Creating a shape from a mathematical function

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I'm rather ropey with the exact capabilities of Inventor and I would like to know if the following is actually possible and if anyone good give me guidance then it would be appreciated a lot.

Using Mathcad, I can create a file with x and y values defining a 2D shape from which I want to create a swept volume.

I want to import these values into Inventor to use as a definition of a sketched line and then use the revolve function to generate the shape.  Is this possible?  It doesn't seem that obvious to me but I haven't done anything like this with it before.

Many thanks,

Gareth

[dano0310 · Accepted solution]

You can put the coordinates into excel and import them into a 2d sketch. You can then attach them with a spline. I would fix the points first.

[alewer]

Depending on your version and the function, you may be able to enter the function directly in Inventor (no mathcad). Read the helpfiles for "equation curve."

[JDMather]

If you can't figure it out - attach your *.xls file here.

[Anonymous]

Hi, thanks everyone for your help with this - I was able to get it working via excel.  One thing I should add though is that it is necessary to have Excel installed on the same computer as Inventor for this method to work - I didn't and was left scratching my head for a while, but sussed it out in the end.

Gareth

[Anonymous]

Make sure you ground or constrain the points, by default they will not be grounded.

[JDMather]

Inventor 2013 has Equation Curves.
You might have been able to get better results without the xls file.

I requested it to see exactly what you were trying to do.