 83
thread features, 68, 82
thread notes in drawings, 243
title blocks in drawings, 210, 212, 244, 255
top down assembly design, 149
tutorial files for exercises, 33
tutorial files project, 3
286 | Index