Unit 3: Introduction to Inventor user interface and sketching environment

About This Unit

This unit introduces Autodesk Inventor Professional software. The software is a parametric solid
modeler that provides you with design tools that focus on the entire product development
process.
After completing this unit, you will be able to:

Identify the main components of the Autodesk Inventor user interface.

Use the Line tool to create sketches with lines and tangencies.
Use the Constraint tool to add and display geometric constraints.
Use the Dimension tool to add dimensions and size a sketch.
Use the Measure tools to measure the length of lines and the distance between points.

The draw tools in Autodesk Inventor

You review various software applications as you progress through the design process.
Lesson
Work Environment, Sketch Profiles, and Parts

Work Environment, Sketch Profiles, and Parts

This lesson presents basic information on the Autodesk Inventor user interface, creating sketches
using the Line tool, adding geometric and dimensional constraints, and using the Measure tool.
Key Terms
browser

feature

IPT

curve

IAM

panel bar

extrude

IDW

project

sketch

User Interface
The Autodesk Inventor work environment includes the application menu, Quick Access toolbar, tabs,
panels, and the browser.

Application menu

Quick Access toolbar

Tabs. In this example, the Model tab.
Panels. In this example, the panels for the Model tab.

Tools available on the Model tab.

The browser.

Learning Materials
In addition to these learning materials, we also recommend you to check Inventor interactive tutorials. You can find them at
the Get Started screen.

For in-depth reference, you can use Help button.

Panels
The panels display the tools for the current tab. For example, the Model panels contain the tools to
create a sketch and model features:

Create 2D Sketch
Extrude
Revolve
Hole

Browser
The graphical hierarchy shows relationships among geometric elements in parts, assemblies, and
drawings. In this example, the parts and subassemblies for a model aircraft engine are displayed.

Standards
Autodesk Design Academy curriculum meets content standards for Science, Technology,
Engineering, Math (STEM), and Language Arts. To review the list of standards for each lesson, view
the National Academic Standards Cross Reference PDF document.

This lesson relates to technology, engineering, and math standards.

Sustainable design or "green" concepts are presented throughout this lesson.

Lesson Plan
1. Start a new part. (Demonstration)
2. Review the Autodesk Inventor work environment. (Demonstration)
3. Place lines, arcs, and circles to become familiar with sketch creation. (Demonstration and student
practice)
4. Complete Exercise: Create a Sketch. (Student)
5. Complete Exercise: Create a Profile with Tangencies. (Student)
6. Complete Exercise: Add and Display Constraints. (Student)
7. Complete Exercise: Dimension a Profile. (Student)
8. Complete Exercise: Use the Measure Tools. (Student)

Exercise: Create a Sketch with Lines

In this exercise, you create a new part file, and then
use basic construction techniques to create sketch
geometry.
This exercise illustrates how you use the Autodesk
Inventor online Design Support System (DSS) to assist
in the design process.

Create a Sketch
1.
2.
3.

4.
6.

ADA Mechanical - Unit 3.ipj should be the

active project.
On the Launch panel, click New. On the Metric
tab, double-click Standard (mm).ipt. A new part
is created and listed in the browser.
On the Draw panel, click Line.

Click near the left side of the graphics window.

Move the cursor to the right approximately 100
units. Click a second point.
Move the cursor to the left and create a
horizontal line of approximately 30 units. The
symbols now indicate a parallel constraint.

5.

8.
7.

Move the cursor down and create a vertical line

of approximately 10 units.

Tip: If the entire line is not visible on your screen,

use the Zoom tool or the wheel on your mouse to
zoom out and view the entire line.
Move the cursor up approximately 40 units.
Click to create a perpendicular line.

Move the cursor left to create a horizontal line of

approximately 40 units.

9.

Move the cursor up until the symbols indicate

a parallel constraint and a dotted line is
displayed at the same height as the line on
the right. Click at that point.

10. Move the cursor left until the symbols indicate

a parallel constraint and a dotted line is
displayed. Click at that point.

11.

Move the cursor down until the symbols

indicate a coincident constraint and a green dot
is displayed. Click at that point.

12.

Right-click in the graphics window. Click Ok.

13.

Right-click again in the graphics window. Click

Finish Sketch.
On the Quick Access toolbar, click Save. Use
the class file-naming convention.
In this exercise, you started a new part file, and
then used the Line tool to create a sketch.
Exercise: Create a Profile with Tangencies

14.

In this exercise, you create a new part file, and then

use basic construction techniques to create a simple
profile. The profile consists of lines and tangential
arcs.

5.

Create a Profile with Tangencies

1.

3.

ADA Mechanical - Unit 3.ipj should be the

active project.
On the Launch panel, click New. On the Metric
tab, double-click Standard (mm).ipt.
On the Sketch panel, click Line.

4.

Click in the center of the graphics window.

2.

In the value input field, enter 65.

6.

7.
8.

10.

Press ENTER to create a horizontal 65 mm

line. By default, a dimension is created.

9.

Move the cursor up and to the left. Click to

create a sloping line.

11.

Move the cursor to the start point of the profile

and click at that point.
12.
Note: The line is not tangent to the arc.

Tip: If the entire line is not visible on your

screen, use the Zoom tool or the wheel on
your mouse to zoom out and view the entire
line.
Move the cursor vertically up. In the
value input field, enter 15.
Press ENTER to create a vertical 15 mm line.

Click the end of the line, hold down the

mouse button. Drag the endpoint to
create a tangent arc. Release the mouse
button to place the endpoint of the arc.

13.

14.
15.

Right-click in the graphics window. Click Ok.

16.

17.
18.

Right-click in the graphics window. Click Finish

19.

Sketch.
On the Quick Access toolbar, click Save.
Use the class file-naming convention.
21.
Exercise: Add and Display
Constraints

22.

23. In this exercise, you add geometric

constraints to an existing sketch containing three
closed loops. In some cases, you can greatly
reduce the number of dimensional constraints
required on a sketch.

20.
In this exercise, you started a new part
file, and then used the Line tool to create a
sketch with tangencies.

33.
7.

35.

Pause the cursor over the sloping line on

the left side of the sketch. The coincident
34.
constraints are displayed on the
endpoints of the lines.

24.

25. This exercise uses geometry that does not

meet specified design criteria and requires
additional geometric constraints.

26.
36.
8.

37.

38.

27.

39.

28.
29.
1.
2.
3.

On the Constrain panel, click Vertical

Constraint. Select the three sloping lines.

Add and Display Constraints

ADA Mechanical - Unit 3.ipj should be the

active project.
Open inv_unit3_03.ipt.
On the ViewCube in the top-right corner of
graphics window, click Front to set the
orientation.

30.
31.

40.
9.
Right-click in the graphics window. Click Done.
10. Right-click in the graphics window. Click Show
All Constraints.

4.
5.
6.

In the browser, double-click Sketch1 to make it

active.
Zoom and pan to view the sketch profile on the
left.
On the Constrain panel, click Show Constraints.

32.
41.
42.
11.

Right-click in the graphics window again. Click

Hide All Constraints.
12. Pan to center your view on the second profile.

43.

53.

44.
13.

45.

Apply a colinear constraint to the top

horizontal lines (1 and 2).
46.

47.

15.

16.

Right-click in the graphics window. Click Done.

Drag the left vertical line to the right and note
how the sketch changes. This is known as
constrained drag.
Pan to the third profile and apply constraints to
complete the profile.
54.
Tip: Apply a tangent constraint to the
left arc and line, apply equal constraints to
make all three arcs the same radius, and align
the arc centers using horizontal constraints.

55.

56.
48.
14.

49.

Apply an equal constraint to all the horizontal

lines.
50.
51.
Note: All lines should be made equal to
the line at the lower left.

17.

Right-click in the graphics window. Click Done.

18.

Right-click in the graphics window. Click Finish

Sketch.
19. On the ViewCube, click Front.

57.
58.

52.

20.

60.

61.

62.

Exercise: Dimension a Profile

On the Application menu, click Save As >

Save Copy As. Use the class file naming
convention.
59.
In this exercise, you opened an
existing file, and then applied geometric
constraints to three profiles. You also used
constrained drag to review the effect of the
constraints on the profiles.
constraints to a sketch.

In this exercise, you add dimensional

64.

63.

The sketch requires dimensional constraints to

maintain its overall size. Geometric constraints have

already been applied to maintain the shape of the
sketch.

73.
6.

65.

Select the top horizontal line of the sketch.

Drag to display the dimension.
Click to place the dimension.
Click the dimension to display the Edit
Dimension dialog box.

74.

75.
7.

66.

Enter 135. Click the check mark.

76.

67.

77.

68.
69.

The completed exercise

70.
71.

Dimension a Profile

79.

1.

2.

ADA Mechanical - Unit 3.ipj should be the

active project.
Open inv_unit3_04.ipt.
3.
In the browser, double-click Sketch1 to make it
the active sketch.
4.
On the ViewCube, click Front.
5.
On the Constrain panel, click Dimension.

8.

78.
In this example, you clicked the dimension
to display the dialog box. If you are placing many
dimensions, you can display the Edit Dimension
dialog box automatically.
With the Dimension tool active, right-click in
the graphics window. Click Edit Dimension. A
check mark is displayed next to the option.

80.
9.

Complete the dimensional constraints as

follows: Add a dimension of 10.

72.
81.
10.

82.
Add a dimension of 60.

83.

86.
12.

87.
84.
11.

85.

Add a dimension of 35.

Add a dimension of 10.

14.

Place a dimension as shown.

92.
93.

88.
13.

Add a dimension of 25.

89.

15.

94.

With the Edit Dimension box open, move the

cursor over the 60 dimension until the pointer
is displayed. Click the dimension.

95.
16.
90.

96.

91.
You add one more dimension that is
based on an existing dimension. This type of
expression is a variable dimension.

The parameter name is inserted into the Edit

box. In this case it is d3.

97.
17.

98.

In the Edit Dimension box, enter /2 after d3.

Click the check mark. This dimension will
always be half of the overall height of the part.

99.

100.

101.

18.
19.
20.

102.
Note: Dimensions driven by equations
are denoted by fx: in the graphics window.
Right-click in the graphics window. Click Done.
Double-click the 60 dimension. Edit the value
to 65. Note that the 30 dimension is updated to
32.5.
Right-click in the graphics window. Click Finish
Sketch.

21.

On the application menu, click Save As > Save

Copy As. Use the class file naming convention.
103.
In this exercise, you opened an existing
file and then applied dimension constraints to a
profile.
104. Exercise: Use the Measure Tools

105.

106. In this exercise, you open an existing part

file, and then use the measure tools to analyze
the sketch.

4.

114.
115.

107.

108. This exercise illustrates how you use the

measure tools to measure the length of an edge, the
diameter of a circle, the position of a point, the
perimeter of the part, and the area of the part.

On the Tools tab, Measure panel, click

Distance.

5.

116.

In the graphics window, select the lower edge

of the part. The length is displayed in the
Measurement dialog box.
117.

109.

6.

In the Measurement dialog box, click the arrow.

Click Restart.

110.

111.
112. Use the Measure Tools
1.
2.
3.

ADA Mechanical - Unit 3.ipj should be the

active project.
Open inv_unit3_05.ipt.
On the ViewCube, click Front.

113.
118.

119.
7.

120.
8.

Hover the cursor over the small circle on the

left until a diameter line is displayed. Select
the circle. The diameter is displayed in the
Measurement dialog box.

122.

121.

9.

Hover the cursor over the center of the circle.

Select the point. The position of the point
relative to each axis of the active coordinate

124.

system is displayed.
123.
Select the center point of the circle to the right.
The position of the point and the delta position
relative to the first point is displayed.

127.

125.
10.

126.

In the Measurement dialog box, click the arrow.

Click Measure Loop.

11.

128.

Select the perimeter of the sketch to display the

loop length.
129.

12.

130.

In the Measurement dialog box, click the arrow.

Click Measure Area.
131.

13.

132.

Select the perimeter of the sketch to display the

area.
133.

14.
15.

Right-click in the graphics window. Click Done.

Close the file. Do not save changes.
134.
In this exercise, you analyzed a sketch
using the measurement tools.

135. Summary/Questions
136. Summary
137. In this lesson, you learned to:

Navigate the Autodesk Inventor user interface.

Create a new part file.
Create a sketch profile.
Add and display constraints.
Add dimensions to a sketch.
Use the measure tools.

138.
139. Questions

140.
1.
a.
b.
c.
d.

What is the file extension of an Autodesk Inventor part file?

DWG
DOC
IPT
IAM

2.
a.
b.
c.
d.

What is the purpose of the symbols that are displayed when you create a sketch?
To enable you to switch tools while sketching.
To indicate inferred geometric constraints.
To create markers for placed features.
To indicate which tool is being used.

a.
b.
c.
d.

3. To dynamically check how applied constraints are affecting the sketch, you can click
and drag a curve noting its degrees of freedom. What is this process called?
Constrained drag
Curve drag
Constraint display
Drive constraint

4. You can only enter numeric values in the Edit Dimension dialog box.
a. True
b. False