how to create an assembly from parts

[Anonymous]

I have a drawing which has a number of different parts, and I was wondering whether it is possible to create a single assembly from them, so that they share a common origin etc. Is there a way to group the parts together? I was familiar with a 'group' command in Turbocad.

Thanks guys.

[Anonymous]

Try Manage tab > Create components.

Very useful for common origin modeling.

You can also put many bodies in a single part, either with Manage > Create part, or directly starting a new part and using the 3D Model > Derive command, which lets you choose what featurese (bodies, sketches, blocks, parameters) to import from the master file.

Finally, you can also group bodies together within the master file itself, by using the 3D Model > Combine command, which, among other things, lets you join two bodies into a single body, which you can then derive out into your assembly.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for that. Could you direct me to the create components tool? I can’t locate it.

[mdavis22569]

post an example ... either a photo or a file to import ...

[Anonymous]

Look at this screenshot:

https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/article_attachments/200603111/image003-798955.png

[john_s2]

I'm not quite following you. Do you have a number of Inventor .ipt Part files which you want to put in an assembly or are you working in a drawing?

Working in Inventor isn't so much like working on a drawing as working with physical things, parts or assemblies of parts. 

[Anonymous]

Here is a screenshot of my page...seems like i dont have the 'layout' section in the Manage tab.

[Anonymous]

I am working with a number of .ipt Parts which I have constrained etc. to for a complete assembly. See the screenshot attached above.

I now want to combine them so that each part has a common origin etc.

This is to allow me to rotate the entire assembly as a whole.

[john_s2]

How about introducing a dummy cylinder grounded at the point around which you want the other parts to rotate. You can then constrain those parts to the dummy cylinder. If some parts are to remain stationary and some rotate I would be inclined to isolate the static and rotating parts in separate assemblies before bringing them into the final assembly.

That said the cleanest solution would be to use one of the axis as the point around which the items rotate and constrain them accordingly.

[Anonymous]

yes sorry i am not sure of the exact angles i need to rotate the assembly.

My problem is this: the face of the drawing is not flush with the XY plane of the master origin, meaning that the Frint View, Side View etc. is out of alignment. If i attached the file, could somone align the drawing with the axiis? Thanks.

[john_s2]

You say you want to rotate the complete assembly. Does everything rotate at the same time or just some of the components?

If you are trying to rotate everything, why? If you need it aligned for a drawing just rotate the drawing view. You might have to rotate two views to get the components plumb but you can locate these off the drawing sheet so they don't print.

[Anonymous]

What is the process to rotate the drawing view to align it with a specific face?

[john_s2]

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@Anonymous wrote:

... If i attached the file, could somone align the drawing with the axiis?

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That isnt going to help you as you then won't know how it was done.

I assume all the components are constrained to each other?  You can introduce further constraints to the origin planes and axis which will pull your assembly into position  relative to the origin.

If your issue is the assembly doesn't lay right when you put it in a drawing see my suggestion above about rotating the drawing views.

[john_s2]

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@Anonymous wrote:

What is the process to rotate the drawing view to align it with a specific face?

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Right mouse click on the drawing view. It will bring up a list of options including rotate.

It will ask you to pick a line to be horizontal, vertical or an angle of your choice.

You might need to do this to one view to get it upright then project the view to the side and rotate that to srop it leaning back/forward.  If these views are off the sheet you can then project the plumbed view on to the sheet and project the other views from that.

[Anonymous]

Ok great that worked! Just one problem - the view i have now is not the 'base view'. Is there a way to select a projected view and make it the base view?

[JDMather]

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@Anonymous wrote:

What is the process to rotate the drawing view to align it with a specific face?

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You keep  stating "drawing", but the image you attached is of and assembly, not a drawing.

Are you familiar with the following terms as they are used in Inventor

parts (*.ipt) 3D files

assemblies (*.iam) 3D files

drawings (*.dwg or *.idw) 2D files?

These three types of files exhibit the same behaviors as their real world equivalents - so use them in the same way.

[Anonymous]

Yes, sorry in the original question i should have said 'assembly' rather than 'drawing'. My problem was that the assembly was out of alignment with the default views (top, front etc.) and when I went to create a drawing, the views were obviously out of plumb. I fixed it in the drawing by rotating the camera, but if you have a solution to fixing the problem in the assembly that would be great!

[john_s2]

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@Anonymous wrote:
....., but if you have a solution to fixing the problem in the assembly that would be great!

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Create a dummy part a small cube with a cylindrical extension, or similar.

Place this part in your assembly so that it is at the centre of all your parts.

Rather than constain everything to everything else it will be easier to start a new assembly and place the original assembly in it. You can then move the original assembly about in the new assembly as one.

Woking in the new assembly file constrain the original assembly collection to the origin using the dummy part. Once located, ground the assembly. You can the delete the constriaints (because the collection is grounded and won't move) and delete or hide the dummy part in your original assembly file.

[JDMather]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Create a dummy part a small cube with a cylindrical extension, or similar..

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Sounds like too much work.

Simply unground any grounded parts.

Add Mate - Flush constraints between the assembly XY, XZ, and YZ planes and the logical base part XY, XZ, and YZ planes.

Attach the assembly here if you can't figure it out.

[john_s2]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

Create a dummy part a small cube with a cylindrical extension, or similar..

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Sounds like too much work.

Simply unground any grounded parts.

Add Mate - Flush constraints between the assembly XY, XZ, and YZ planes and the logical base part XY, XZ, and YZ planes.

Attach the assembly here if you can't figure it out.

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Are you suggesting do this in the original assembly or the new assembly into which the original has been introduced?

I get the impression that the parts within the original are a located aesthetically and to constrain them all would take a shed load of time.

The dummy is only suggested as a convenient reference. If an suitable part to reference to already exists it is unnecessary. Personally I find dummy locators to be a quick and convenient way to locate parts which are unusual shapes. They also provide a visual reference to confirm multiple strange shaped parts are actually where you think they are.

Such is the joy of Inventor; there are often several ways to come to the same result.