extrude feature help

[ctbram]

I am just learning inventor.  I have come from an artistic modeling background (Maya).  I am modeling a refirdgerator shelf baracket to be 3D printed and I am having trouble centering a work plane.  In the attached image I have a solid feature modeled and you can see the closed loop I want to extrude.

You can also see a centerline selected.  I want to extrude the feature an equal amount on either side of the center.

In retrospect I should have probably sketched the feature on a workplane that was already at the center line then extrude an equal distance symetrically.

But now I have what I have and I cannot figure out how to move the workplane and the sketch to the centerline or extrude the feature an equal distance across it.

Can any please help me salvage what I have or do I have to start all over?

[CCarreiras]

First try the tool and then comment.......

Offcourse you can have several angles in the ribs...

[ctbram]

The boss tools looks to be exactly what I need.  Below is a test case I did.  I will need to calculate the real values and then mirror it to the other side, add some fillets, and the model will be complete.

Computing the angles for the ribs is a bit confusing.  To be honest for the test case I just guessed and plugged in values until I got something that looked close.  I will have to study the result to really understand what the values do.  But I now have all the pieces I need to know in order to complete this model.

Thank you all for your help and I will post the final model and the results from the 3D printer.

Cheers,

Rick M

http://imgur.com/a/FQTk8

[JDMather]

Are you familiar with reading a sketch/feature history tree?

The attached might give you some ideas.

Note:  I never use rar.  I never use 3rd party sites for images.

[ctbram]

Thanks,  I'll take a look at it.  

I can post the images directly I guess and not compress the ipt.  Just used to posting on other sites that are concerned with local storage limitations and such.

I see what you did.  Thank you for another option.  With each post I learn a bit more.  I'll post a link of the final model and images of the result of the 3D prints.  I plan on making a clean version of the model now that I have an idea of a proper workflow and the right tools.

Thanks everyone for all the help on this

Rick M

[CCarreiras]

Hi!

Try to attach images with another internet Browser.... are you using Internet Explorer?

[ctbram]

Here you go these are the images of my progress and references.  Also attached is the last test model to figure out how to do the boss feature.

Regards,

Rick M

I have no **** clue how to embed images into these posts.  Things that work on every single other forum I go to do not work here.  I just get links and not the actual images!!!!  It's frustrating!

[ctbram]

Figured it out but do not know how to delete a post.  Sorry

[ctbram]

Here is the completed model sans proper dimensioning and contraints.  

There are a number of really bad workflow issues I would like to fix by rebuilding this over the weekend.

I guessed on a number of dimmensions and jump from metric to imperial units.  I need to bring my callipers home from work to finalize the proper dimensions and constraints.

Some of the thiings I need to fix...

(1) initial work plane is in a quadrant and should be centered

(2) I created new workplanes where I should have just kept building off the initial plane and sketch

(3) I need to properly dimension things and pick either metric or imperial units

(4) I need to fully constrain the model.

I would appreciate of some of the more skilled with AD Inventor please take a look at the attached model and give me some suggestions on the best way to start fresh and build this model properly.

Regards,

Rick M

[SBix26]

I haven't examined your model, so I can't answer some of your questions, but here are two:

You asked earlier about inserting/embedding an image in your post: see below—

And, regarding your question (3): you do not need to make a hard choice between metric and imperial units.  Choose the one you will use the most for each part, but any dimension can be entered with explicit units, and Inventor will make the conversion.  I'd advise that you change your Dimension Display to Expression, which then shows the dimension/parameter exactly as entered.  If your part's length units is set to inches, then all you need to do is type, for example, 14.5 mm.  If you don't specify the units, of course, it will assume inches.  You can also use the Tools > Document Settings > Units tab to change back and forth.

Sam B

Inventor Professional 2016 Update 1
Vault Basic 2016
Windows 7 Enterprise 64-bit, SP1

[ctbram]

Okay, 

The model is mostly done but I have decided I want to lengthen the Boss by a couple mm's.  To create the boss I extruded down from a work plane after fiddling with trying to move the workplane up, the boss sketch up, the model down and am once again in rage at the computer mode.

Can someone please tell me what voodoo or spell incantation is required to simply make the boss a couple mm's taller without having to delete the thing and start all over?

[CCarreiras · Accepted solution]

The spell is....... edit the plane offset...................

[ctbram]

TY!

Now I feel like a total noob as I am sure that was the first thing I tried to do.  Doh!

[ctbram]

OMG!  I do not know what I have done again but I am getting the message about desigh view being locked and the **** program will not let me save my work!  Furthermore, after googling for 20 minutes I found a message about right clicking master view and clicking unlock but from the attached image below you can see that option is greyed out!!!

So now I have had the program open for two days because I do not want to close it and lose my work!!!!!!!

(1) How the bloody hell do I unlock the god **** design view so I can save my work?

(2) How the bloody hell did I get the **** thing locked in the first place???????

[JDMather]

I suspect the message is meaningless as far as you should be concerned - but you should be able to do a File>Save Copy As, with new name and then open that file alongside the one you are working on see what might have been "lost".

In any case, this is fairly simple geometry.  It couldn't take too long to reproduce the entire part, let alone a small portion of it.

Even I took the time to recreate it from scratch.

[ctbram · Accepted solution]

I realize this is small geometry but eventually I will be creating larger geometry and constantly rebuilding my models from scratch every time inventor farts is not an acceptable solution.

To resolve this I went to View Default and simply created a new view which I named Default.  Then I could save things again.  I do not know how the master view either became locked or if there was another view that got deleted.  But I have a way to solve this now.

Attached is a screen shot where you can create a new Design View and I copy of my finished part.

Toggling between Solid Works and Inventor is making my head hurt.

So I thank you all for your help and patience with my silly noob questions.

Cheers

Rick

I will most likely rebuild this model using what I have learned from this one and try to do it more efficiently.  I think the first problem that cascaded throughout this project is the initial sketch image had the origin in the upper right corner.  I think I'd start with the inital image centered at the origin.  This way when I extrude the sketch sections I'd just do it symmetrically above and below the Top plane. Also with the initial image centered at the origin I would only need to build the LHS and then mirror across the XY plane.  Overall this was a pretty good practice model that I hope to 3D print and repair the shelves on my refridgerator.

[JDMather]

You have got me interested in exactly what that message means now, but I can tell you that I have completely ignored it for years and not noticed any ill effects.  Someone who has investigated the meaning - will come along and explain.

[SBix26]

The Master design view (and the Master view representation in assemblies) are locked by definition and cannot be unlocked.  I don't recall ever seeing this message in a part file, only in assembly files.

Sam B

Inventor Professional 2016 Update 1
Vault Basic 2016
Windows 7 Enterprise 64-bit, SP1