Extrusion offset from surface, plane or sketch

[Anonymous]

Yep, I'm coming back to Autodesk products from a lengthy stint with Solidworks.  I'm recreating a few of my base models for practice and am noticing that some of the modeling approaches seem vastly different. 

Extruding to a surface (to) but a distance offset of that control surface - The surface distance might change, but the offset distance would be a constant.

Offset from sketch Plane  The extrusion begins at a distance from the sketch plane.

One of my projects takes place within a small space and I'd like to come up with a offset distance which I could later change if I choose that would resize the effected pieces.

Has anyone come across a good comparative reference for Solidworks to Inventor?  Redit, or paperback? 

-Mac

[johnsonshiue]

Hi Mac,

Welcome back! Are you on Inventor 2018? There is an Extent option called "Distance from Face." It should do what you are asking.

Many thanks!

[Anonymous]

That option, extrude from face is not readily apparent in my Autodesk professional Inventor 2017.  I've often found myself sketching on a primary plane and offsetting from a sketch in SW and would like to do so again with Inventor.  I hope to work it out then mirror the new feature across the middle primary plane.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi Mac,

The Offset option is new to 2018. It was not available on 2017 unfortunately.

Many thanks!

[Curtis_Waguespack · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous,

In Inventor 2017 or previous you can create an offset surface to extrude to, this allows you to define and hold the offset distance, as shown in this quick example video.

I hope this helps.
Best of luck to you in all of your Inventor pursuits,
Curtis
http://inventortrenches.blogspot.com

[fraccle]

Was this functionality removed in Inventor 2020? I see no mention of extents or distance from face in the extrude dialog..

[JDMather]

I think it might still be there.

Can you Attach an example *.ipt file for testing.

[fraccle]

How about a screen shot?

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! The option is still there. It is just not explicitly called out. Do you see the "From Sketch Plane" combo box? Click on the cross button on the right to clear the selection (default) and then select a new "From" offset plane.

Many thanks!

[fraccle]

Thanks for the reply.. I don't think that's what I was looking for. I know
that I can select a different offset plane, but what I wanted/hoped to be
able to do was to select an additional offset from some plane or face.. for
instance if I wanted an extrusion to start 1" below the ground plane. Do I
have to first make an offset plane that is 1" below the ground plane? Or
can I specify that offset from the ground plane in the extrude dialog? I
was under the impression that that was an option in some recent versions of
inventor.

Thanks again!

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! I know what you are asking. Such workflow never exists in Inventor. We understand the requirement but we have not implemented yet. In the meantime, you do need to create an offset workplane to do "Distance from Face" option in 2019 and earlier. Or, select a different new From plane in 2020 and later.

Many thanks!

[icolquhoun]

I too remember having a "distance from face" extrude option in earlier versions. It's insanely frustrating there is no way to easily perform this option in the newer versions. It should be a box just as TO or THRU ALL and TO NEXT are.

I have run into 3 or 4 parts in the past week that I can execute in Solidworks in a matter of seconds that are impossible to do in Inventor without this functionality!

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! I guess there is a bit confusion here. As I replied earlier, the Extrude workflow on Inventor 2020 has been changed a bit. In order to perform Offset from Face, you need to select a different face or plane in "From" select box (default is Sketch). Could you try it and see if it works for you?

Many thanks!

[Anonymous]

Hello,

So I'm having a related problem. I'm using Inventor 2021. It seems similar to 2020 so whatever is true for 2020 will be 2021. Anyways, I understand how to start from a different face however I cannot use the "Through All" option from that face through the solids past it. When I click on it, the extrusion defaults back down to the sketch and does not stay at the face.

I'm trying to make Counterbore screw holes starting from the opposite side of the part. I tried to see if there was an offset feature for Counterbore screw holes but could not find it. The closes thing I found was to make an offset extrusion but I ran into the issue above. If someone could answer the counterbore hole problem instead I would very much appreciate it.

Thank you in advance.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! I don't believe that option sets (Offset + Through All) were ever supported. Please share an example here so I can try it to say it for sure.

Many thanks!

[Anonymous]

Hello,

Thank you for the prompt response.

The following link is what I saw and was trying to duplicate, the first video in the forum thread.

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-design-validate/how-to-create-a-reverse-countersunk-hole/t...

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! While Extrude/Offset/Through All may not be supported, Inventor Hole command does support Extended Start. You can simply create Counter Sunk Hole with "Extended Start." Have you tried it?

Many thanks!

[Anonymous]

Hello,

Thank you for the thought. That does help but the main issue I'm having is that my 2D sketch is on the opposite side of the extrusion that I want to drill through. So if I try to use the extend start using the points on my 2D sketch, there will only be the countersink hole going through and not any threading. Would you have any thoughts on this?

Sincere thanks.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! I believe there should be a solution. I don't understand why it does not work for you. Please share the file here so forum experts and I can take a closer look.

Many thanks!

[Anonymous]

Thank you very much for your continued support. I'm new to the forum, so what would be the best way to show the file. Would I just upload the ipt file?

Sincere thanks,

Francesco Sessa