Part Critique

[roger]

Hi,

I'm new to Inventor, and trying to work on my modelling style. This is my 3rd attempt at this part. The first try, I drew the whole profile in the first sketch, as if I was drafting in AutoCAD. It drove me nuts. I couldn't do even simple things I was used to doing in AutoCAD. With this try, I am trying to adapt more to the Inventor modelling flow. It gets kind of complicated, and this is a very simple part! I included the part file for comment if anyone has the time. There is probably a much easier set of steps. Thanks!

Roger

[BeKirra]

It looks pretty good to me as you just start to use inventor.

Couple of small things:

1) You can create "Tube Grip Extrusion", "Cable Grip Extrusion", "Cable Loop Cut Extrusion", "45_Degree Cut Extrusion" and "ID Cut Extrusion" with a single extrusion, a single sketch.

2) You can select edges on different planes so you can do all fillets in "fillet7", in other words "fillet8" is not necessary.

3) You can mirror "Work Plane1" as "Work Plane2" - so you don't need to create the 2nd plane manually.

4) And you don't have to rename the extrusions and sketches.

Congratulations!

[JoAnn_Hogan]

Hi Roger,

First of all, well done, that looks really good.

Here is another way of thinking of you want to have a look at it. You didnt do anything wrong, this was just how I would have created it. Please see attachment.

Then a few tips:

You do not have to rename extrusions and sketches. Only place where I would rename is planes, to see where I have used them.

You are doing 4 features where you could have done one. Dont make it too complicated. Think simple about it.

You could have created 1 Fillet instead of 3.

But have a look at my part, maybe you see something you like

[JDMather]

Something like this?

[klapec]

You do not need sketch3.

[JDMather]

Good catch - that means the extra workplane is not needed either.

[Curtis_Waguespack]

Hi roger,

I had a quick look at your part, and I agree with everyone else: you've done a very nice job. I think every experienced Inventor user will tell you that if you look back at parts you modeled when you started, later on, you'll see how much you've learned and progressed in a short time. And asking for this kind of feed back, and seeing how others would approach the same part is a very good way to learn.

With that in mind here's my attempt. I didn't follow the dimensions, but just the "spirit" of the part. I did borrow your 45 degree cut idea. I wouldn't have thought to do it that way but I liked it. I didn't take the time to look at the other replies, but I suspect you'll see some similarities and some differences in everyones's approach.

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

[MikahB]

One more option.  I see symmetry here!

[roger]

Hi JoAnn, Thanks so much for taking the time to reply!

Did you use "TRIM" in sketch 1? I was having a hard time getting that to work. I use it all the time in AutoCAD, but in my attempt here, I kept getting an error message. The Mirror of the emboss save a lot of duplicate steps! Is there a way to flip the text?

Thanks again,

Roger

[roger]

The use of the shell here is very nice. I have not tried this yet! You must be able to pick which lines to shell, since the bottom part of the circle did not form a shell.

Thanks so much for the response! I will have to spend more time studying it!

Roger

[roger]

Neat use of Circular pattern!

Thanks for the response. I am going to spend some more time trying to follow your construction method.

Thanks!

Roger

[roger]

Thanks Curtis!

Your approach was a little different. Sketch 1 was a little more general but then refined very quickly. You used the shell command and the circular feature as others. I am going to take some time to try to follow your construction methods here.

Thanks so much for the response!

Roger

[roger]

Hi Mikah,

Thanks so much for the response! Your a pproach was a little different with the full part mirror. I see there are a lot of functions in the dimensions. I like that idea a lot. I will have to take some more time to try to understand what you have done here.

Thanks again!

Roger

[roger]

Hi,

I wanted to thank you all for your responses. I know that took time and everyone's time is valuable. I want to work through each of the alternatives now to better understand how they were modelled.

This is an amazing group!

Thanks again,

Roger