Autodesk Inventor

[#1]

The company I work for is a wooden packaging company. We recently purchased Inventor to open large file models from John Deere to design a wooden pallet/crate to package the part. Basically, what I am asking for help on is to kind of 'get started'. I know how to pull in files, but I am just trying to figure out how to design packaging around this existing model. If there is a video out there to kind of show me how to do this, or if there are any suggestions I am open to everything. 

Thank you!

Gage

[#2]

I would start a new assembly, bring in the John-Deer model, start a new assembly within the main assembly for your pallet.

This will help, but you really should look at proper training, Inventor is a true professional grade (upsets the Ford people) software and proper training will help you get the most out of the software.

You may want to look at structuring your Project File to treat the directory that you place the J-D models in as a Library. This will protect the models from any un-intentional modification

Link: http://home.pct.edu/~jmather/AU2006/MA13-3%20Mather.pdf

[#3]

Unless the packaging is complex assembly (which I would guess not the case) I would do as Multi-body Solids in a single part file rather than try to do in the assembly environment.

One technique would be to bring the John Deere model into a part file as a Composite Surface body and then using Multi-body Solids techniques design the packaging around the surface body.  Then push out the individual components with the Make Components or Make Parts on the Manage tab.

[#4]

I taught myself Cad, so I thought I might be able to do the same with inventor, but obviously inventor is a little more complex. Thanks for the link and your suggestion, this should get me started.

Thanks

[#5]

I should have mentioned that we actuaclly purchased the Product Design Suite. So when I open a file in inventor, i clicked on Edit Form, which then opened Inventor Fusion. I then can sketch my packaging around the model and then pull it back in inventor.

[#6]

Hi calhoung,

There are many ways to do this kind of thing, but you'll want to think about what the end goal is (re-using parts, obtaining a parts list, etc.)

Here's one method that I would recommend you explore using the Frame Generator:

• Start a new assembly and then place the model the model that you intended to design your package around.
• Then locate the origin plane on which you will create a new part/sketch (this will be a new file).

• Once the new part file is created you can Project Geometry from the existing part into your new sketch:

• Then you can create a rectangle and dimension it based on the existing model:

• Then extrude the sketch to create a block. Here the new part is finished. It's just a clear rectangular block that defines the extents of the package:

• Now you can use the Frame Generator to place frame members on the edges of the block:

• Once the members are placed you can trim, miter, etc. as needed. Another benefit is the ability to change the base block and have the frame size update automatically.

As others have mentioned this involves a lot of different tools in Inventor and so some understanding of how Inventor works will be needed first off. You'll also likely want to create a custom "lumber" frame generator library to use standard sizes, etc. so that you can output a parts list.

Some youtube links that might help with this subject:

http://youtu.be/KGuUrMigdmI

http://youtu.be/Z1LaPODFXSo

http://youtu.be/XOwR89pA_e8

I hope this helps.
Best of luck to you in all of your Inventor pursuits,
Curtis
http://inventortrenches.blogspot.com

[#7]

Hey Curtis,

I tried the frame generator and I really like how I can make specific libraries. I obviously need to get some training so I have a little more knowledge about this program, but I was wondering if there is a way that I can just insert something out of the library and type in a length and use it wherever I want as opposed to having to select a line first?

Thanks for your help!

Gage 

[#8]

Hi calhoung,

You can use the Place from Content Center button to do this , assuming you have the Content Center libraries installed. You can do this two different ways:

• On the ribbon, click Assemble tab >  Component panel >  Place from Content Center
• In the graphic window of the assembly, right-click an empty area and select Place from Content Center from the menu.

Once in there, you can select from the library categories:

Upon placement of structural shapes you can specify the length:

More reading:

Place from Content Center

http://wikihelp.autodesk.com/Inventor/enu/2013/Help/0126-Tutorial126/0127-Inventor127/0273-Content_2...

Content Center Skill Builders

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=10899459&linkID=9242016

Structural Shape Authoring

http://wikihelp.autodesk.com/Inventor/enu/2013/Help/1310-Autodesk1310/1655-Assembli1655/1792-Build_s...

 I hope this helps.
Best of luck to you in all of your Inventor pursuits,
Curtis
http://inventortrenches.blogspot.com