topic Re: Need a Inventor challenge! in Inventor Forum

Need a Inventor challenge!

Anonymous — Sat, 11 Mar 2017 20:52:42 GMT

I have a poor visual fantasy, so it`s probably a paradox that construction is a major at school. Nearly impossible to come up with any ideas on my own, so I need some help. Been using Inventor for the last year or so now and the lack of assignments from our teacher I am now reaching out.

I want challenges, by that I mean, a challenge that are intended for a guy in mid thirties who haven`t been doing much except from being a mechanic.

- Post a simple drawing that you want me to duplicate

- multiple parts to draw and assemble

- contain varius and progressive difficulties

I need practice practice practice, so help me out 🙂

PS! No off topic or discussions that aren`t relevant to the posts being put out.

Re: Need a Inventor challenge!

Mark.Lancaster — Sat, 11 Mar 2017 22:38:50 GMT

@Anonymous

Not sure how well this will work for you.. But I pulled this out (attached image) from my technical (board) drafting book. I'm not going to comment how long ago when I used this book to learn board drafting..

If this is too easy let me know.. I have other "designs" from this book.. Good luck.. And take it to the next step, maybe render it, IPN creation, and perhaps simulate the vice opening/closing.

Re: Need a Inventor challenge!

blair — Sun, 12 Mar 2017 00:53:10 GMT

If you can't come up with ideas, then look around your room. Your desk lamp, desk, chair, table would be good simple starters. After that, what are your hobbies, mountain bike, long board...smart phone.

Pull out your calipers and start on a disc brake calipers and rotors.

Re: Need a Inventor challenge!

PaulMunford — Sun, 12 Mar 2017 13:41:32 GMT

That's a great image @Mark.Lancaster 🙂 Would you mind sharing which book it's from? I collect old technical drawing books - there's still a lot to learn from them!

Re: Need a Inventor challenge!

Mark.Lancaster — Sun, 12 Mar 2017 14:02:54 GMT

@PaulMunford

I will share as long as there's no comparison how old the book is to my age... Meaning the book release was about 1 yr old when I got it new in college where I was taking CAD/CAM

https://www.amazon.com/Technical-Drawing-Computer-Graphics-7th/dp/002342690X

The title (on the book I have) has also the wording of "With Computer Graphics".. Some days you just have to go back and look at the old drafting room images and large computer setups that are shown in this book.

Re: Need a Inventor challenge!

TheCADWhisperer — Sun, 12 Mar 2017 14:41:44 GMT

@PaulMunford wrote:
Would you mind sharing which book it's from? ....

Hey Paul, get the latest edition (15th) and I'll sign it for you.

Technical Drafting, Giesecke, et al.

@Anonymous

I recommend that you attach each part here as you complete it (and do 2D detail drawing of each).

I will comment on your techniques and offer suggestions.

Re: Need a Inventor challenge!

Anonymous — Sun, 12 Mar 2017 17:43:35 GMT

I know I can just input inches in a metric template, but I have no idea how to convert those measurements into a decimal number without using some form for table. Inches are hopelessly stupid, that`s my opinion.

Do you have it as a .jpg file so I can download it and turn it?

Re: Need a Inventor challenge!

TheCADWhisperer — Sun, 12 Mar 2017 17:53:11 GMT

Start from an inch template or Tools>Document Settings>Units and set to inches.

Then simply type in the numbers - the units are not an issue.

I attached an vertical image in previous post (not a scan).

I could find metric examples, but if units are a problem, I will bow out now.

Re: Need a Inventor challenge!

Anonymous — Sun, 12 Mar 2017 18:07:17 GMT

I have the inches template, but I prefer mm. But I just "convert" to the nearest whole number in my head and we are good to go. Thank you

Re: Need a Inventor challenge!

Anonymous — Sun, 12 Mar 2017 18:49:59 GMT

What is going on here, only two of the ears on one side will extrude, the two others wont. They are made and placed exactly a like......

Re: Need a Inventor challenge!

blair — Sun, 12 Mar 2017 20:02:19 GMT

If you are building a model that is symmetrical, build it centered about the center point: (0,0,0) which is the intersection of the Origin Planes. You only need to create either one of the "ears" and then "Mirror" it to the other corner and then mirror the two to the other side. In this case, mirror the two that you have created to the other side using the either one of the mid-plane Origin Planes or create a new Work Plane that is in the middle of your model.

A little planning ahead can save you work down the line. I always start all my models at the Origin Plane and were ever possible always try and extrude the primary shape in both directions to have one of the Origin Planes in the middle of my model, so that it can be used just for this purpose.

Re: Need a Inventor challenge!

asiteur — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 07:50:13 GMT

Hi,

What I always find very inspirational is the autodesk Gallery:

https://gallery.autodesk.com/

Re: Need a Inventor challenge!

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 08:42:02 GMT

Thomas,

Never never ever design symmetrical stuff the way you see it !!! Look at parts with the idea of maximizing laziness. In the given example I see a part that is symmetrical and if I imagine it without the top it is even 2 times symmetrical. If I would have to make it I would start with a quarter of the bottom part and construct it to the point where the top detailing changes. I would then mirror the solid along the short side so that I can add the top. Finally I would mirror the solid along the long side "et voila", part finished.

Alex

Re: Need a Inventor challenge!

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 09:08:14 GMT

Here you can download different 2d drawings (pdf).

http://www.inventorwizard.be/blueprints/index.html

Re: Need a Inventor challenge!

Anonymous — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 06:33:12 GMT

It`s not one symmetrical constraint on this one yet, but I don`t understand what you mean?

Re: Need a Inventor challenge!

YannickEnrico — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 06:52:49 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I know I can just input inches in a metric template, but I have no idea how to convert those measurements into a decimal number without using some form for table. Inches are hopelessly stupid, that`s my opinion.

Do you have it as a .jpg file so I can download it and turn it?

Type 20 in, and the dimension will show up as 508. Even in a mm template.

Also, an inch is 25,4 mm, so you can just type 20x25,4.

Incase it's 6 1/4, do it like this: "(6+1/4)*25,4

Re: Need a Inventor challenge!

Anonymous — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 08:52:51 GMT

Thomas,

Always look for symmetry in a part and organise your design to take advantage of it. In terms of effectiveness and "robust modelling" these are the steps from good to better :

Symmetric and equal constraints in sketches : saves you dimensions
mirror features : saves you sketches
mirror body : saves on all and always works

The part shown in attachment starts with one quarter of the part, mirrors once where the 2 sides are getting differenciated, mirrors finally along the symmetry axis.

Alex

Re: Need a Inventor challenge!

Anonymous — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 17:01:55 GMT

This is what I am going for, but my teacher don`t agree with me in mirroring.

Anyway I like that way of working, in time it will safe loads of time, but I have had a couple of bad experiences mirroring in sketch. So by this you mean 3D mirror?

Re: Need a Inventor challenge!

blair — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 17:29:04 GMT

I would hate to tell your teacher to get out in the real world and see how Inventor is to be used. We don't get paid to create all four lugs. Create one and mirror the other three.

1.) Plan your part before you even start your first sketch.

2.) Use the Origin Start Point: 0,0,0 (JD would be so proud of me)

3.) Always fully constrain your sketches. (JD would be so proud of me, again)

4.) When "Ever Possible" make use of extruding your primary sketch in both direction to take advantage of using one of the existing Origin Planes for Mirroring proposes.

5.) Keep your sketches as simple as possible, don't try and sketch the whole model with one sketch.

6.) If you can do the item later with a fillet or hole as a Feature do it then, don't do it in the sketch. It will be easier to fix as a Feature and easier to work with down stream in your model.

If you have the scree space, Ungroup and move up to the menu all the command. This will save you time hunting for commands in the drop-down menus.

You should forward this post on to him.

Re: Need a Inventor challenge!

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 08:21:33 GMT

Yes Thomas, 3D mirror is the way. Full body mirror whenever possible, feature mirror in other cases. A model should contain the absolute minimum of sketch entities. Mirroring in sketch clearly does not follow the rule of minimum sketch entities.

Feature mirroring also allows you to make "almost" mirrors IF you build your model with clear distinct features. For instance : if you have a part with an "ear" and a hole trough it you can choose to mirror the ear feature but not the hole feature, allowing a different hole on the other side.

Alex