Contents at a Glance Introduction xxvii Chapter 1 Getting Started 1 Chapter 2 A Hands-on Test-Drive of the Workflow 43 Chapter 3 Sketch Techniques 69 Chapter 4 Basic Modeling Techniques 135 Chapter 5 Advanced Modeling Techniques 207 Chapter 6 Sheet Metal 269 Chapter 7 Reusing Parts and Features 327 Chapter 8 Assembly Design Workflows 375 Chapter 9 Large Assembly Strategies 463 Chapter 10 Weldment Design 501 Chapter 11 Presentations and Exploded Views 539 Chapter 12 Documentation 557 Chapter 13 Tools Overview 641 Chapter 14 Exchanging Data with Other Systems 687 Chapter 15 Frame Generator 713 Chapter 16 Inventor Studio 751 Chapter 17 Stress Analysis and Dynamic Simulation 787 Chapter 18 Routed Systems 827 Chapter 19 Plastics Design Features 861 Chapter 20 ilogic 893 Appendix A The Bottom Line 939 Appendix B Autodesk Inventor 2015 Certification 973 Index 985
Contents Introduction xxvii Chapter 1 Getting Started 1 Understanding Parametric Design 1 a Creating 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. Specific 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 IP] 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
XIV ' CONTENTS 415 _ Understanding Origin Geometry Creating a Base 2D Sketch 4 Creating a Profile in the 47 Sketch 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 54 on a Drawing 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 58 an Assembly Placing Assembly Constraints to Define 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 Chapter 3 Sketch Techniques 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 a Creating 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 66 69
CONTENTS I XV 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 Ill 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 an Editing 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
XVI CONTENTS Extruding Between ~\fo 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 Creating Edge Fillets 176 Fillets 177 Face Fillets 180 Full Round Fillets 180 I81 Working with Fillet Features 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
CONTENTS; XVII 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 Configurations 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
XVIII CONTENTS olfi Annotating Your Sheet-Metal Design ^ Creating a View of Your Sheet-Metal 320 Design Adding Bend, Punch, and Flat Pattern Annotations 322 The Bottom Line ^ 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 Creating Punch Features 34? Reusing Existing Geometry 352 Copying Features 352 Cloning 354 Linking Parameters Between Two Files 355 Copying Sketches 356 Introducing Content Center 358 Configuring Content Center 359 Using Content Center 361 Publishing Parts to Content Center 369 The Bottom Line 373 040 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 42! 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 42S Assembly Reuse and Configurations 435 Copying Designs 435
CONTENTS XIX 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
XX CONTENTS Using Split Faces to Place Cosmetic Welds Place Cosmetic Welds with Extents Creating Weld Beads 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 Groove and Fillet Weld Combinations 522 Split Technique 523 Using the Weld Symbol 525_ Understanding Bead Property Report and Mass Properties 52" / Creating Drawing Documentation 528 Weldment Design Stages 530 End Fill 532 Drawing Weld Symbol 533 Caterpillar 533 Generating The Bottom Line 536 a Bill of Materials and Parts List 535 510 510 cnn J^ 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 55s Understanding Template Locations 559 Choosing a File Format 560 Utilizing Drawing Resources Sheet Size Multiple Sheets 562 561 561
j CONTENTS XXI Creating a Border 562 Creating a Title Block 563 Prompted Entry 569 Sketched Symbols 570 AutoCAD Blocks 572 Sheet Formats 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 633 573
XXII! CONTENTS Working with iparts and iassembly Drawings Sharing Your Drawings Outside Your Workgroup Additional Resources The Bottom Line 635 637 Chapter 13 Tools Overview Exploring the BIM Exchange Assembly Model 642 Simplification 647 Part Model Simplification 649 Model Authoring 650 Model Publishing Using AutoLimits 653 Creating AutoLimits 655 Editing AutoLimits 657 Using the Design Assistant 658 Using the Find Files Tool 660 641 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 685 641 Chapter 14 Exchanging Data with Other Systems 687 Importing and Exporting Geometry 687 Translating DWG and DXF Files 688
CONTENTS XXIII 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 a Publishing 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 Authoring Publishing Frame Members 744 a Part 744 a Part 747
XXIV I CONTENTS Frame Assemblies and BOMs The Bottom Line 748 749 Chapter 16 Inventor Studio 751 Exploring the Inventor Studio Environment 751 Creating and Managing Styles Applying Appearance Styles 752 Creating Appearance Styles and Libraries Appearance 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 Specifying Applying Your Model 790 Materials 790 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 Frame Loads 807 Connections Results Conducting Dynamic Simulations 809 Working with Joints 810 More on Working with Joints 813 Working with Redundancy 815 Working with Environmental Constraints 815 Running a Simulation 822 Exporting to FEA 824 752 806 807 808
CONTENTS j XXV Using the Dynamic Simulation Information in Stress Analysis 825 The Bottom Line 826 Chapter 18 Routed Systems 827 Tube and Pipe 827 Understanding Routes, Runs, and Assembly Structure 827 Exploring the Tube and Pipe Styles 829 Placing Fittings 835 Creating Routes 836 Exporting ISOGEN Files 844 Cable and Harness 844 Creating and Placing Electrical Parts 845 Creating a Harness 848 Placing Wires 850 Using the Cable & Harness Library 851 Placing Cables 852 Placing and Editing Segments 853 Copying Cable and Harness Designs 856 Creating Nailboard Drawings 857 The Bottom Line 859 Chapter 19 Plastics Design Features 861 Creating Thicken/Offset Features 861 Creating Shell Features 863 Creating Split Features 864 Creating Grill Features 866 Creating Rule Fillet Features 868 Creating Rest Features 869 Creating Boss Features 871 Creating Lip and Groove Features 873 Creating Snap Fit Features 874 Creating Rib and Web Features 876 Creating Draft Features 877 Mold Design Overview 880 Inventor Tooling 880 Importing a Plastic Part 881 Creating Runners and Gates 883 Analyzing and Creating Cores and Cavities 885 Working with Mold Bases 888 Working with Ejectors and Sprue Bushings 889 The Bottom Line 891 Chapter 20 ilogic 893 What Is ilogic? 893 Understanding ilogic Rules 894
XXVI CONTENTS What Are Functions? Conditional Statements Understanding the ilogic Elements and Interface 899 Exploring ilogic Parameter Types 900 Using the ilogic Browser 903 Understanding the itrigger 907 908 Working with Event Triggers Creating ilogic Parameters, Rules, and Forms 909 Creating ilogic Rules ^09 Creating ilogic Forms 924 Working with ilogic Components 935 ilogic Design Copy 936 The Bottom Line 937 ^ oy/ QQ7 Appendix A The Bottom Line 939 Chapter 1: Getting Started 939 Chapter 2: A Hands-on Test-Drive of the Workflow 941 Chapter 3: Sketch Techniques 942 Chapter 4: Basic Modeling Techniques 944 Chapter 5: Advanced Modeling Techniques 946 Chapter 6: Sheet Metal 947 Chapter 7: Reusing Parts and Features 949 Chapter 8: Assembly Design Workflows 951 Chapter 9: Large Assembly Strategies 953 Chapter 10: Weldment Design 954 Chapter 11: Presentations and Exploded Views 956 Chapter 12: Documentation 957 Chapter 13: Tools Overview 959 Chapter 14: Exchanging Data with Other Systems 961 Chapter 15: Frame Generator 962 Chapter 16: Inventor Studio 963 Chapter 17: Stress Analysis and Dynamic Simulation 966 Chapter 18: Routed Systems 967 Chapter 19: Plastics Design Features 968 Chapter 20: ilogic 970 Appendix B Autodesk Inventor 2015 Certification 973 985