Basic Course for Autodesk Inventor ebook

Armin Graef Basic Course for Autodesk Inventor 2016 - ebook Theory + Exercises Terms of Use and Copyright After downloading from the Internet, the ebook can be used in the following ways: either: belonging to a person (may be read on multiple devices) - for use and data backup, the ebook may be copied to multiple devices - the ebook may be read only by the person or by one employee of the company that bought it - the ebook must not be given to other persons or: belonging to a device (may successively be read by multiple persons) - for use, the ebook may be copied on only one device; e.g. on a tablet computer in a training room - the device must be in the possession of the person or company that bought the ebook - the ebook must not be copied to other devices; except for data backup. In both upper types of use, the ebook must not be made available to several people for reading at the same time. All other rights reserved, including the translation. 2015, Armin Graef

AUTHOR Armin Graef www.armin-graef.de info@armin-graef.de PUBLISHER Armin Graef Beethovenstr. 13 86551 Aichach, Germany www.armin-graef.de/shop shop@armin-graef.de DISCLAIMER This work was thoroughly checked. Author and publisher exclude any liability for damages, resulting from direct or indirect use of this work. TRADEMARKS The software and hardware names and the trademarks used in this work are subject to legal copyright, trademark and patent protection. Autodesk, AutoCAD, DWG, the DWG logo, and Inventor are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and other countries. This book is independent of Autodesk, Inc., and is not authorized by, endorsed by, sponsored by, affiliated with, or otherwise approved by Autodesk, Inc.

Basic Course Autodesk Inventor 2016 PREFACE TO THE COMPLETE TRAINING MANUAL The transition from 2D design to 3D design is well underway. With the easy to use and powerful Inventor software from Autodesk, Inc., you can also perform this transition relatively quickly. The objective of the training manual is to help you in this whole process and especially, to make the first steps of working with the CAD software as easy as possible. If the Inventor software has already been installed, you have probably already seen the very extensive and interesting Inventor Help system. What advantages do you have if you also own this training manual in addition to the documentation of the CAD system? First, you will notice the special order in which the different topics of the Inventor software are discussed in the manual. On the one hand, subsequent chapters are mostly, only dependent on the knowledge of previous chapters. On the other hand, I wanted to make sure that a beginner, in particular, should be able to quickly understand the scope of a typical 3D system in its entirety. In addition, it was vital to me to distinguish between those commands which are "absolutely necessary" and "less important" tools. Therefore the book was basically divided into three parts. Within the first and second part, the three main topics of most 3D systems are repeatedly explained: the "Part Modeling", the "Assembly Modeling", and the creation of "Drawings". Additionally, at the end of the second part, the chapter "Special Subjects" is also included. In this chapter more subject-specific topics are discussed, like for example "Sheet Metal Design" or "Weldment Design". Within the third part, all those topics are explained, which are also very interesting, but are not absolutely necessary to create the first designs. The many exercises will also be very beneficial for you. Basically they consist of two distinct types. On the one hand, there are the relatively small exercises which are available for all theoretically discussed commands. On the other hand, there are also the major exercises, which are generally more focused on multiple subjects or on solving a design task. The additional and often different explanations of the theoretical background of the various tools and capabilities of the Inventor software in comparison to the help system can also be an advantage for you. Great importance is particularly attached on a clear structuring of the respective topics. Therefore in the following sections, you will find relatively little "text in the form of a novel", but many "main points" and even more matching "sub points". Finally, I don't want to forget to emphasize here that the most effective way to learn a CAD system is a good training course in combination with a matching manual. If you also share this opinion, please have a closer look at my website on the Internet. I wish you a lot of success in working with the Inventor software. Armin Graef Internet: www.armin-graef.de www.armin-graef.de Basic Course/Inv2016 1

Autodesk Inventor 2016 Basic Course THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT Many of the examples and exercises in this book have been developed while discussing and solving practical tasks. I would like to thank everyone involved for the information, suggestions, and sometimes complete design documents. For modeling more complex assemblies, the company FiA - Dr. Fichtner GmbH & Co. Industrieanlagen KG from Munich gave me a 2D-drawing set of a welding machine. For that I would like to thank Dr.-Ing. Hermann Fichtner and Mr. Gerhard Klein. I have used multiple components of these assemblies for smaller and larger exercises in this book. I would also like to thank Mr. Karl Schedlbauer especially for his help in mechanical design. With his support, for example, the exercises in weldment and for component generators could be created in a practical way. TERMS OF USE AND COPYRIGHT After downloading from the Internet, the ebook can be used in the following ways: either: belonging to a person (may be read on multiple devices) - for use and data backup, the ebook may be copied to multiple devices - the ebook may be read only by the person or by one employee of the company that bought it - the ebook must not be given to other persons or: belonging to a device (may successively be read by multiple persons) - for use, the ebook may be copied on only one device; e.g. on a tablet computer in a training room - the device must be in the possession of the person or company that bought the ebook - the ebook must not be copied to other devices; except for data backup. In both upper types of use, the ebook must not be made available to several people for reading at the same time. All other rights reserved, including the translation. 2015, Armin Graef DISCLAIMER This work was thoroughly checked. Author and publisher exclude any liability for damages, resulting from direct or indirect use of this work. TRADEMARKS The software and hardware names and the trademarks used in this work are subject to legal copyright, trademark and patent protection. Autodesk, AutoCAD, DWG, the DWG logo, and Inventor are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and other countries. This book is independent of Autodesk, Inc., and is not authorized by, endorsed by, sponsored by, affiliated with, or otherwise approved by Autodesk, Inc. 2 Basic Course/Inv2016 www.armin-graef.de

Basic Course Autodesk Inventor 2016 PREFACE TO THE BASIC COURSE As mentioned before, my whole training manuals to the Autodesk Inventor 2016 software are divided into three parts. This manual, the so-called "Basic Course", contains "Part 1" and "Part 2". Within the "Basic Course", the knowledge which is especially necessary to create the "first" designs is explained. The other manual the so-called "Advanced Course" contains "Part 3". The "Tables of Contents" of both books can be downloaded via the website "www.armin-graef.de". THE MAIN STRUCTURE OF BOTH BOOKS The highest levels of the contents of both books are shown on the right. In "Part 1" and "Part 2" they do not contain any technical subdivision. The different terms of a 3D system (sketches, features, assemblies,...) are only used below these chapter headings. The repetition of the three main topics "Part Modeling", "Assembly Modeling" and "Drawings" was chosen, so that, first the "simpler" tools and then the "more complex" tools to the same main topic could be explained. Within the chapter "Special Subjects", the topics "Sheet Metal Design", "Weldment Design", "Simple piping...", "More complex Solid Modeling", and "Frame Generator" are discussed. In "Part 3" the aforementioned manner of subdivision was not carried out anymore. Book: Basic Course Part 1 - Introduction - Part Modeling - Assembly Modeling - Drawings Part 2 - Part Modeling - Assembly Modeling - Drawings - Special Subjects Book: Advanced Course Part 3 - Representations and Selection methods - Additional Tools - Skeletal Modeling - Administration and Configuration - Parameters and Libraries - Data Exchange - Splines and Surface Modeling - Freeform Modeling - Tube and Pipe - Cable and Harness - Stress Analysis and Frame Analysis - ilogic - Data Management with Autodesk Vault - Design Accelerator - Adaptivity - Further Display Tools - Presentations - Inventor Studio www.armin-graef.de Basic Course/Inv2016 3

Autodesk Inventor 2016 Basic Course SPECIAL CONVENTIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS To simplify notation and to improve clarity, the following conventions and abbreviations are often used in this document. Text example in the document Ribbon/3D Model/Create/Revolve <Revolve> Browser/Sketch1/Edit Sketch [Skizze1/Edit Sketch] Graphics Window/RMB/Extrude {Extrude}.../RMB/... Action to be performed Choose the "Revolve" command by clicking once with the left mouse button on the icon "Revolve" on the Ribbon (Model tab, Create panel) (Abbreviation: angle brackets) Choose the "Edit Sketch" command by clicking once with the right mouse button (context menu) on the name "Sketch1" within the browser (Abbreviation: square brackets) Choose the "Extrude" command by clicking once with the right mouse button within the graphics window and select the item "Extrude" from the context menu (for example from the special Marking Menu) (Abbreviation: curly brackets) Press the right mouse button on any object 4 Basic Course/Inv2016 www.armin-graef.de

Basic Course Autodesk Inventor 2016 Contents Basic Course Part 1: 1. Introduction... 15 1.1 Copying the exercise files to the hard disk... 15 1.2 Launching Autodesk Inventor... 15 Projects... 16 New... 17 Save, Save as, Save Copy as... 17 Open... 18 1.3 Choosing commands... 20 Ribbon... 20 Quick Access Toolbar... 21 Application Menu... 21 Status Bar... 21 Browser... 22 Marking Menus (Context Menus in the graphics window)... 23 Mini-Toolbars for Direct Manipulation in the graphics window... 23 Repeat the last command (Enter or Spacebar)... 25 1.4 Viewing tools... 25 ViewCube... 25 Navigation Bar... 25 Zoom, Pan, and Orbit... 26 Visual Styles... 27 1.5 Help System... 28 2. Part Modeling... 29 2.1 Basics about Parts... 29 Elements and properties of parts... 29 Different types of features... 29 2.2 Sketches... 33 2.2.1 Basics about Sketches... 33 Creating, Finishing and Activating a Sketch... 33 Basic Rules for Creating Sketches... 35 2.2.2 Creating and Editing Sketch Geometry... 35 Creating Sketch Geometry by Drawing... 35 Creating Sketch Geometry by Projecting... 36 Editing Sketch Geometry... 36 Type of sketch geometry: Normal, Construction, Centerline, Center Point... 39 2.2.3 Basics about Dimensioning and Constraining Sketches... 40 Adding dimensions and constraints... 40 Means to see the "Degree of dimensioning or constraining"... 40 Use of the so-called Heads-Up Display at the Cursor while creating contours... 41 2.2.4 Dimensioning Sketches... 41 Distinction of different kinds of Dimensions within Sketches... 41 Rules for Creating Sketches and Dimensions... 41 Visibility of Dimensions... 42 Creating and Editing Dimensions... 42 www.armin-graef.de Basic Course/Inv2016 5

Autodesk Inventor 2016 Basic Course 2.2.5 Constraining Sketches... 44 Point alignment and Point snaps... 44 Manual creation of 2D Constraints... 45 Constraint Settings... 46 Showing and Deleting Constraints... 47 2.2.6 Aligning sketch geometry at the "Origin"... 49 2.3 Sketched Features... 52 2.3.1 Extrude... 52 2.3.2 Revolve... 54 2.3.3 Holes and Threads... 55 Holes without and with Threads... 55 External and Internal Threads... 57 2.4 Placed Features... 58 2.4.1 Fillet... 58 2.4.2 Chamfer... 59 2.4.3 Rectangular Pattern... 60 2.4.4 Circular Pattern... 62 2.5 Work Features... 63 2.5.1 Work Planes... 63 2.5.2 Work Axes... 65 2.5.3 Work Points... 66 2.6 Primitive Shapes... 67 2.7 Exercises... 68 2.7.1 Holder... 68 2.7.2 Clamping ring... 71 2.7.3 Shaft... 75 2.7.4 Palm grip... 77 2.7.5 Features on turned parts... 80 Creating a radial hole and a keyway groove on a cylindrical part... 80 Creating a rotatable radial hole on a conical part... 81 3. Assembly Modeling... 83 3.1 Basics about Assemblies... 83 Elements and properties of assemblies... 83 Turning off the visibility of occurrences... 83 Modifying the components of assemblies... 84 3.2 Parametric positioning of occurrences in assemblies... 85 3.2.1 Creating 3D Constraints with the Place Constraint tool... 85 Assembly Constraints with (Alt key) + (Dragging with the left mouse button)... 85 Mate (important)... 86 Angle (important)... 89 Tangent... 90 Insert (important)... 91 Symmetry (important)... 92 Limits... 92 Motion... 93 Transitional... 94 Constraint Set... 94 3.2.2 Creating Joints with the Place Joint tool... 94 Rigid (important)... 95 Slider (important) and Rigid with Offset Origin (important)... 96 Rotational with Between Two Faces (important)... 97 Cylindrical... 98 Planar... 98 Ball... 99 3.2.3 Displaying and Editing Relationships... 100 Displaying Relationships and changing the offset... 100 Edit Relationships and Relationship Conflict Analysis... 101 6 Basic Course/Inv2016 www.armin-graef.de

Basic Course Autodesk Inventor 2016 3.2.4 Driving according constraints or joints... 102 3.2.5 Flexible assemblies... 103 3.3 Placing and Creating components in assemblies... 103 Placing components in an assembly... 103 Creating a new component in an assembly... 104 3.4 Basic administration tools and measuring tools... 106 3.4.1 Creating a new project by copying a sample project... 106 3.4.2 Measuring tools... 107 3.5 Exercises... 109 3.5.1 Steel frame... 109 Project folder and project file... 109 Main assembly and Vertical brace... 109 Cross brace... 112 Longitudinal brace... 114 45deg brace... 116 4. Drawings... 119 4.1 Basics about Drawings... 119 Storing and elements of a drawing... 119 User interface... 120 4.2 Drawing views... 121 4.2.1 Creating drawing views and simple editing commands... 121 Base view... 121 Projected View... 122 Auxiliary View... 122 Detail View... 122 Selecting objects and Moving drawing views... 122 Section View... 124 Break... 128 Break Out... 129 Crop... 130 Custom View Orientation... 131 4.2.2 Further tools to modify drawing views... 131 4.2.3 Multiple Sheets... 137 4.3 Annotations... 138 4.3.1 Centerlines... 138 4.3.2 Dimensions... 140 Drawing dimensions... 140 Model dimensions... 143 Chamfer Note... 144 Editing dimensions... 144 4.3.3 Text and Leader Text... 147 4.3.4 Hole and Thread Notes... 150 4.4 Printing... 151 4.5 Exercises... 152 4.5.1 Angle plate... 152 www.armin-graef.de Basic Course/Inv2016 7

Autodesk Inventor 2016 Basic Course Part 2: 5. Part Modeling... 157 5.1 Automatic creation of Adaptivity... 157 5.1.1 Adaptive Work Features... 157 By directly creating Work Planes, Work Axes, or Work Points... 157 By creating Work Planes when creating sketches... 159 5.1.2 Adaptive or non-adaptive sketches by projecting objects... 159 5.2 Sketches and Features... 161 5.2.1 Editing Sketches... 161 5.2.2 Restructuring within the Part Browser... 162 Modifying the order of features... 162 Using the End of Part marker... 162 5.2.3 Copying and Pasting features... 164 5.2.4 Mirroring features... 165 5.2.5 Splitting faces or parts... 166 5.2.6 Creating Texts... 167 Text... 167 Geometry Text... 168 5.2.7 Emboss... 168 5.2.8 Image and Decal... 169 Insert Image... 169 Decal... 170 5.3 Parameters and Tolerances... 171 5.3.1 Using parameters in dimensions... 171 5.3.2 Model tolerances... 172 5.3.3 Changing the display of dimension... 172 5.3.4 Parameters dialog box... 173 5.4 Derived Component... 176 5.4.1 Deriving a part to a part... 178 Mirroring a part... 178 Scaling a part... 178 Simple example of Skeletal Modeling... 178 5.4.2 Deriving an assembly to a part... 180 Simplification of an assembly... 180 5.4.3 Exporting objects within the Base Component... 181 6. Assembly Modeling... 183 6.1 Content Center... 183 6.2 Assembly features... 189 6.3 Auxiliary functions... 190 Section Views... 190 Assigning existing Materials and Appearances... 191 Properties (iproperties) of a component... 193 Free Rotate and Free Move of components... 195 6.4 Pattern, Replacing, Copying, Mirroring, and Restructuring Components... 196 6.4.1 Pattern Components... 196 6.4.2 Replacing Components... 197 6.4.3 Copying Components... 199 Basic types of copying... 199 Description of the Copy Components tool... 200 6.4.4 Mirroring Components... 203 Description of the tool... 203 Properties of mirrored components... 204 6.4.5 Restructuring Components... 207 8 Basic Course/Inv2016 www.armin-graef.de

Basic Course Autodesk Inventor 2016 6.5 Design Assistant... 209 6.5.1 Basic commands ("not so important")... 209 6.5.2 Copying, renaming, and replacing files ("important")... 211 Creating an "Independent copy of an assembly with associated drawing"... 212 Creating an "Independent copy of an assembly with associated drawing with immediate replacing"... 214 Replacing a component... 215 Creating an "Independent copy of a part with associated drawing"... 215 Renaming multiple file... 216 6.6 Bill of Materials... 217 Property BOM Structure... 217 Bill of Materials Tool... 218 Virtual Component... 221 6.7 Exercise: Basic steps to create an assembly... 222 6.7.1 Preparations... 222 "Without Autodesk Vault"... 222 "With Autodesk Vault"... 222 6.7.2 Creating the initial design... 222 6.7.3 Continuing the design... 227 "Without Autodesk Vault"... 227 "With Autodesk Vault"... 228 7. Drawings... 233 7.1 Balloons and Parts Lists... 233 7.1.1 Customizing the format of Balloons and Parts Lists... 233 7.1.2 Creating and Editing Balloons... 235 Creating... 235 Editing... 236 7.1.3 Inserting and Editing Parts Lists... 237 Inserting... 237 Editing... 237 7.2 Predefined Symbols... 240 7.2.1 Surface Texture Symbols... 240 7.2.2 Feature Control Frame symbols... 240 7.2.3 Datum Identifier Symbols... 241 7.2.4 Datum Target symbols... 241 7.2.5 Feature Identifier Symbols... 241 7.2.6 Adding text to a Leader Text... 242 7.3 Sketches and Sketch Symbols... 242 7.3.1 Independent Sketches... 242 7.3.2 Sketches dependent on Drawing Views... 243 7.3.3 Sketches dependent on Draft Views... 243 7.3.4 Sketch Symbols... 244 Creating and Editing the Definitions of Sketch Symbols... 244 Managing Sketch Symbols in Sketch Symbol Libraries... 245 Inserting and Editing Sketch Symbols... 246 Pattern Sketch Symbols or AutoCAD Blocks... 248 7.4 Special Objects and Dimensions... 249 7.4.1 Work Features, Model Sketches and Center of Gravity in views... 249 Work Features... 249 Model Sketches... 249 Center of Gravity... 249 7.4.2 Special Dimensions... 250 7.5 Hole Tables... 251 7.6 Revision Tables and Revision Tags... 254 7.7 General Tables... 257 7.8 Displaying components with the BOM Structure type Reference... 259 7.9 Replacing Model References... 260 www.armin-graef.de Basic Course/Inv2016 9

Autodesk Inventor 2016 Basic Course 8. Special Subjects... 261 8.1 Sheet Metal Design... 261 8.1.1 Basic sheet metal tools... 261 Face... 261 Flange... 263 Corner Seam... 265 8.1.2 Flat Pattern... 267 Creating a Flat Pattern and displaying it in a drawing... 268 Sketches within the Folded Model and within the Flat Pattern... 271 Exporting a Flat Pattern... 271 8.1.3 General properties of Sheet Metal parts... 272 Sheet Metal Defaults... 272 Managing the "Sheet Metal Rule", "Material", and "Unfold Rule" styles... 273 8.1.4 Further sheet metal tools... 278 Cut... 278 Project Flat Pattern... 279 Contour Flange... 280 Fold... 281 Bend... 281 Hem... 282 Punch Tool... 283 Contour Roll... 284 Unfold and Refold... 285 Lofted Flange... 287 Rip... 290 8.1.5 Exercises... 291 Creating the sheet metal part "Carrier"... 291 Creating a sheet metal part from a "block"... 294 Creating a sheet metal funnel with tube... 295 8.2 Weldment Design... 298 8.2.1 Creating weldment assemblies... 298 8.2.2 Drawing views of weldment assemblies... 306 8.2.3 Exercises... 309 Weldment assembly "Cylinder barrel"... 309 8.3 Simple piping with 3D-Sketches and Sweeping... 314 8.3.1 3D-Sketches... 314 8.3.2 Sweep features with 2D and 3D sketches... 316 8.4 More complex Solid Modeling... 323 8.4.1 Extrude... 323 8.4.2 Revolve... 324 8.4.3 Ribs and Webs... 325 8.4.4 Shell... 327 8.4.5 Face Draft... 329 8.4.6 Fillet... 333 8.4.7 Connecting cross sections (Loft)... 336 8.4.8 Sweep... 341 8.4.9 Coil... 342 8.4.10 Direct Edit... 343 8.4.11 Sketch Coordinate System... 346 8.4.12 Copying and Pasting sketches... 347 8.4.13 Projecting edges and curves... 347 Projecting Cut Edges... 347 Project Curve to Surface... 348 8.4.14 Helical Curve... 349 8.4.15 Sketch Properties... 350 8.4.16 Bend Part... 351 10 Basic Course/Inv2016 www.armin-graef.de

Basic Course Autodesk Inventor 2016 8.4.17 Multi-body parts... 352 8.4.18 Storing solid bodies as separate parts... 354 Make Part... 354 Make Components... 355 8.4.19 Move Bodies... 356 8.4.20 Combine... 357 8.4.21 Delete Face... 357 8.5 Frame Generator... 359 8.5.1 Basic steps for creating a frame... 359 8.5.2 Inserting and changing Frame Members... 359 Basics of inserting Frame Members... 359 Changing Frame Members... 361 Further options when inserting Frame Members... 362 8.5.3 Modifying the end treatments between Frame Members... 363 Miter Corners... 363 Trim to Frame Members... 364 Trim and Extend to Face... 365 Notch Frame Members... 365 Lengthen - Shorten Frame Member... 366 Remove End Treatments... 367 End Treatments on curved or merged frame members... 367 8.5.4 Additional tools of the Frame Generator... 368 Frame Member Info... 368 Refresh... 368 Presentation of Frame Members within Parts Lists... 368 Reuse... 369 Change Reuse... 369 8.5.5 Publishing customized frame members... 372 Publishing a part whose cross section is not changeable (no ipart)... 373 Publishing a part whose cross section is changeable (ipart)... 374 8.5.6 Exercises... 376 Assembly "Frame1"... 376 8.6 Plastic Parts... 379 Grill... 380 Rest... 381 Lip... 382 Boss... 383 Snap Fit... 384 Rule Fillet... 385 Appendix: 9. Index... 387 www.armin-graef.de Basic Course/Inv2016 11

Autodesk Inventor 2016 Basic Course 12 Basic Course/Inv2016 www.armin-graef.de

Part 1 Part 1 Basic Course for Autodesk Inventor www.armin-graef.de Basic Course/Inv2016 13

Part 1 TERMS OF USE AND COPYRIGHT After downloading from the Internet, the ebook can be used in the following ways: either: belonging to a person (may be read on multiple devices) - for use and data backup, the ebook may be copied to multiple devices - the ebook may be read only by the person or by one employee of the company that bought it - the ebook must not be given to other persons or: belonging to a device (may successively be read by multiple persons) - for use, the ebook may be copied on only one device; e.g. on a tablet computer in a training room - the device must be in the possession of the person or company that bought the ebook - the ebook must not be copied to other devices; except for data backup. In both upper types of use, the ebook must not be made available to several people for reading at the same time. All other rights reserved, including the translation. 2015, Armin Graef DISCLAIMER This work was thoroughly checked. Author and publisher exclude any liability for damages, resulting from direct or indirect use of this work. TRADEMARKS The software and hardware names and the trademarks used in this work are subject to legal copyright, trademark and patent protection. Autodesk, AutoCAD, DWG, the DWG logo, and Inventor are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and other countries. This book is independent of Autodesk, Inc., and is not authorized by, endorsed by, sponsored by, affiliated with, or otherwise approved by Autodesk, Inc. 14 Basic Course/Inv2016 www.armin-graef.de

Part 1 Introduction 1. INTRODUCTION Main Topics Copying the exercise files to the hard disk Launching Autodesk Inventor Choosing commands Viewing tools Help System 1.1 COPYING THE EXERCISE FILES TO THE HARD DISK At the beginning, you should copy the exercise files of the book into a folder on your local computer or on your network. Please, do the following: Download a ZIP file from the Internet - go to the main web page of the book: "www.armin-graef.de/book-inventor2016.aspx" - choose the following link at the bottom of the page: "Download the exercise files (English)" - first, another web page appears on which the so-called "Book Number" is checked - please enter the "Book Number" (you can find the "Book Number" in the footer of each page) - please also enter any password (please remember; to repeat the download) - then, the web page appears from which the ZIP file can be downloaded - click the link "Course_Inv2016.zip" and save the file in any folder on your local computer or on your network Extract the downloaded ZIP file - after you have downloaded the ZIP file, you can extract the file to any folder (e.g. to "C:\") - only one main folder ("Course") with many subfolders and files is created. 1.2 LAUNCHING AUTODESK INVENTOR To launch the Inventor software, double-click the program icon on your desktop. After that, the following window appears: either: the Home screen ("My Home" tab) - this is the default setting after an installation - can permanently be switched on (default) or off via the option Ribbon/Tools/Options/Application Options/General/Show My Home on startup - "upper area": to create new files or to select Projects or Shortcuts - if you want to use "IDW" as the type of template files, you can set this via Ribbon/.../Application Options/Drawing/Default Drawing... - "lower area": to open recently used files - the files can be filtered or sorted by different criteria - basically, the files are grouped in Pinned and Unpinned files - via "left-click" or "right-click", different options can be chosen to manage the files or: the Inventor main window (also appears after closing the Home screen) - on the left of the Ribbon, you can select the following three important commands - New - to create new files Ribbon - Open - to open existing files Quick Access Toolbar - Projects - to manage the projects of Autodesk Inventor. Application menu Subsequently, the above commands and the Save... tools are described by means of some short explanations and exercises. www.armin-graef.de Basic Course/Inv2016 15

Introduction Part 1 PROJECTS Before you open or create an Inventor file which references other files, you should always activate a "suitable" project file that contains storage locations and other important information of these files. In Autodesk Inventor, a Project consists of the following elements: a set of folders for saving or opening files a set of files that are stored in these folders a so-called Project File (*.ipj) in which the paths of the folders and other information are stored. If you activate a project file, you have the following advantages: the referenced files are stored or opened relatively with respect to the storage locations within the project file - so projects (the Inventor files, the folders and the project file) can be moved or copied easily an error message appears if you open a file that cannot be found within or below one of the storage locations of the current project file - so opening files of other projects by mistake can be prevented (if the error message is not ignored). After you have chosen the Projects command from the Home screen or the Launch panel of the Get Started tab of the Ribbon, the Project Editor appears and you can do the following actions: Activating a project file in the upper list (which has been added before) - by a double-click Adding an existing project file to the list - the "upper list" of the project editor displays all project files and links to project files that reside in the so-called Projects folder - after installation the Project folder is a subfolder of the (local) "Users" folder - after installation the project "Default" is active - to add a project to the upper list you can click the Browse button of the Project Editor and then select the desired project file - by doing this, not a copy of the whole project is saved in the (local) Project-Folder, but a Microsoft Windows shortcut (link) to the selected folder Creating a new project file and changing its properties - this is explained in section "Part 1/Assembly Modeling/Basic administration and auxiliary tools" and in section "Part 3/Administration and Configuration/Project Management" (Advanced Course). In the following exercise, you should select the project "0_Exercises-Theory" from the exercise files. According to the upper explanation, a shortcut (link) to the desired project is created. Exercise 2-1: Do the following: Choose the Project Editor - Ribbon/Get Started/Launch/Projects Add the project file - Button: Browse... - Folder:...\Course\Inv2016\Server\Projects\ 0_Exercises-Theory - File: 0_Exercises-Theory.ipj Activate the project - is automatically activated while adding the project file. Note: Other projects of the "exercise files" All other projects of the "exercise files" can also be added and activated in the same manner. 16 Basic Course/Inv2016 www.armin-graef.de