topic Re: Predefined Steel Shapes in Inventor Forum

Predefined Steel Shapes

Anonymous — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 16:08:20 GMT

Using 2017 Inventor

Does Inventor have predefined steel shapes somewhere - like SW does?

Re: Predefined Steel Shapes

CCarreiras — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 16:52:14 GMT

Yes, of course.

They are in Inventor's Content Center.
They say that are there about 12.000 standard parts, i never count it, though, but i know they are a lot.

You can find it in several standards, like ISO, DIN, ANSI, etc etc.

Open an assembly, and go to "PLACE FROM CONTENT CENTER" to place them.

Also check the tool "FRAME GENERATOR". It can help you a lot when using steel strutures.

Re: Predefined Steel Shapes

Anonymous — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 16:47:32 GMT

But there's not a way to bring in a sketch of the shape ad be able to extrude it on your own?

Re: Predefined Steel Shapes

Mark.Lancaster — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 17:06:32 GMT

@Anonymous

Structural shapes have very simple profiles. Just sketch it and be done with it. You spent more time talking about it then getting it done..

Re: Predefined Steel Shapes

CCarreiras — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 17:13:03 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
But there's not a way to bring in a sketch of the shape ad be able to extrude it on your own?

Why???!!!, if you create the profile part in the assembly you will be able to give the lenght you need.

Anyway..... YES you can.

You have to create the part in the assembly, save ir, open/edit the profile part, copy the sketch, paste the sketch in the new part....

Re: Predefined Steel Shapes

Anonymous — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 18:43:32 GMT

Why?...Because I am used to doing it that way in Solidworks. I would create each member based off of the profile, then manipulate it the way I wanted it done. That way, I have a PART and not an ASSEMBLY...

The way that Inventor does it is VERY similar to the way that Solidworks does weldments. Basing the outline off of a sketch then just telling each "line" which profile it will be.

This is fine, I am just used to having them as a part file.

Do I have to create a sketch, save it, then start an assembly and use the sketch as the first placement? - OR - is their an easier/quicker way to do it?

Re: Predefined Steel Shapes

CCarreiras — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 23:08:19 GMT

What do you want to achieve? An assembly ofseveral steel profiles?A struture?

Or do you want only a part?

Tip, when you place a content center steelprofile in an assembly, after you save it, automatically youe creating the steel profile file.... so, is easyer than the way you do. And this is nothing bteewn solidworks and inventor, because they work the steel profiles strutures in a very similar way. the question here is about your process.... i think is not the better approach.

But o, this all deppends about the frst two questions.... wht you want to achieve??!!

Re: Predefined Steel Shapes

Anonymous — Mon, 19 Aug 2019 14:52:29 GMT

Actually structural shapes do not have simple profiles, especially when you are talking H-type or T-type beams. Depending on the weight and size, dimensions change for a given class such as W12 for instance. You cannot set the beam height to 12 inches and expect your design to be correct. A W12x58 has a depth of 12.19 and a W12x53 has a depth of 12.06. That may not seem like much, but for building equipment your design will be off as well as your weight. For C shapes, the K dimension and grip are different. Also incorporated radii cannot be set to 90 degrees as would be the case for just being done with it. If you are running an FEA your results will be grossly inaccurate with a sharp corner.

You can use the method of using Place from Content Center and selecting a shape. I agree SW works does an easier and better job of allowing you to either build a single part or use frame generator.

Re: Predefined Steel Shapes

Anonymous — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 11:23:03 GMT

@Mark.Lancaster because you cannot use a 3D helix curve as an edge for a FG member.

Re: Predefined Steel Shapes

Mark.Lancaster — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 12:54:50 GMT

@Anonymous

I'm confused.. What does that have to do with this conversation or what I was saying a few months ago?

My point back then.... Just go sketch it out and be done with it.. 😁

Re: Predefined Steel Shapes

Anonymous — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 14:10:35 GMT

@Mark.Lancaster I read the post out of context. Please disregard.

Re: Predefined Steel Shapes

JDMather — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 14:29:37 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

@Mark.Lancaster because you cannot use a 3D helix curve as an edge for a FG member.

I don't know about controlling twist, but....