Mastering Autodesk Inventor 2016 and Autodesk Inventor LT 2016

Paul Munford is an Application Engineer for Graitec Professional Services. Until recently Paul was the CAD/CAM manager for a cabinet maker in the United Kingdom. In his role as a CAD manager and drafter, Paul used CAD for setting out joinery and communicating project ideas to clients. Outside of work, Paul shares his love of CAD as the author of Cadsetterout.com, a blog devoted to sharing tips, tricks, and tutorials for AutoCAD and Autodesk Inventor.Paul Normand is a principal content developer at Autodesk, Inc. Previously, he designed high voltage electrical substation equipment and high tech laboratory equipment. He became an applications engineer for an Autodesk reseller and spent the next sixteen years demonstrating, training, and supporting Autodesk manufacturing software.

• Introduction xxvii Chapter 1 • Getting Started 1Understanding Parametric Design 1Creating a Base Sketch 1Creating a Base Feature 2Adding More Features 3Using the Part in an Assembly 3Making Changes 4Understanding History-Based Modeling and Dependencies 4Taking a Closer Look at Sketch Dimensions 5Following Part Modeling Best Practices 7Following Assembly Modeling Best Practices 8Understanding the “Feel” of Inventor 10Understanding the Intuitive Interface 10Using General Tools vsSpecifi c Commands 12When in Doubt, Right-Click 12Using the Graphical Interface 13Inventor Title Bar 14Graphics Window Tools 15The Ribbon Menu 17The Browser Pane/Model Browser 19Dialog Boxes and the In-Canvas Mini-Toolbars 19Task-Based Tools 20Learning the File Types in Inventor 20What Is an Inventor Project? 22Project Files and Search Paths 22Library Folders and Library Editor IPJ Files 25Content Center Files 26How Search Paths and Project Files Are Used 26Exploring Project File Types 27Creating a Project File 29Creating Single-User Projects 29Creating Multiuser Projects 38Understanding Inventor Templates39Working with Styles, Style Libraries, and Company Standards 40The Bottom Line 40Chapter 2 • A Hands-on Test-Drive of the Workflow 43Creating a Part Model 43Starting with a Part Template 45Understanding Origin Geometry 45Creating a Base 2D Sketch 46Creating a Profi le in the Sketch 48Creating a Base 3D Feature 48Creating a Secondary 2D Sketch 49Creating a Secondary 3D Feature 51Patterning a 3D Feature 52Creating and Detailing Drawings of Part Models 53Creating a Base View on a Drawing 53Creating Projected Views on a Drawing 55Creating Dimensions on a Drawing 55Putting Part Models Together in Assembly Files 56Placing, Rotating, and Moving Parts in an Assembly File 57Working with Degrees of Freedom in an Assembly 58Placing Assembly Constraints to Defi ne Mechanical Movement 60Creating and Detailing Drawings of Assembly Models 63Creating an Assembly Detail View 63Placing a Parts List and Balloons 65Exporting a Drawing to a PDF File 66The Bottom Line 66Chapter 3 • Sketch Techniques 69Exploring the Options and Settings for Sketches 69Application Options 70Document Settings 75Sketching Basics 75Creating a Sketch on an Existing Sketch 76Projecting Geometry into Your Sketch 77Breaking Links to Projected Geometry 79Deleting a Sketch 80Creating Another New Sketch 80Creating Dimensions 81Creating a Sketch in a New Part 82Creating a New Part File from a Template 82Creating Lines Using the Line Tool 84Understanding Sketch Constraints 86Using Degrees of Freedom to View Underconstrained Sketch Elements 88Using Dimensions to Fully Constrain a Sketch 89Understanding the Save Options 92Making a Sketch Active for Edits 93Using Construction Geometry 93Using the Polygon Tool and Creating an Aligned Dimension 95Using Offset and Creating a Three-Point Rectangle 97Creating Driven Dimensions 99Taking a Closer Look at Sketch Constraints 102The Tangent Constraint 103The Perpendicular Constraint 103The Parallel Constraint 104The Coincident Constraint 105The Concentric Constraint 105The Collinear Constraint 106The Horizontal Constraint 106The Vertical Constraint 107The Equal Constraint 108The Fix Constraint 109The Symmetric Constraint 109The Smooth Constraint 110Gaining More Sketch Skills 111Creating Arcs 111Creating Automatic Tangents with the Line Tool 113Understanding the Point/Center Point Tool 113Projecting Geometry 114Learning More about Dimensions 115Measuring Geometry 119Creating Sketches from AutoCAD Geometry 120Importing Existing AutoCAD Designs 120Copying and Pasting Existing AutoCAD Designs into Inventor 122Creating and Using 3D Sketches 123Creating a 3D Path 123Using the 3D Coordinate Triad 124Exploring More 3D Sketch Tools 127Best Practices for Working with Sketches 132The Bottom Line 133Chapter 4 • Basic Modeling Techniques 135Exploring Application Options and Settings for Part Modeling 135Specifying Global Settings 135Specifying Document-Specific Settings 137Key Concepts for Creating Basic Part Features 144Simplifying Your Sketches 147Exploring the Extrude Tool 148Extruding Basic Features 149Editing an Extrusion Feature 152Extruding with Cut and Taper 152Extruding with Intersect 153Extruding Surfaces from Open Profiles 155Extruding Solids from Open Profiles 156Extruding with To 158Extruding with the Minimum Solution Option 160Extruding with To Next 160Extruding Between 161Extruding Multi-body Solids 162Creating Revolved Parts 164Revolved Cylindrical Parts vsStacked Circular Extrusions 164Creating Revolved Parts 165Creating Work Features 167Work Planes 168Work Axes and Work Points 174Creating Fillets 175Edge Fillets 176Face Fillets 179Full Round Fillets 180Working with Fillet Features 180Creating Threaded Features 182Creating Cosmetic Threads Using the Thread Tool 182Using the Coil Tool to Create Physical Threads 183Hole Features 184Using the Thread and Clearance Spreadsheets 184Creating Holes in Parts 186Setting Tolerance Values in Holes 188Bend Parts 189Part Modeling Exercise 190Creating a Base Feature 191Creating a Second Feature 192Creating a Sketch-Based Hole Feature 194Creating a Rectangular Hole Pattern 197Editing Sketches and Features 199Repairing Features and Sketches 202The Bottom Line 204Chapter 5 • Advanced Modeling Techniques 207Creating Complex Sweeps and Lofts 207Creating and Using Sweeps 208Exploring Sweep Options 210Creating Loft Features 214Creating a Part Using Loft and Sculpt 221Creating Multi-body Parts 223Creating Multiple Solids 223Using One Solid to Shape Another 225Creating Derived Parts and Assemblies 230Creating Derived Parts 230Deriving a Part File 230Deriving an Assembly File 232Modifying Derived Parts 233Using the Component Derive Tool 233Working with Patterns 233Rectangular Patterns 233Circular Patterns 234Patterns Along Curves 236The Coil Tool and Spiral Patterns 238Pattern Solids 240Dynamic Patterns 243Setting iProperties and Parameters 244iProperties 244Part Parameters 245Assembly Parameters 250Adding Part Tolerances 250Tolerances in Sketches 251Setting Global File Tolerances 252Working with Limits and Fits 254Working with Free-Form Modeling and Direct Editing Tools 257Free-Form Modeling 257Using the Direct Edit Tool 264Troubleshooting Failures with the End-of-Part Marker 265Step 1: Editing the First Feature 266Step 2: Moving the EOP Marker Down One Feature at a Time 267The Bottom Line 268Chapter 6 • Sheet Metal 269Understanding Sheet-Metal Parts 269Getting to Know the Features 270Starting with a Base Feature 270Creating Secondary Flange Features 276Adding, Removing, or Deforming Material 285Using Sheet-Metal Templates and Rules 302What Are Sheet-Metal Rules? 302Working with Styles and Templates 310Working with the Flat Pattern 311Exploring the Flat Pattern Edit Features 311Adding Manufacturing Information to the Flat Pattern 311Using the Flat Pattern Definition Dialog Box 313Manufacturing Your Flat Pattern 314Using Sheet-Metal iPart Factories 315iParts for Confi gurations 316iParts for Fold Progression 316Modeling with Non-Sheet-Metal Features 317Selecting Problematic Features 317Using Surface-Based Workflows 317Working with Imported Parts 318Setting Yourself Up for Success 318Converting Components 318Annotating Your Sheet-Metal Design 319Creating a View of Your Sheet-Metal Design 319Adding Bend, Punch, and Flat Pattern Annotations 321The Bottom Line 323Chapter 7 • Reusing Parts and Features 325Working with iParts 325Creating and Modifying iParts 326Using iParts in Designs 338Working with iFeatures 340Creating iFeatures 341Creating Punch Features 345Reusing Existing Geometry 349Copying Features 349Cloning 351Linking Parameters Between Two Files 352Copying Sketches 353Introducing Content Center 355Confi guring Content Center 356Using Content Center 358Publishing Parts to Content Center 366The Bottom Line 369Chapter 8 • Assembly Design Workflows 371Assembly Relationships 372Degrees of Freedom 372Grounded Components 374How the Constrain Tool Works 375How the Joint Tool Works 376Working with Constraints 377Additional Constrain Tools and Options 391Working with Joint Relationships 397Understanding Subassemblies 408Top-Down Design 410Developing an Efficient Assembly Workflow 410Layout Sketches 414Flexibility 417Adaptivity 417Creating Adaptivity 418Removing Adaptivity from Parts 420Assembly Features 421Managing the Bill of Materials 423Parts-Level BOM Control 424Assembly-Level BOM Control 424Assembly Reuse and Configurations 431Copying Designs 431Using Representations 433Using iAssemblies 443Use Assembly Design Accelerators 447Functional Design vsGeometric Modeling 447Working with Design Accelerators 448The Bottom Line 455Chapter 9 • Large Assembly Strategies 457Selecting a Workstation 457Physical Memory vs Virtual Memory 458Hardware 458Working with Performance Settings 461Express Mode 461Working with Drawing Settings 461Working with Model Display Settings 465Working with General Settings 466Using the Memory Probe 468Working with System Settings 469Large Assembly Best Practices 470Working with the Model 470Improving File Open Time 471Reducing Assembly Constraints 471Adaptivity 474Selection Tools 475View Representations 477Find 477Opening the Model 478Working with Large Assembly Drawings 479Managing Assembly Detail 483LOD Strategies 483Substitute LODs 485Subassembly LODs 487Simplifying Parts 489Removing or Suppressing Unneeded Features 489The Bottom Line 491Chapter 10 • Weldment Design 493Exploring Weldment Design Methodologies 493Part Files and Part Features 494Weldment Assembly and Derived Technology 494Weldment Assembly 495Multi-body Part Files 496Modeling Preparations 497Exploring Cosmetic Welds 499Creating a Simple Cosmetic Weld 501Using Split Faces to Place Cosmetic Welds 502Placing Cosmetic Welds with Extents 502Creating Weld Beads 503Creating Fillet Welds 504Modeling a Fillet Weld 505Fillet Welds and Gaps 507Creating Intermittent Fillet Welds 508Creating Groove Welds 509Performing Machining Operations 512Exploring Weld Properties and Combinations 513Weld Properties 513Replication 514Groove and Fillet Weld Combinations 514Split Technique 515Using the Weld Symbol 517Understanding Bead Property Report and Mass Properties 518Creating Drawing Documentation 519Weldment Design Stages 521End Fill 523Drawing Weld Symbols 524Caterpillar 525Generating a Bill of Materials and Parts List 526The Bottom Line 527Chapter 11 • Presentations and Exploded Views 529Getting Started 530Working in the Presentation Environment 530Creating an Automatically Exploded Presentation 532Creating Tweaks Individually 535Preparing the Exploded Presentation to Be Used in an Animation 538Hiding Components from View During Animations 544Rounding Up Presentation Preparation 546Creating and Publishing Animations 546Animation File Types and Compression Codecs 547The Bottom Line 549Chapter 12 • Documentation 551Creating Drawing Views 551Creating a Base View 552Moving and Copying Views 556Creating Section Views 557Slice Views 561Using Breakout Views 562Using Detail Views 566Creating Break Views 567Cropping Views 570Using Draft Views 570Creating Overlay Views 570Annotating Part Drawings 571Using Centerline and Center Marks 571Creating Dimensions 576Hole and Thread Notes 588Leadered Symbols589Drawing Text 590General Tables 590Hole Tables 592Annotating Assembly Drawings 594Assembly Representations 595Reference Data in Drawing Views 597Interference and Tangent Edge Display 598Parts Lists 599Balloons 601Center of Gravity Display 603Working with Sheet-Metal Drawings 604Flat Pattern Views 604Bend Centerlines and Extents 605Bend and Punch Notes 605Bend Tables 606Punch Tables 607Working with Weldment Views 608Working with iParts and iAssembly Drawings 610Drawing Standards 611Creating Templates and Styles 612Understanding Template Locations 613Choosing a File Format 614Utilizing Drawing Resources 615Sheet Size 615Multiple Sheets 616Creating a Border 616Creating a Title Block 618Prompted Entry 623Sketched Symbols 625AutoCAD Blocks 627Sketched Symbol Libraries 627Sheet Formats 628Transferring Drawing Resources 629Editing Styles and Standards 630Object Defaults 631Creating Styles 634Working with Substyles 635Drawing Style Administration 636Sharing Your Drawings Outside Your Workgroup 636The Bottom Line 637Chapter 13 • Tools Overview 641Exploring the BIM Exchange 641Assembly Model Simplification 642Part Model Simplification 647Model Authoring 649Model Publishing 650Using AutoLimits 653Creating AutoLimits 655Editing AutoLimits 657Using the Design Assistant 658Using the Find Files Tool 660Using the Where Used Tool 661Renaming, Copying, and Replacing Files 663Using Pack And Go 664Using the Drawing Resource Transfer Wizard 667Using the Style Library Manager 668Using the Task Scheduler 670Creating a Task for Migrating Files 671Performing Sequential Tasks 673Performing Custom Tasks 674Tweaking Multi-Process Settings 674Publishing DWF Files and Filenames 675Using iProperties 675Copying iProperties to Drawings 677Creating Expressions with iProperties 678Working with the Design Assistant and iProperties 679Creating Design Property Reports 680Using the Measure Tools 681Using Measurement Helpers 681Measuring in Assemblies 683Participating in the CIP and CER R 683Participating in the CIP 683Participating in CER 684Using Miscellaneous Tools 684Using the Autodesk Multi-Sheet Plot Tool 684Using the Add-In Manager 685Using the Project Editor 686The Bottom Line 686Chapter 14 • Exchanging Data with Other Systems 687Importing and Exporting Geometry 687Importing vsReferencing Geometry 688Translating DWG and DXF Files 695Mechanical Desktop DWG 703STEP and IGES 704SAT 706CATIA Import Options 706Pro/ENGINEER Import Options 707Unigraphics and Parasolids Import Options 707SolidWorks Import Options 708Rhino Import Options 708SMT Import Options 708JT Import Options708STL Import Options 709IDF Board Files 709Working with Imported Data 711Repair Tools 711Edit Solid Tools 711Viewing DWF Markup 714Publishing a DWF or DWFx File 715Reviewing and Marking Up DWF and DWFx Files 716Accessing DWF or DWFx Markups in Inventor 717The Bottom Line 718Chapter 15 • Frame Generator 719Accessing Frame Generator Tools 719Exploring the Frame Generator File Structure 720Exploring the Anatomy of a Frame Member 722Inserting Frame Members 723Specifying a Structural Shape 723Changing the Orientation 724Selecting Placement Geometry 725Creating a Basic Frame 726Aligning Frame Members 730Using the Change Tool731Adding End Treatments 732Miter 733Trim/Extend to Face 736Trim to Frame Member 737Notch Frame Members 738Lengthen/Shorten Frame Member 739Reuse Frame Members 739Maintaining Frames 741Remove End Treatments 741Frame Member Information 741Refresh 741Performing Calculations and Analysis 742The Beam and Column Calculator 742Publishing Frame Members 751Authoring a Part 751Publishing a Part 754Frame Assemblies and BOMs 755The Bottom Line 756Chapter 16 • Inventor Studio 757How to Make Your Models Look Great, Live Onscreen 758Materials and Appearances 758Visual Styles Settings 764Saving an Image 773Rounding Up 773An Introduction to Inventor Studio 774How to Create a Still Image (Render) 776Inventor Studio Lighting Styles 780How to Add Local Lights 781How to Add Cameras 784How to Create an Animated Render 788Animating with Inventor Studio 790Inventor Studio Video Producer 796Rendering Animations 797Inventor Studio Roundup 798The Bottom Line 799Chapter 17 • Stress Analysis and Dynamic Simulation 801Introducing Analysis 801Conducting Stress Analysis Simulations 802Simulation Guide 803Static Stress vsModal Analysis 803Simplifying Your Model 803Specifying Materials 804Applying Simulation Constraints 805Applying Loads 806Specifying Contact Conditions 808Preparing Thin Bodies 810Generating a Mesh 810Running the Simulation 812Interpreting the Results 813Using the Result, Scaling, Display, and Report Tools 814Conducting Parameter Studies 815Conducting a Frame Analysis 819Frame Analysis Settings 819Frame Constraints 819Frame Loads 820Connections 821Results821Conducting Dynamic Simulations 823Working with Joints 823More on Working with Joints 827Working with Redundancy 828Working with Environmental Constraints 829Running a Simulation 835Exporting to FEA 838Using the Dynamic Simulation Information in Stress Analysis 839The Bottom Line 839Chapter 18 • Routed Systems 841Tube and Pipe 841Understanding Routes, Runs, and Assembly Structure 841Tube and Pipe Settings 843Exploring the Tube and Pipe Styles 844Placing Fittings 849Creating Routes 850Exporting ISOGEN Files 859Cable and Harness 859Creating and Placing Electrical Parts 860Creating a Harness 863Placing Wires 865Using the Cable & Harness Library 866Placing Cables 867Placing and Editing Segments 868Copying Cable and Harness Designs 871Creating Nailboard Drawings 873The Bottom Line 875Chapter 19 • Plastics Design Features 877Creating Thicken/Offset Features 878Creating Shell Features 879Creating Split Features 881Creating Grill Features 882Creating Rule Fillet Features 884Creating Rest Features 886Creating Boss Features 888Creating Lip and Groove Features 891Creating Snap-Fit Features 892Creating Rib and Web Features 894Creating Draft Features 896Mold Design Overview 898Inventor Tooling 898Importing a Plastic Part 899Creating Runners and Gates 902Analyzing and Creating Cores and Cavities 904Working with Mold Bases 907Working with Ejectors and Sprue Bushings 909The Bottom Line 912Chapter 20 • iLogic 915What Is iLogic? 915Understanding iLogic Rules 916What Are Functions? 916Conditional Statements 919Understanding the iLogic Elements and Interface 921Exploring iLogic Parameter Types 921Using the iLogic Browser 924Understanding the iTrigger 930Working with Event Triggers 930Creating iLogic Parameters, Rules, and Forms 931Creating iLogic Rules 931Creating iLogic Forms 946Working with iLogic Components 957iLogic Design Copy 958The Bottom Line 959Appendix A • Th e Bottom Line 961Chapter 1: Getting Started 961Chapter 2: A Hands-on Test-Drive of the Workflow 963Chapter 3: Sketch Techniques 964Chapter 4: Basic Modeling Techniques 966Chapter 5: Advanced Modeling Techniques 968Chapter 6: Sheet Metal 970Chapter 7: Reusing Parts and Features 973Chapter 8: Assembly Design Workfl ows 974Chapter 9: Large Assembly Strategies 977Chapter 10: Weldment Design 978Chapter 11: Presentations and Exploded Views 980Chapter 12: Documentation 981Chapter 13: Tools Overview 984Chapter 14: Exchanging Data with Other Systems 986Chapter 15: Frame Generator 987Chapter 16: Inventor Studio 988Chapter 17: Stress Analysis and Dynamic Simulation 991Chapter 18: Routed Systems 991Chapter 19: Plastics Design Features 992Chapter 20: iLogic 995Appendix B • Autodesk Inventor 2016 Certification 999Index 1009