9781118862131

A comprehensive guide to Autodesk Inventor and Inventor LT

This detailed reference and tutorial provides straightforward explanations, real-world examples, and practical tutorials that focus squarely on teaching Autodesk Inventor tips, tricks, and techniques. The book also includes a project at the beginning to help those new to Inventor quickly understand key interface conventions and capabilities.

In addition, there is more information on Inventor LT, new practice drawings at the end of each chapter to reinforce lessons learned, and thorough coverage of all of Inventor's new features. The author's extensive experience across industries and his expertise enables him to teach the software in the context of real-world workflows and work environments.

Mastering Inventor explores all aspects of part design, including sketching, basic and advanced modeling techniques, working with sheet metal, and part editing. Here are just a few of the key topics covered:

Assemblies and subassemblies
Real-world workflows and offering extensive detail on working with large assemblies
Weldment design
Functional design using Design Accelerators and Design Calculators
Everything from presentation files to simple animations to documentation for exploded views
Frame Generator
Inventor Studio visualization tools
Inventor Professional's dynamic simulation and stress analysis features
Routed systems features (piping, tubing, cabling, and harnesses)

The book's detailed discussions are reinforced with step-by-step tutorials, and readers can compare their work to the downloadable before-and-after tutorial files. In addition, you'll find an hour of instructional videos with tips and techniques to help you master the software.

Mastering Inventor is the ultimate resource for those who want to quickly become proficient with Autodesk's 3D manufacturing software and prepare for the Inventor certification exams.

Curtis Waguespack, an Inventor Expert Elite and Autodesk Certified Instructor, has taught Inventor in the classroom and consulted with and supported manufacturing and design firms in industries ranging from aerospace to consumer products and industrial machinery. He uses Inventor daily in a real-world environment to design and document various product types, and maintains the popular "From the Trenches" Inventor blog (inventortrenches.blogspot.com).

Introduction xxvii

Chapter 1 • Getting Started 1

Understanding Parametric Design 1

Creating a Base Sketch 1

Creating a Base Feature 2

Adding More Features 2

Using the Part in an Assembly 3

Making Changes 3

Understanding History-Based Modeling and Dependencies 4

Taking a Closer Look at Sketch Dimensions 6

Part Modeling Best Practices 7

Assembly Modeling Best Practices 8

Understanding the “Feel” of Inventor 11

Understanding the Intuitive Interface 11

Using General Tools vs Specifi c Commands 12

When in Doubt, Right-Click 13

Using the Graphical Interface 14

Inventor Title Bar 14

Graphics Window Tools 16

The Ribbon Menu 17

The Browser Pane 19

Dialog Boxes and the In-Canvas Mini-Toolbars 19

Task-Based Tools 20

Learning the File Types in Inventor 21

What Is an Inventor Project? 22

Project Files and Search Paths 23

Library Folders and Library Editor IPJ Files 26

Content Center Files 26

How Search Paths and Project Files Are Used 27

Exploring Project File Types 28

Creating a Project File 29

Creating Single-User Projects 29

Creating Multiuser Projects 38

Understanding Inventor Templates 39

Working with Styles, Style Libraries, and Company Standards 40

The Bottom Line 40

Chapter 2 • A Hands-on Test-Drive of the Workflow 43

Creating a Part Model 43

Starting with a Part Template 45

Understanding Origin Geometry 45

Creating a Base 2D Sketch 46

Creating a Profile in the Sketch 47

Creating a Base 3D Feature 48

Creating a Secondary 2D Sketch 48

Creating a Secondary 3D Feature 50

Patterning a 3D Feature 51

Creating and Detailing Drawings of Part Models 52

Creating a Base View on a Drawing 52

Creating Projected Views on a Drawing 54

Creating Dimensions on a Drawing 55

Putting Part Models Together in Assembly Files 56

Placing, Rotating, and Moving Parts in an Assembly File 56

Working with Degrees of Freedom in an Assembly 58

Placing Assembly Constraints to Defi ne Mechanical Movement 59

Creating and Detailing Drawings of Assembly Models 63

Creating an Assembly Detail View 63

Placing a Parts List and Balloons 65

Exporting a Drawing to a PDF File 66

The Bottom Line 66

Chapter 3 • Sketch Techniques 69

Exploring the Options and Settings for Sketches 69

Application Options 70

Document Settings 75

Sketching Basics 76

Creating a Sketch on an Existing Sketch 76

Projecting Geometry into Your Sketch 78

Breaking Links to Projected Geometry 80

Deleting a Sketch 80

Creating Another New Sketch 81

Creating Dimensions 82

Creating a Sketch in a New Part 83

Creating a New Part File from a Template 83

Creating Lines Using the Line Tool 84

Understanding Sketch Constraints 86

Using Degrees of Freedom to View Underconstrained Sketch Elements 89

Using Dimensions to Fully Constrain a Sketch 90

Understanding the Save Options 93

Making a Sketch Active for Edits 93

Using Construction Geometry 94

Using the Polygon Tool and Creating an Aligned Dimension 95

Using Offset and Creating a Three-Point Rectangle 97

Creating Driven Dimensions 99

Taking a Closer Look at Sketch Constraints 102

The Tangent Constraint 103

The Perpendicular Constraint 103

The Parallel Constraint 104

The Coincident Constraint 104

The Concentric Constraint 105

The Collinear Constraint 106

The Horizontal Constraint 106

The Vertical Constraint 107

The Equal Constraint 108

The Fix Constraint 108

The Symmetric Constraint 109

The Smooth Constraint 110

Gaining More Sketch Skills 110

Creating Arcs 111

Creating Automatic Tangents with the Line Tool 112

Understanding the Point/Center Point Tool 113

Projecting Geometry 114

Learning More about Dimensions 115

Measuring Geometry 119

Creating Sketches from AutoCAD Geometry 119

Importing Existing AutoCAD Designs 120

Copying and Pasting Existing AutoCAD Designs into Inventor 122

Creating and Using 3D Sketches 122

Creating a 3D Path 123

Using the 3D Coordinate Triad 124

Exploring More 3D Sketch Tools 127

Best Practices for Working with Sketches 132

The Bottom Line 133

Chapter 4 • Basic Modeling Techniques 135

Exploring Application Options and Settings for Part Modeling 135

Specifying Global Settings 136

Specifying Document-Specific Settings 137

Key Concepts for Creating Basic Part Features 144

Simplifying Your Sketches 147

Exploring the Extrude Tool 149

Extruding Basic Features 150

Editing an Extrusion Feature 152

Extruding with Cut and Taper 153

Extruding with Intersect 154

Extruding Surfaces from Open Profiles 155

Extruding Solids from Open Profiles 156

Extruding with To 158

Extruding with the Minimum Solution Option 160

Extruding with To Next 161

Extruding Between 162

Extruding Multi-body Solids 162

Creating Revolved Parts 164

Revolved Cylindrical Parts vs Stacked Circular Extrusions 165

Creating Revolved Parts 166

Creating Work Features 168

Work Planes 168

Work Axes and Work Points 175

Creating Fillets 176

Edge Fillets 177

Face Fillets 180

Full Round Fillets 180

Working with Fillet Features 181

Creating Threaded Features 183

Creating Cosmetic Threads Using the Thread Tool 183

Using the Coil Tool to Create Physical Threads 185

Hole Features 186

Using the Thread and Clearance Spreadsheets 186

Creating Holes in Parts 187

Setting Tolerance Values in Holes 190

Bend Parts 190

Part Modeling Exercise 192

Creating a Base Feature 192

Creating a Second Feature 193

Creating a Sketch-Based Hole Feature 196

Creating a Rectangular Hole Pattern 198

Editing Sketches and Features 200

Repairing Features and Sketches 203

The Bottom Line 205

Chapter 5 • Advanced Modeling Techniques 207

Creating Complex Sweeps and Lofts 207

Creating and Using Sweeps 207

Exploring Sweep Options 210

Creating Loft Features 214

Creating a Part Using Loft and Sculpt 222

Creating Multi-body Parts 223

Creating Multiple Solids 223

Using One Solid to Shape Another 225

Creating Derived Parts and Assemblies 230

Creating Derived Parts 231

Deriving a Part File 231

Deriving an Assembly File 231

Modifying Derived Parts 233

Using the Component Derive Tool 233

Working with Patterns 233

Rectangular Patterns 234

Circular Patterns 235

Patterns along Curves 236

The Coil Tool and Spiral Patterns 238

Pattern Solids 240

Dynamic Patterns 242

Setting iProperties and Parameters 244

iProperties 244

Part Parameters 245

Assembly Parameters 250

Adding Part Tolerances 250

Tolerances in Sketches 251

Setting Global File Tolerances 252

Working with Limits and Fits 255

Working with Free-Form Modeling and Direct Editing Tools 257

Free-Form Modeling 257

Using the Direct Edit Tool 264

Troubleshooting Failures with the End-of-Part Marker 265

Step 1: Editing the First Feature 265

Step 2: Moving the EOP Marker Down One Feature at a Time 266

The Bottom Line 268

Chapter 6 • Sheet Metal 269

Understanding Sheet-Metal Parts 269

Getting to Know the Features 270

Starting with a Base Feature 270

Creating Secondary Flange Features 276

Adding, Removing, or Deforming Material 285

Using Sheet-Metal Templates and Rules 303

What Are Sheet-Metal Rules? 303

Working with Styles and Templates 311

Working with the Flat Pattern 312

Exploring the Flat Pattern Edit Features 312

Adding Manufacturing Information to the Flat Pattern 312

Using the Flat Pattern Definition Dialog Box 314

Manufacturing Your Flat Pattern 315

Using Sheet-Metal iPart Factories 316

iParts for Confi gurations 317

iParts for Fold Progression 317

Modeling with Non-Sheet-Metal Features 317

Selecting Problematic Features 318

Using Surface-Based Workflows 318

Working with Imported Parts 318

Setting Yourself Up for Success 319

Converting Components 319

Annotating Your Sheet-Metal Design 320

Creating a View of Your Sheet-Metal Design 320

Adding Bend, Punch, and Flat Pattern Annotations 322

The Bottom Line 324

Chapter 7 • Reusing Parts and Features 327

Working with iParts 327

Creating and Modifying iParts 328

Using iParts in Designs 341

Working with iFeatures 343

Creating iFeatures 343

Creating Punch Features 347

Reusing Existing Geometry 352

Copying Features 352

Cloning 354

Linking Parameters Between Two Files 355

Copying Sketches 356

Introducing Content Center 358

Confi guring Content Center 359

Using Content Center 361

Publishing Parts to Content Center 369

The Bottom Line 373

Chapter 8 • Assembly Design Workflows 375

Assembly Relationships 376

Degrees of Freedom 376

Grounded Components 378

How the Constrain Tool Works 378

How the Joint Tool Works 380

Working with Constraints 380

Additional Constrain Tools and Options 395

Working with Joint Relationships 401

Understanding Subassemblies 412

Top-Down Design 414

Developing an Efficient Assembly Workflow 415

Layout Sketches 418

Flexibility 421

Adaptivity 422

Creating Adaptivity 422

Removing Adaptivity from Parts 424

Assembly Features 425

Managing the Bill of Materials 428

Parts-Level BOM Control 428

Assembly-Level BOM Control 428

Assembly Reuse and Configurations 435

Copying Designs 435

Using Representations 438

Using iAssemblies 447

Use Assembly Design Accelerators 452

Functional Design vs Geometric Modeling 452

Working with Design Accelerators 452

The Bottom Line 460

Chapter 9 • Large Assembly Strategies 463

Selecting a Workstation 463

Physical Memory vs Virtual Memory 464

Hardware 464

Working with Performance Settings 467

Express Mode 467

Working with Drawing Settings 468

Working with Model Display Settings 472

Working with General Settings 473

Using the Memory Probe 475

Working with System Settings 475

Large Assembly Best Practices 477

Working with the Model 478

Improving File Open Time 478

Reducing Assembly Constraints 478

Adaptivity 481

Selection Tools 481

View Representations 484

Find 484

Opening the Model 484

Working with Large Assembly Drawings 486

Managing Assembly Detail 490

LOD Strategies 490

Substitute LODs 492

Subassembly LODs 494

Simplifying Parts 496

Removing or Suppressing Unneeded Features 496

The Bottom Line 498

Chapter 10 • Weldment Design 501

Exploring Weldment Design Methodologies 501

Part Files and Part Features 502

Weldment Assembly and Derived Technology 503

Weldment Assembly 503

Multi-body Part Files 504

Modeling Preparations 505

Exploring Cosmetic Welds 507

Create a Simple Cosmetic Weld 509

Using Split Faces to Place Cosmetic Welds 510

Place Cosmetic Welds with Extents 510

Creating Weld Beads 511

Creating Fillet Welds 512

Modeling a Fillet Weld 513

Fillet Welds and Gaps 515

Creating Intermittent Fillet Welds 516

Creating Groove Welds 517

Performing Machining Operations 520

Exploring Weld Properties and Combinations 521

Weld Properties 521

Replication 522

Groove and Fillet Weld Combinations 522

Split Technique 523

Using the Weld Symbol 525

Understanding Bead Property Report and Mass Properties 527

Creating Drawing Documentation 528

Weldment Design Stages 530

End Fill 532

Drawing Weld Symbol 533

Caterpillar 533

Generating a Bill of Materials and Parts List 535

The Bottom Line 536

Chapter 11 • Presentations and Exploded Views 539

Working in the Presentation Environment 539

Creating a Basic Explosion 539

Creating Linear Tweaks 542

Creating Advanced Presentations 544

Creating Rotational Tweaks 544

Creating Tweaks with Drag and Drop 545

Understanding Tweak Trails 546

More About Tweaks 546

Create Multiple Views/Explosions 547

Save Camera 548

Understanding Group, Reorder, and Animate Tweaks 549

Creating and Sharing Assembly Instructions 551

The Bottom Line 554

Chapter 12 • Documentation 557

Using the Drawing Manager 557

Creating Templates and Styles 558

Understanding Template Locations 559

Choosing a File Format 560

Utilizing Drawing Resources 561

Sheet Size 561

Multiple Sheets 562

Creating a Border 562

Creating a Title Block 563

Prompted Entry 569

Sketched Symbols 570

AutoCAD Blocks 572

Sheet Formats 573

Transfer Drawing Resources 574

Editing Styles and Standards 574

Object Defaults 576

Creating Styles 578

Working with Substyles 580

Drawing Style Administration 581

Creating Drawing Views 581

Creating a Base View 582

Creating Projected Views 584

Moving and Copying Views 585

Creating Section Views 586

Slice Views 590

Using Breakout Views 591

Using Detail Views 594

Creating Break Views 596

Cropping Views 598

Using Draft Views 598

Creating Overlay Views 598

Annotating Part Drawings 599

Using Centerline and Center Marks 599

Creating Dimensions 603

Hole and Thread Notes 614

Leadered Symbols 616

Drawing Text 616

General Tables 617

Hole Tables 618

Annotating Assembly Drawings 621

Assembly Representations 621

Reference Data in Drawing Views 624

Interference and Tangent Edge Display 624

Parts Lists 625

Balloons 627

Center of Gravity Display 629

Working with Sheet-Metal Drawings 630

Flat Pattern Views 630

Bend Centerlines and Extents 630

Bend and Punch Notes 630

Bend Tables 632

Punch Tables 633

Working with Weldment Views 633

Working with iParts and iAssembly Drawings 635

Sharing Your Drawings Outside Your Workgroup 637

Additional Resources 637

The Bottom Line 637

Chapter 13 • Tools Overview 641

Exploring the BIM Exchange 641

Assembly Model Simplification 642

Part Model Simplification 647

Model Authoring 649

Model Publishing 650

Using AutoLimits 653

Creating AutoLimits 655

Editing AutoLimits 657

Using the Design Assistant 658

Using the Find Files Tool 660

Using the Where Used Tool 661

Renaming, Copying, and Replacing Files 662

Using Pack And Go 664

Using the Drawing Resource Transfer Wizard 667

Using the Style Library Manager 668

Using the Task Scheduler 670

Creating a Task for Migrating Files 670

Performing Sequential Tasks 673

Performing Custom Tasks 673

Tweaking Multi-Process Settings 673

Publishing DWF Files and Filenames 674

Using iProperties 674

Copying iProperties to Drawings 676

Creating Expressions with iProperties 676

Working with the Design Assistant and iProperties 678

Creating Design Property Reports 679

Using the Measure Tools 680

Using Measurement Helpers 681

Measuring in Assemblies 682

Participating in the CIP and CER 682

Participating in the CIP 682

Participating in CER 683

Using Miscellaneous Tools 683

Using the Autodesk Multi-Sheet Plot Tool 683

Using the Add-In Manager 684

Using the Project Editor 685

The Bottom Line 685

Chapter 14 • Exchanging Data with Other Systems 687

Importing and Exporting Geometry 687

Translating DWG and DXF Files 688

Mechanical Desktop DWG 692

STEP and IGES 694

SAT 697

Using Inventor File Translators 698

CATIA Import Options 699

Pro/ENGINEER Import Options 700

Unigraphics and Parasolids Import Options 700

SolidWorks Import Options 701

Rhino Import Options 702

IDF Board Files 702

Placing Components from Other CAD Systems 702

Working with Imported Data 703

Repair Tools 704

Edit Solid Tools 704

Viewing DWF Markup 707

Publishing a DWF or DWFx File 707

Reviewing and Marking Up DWF and DWFx Files 709

Accessing DWF or DWFx Markups in Inventor 709

The Bottom Line 711

Chapter 15 • Frame Generator 713

Accessing Frame Generator Tools 713

Exploring the Frame Generator File Structure 714

Exploring the Anatomy of a Frame Member 716

Inserting Frame Members 717

Specifying a Structural Shape 717

Changing the Orientation 718

Selecting Placement Geometry 719

Creating a Basic Frame 720

Aligning Frame Members 723

Using the Change Tool 725

Adding End Treatments 726

Miter 727

Trim/Extend to Face 729

Trim to Frame Member 730

Notch Frame Members 730

Lengthen/Shorten Frame Member 732

Reuse Frame Members 732

Maintaining Frames 734

Remove End Treatments 734

Frame Member Information 734

Refresh 734

Performing Calculations and Analysis 735

The Beam and Column Calculator 735

Publishing Frame Members 744

Authoring a Part 744

Publishing a Part 747

Frame Assemblies and BOMs 748

The Bottom Line 749

Chapter 16 • Inventor Studio 751

Exploring the Inventor Studio Environment 751

Creating and Managing Styles 752

Applying Appearance Styles 752

Creating Appearance Styles and Appearance Libraries 755

Exploring Lighting and Lighting Styles 755

Exploring the Scene Styles Dialog Box 761

Composing and Rendering Images 765

Animating with Inventor Studio 771

Using Animation Tools 772

Using Video Producer 781

Rendering Video or Animations 784

The Bottom Line 785

Chapter 17 • Stress Analysis and Dynamic Simulation 787

Introduction to Analysis 787

Conducting Stress Analysis Simulations 788

Simulation Guide 789

Static Stress vs Modal Analysis 789

Simplifying Your Model 790

Specifying Materials 790

Applying Simulation Constraints 791

Applying Loads 792

Specifying Contact Conditions 794

Preparing Thin Bodies 796

Generating a Mesh 797

Running the Simulation 799

Interpreting the Results 799

Using the Result, Scaling, Display, and Report Tools 801

Conducting Parameter Studies 802

Conducting a Frame Analysis 805

Frame Analysis Settings 806

Frame Constraints 806

Frame Loads 807

Connections 807

Results 808

Conducting Dynamic Simulations 809

Working with Joints 810

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Mastering Autodesk Inventor 2015 and Autodesk Inventor LT 2015 Autodesk Official Press

Mastering Autodesk Inventor 2015 and Autodesk Inventor LT 2015 Autodesk Official Press

1118862139

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

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