Basic Assembly Question

[Anonymous]

Disclaimer: SolidWorks user.

When starting a new assembly, how do I place the first part in it's original orientation. It never ever populates the assembly as I would like; in it's original orientation.

I know there is some weird "change-the specified-face-to-the-desired-face" routine. This is just...

I end-up Ungrounding the part, (painfully) rotating the part close to it's desired orientation, then constraining/assemblying the part into submission; the original, desired part orientation.

On a similar subject: Is there a way to quickly and accurately rotate parts similar to the way SolidWorks does; being able to easily rotate stuff based on selectable model entities (axis, edges, faces, etc.)? The current routine to just rotate the model view is just... Much of my model view-related frustration will likely be remedied by getting a 3D mouse.

Mel

[Anonymous]

When you place your part in the assembly file, right click and select Rotate X, Y or Z 90 degrees to orient the part then select Place grounded at Origin.

[Anonymous]

Hello Bob,

This routine does not seem to be available in my seat of Inventor 2013.

Mel

[Anonymous]

Your right. I'm sorry. This was introduced in the 2014 version. You'll have to, unfortunately, continue with the way you were originally doing it by constraining to the origin planes after placing the part in the assembly.

[Anonymous]

Hello Bob,

You had me going there for a minute. I was hoping there was a setting somewhere.

Thank you for your reply,

Mel

[Mark.Lancaster]

@Anonymous

I know of one other person @mdavis22569 who does this and maybe there's others as well..

But I take my first component that is placed into my assembly as the "glue" and foundation of my assembly and I've always locked down in 2 ways...  Meaning I don't want a simple change to screw up my entire model.  My term of foundation means the first component in my assembly is always based on a main component that I would start with if I was assembly this by hand.  I've seen assemblies started with a hex bolt, no joking... 

In my application options/assembly I do not have place first component grounded at origin enabled

First I align or mate (depending on how you want this oriented)  constrain the origin work planes of my first component to the origin work planes of my assembly.

Then I right mouse click on my first component and select grounded.

So why do I perform these extra steps?

If you just ground your first component, someone can easily un-ground it by mistake and poof there goes my assembly.

If someone deletes one of the workplane constraint, the ground still holds it.

In the end I want people to think about what they are doing.   Although others have complained about this to me I never had an instance where my assembly just poof..  

Okay my 2 cents worth..

[Anonymous]

Hello Mark,

Thank you for the information. I will likely "assemble" things as you've described here.

I'll make the adjustment in the Assembly Options screen, orient the first part of a new assembly as I want/need and "ground" that part as to prevent unwarranted goofiness.

Thank you,

Mel 

[Anonymous]

Hello Mark,

Where might I find the setting that allows me to place the first part of an assembly as not grounded?

I'm using Inventor 2013.

Thank you,

Mel

[JDMather]

My memory back that far is not too sharp - but try Tools>Application Options>Assembly tab and look around a bit.

[Anonymous]

Hello JD,

I'm pretty sure this setting is not available to me (Inventor 2013).

Thank you,

Mel

[JDMather]

Good thing I didn't make a wager - I would have made significant wager that it was available.

Can you attach screen shot of the dialog box?

[Anonymous]

Hello JD,

You may not be out of the money yet.

Thank you,

Mel