MAE 477/577 Spring 2016

CAD Applications

Lab 1
Create parts from sketches.
Category
New Users
Time Required
60 minutes
Tutorial File Used
Start a new part file (metric).
In this tutorial, you work with various commands and
workflows in Inventor to build 3D parts.
This tutorial exposes you to various feature creation
commands and workflows you can use when you create 3D parts. If the finished part is the correct size
and shape, your modeling effort is successful.
In this exercise, two nearly identical parts are created that are intended to be placed on opposite ends of
a cylinder assembly. You build the first component to the point that it contains all the common features.
Then you finish each part with its respective unique features.
Objectives

Create a part from a sketch.

Add dimensions and constraints to sketch geometry.

Create and use parameters.

Use feature commands such as Extrude and the Hole command.

Use the pattern command to array features.

Save a copy of a part as a new file.

1. Create the Part from Scratch in Autodesk Inventor

In this section, we apply horizontal and vertical constraints to constrain the shape to the X,Y, Z
coordinates 0, 0, 0. We then add dimensions, create named parameters and use equations.
Constraining the rectangle centered about 0, 0, 0 makes it easy to constrain (locate) the part within an
assembly. Because the Origin Work Planes pass through the middle of the part it is easy to use these
planes to align the components in an assembly. Constraining a sketch to the origin also makes the sketch
behavior predictable when you add driving dimensions. It also applies two constraints to the sketch by
defining the Cartesian XY location.
Adding relationships between dimensions reduces the amount of edits, especially in complex parts. You
can also add mathematical formulas to dimensions. A link is provided in the exercise to the operators that
can be used in equations.
1.

Click the Autodesk Inventor icon to start a new part. Select New to open the Create New File
dialog box.

2. Click the metric folder to start a new metric part. Under the Part category, double-click Standard
(mm).ipt

If your sketch settings match the recommendations listed previously, you see an X axis, a Y axis,
and a point at 0,0,0.
3. Click 3D Model tab

Sketch panel

Create 2D Sketch.

4. Expand the Origin folder and then select the XY Plane.

If your sketch settings match the recommendations listed previously, you see an X axis, a Y axis,
and a point at 0,0,0.
5.

Click Sketch tab

Draw panel
Rectangle . Select Rectangle Two Point from the drop-down
menu, or select Two Point Rectangle from the marking menu. Sketch a rectangle approximately
centered about 0,0.

6.

Apply a Horizontal constraint between the origin and the midpoint of a vertical line. Hover your
cursor near the midpoint of the vertical line to display and select the midpoint.

7.

Apply a Vertical constraint between the origin and the midpoint of a horizontal line. Hover your
cursor near the midpoint of the horizontal line to display and select the midpoint.
If the logic of these picks seems confusing, imagine the axis between the two points you are picking.

8.

On the ribbon, click Sketch tab

from the marking menu.

Constrain panel

Dimension, or select General Dimension

9. Place a horizontal dimension.

10. In the Edit Dimension dialog box, enter the equation Width=49mm to define a new variable named
Width with an initial value of 49 mm.
11. Place a vertical dimension. Highlight the value in the Edit Dimension dialog box. Instead of entering
a number, pick the horizontal dimension value. The variable name of the first dimension (Width)
appears in the dialog box. Click the check mark to link the current dimension to the first dimension.
The vertical dimension displays as fx:49. The display means that a formula is in effect for the
vertical dimension and the current value is 49.
12. Right-click and select Done [ESC] from the marking menu to exit the Dimension command.
You have created another equation!

13. To see the entire equation, right click in a blank area of the graphics window. Choose Dimension
Display from the overflow menu, and then choose Expression. Notice the variable names and
formulas appear. Each dimension is assigned a variable based on the order of creation. d0 is the
first value assigned because 0 is the first integer. In this example, d0 was renamed Width and is a
driving dimension. The second dimension retains the original variable name d1 and is driven by
the dimension named Width.
NoteThe order of creation has no impact on which dimension can be the controlling dimension.

NoteThe marking menu appears near the area of the screen on which you right-click. Use this

technique to control where a marking menu appears.

2. Viewing and Editing Parameters

You can assign names to the dimension variables or you can create your own parameters. You can also
create formulas using mathematical expressions. If you do not create an expression at the time you create
a dimension, you can use the parameters dialog box to add or edit equations.
1. On the ribbon, click Manage tab
box.

Parameters panel

Parameters to open the Parameters dialog

2. Notice that d0 inside the Model Parameters column is displayed as Width. The model parameter
also shows d1 is equal to the value of Width.

NoteVariables names are case sensitive and no spaces are allowed in the name.

3. Select Done when finished.

TipYou can use algebraic operators in the equation area or in the Edit Dimension dialog box to

create a mathematical formula. Incomplete or invalid equations display in red.

4. Right-click in a blank area of the graphics window. Choose Dimension Display from the overflow
menu, and then Tolerance to display the dimensions without the parameter names.
5. Finish the sketch using one of the following methods:

Select the Finish Sketch command.

Right-click in the graphics window, and choose Finish 2D Sketch from the marking menu.
Click the Return button on the Quick Access toolbar at the top left of the screen display.
After finishing the sketch, the view automatically rotates to the Home (isometric) view.

6. Create the extrusion.

Click the 3D Model tab
Create panel
Extrude , or select Extrude from the marking menu.
Click and drag the gold distance arrow manipulator until the value 20 mm appears in the value
input box. Alternatively, you can enter 20 in the field using the keyboard.
7. Click the green Ok button to create the extrusion and finish the command.
8.

Save the file with the name End Cap Back.

3. Create and Pattern a Hole

In the next section, we will create a hole using offset sketch geometry to determine hole placement. After
we create the hole, we will use the rectangular pattern command to create additional holes.
There are several reasons to use a hole instead of an extrusion with the cut option:

Using a Hole command instead of an extrusion with a cut provides more control over the part
feature.

Patterning a feature allows associative placement of mating components in an assembly. Assembly

Components placed on a part feature pattern determine the count and spacing from the part
feature.

The drafting environment contains a hole note command which can associatively extract all the
details of a hole.

To begin:
1.

Start a sketch on the part face using one of these methods to start a new sketch (the second
option is the most direct and offers the least amount of mouse movement).

On the ribbon, click 3D Model tab

face to sketch on.

Sketch panel

Create 2D Sketch , and then select the part

Select the face to sketch on. When the mini-toolbar appears, click the third button on the right
labeled with the tooltip, Create Sketch.

Select the face to sketch on, then right-click and select New Sketch from the marking menu.
The edges of the extrusion are copied to the current sketch.
TipThe icons for 2D Sketch and 3D Sketch are similar. They provide two different sketching
environments. If you start a 3D sketch, perform an Undo and start a new 2D Sketch.

2.

On the ribbon, click Sketch tab

Modify panel

Offset .

3. Select one of the edges, then drag it to the inside, and click to place. All edges highlight and drag. If
all the edges do not highlight, right-click and make sure Loop Select and Constrain Offset are
checked in the overflow menu, then retry the selection.

Enable Loop Select to allow all planar continuous sketch geometry to be selected as a group.
Disable to select individual edges.

4.

Enable Constrain Offset to apply automatic constraints which allow one offset distance to
determine the position for the entire selection. Disable to allow each edge to be dimensioned
independently.

Start the Dimension command. Dimension the offset geometry 5 mm away from a feature edge.

5. Place a horizontal and vertical dimension on the two edges of the offset geometry. The horizontal
and vertical dimensions appear in parentheses as reference (driven) dimensions. These dimensions
will be used later to extract the spacing in the feature pattern.
Note If you receive a warning when you dimension the offset sketch geometry, choose Accept to

create a driven dimension. This message appears if you did not choose Apply driven dimension in
the Application Options Sketch tab.
6.
7.

Finish the Sketch.

Click 3D Model tab
Modify panel
Hole , or select Hole from the marking menu. Set the
Placement option to From Sketch. Select the lower left vertex in the offset sketch to position
the hole. Set the hole diameter to 6 mm and the termination to Through All, then choose OK to
create the hole.

The sketch is consumed under the hole feature in the browser.

8. To select the 39-mm sketch reference dimensions for the hole pattern spacing, they must be visible.
Locate the hole feature in the browser, and click + to expand and show the sketch. Right-click the
sketch, and choose Visibility from the context menu.

9.
10.

Click 3D Model tab

Pattern panel
Rectangular . The Features selection arrow is selected.
Pick the Hole. If you are viewing the hole in a plan view, it is difficult to select the hole on the part.
Rotate the view slightly in 3D before selecting the hole on the part. You can also select the hole
directly in the Model browser.
ImportantDo NOT select the extruded body, or it will be patterned with the hole.

11. Pick the Direction 1 arrow, and then choose a horizontal edge to set the direction. The edge you
choose determines the initial direction.
For example, if you choose the lower model or sketch edge, the horizontal pattern direction is to the
left. If you choose the upper model or sketch edge, the horizontal pattern direction is to the right.
Use the Flip direction arrow to reverse the direction. Set the count to two, and then highlight
the text in the dimension spacing field. With the text highlighted, select the horizontal sketch
dimension to use the dimension value for the spacing. Pick the Direction 2 arrow, and then pick a
vertical model or sketch edge. Set the count to two, and then highlight the text in the dimension
field. Select the vertical reference dimension to use the dimension value.

12. Click OK to create the pattern. After you create the pattern, right-click Sketch2 in the Model
browser, and turn off the sketch Visibility.

4. Create a Revolved Feature

In this section, we create a revolved feature using projected model edges.
Projected edges help anchor the geometry to the model when no edges are projected. Use the
Revolvecommand to create cylindrical shapes quickly.
1. Expand the Origin folder in the browser, right-click on the YZ Plane, and select New Sketch from
the context menu. Turn Visibility on to view the YZ Plane in the graphics screen.

2. Right-click in the graphics window, and select Slice Graphics from the overflow menu, or choose
F7 to toggle Slice Graphics on and off.
Navigate to a plan view using the ViewCube (use Right, for example.).
3.

4.

Select Project Geometry to copy a parallel model edge to the sketch in the center of the part.

Start the Line command and begin to sketch a shape. Start with a vertical line from the
midpoint of the projected geometry. A green dot indicates the midpoint.
TipAn explicit horizontal line on the lower section of the sketch is not required to create a closed

shape. Inventor uses Coincident constraints to determine closed boundaries. If the two vertical lines
are attached to the projected edge of the sketch with Coincident constraints, there is no need to
draw the line.

5.

Dimension the sketch as shown in the following image. Apply a Collinear constraint to the
outer vertical edges as shown in the following image. It enables both lines to be controlled by the
same dimension. All sketch elements change color to indicate that the sketch is fully constrained.
TipIf the sketch is not fully constrained, one or both of the outside vertical lines are probably not

attached to the projected line. Apply coincident constraints to attach the ends (indicated by the
arrows in the following image) to the projected line. You can also apply a coincident constraint using
a drag operation to connect elements.

6.

Finish the sketch.

7.

On the Model tab, select the Revolve command. The closed boundary sketch profile you just
completed should already be highlighted. If not, select it. Next, the highlighted axis button in the
mini-toolbar prompts you to pick an axis to revolve around. Pick the center line.

Tip

If you define the axis line as a centerline, Autodesk Inventor selects the axis for you. Define the
axis as a centerline to dimension the diameter when you dimension from the centerline to an
outer edge.

To designate the central axis as a sketch centerline, you must be in the Sketch environment.
Select the axis, and then choose the centerline icon on the Format panel of the Sketch tab.

Finished shape -

5. Use Save As to Create a Part

We now turn the part into two unique parts.
There are multiple ways to create a part from the existing model. Two common methods are:

Use Save As to create a part containing all the features in an editable state.

Create a table driven iPart, and suppress or enable unique features.

Before we create a new unique part, we create the sketch to locate the tapped hole on both parts.
1. Start a new sketch on the top face as shown in the following image.
TipUse the ViewCube to navigate to the Top view.

2. Create and dimension a line 6 mm from the midpoint of the front edge. Make sure it is either
perpendicular to the front edge or parallel to a side edge.
3. Finish the sketch.
4.
5. Click

Save the file.

Save As

Save As, and name the new part End Cap Front

6. You are now working in the new file, and the origin file End Cap Back has been closed.
We are now ready to add the unique features to End Cap Front.

6. Use Work Planes to Terminate Hole

In this section, we introduce the work axis command. We will use the work axis and a work plane to
simplify creating two intersecting holes.
1.

Start the Hole command.

The Placement option From Sketch is active.

2. Select the far end of the 6-mm line for the hole center location. Set the hole depth to 14 mm.

3. Set the hole type to tapped. Change the thread type to ANSI Metric M Profile. Set the size to 5
and the designation to M5 x 0.8.

4. Click OK to finish the command and create the tapped hole.

5.

On the ribbon, click the down arrow on the 3D Model tab

to display work axis options.

Work Features panel

Axis command

Then select Through Center of Circular or Elliptical Edge from

the Axis drop-down menu. Move your cursor over the tapped hole, and click to place the Work
Axis when you see the preview image of the axis.
6.

On the ribbon, click the down arrow on the 3D Model tab

Work Features panel

Plane

command to display work plane options.

Select Angle to Plane around Edge from the Plane
drop-down menu. Pick the front face of the part and the work axis as shown. Change the Angle in
the value input box to 0, and then pick the green check mark to create the work plane.

7. Start a new sketch on the front face of the revolved shape.

8. Create a vertical line on the center point. Add a 12.5-mm dimension to the line.
9.

Click Sketch tab

Draw panel
Point . Place a center point at the end of the vertical line to
allow the Hole command to detect and use the Center Point as a hole location. Finish the sketch.

10.

Start the Hole command. The Center Point is selected.

11. Set the hole diameter to 4mm. In the Termination drop down, select To and then pick the work
plane that passes through the tapped hole as the termination location.

12. Click OK to finish the command and create the hole. If you edit the sketch that locates the tapped
hole, the work plane and the 4-mm hole that terminates on the plane will reposition.

TipThe cutaway image was created by starting a sketch on the YZ Origin plane, then choosing Slice

Graphics from the context menu. It is not required for this exercise.

7. Create a Concentric Hole

It is possible to create holes with no pre-existing sketch. In the next section, we introduce you to
alternative hole placement methods.
1.

Start the Hole command.

2. On the Placement drop down menu, select Concentric.

3. The Plane select option is enabled. Choose the front face of the cylindrical shape to define the
plane.
4. The Concentric Reference select option is enabled. Choose an edge of the cylinder to position the
hole at the center of the circular face.

5. Set the diameter to 14 mm.

6. Set the Termination option to Through All.

7. Choose OK to create the through hole.

8. On the ribbon, click View tab
Visibility panel
Object Visibility and then clear the All
Workfeatures check box from the drop-down menu to change the Work Plane and Work Axis
display to off.
9. Save the file.

8. Edit the Tapped Hole Location

In the next series of steps, we edit the sketch to move the tapped hole location to demonstrate a feature
edit and to show the associativity between features.
In this scenario, a change order was submitted stating that the tapped hole on the front cylinder cap must
be located in the middle of the part. To begin:
1. Locate the tapped hole in the Model browser. If you did not delete any holes in the first part of the
exercise, it should be named Hole2 in the browser.
2. Click + next to the hole feature to expose the sketch beneath the feature. Right-click the sketch,
and choose Edit Sketch from the context menu.
TipYou can also choose Edit Sketch with a right-click on the feature without exposing the sketch.

3. Double-click the 6-mm dimension to enable the edit box. Change the 6-mm dimension to 10 mm.
Notice that when you edit a sketch, the part history is rolled back to the feature state that existed
at the time the sketch was created.

4. Exit the sketch. The tapped hole, the work plane, work axis, and 4-mm hole are updated.
5. Save the file and close it.
6. Open the file End Cap Back.

9. Mirror a Feature
We now add a unique feature to the back cylinder cap. Use the Mirror command to create an identical
feature on the opposite side of the part.
Creating a feature and then mirroring it allows symmetrical features to be controlled by the original
feature. When you edit the first instance, the mirrored feature automatically updates.
1.

Start the Hole command.

2. In the Hole dialog box, set the Placement to Concentric and the hole type to Counterbore.

Set the counterbore diameter to 26 mm.

Set the counterbore depth to 6 mm.

Set the drill diameter to 10 mm.

Set the Termination to Through All.

3. Click the Plane selection arrow in the dialog box, and then select the front plane of the revolved
shape. The hole is previewed and the select arrow is moved to Concentric Reference.
4. On the model in the graphics window, choose the edge of the revolved shape to define the
concentric edge.

5. Choose OK to create the hole.

6.

Start the Hole command. Set the Placement to From Sketch, and select the end of the 6mm line to locate the hole.

7. In the Hole dialog box.

Set Hole Type to Drilled.

Set Termination to To.

Set Hole to Tapped.

Set Thread Type to ANSI Metric M Profile.

Set Size to 5.

Set Designation to M5 x 0.8.

8. Select the interior of the counterbored hole on the model to define the To termination, and then
click OK to create the hole.

9. Start a sketch on the side of the cylinder block shown in the following image.
10.

Place a Point, Center Point near the middle of the face, and constrain it to be horizontal and
vertical to the outside edges.

11. Finish the sketch.

12.

Start the Hole command. Set the Placement type to From Sketch.
If there are no other sketches in the model, Autodesk Inventor selects the point. If there are other
sketches present, pick the point.

13. Set the hole type to Drilled, the hole diameter to 10 mm, and the hole depth to 10 mm.
14. Click OK to create the hole.
15.

On the ribbon, click 3D Model tab

Pattern panel

Mirror .

16. The feature selection arrow is active. Select the inside of the hole you just created to add it to the
mirror.
17. Change the selection type to Mirror Plane. You can do it in the dialog box, or you can right-click
and choose Continue from the pop-up context menu.
18. In the Model browser, under the Origin folder, pick YZ plane to define the mirror plane.

19. Click OK to mirror the feature.

20. Save and close the file.

Summary

Congratulations! You have successfully completed this tutorial. In this exercise you:

Created a part from a sketch.

Used the dimension and constraint commands to control the size and behavior of the sketch
geometry.

Used parameters to name and link dimensions.

Used feature commands to create solid geometry.

Used the pattern command to array features.

Saved a copy of a part to create a new part file.

What Next? - This tutorial introduced you to basic part modeling commands. To learn about additional
part modeling techniques, such as the use of work features, see the Parts 2 tutorial.