Constraining cons

[Anonymous]

I have been using inventor 2016 now for about 6 months.  I was using Creo 2.0 before hand.  Inventors constraints are horrible. Especially if you need to do anything with tangent surfaces. I work with circular parts, things that need to spin at high speeds. such as couplings, gears, cams, bowls, adjustment rings, etc.  Flats surfaces are not the problem, it's the angles. If you have holes on an angle and you want to mount another part to that hole.  It yells at you.  Even though it should constrain no problem and it lines up just like it should.  On top of that if you ground ay components, if you try and constrain a new or existing part it will lock up. it's like the ground locked everything not just that one part. I shouldn't have to spend hours out of my day trying to fix constraints when it should only take me two seconds to do.  This needs to be fixed to be more user-friendly, or I am switching back to creo, or maybe solid works.  The frustration level with inventor is beyond bearable

[Anonymous]

I have been using inventor 2016 now for about 6 months.  I was using Creo 2.0 before hand.  Inventors constraints are horrible. Especially if you need to do anything with tangent surfaces. I work with circular parts, things that need to spin at high speeds. such as couplings, gears, cams, bowls, adjustment rings, etc.  Flats surfaces are not the problem, it's the angles. If you have holes on an angle and you want to mount another part to that hole.  It yells at you.  Even though it should constrain no problem and it lines up just like it should.  On top of that if you ground ay components, if you try and constrain a new or existing part it will lock up. it's like the ground locked everything not just that one part. I shouldn't have to spend hours out of my day trying to fix constraints when it should only take me two seconds to do.  This needs to be fixed to be more user-friendly, or I am switching back to creo, or maybe solid works.  The frustration level with inventor is beyond bearable

[JDMather]

I think you missed my point entirely.

In Inventor, SolidWorks and Creo - an assembly without parts is useless.

[JDMather]

I think you missed my point entirely.

In Inventor, SolidWorks and Creo - an assembly without parts is useless.

[Anonymous]

I thought it would come through as blocks. But I guess the zip didn't work
that way. that's fine. I can't send you the parts individually, because
of the dimensions. It's sensitive information. Either way, the video
should have been enough to show that things were not working to the
constraints. I will recreate the assembly tonight with different
dimensions and then send it that way.
Thanks again

[Anonymous]

I thought it would come through as blocks. But I guess the zip didn't work
that way. that's fine. I can't send you the parts individually, because
of the dimensions. It's sensitive information. Either way, the video
should have been enough to show that things were not working to the
constraints. I will recreate the assembly tonight with different
dimensions and then send it that way.
Thanks again

[JDMather]

---

@Anonymous wrote:
... Either way, the video should have been enough to show that things were not working to the
constraints.

---

The video demonstrated an error that would occur in Inventor, SolidWorks and Creo.

I already know exactly what I would see in the files - but without them I cannot show you the simple issue that you are missing.

And zipping an assembly folder is the same in Inventor, SolidWorks and Creo.

[JDMather]

---

@Anonymous wrote:
... Either way, the video should have been enough to show that things were not working to the
constraints.

---

The video demonstrated an error that would occur in Inventor, SolidWorks and Creo.

I already know exactly what I would see in the files - but without them I cannot show you the simple issue that you are missing.

And zipping an assembly folder is the same in Inventor, SolidWorks and Creo.

[Anonymous]

Hello bralick1221,

I don't really have a solution, other than fire for effect. I just wanted to let you know you are not alone.

Mel

[Anonymous]

Hello bralick1221,

I don't really have a solution, other than fire for effect. I just wanted to let you know you are not alone.

Mel

[Anonymous]

here's another one. where there is no reason it shouldn't constrain.  The holes are completely in line with each other.  Even if the axis is even slightly off, the program is not smart enough to still mate it. At least creo it would constrain it parallel so it wont move. even if the surface is offset creo is smart where it recognizes that you want to mate the same angle 

[Anonymous]

here's another one. where there is no reason it shouldn't constrain.  The holes are completely in line with each other.  Even if the axis is even slightly off, the program is not smart enough to still mate it. At least creo it would constrain it parallel so it wont move. even if the surface is offset creo is smart where it recognizes that you want to mate the same angle 

[WHolzwarth]

And now let's have a look at your fileset.

[WHolzwarth]

And now let's have a look at your fileset.

[smokes2998]

This is a Common Error

The PCDs look slightly out.

I would try and use the measure tool and set it output measurement to 5 decimal places. Then measure the PCD of each part. on of them will be slightly small than the other.

A common cause of this is modeling inventor parts like they are solid edge synchronous or Creo models, yes you can model sort of history free in inventor but it causes errors like this.  Also another cause is the imported geometry is screwed up.

You will either have to draft the part in a IDW or use the measure tool to check dimensions.

Just be warned the measure tool is clear like the SW or Creo or SE tool.

In regards to angles or Parallel constraints  inventor requires a vector to fully define the angle. And angular constraints can go out whack very easily on inventor though the tangent constraints are very stable

[smokes2998]

This is a Common Error

The PCDs look slightly out.

I would try and use the measure tool and set it output measurement to 5 decimal places. Then measure the PCD of each part. on of them will be slightly small than the other.

A common cause of this is modeling inventor parts like they are solid edge synchronous or Creo models, yes you can model sort of history free in inventor but it causes errors like this.  Also another cause is the imported geometry is screwed up.

You will either have to draft the part in a IDW or use the measure tool to check dimensions.

Just be warned the measure tool is clear like the SW or Creo or SE tool.

In regards to angles or Parallel constraints  inventor requires a vector to fully define the angle. And angular constraints can go out whack very easily on inventor though the tangent constraints are very stable

[mcgyvr]

Here is how you gather all the necessary files to allow you to share a usable zip file..

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/inventor-products/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2017...

Here is how you use "insert constraint" which will allow you to constrain parts with less constraints. This is perfect for matching holes in parts.. A single insert constraint can do the same as 2 mate constraints.. 

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/inventor-products/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2016...

If you have 2 brackets and one has the holes at 3.000" apart and one at 3.0001" apart Inventor will NOT constrain them (without some tricks)

If you are trying to constrain what should be a 90 deg and its 90.0001 degrees it won't constrain..

If you don't want to find the error in your ways then keep posting useless videos and just keep complaining.. 

If you want to be shown why you are having these problems then help us help you by providing files that exhibit the problems you are describing so we can examine the files and point out the issue.. There are quite a few reasons this could be happening.. There are a few times when Inventor does seem to have a hiccup and not work properly.. There are FAR more times when its user error even though they think they have everything perfect..

If you don't want these files just available for the world on the internet that is understandable.. If you would like you can private message me and I can give you my email so you can just email the files to me.. Or you could put them in a file share program like dropbox and just give us the link and we can download it and then you can delete it from your share folder.. 

Or send me an NDA and I'll happily sign and help you out..

But this really is a case where having the files will allow us to pinpoint exactly what you are doing wrong.. And without those we can just guess which isn't helping you here as you don't seem to be able to figure this problem out on your own.. 

[mcgyvr]

Here is how you gather all the necessary files to allow you to share a usable zip file..

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/inventor-products/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2017...

Here is how you use "insert constraint" which will allow you to constrain parts with less constraints. This is perfect for matching holes in parts.. A single insert constraint can do the same as 2 mate constraints.. 

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/inventor-products/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2016...

If you have 2 brackets and one has the holes at 3.000" apart and one at 3.0001" apart Inventor will NOT constrain them (without some tricks)

If you are trying to constrain what should be a 90 deg and its 90.0001 degrees it won't constrain..

If you don't want to find the error in your ways then keep posting useless videos and just keep complaining.. 

If you want to be shown why you are having these problems then help us help you by providing files that exhibit the problems you are describing so we can examine the files and point out the issue.. There are quite a few reasons this could be happening.. There are a few times when Inventor does seem to have a hiccup and not work properly.. There are FAR more times when its user error even though they think they have everything perfect..

If you don't want these files just available for the world on the internet that is understandable.. If you would like you can private message me and I can give you my email so you can just email the files to me.. Or you could put them in a file share program like dropbox and just give us the link and we can download it and then you can delete it from your share folder.. 

Or send me an NDA and I'll happily sign and help you out..

But this really is a case where having the files will allow us to pinpoint exactly what you are doing wrong.. And without those we can just guess which isn't helping you here as you don't seem to be able to figure this problem out on your own..