Using Autodesk Inventor r5-2

25Ron K C Cheng

Updating Using Autodesk Inventor to Release 5

Appendix R52Solid Modeling

Chapter 2 explains the key concepts of solid modeling. You construct 3D solid partsusing sketched solid features, placed solid features, and work features. You alsoconstruct derived solid parts. Apart from learning how to construct solid parts, you applylighting to the environment, set materials and color for the solid parts, and export andimport files. This appendix complements Chapter 2 by delineating the following featuresin Autodesk Inventor 5:

Texture Mapping

Perspective Viewing

Polygon Construction

Dimension Name Display

Sketch Pattern Construction

Mirror Sketch Objects and Symmetry Constraint

2D Spline Construction

Ellipse Construction

Sketch Dimension Display Behavior

Show Dimension Improvements

Foreign Data Import

Texture MappingIn R5, you can apply texture map on component parts by using predefined textures or texture that youconstruct. Now perform the following steps to apply texture map to a component part.

1. Open the solid part Mainbody.ipt that you constructed in Chapter 2.2. Select Format>Color.3. In the Color dialog box shown in Figure 21, select the Texture tab.

26 Updating Using Autodesk Inventor to Release 5

Figure 21Colors dialog box

4. In the Texture Chooser dialog box, select a texture and select the OK button.(See Figure 22.)

Figure 22Texture Chooser dialog box

5. On returning to the Colors dialog box, set %Scale to 400 and select the Applyand Close buttons. (See Figure 23.)

Figure 23%Scale set

Appendix R52 Solid Modeling 27

The selected texture is mapped on the component. (See Figure 24.)

Figure 24Texture mapped on the component

To modify the color of the component, perform the following steps:

6. Select Format>Colors.7. Repeat steps 3 and 4 to assign a texture map.8. Select the Color tab of the Colors dialog box and select Blue(Clear). (See

Figure 25.)9. Select the Apply and Close buttons.

A transparent color together with texture map are applied to the component. (See Figure 26.)

Figure 25Transparent color being applied


Figure 26Transparent color and texture map applied

Perspective ViewingTo set the graphics window to a perspective view, perform the following steps:

10. Select Perspective Camera from the Standard toolbar. (See Figure 27.)

Figure 27Perspective display


Polygon ConstructionIn R5, there are two ways to construct a regular polygon. The first method is to specify the center point anda vertex of the polygon (specifying an inscribed circle) and the second method is to specify the center pointand the distance from an edge to the center (specifying a circumscribed circle). Now perform the followingsteps to construct a polygon.

1. Start a new part file. Use metric template.2. Select Polygon from the Sketch panel or select the Polygon button from the

Sketch toolbar. (See Figure 28.)3. In the Polygon dialog box, select the Circumscribed button and set the number

of sides to 6,4. Select a point to indicate the center and a point to indicate the radius of the

circumscribed circle. A polygon is constructed.5. Select the Done button to close the Polygon dialog box.

Figure 28Polygon constructed

Dimension Name DisplayIn R5, each dimension of a sketch has a name. You can display the dimensions value, dimension name, oran equation with the dimension name and an expression. Perform the following steps to set the display of adimension.

6. Referring to Figure 29, add a dimension.7. Select the dimension, right-click, and select Show Name.


8. Select the dimension, right-click, and select Show Expression. (See Figure 210.)

Figure 29Dimension added

Figure 210Dimensions name displayed


The dimensions name, together with an expression, are displayed. (See Figure 211.) The sketch iscomplete. Select Return from the Command Bar toolbar and save your file. (File name: Polygon.ipt.)

Figure 211Dimension expression displayed

Sketch Pattern ConstructionIn R5, you can construct multiple copies of selected geometric objects in a sketch in a rectangular orcircular pattern. Each copy of the objects in the pattern is called an instance. You can set the instances to beassociative to the original geometry and you can suppress individual instances.

Circular PatternA circular pattern is a polar array of selected geometry. Now you will construct associative and non-associative circular patterns.

1. Start a new part file. Use metric template.2. Construct two circles and a line joining the centers of the circles, and add

dimensions. (See Figure 212.)3. Select Circular Pattern from the Sketch panel or select the Circular Pattern

button from the Sketch toolbar. (See Figure 213.)4. Select the small circle as the geometry to array and the center of the large

circle as the center of array.5. Expand the Circular Pattern dialog box and check the Associative and Fitted

boxes.6. Set the number of count to 6 and spacing to 360 degree, and select the OK

button.


A circular pattern of the small circle is constructed. The pattern is fitted within 360 degree spacing and theinstances are associative to the original geometry.

Figure 212Sketch constructed

Figure 213Circular pattern being constructed


7. With reference to Figure 214, construct a circle and a line and adddimensions to the sketch.

Figure 214Circle, line, and dimensions constructed

8. Select Circular Pattern from the Sketch panel or select the Circular Patternbutton from the Sketch toolbar. (See Figure 215.)

9. Select the circle indicated as the geometry to array and the center of the largecircle as the center of the array.

10. Expand the Circular Pattern dialog box.11. Uncheck the Associative box.12. Select the Suppress button and select the highlighted instance of the circular

pattern.13. Select the OK button.

A non-associative circular pattern with an instance suppressed is constructed. (See Figure 216.)

14. With reference to Figure 216, modify two dimensions of the geometry for theassociative pattern.

The geometry is modified and the instances of the associative pattern are modified as well. (See Figure 217.)


Figure 215Non-associative circular pattern being constructed

Figure 216Dimensions of the geometry for the associative pattern being modified

15. With reference to Figure 217, modify a dimension of the geometry in the non-associative pattern.

The geometry is modified but the instances of the non-associative pattern remain unchanged.


16. Select the geometry of the associative pattern, right-click, and select EditPattern. (See Figure 218.)

Figure 217Non-associative pattern being modified

Figure 218Pattern being edited


17. In the Circular Pattern dialog box, select the Suppress button. (See Figure 219.)

18. Select an instance of the pattern.19. Select the OK button.

The selected instance is suppressed. Save and close your file. (File name: CircularPattern.ipt)

Figure 219Instance being suppressed

Rectangular PatternA rectangular pattern is a rectangular array of geometry. Similar to a circular pattern, instances of arectangular pattern can also be associative and suppressed individually.

1. Start a new file. Use metric template.2. With reference to Figure 220, construct a rectangle and a circle, and add

parametric dimensions.3. Select Rectangular Pattern from the Sketch panel or select the Rectangular

Pattern button from the Sketch toolbar. (See Figure 221.)4. Select the circle as the geometry to array.5. Expand the Rectangular Pattern dialog box and check the Associative button.6. Select the lower edge and the vertical edges one by one to specify Direction 1

and Direction 2.7. With reference to Figure 221, set the horizontal count to 3, horizontal spacing

to 12 mm, vertical count to 2, and vertical spacing to 15 mm.


8. Select the OK button.

Figure 220Circle and rectangle constructed

Figure 221Rectangular pattern being constructed


An associative rectangular pattern is constructed. To appreciate the meaning of associativity, you will editthe basic geometry of the pattern.

9. With reference to Figure 222, modify two dimensions.

Figure 222Dimensions being modified

Save and close your file. (File name: RectangularPattern.ipt)

Mirror Sketch Objects and Symmetry ConstraintThere are two ways to construct a sketch with symmetric sketch objects: You mirror existing sketch objectsor apply symmetry constraint to existing objects.

1. Start a new part file. Use metric template.2. With reference to Figure 223, construct a sketch with four line segments.3. Select Mirror from the Sketch panel or select the Mirror button from the Sketch

toolbar. (See Figure 224.)4. Select the Select button from the Mirror dialog box and select the line

segments indicated in Figure 224.


Figure 223Line segments constructed

Figure 224Sketch objects selected

5. Select the Mirror Line button from the Mirror dialog box and select the lineindicated in Figure 225.

6. Select the Apply and then the Done buttons.


7. Move the cursor over the graphics area, right-click, and select ShowConstraints. (See Figure 226.)

Figure 225Mirror line selected

Figure 226Constraint symbols displayed


The selected sketch objects are mirrored and the constraints are displayed. (Note that symmetric constraintsare automatically applied to mirrored objects.) Now save and close your file. (File name: MirrorSketch.ipt)

Now you will construct a sketch and apply symmetric constraint to it.

1. Start a new part file. Use metric template.2. With reference to Figure 227, construct a sketch.3. Select Symmetric from the Sketch panel or select the Symmetric button from

the Sketch toolbar.4. Select the objects indicated in Figure 227 one by one.5. Select the object indicated in Figure 228 as the symmetry line.

Figure 227Sketch constructed and objects selected


Figure 228Mirror line selected

6. With reference to Figure 229, select a pair of objects to make themsymmetric.

The sketch is complete. Save and close your file. (File name: Symmetric.ipt)

Figure 229Objects to be set symmetrical


2D Spline ConstructionA spline is a free-form curve defined by specifying two end points and one or more intermediate points. Theend points of the spline are called fit points. They are positionally constrained. The intermediate pointsalong the spline are called shape points. They are unconstrained.

Now you will construct a spline.

1. Start a new part file. Use metric template.2. Select Spline from the Sketch panel or select the Spline button from the Sketch

toolbar.3. Select five locations on the current sketch plane to define five points on the

spline.4. Right-click and select Create. (See Figure 230.)

A spline with five points (two fit points at the ends of the spline and three shape points along the spline) isconstructed.

Figure 230Spline being constructed

Now you will modify the shape of the spline by manipulating its fit and shape points.

5. Select the spline to display the fit and shape points.6. Select a fit point and drag it to a new location. (See Figure 231.)7. Select a shape point and drag it to a new location.

The spline is modified. Note that the other points of the curve remain unchanged while a fit or a shape pointis manipulated.


Figure 231Spline being modified by selecting and dragging one of the fit points

Now you will modify the shape of the spline by dimensioning the fit and shape points of the spline.

8. Select the spline to display the fit and shape points.9. Select General Dimension from the Sketch panel or select the General

Dimension button from the Sketch toolbar.10. With reference to Figure 232, select two points of the spline and select a

location to place the dimension.11. Fully dimension the spline in accordance with Figure 233.

The spline is constrained.


Figure 232Dimension being constructed

Figure 233Spline fully dimensioned

Now you will constrain an end point of the spline to make it tangent to an existing object.

12. With reference to Figure 234, construct a line, select an end point of thespline, and drag it to the end point of the line.


13. Select Tangent from the Sketch panel or select the Tangent button from theSketch toolbar and select the spline and the line. (See Figure 235.)

A tangent constraint is applied to the spline and the line.

Figure 234Line constructed

Figure 235Tangent constraint being applied


Now you will construct a spline with its start point tangent to an existing object.

14. Select Spline from the Sketch panel or select the Spline button from the Sketchtoolbar.

15. Select the end point of the line and drag to a new location. (See Figure 236.)16. Select three more locations on the sketch plane and double-click. (Either right-

clicking and selecting Create or double clicking ends a spline.)A spline tangent to an existing object is constructed. (See Figure 237.)

Figure 236Selecting the end point of an existing object and dragging

Now you will insert additional shape points to a spline.

17. Select the spline, right-click, and select Insert Point. (See Figure 238.)18. Select a location along the spline.

A shape point is inserted. (See Figure 239.)


Figure 237Spline tangent to a line is constructed

Figure 238Right-click menu


Figure 239Shape point inserted

Now you will modify the way a spline is fitted along the shape points.

19. Select the spline, right-click, select Fit Method, and then select Sweet. (SeeFigure 240.)

The fit method is changed. There are three fit methods: Smooth, Sweet, and AutoCAD. The default fitmethod is smooth. The sweet method is much faster. The AutoCAD method uses the same algorithm asAutoCAD to construct a spline.

Now you will display the curvature comb to show the variation of the spline curvature.

20. Select the spline, right-click, and select Display Curvature.The curvature comb is displayed. (See Figure 241.)


Figure 240Fit method changed

Figure 241Curvature comb displayed

Now you will close a spline.

21. Select the spline, right-click, and select Close Spline. (See Figure 242.)The spline is closed.


Now you will open a closed spline.

22. Select the spline, right-click, and unselect Close Spline. (See Figure 243.)

Figure 242Spline closed

Figure 243Spline opened


The spline is opened. Note that the end points of the opened spline are coincident initially. Now you willdrag them apart.

23. With reference to Figure 244, select the opened end points of the spline anddrag them to new positions.

Figure 244An end point moved

Save and close your file. (File name: Spline.ipt)

Ellipse ConstructionIn R5, an ellipse can be trimmed and the half major and minor axes can be dimensioned without using pointobjects.

1. Start a new part file. Use metric template.2. With reference to Figure 245, construct two points and a line joining the

points. (The purpose of constructing the points and line is to provide referencefor the orientation of the ellipse to be constructed.)

3. Select Ellipse from the Sketch panel or select the Ellipse button from theSketch toolbar.

4. Select the left end point as the center and the other end point as the end pointof the major axis.

5. Select a location to indicate the minor axis. (See Figure 246.)6. Select General Dimension from the Sketch panel or the General Dimension

button from the Sketch toolbar.


Figure 245Points and line constructed

Figure 246Ellipse being constructed

7. Select the ellipse and select a location to indicate a half axis dimension. (SeeFigure 247.)

8. With reference to Figure 248, construct another dimension.


Figure 247Dimension constructed

Figure 248Half axes dimensioned

9. Construct a vertical line and add an angular dimension to orient the ellipse.(See Figure 249.)


10. Construct a line. (See Figure 250.)

Figure 249Vertical line and dimension added

Figure 250Line constructed

11. Trim the ellipse and the line. (See Figure 251.)


12. With reference to Figure 252, add two dimensions.The sketch is complete. Save and close your file. (File name: Ellipse.ipt)

Figure 251Ellipse and line trimmed

Figure 252Dimensions added


Sketch Dimension Display BehaviorWhen a sketch is dimensioned, there are chances that the sketch is distorted. To avoid distortion ofsketched, always dimension the innermost (or the smallest dimension) and work from inside to outside.

1. Start a new part file. Use metric template.2. With reference to Figure 253, construct a sketch.

Figure 253Sketch constructed

3. Add a dimension and give it an extreme dimension value. (See Figure 254.)Note that the sketch is distorted.

4. Undo the last command.5. With reference to Figure 255, construct a dimension.


Figure 254Sketch distorted

Figure 255Dimension undone and another dimension constructed

6. Select the dimension, double-click, and change the dimension value to 1000.7. Select Zoom All from the Standard toolbar. (See Figure 256.) Note that the

sketch resize accordingly without any distortion to the general shape.


Figure 256Dimension value modified

Show Dimensions ImprovementsEditing a solid part is much easier by showing the dimensions of the features and editing the dimensions.

1. Open the file Polygon.ipt that you constructed.2. Set the display to an isometric view (if it is not displayed in isometric).3. Select Extrude from the Feature panel or select the Extrude button from the

Feature toolbar.4. In the Extrusion dialog box, set the taper angle to 5 degree and the extrusion

height to 10 mm, and select the OK button. (See Figure 257.)5. Select the Extrusion feature from the browser, right-click, and select Show

dimensions. (See Figure 258.)


Figure 257Sketch being extruded

Figure 258Dimensions displayed

6. With reference to Figure 259, select a dimension, double-click, and changethe dimension value to 10.

7. Select Update from the Command Bar toolbar. (See Figure 260.)


The solid part is modified.

Figure 259Dimension being modified

Figure 260Modified solid part updated


In-Line Work FeatureIn R5, you can construct a work feature during the creation of another work feature. The work feature thuscreated is called an in-line work feature. For example, you can construct work planes and work axes whilemaking a work point, construct work planes and work points while making a work axis, and construct workpoints and work axes while making a work plane. To learn how to construct in-line work features, you willperform the following steps:

1. Start a new part file. Use metric template.2. Referring to Figure 261, construct a rectangle measuring 40 mm times 30

mm, set the display to an isometric view, and extrude the sketch a distance of15 mm.

Figure 261Extruded solid being constructed

3. Select Work Points from the Features panel or toolbar.4. Move the cursor over the graphics area, right-click, and select Create Plane.5. Select the face indicated in Figure 262 and drag the mouse to construct an

offset work plane.6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 twice to construct two more offset work planes. (See

Figure 263 and 264.)


Figure 262In-line work plane constructed

Figure 263


Second in-line work plane constructed

Figure 264Third in-line work plane constructed

A work point residing at the intersection of three in-line work planes is constructed. (See Figure 265.)


Figure 265Work point constructed at the intersection of three in-line work planes

Foreign Data ImportIn R5, you can incorporate free-form features in a solid part by opening an IGES or ACIS file or importingthese files to an Autodesk Inventor solid part file. Now perform the following steps to input a set of surfaces(shown in Figure 266) in IGES format.

Figure 266Surfaces saved in IGES format


1. Start a new part file. Use metric template.2. Select Import>Insert.3. In the Import dialog box, select an IGES file and select the Open button.

The surface data from the IGEs file is imported. (See Figure 267.)

Figure 267Surface data imported

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Using Autodesk Inventor r5-2