new to inventor and need help

[jason30809]

i have been working hard to learn this software over the last two month. now anytime im outside or just walking around with my son if i see an interesting shape laying on the ground or something else catchs my eye, i find myself wondering "how would a person go about modelling that on inventor 2015?"  Its onne of these questions i bring to you today. the object in question is a flash suppressor off the end of an m4 rifle. i have included pics. i really am just trying to figure out what stratagy would work best when modeling this thing.... ex. should sketch the details off of a centerline or should i just extrude and normal circle and go from there. if there is other, better ways not mentioned just now please let me know. thanks in advance for your time

[sam_m · Accepted solution]

What is it with people wanting to model guns/weapons?

Anyway, on topic...

Try to think of using revolve for round things and extrude more for non-round things.

So, revolve the part without the through slot, giving a solid open-ended cylinder, so you can easily control the taper down the core and the ribs/ridges at the other end (easier than lots of extruded circles).  Then extrude and cut 1 slot through 1 of the sides and circular pattern this cut around the part (you can even use the same sketch as the revolved profile) - see the attached Iv2014 file (no idea the dimensions or real shape, so completely random).

I hope that makes sense.

A good rule of thumb is to try and model it in a way/chunks that you would use to make the part.