Placing 1 part on another - help requested

[w8wca]

This must be a simple thing to do, so excuse me for being so dense!

I will simplify this:

I want to make a Inventor (2009) assy/part with:
a 2" Square x 1/4 " wall piece of tubing 12" long
on one end, I want to place a piece of 1/4" Thk x 2" x 4" long Bar, with 1/2 it's length extending past the tubing

I am sure there must be a simple way - but I have not found it.If I use a constraint - I can usually get it at say an end of the bar (maybe!) - but If I want to place it at some point like one end of the plate 2" in from the end of the tubing - I am lost.

If there are any tutorials or whatever - I would appreciate some direction.

I have 3 Inventor Books and 4 Tutorials and none have this basic info in them.

[JDMather]

Can you zip and attach the assembly? Sounds like it could be as simple as an offset Mate constraint.

[Anonymous]

I'm sure that the books have ifo on assemblies and assembly
constraints. Can you post your parts, zipped?

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[w8wca]

Here is a very basic Weldment assy with a Sq. Tube and a flat plate in it.

And basically I just would like to learn how to place the plate at any specific spot on the tube.

Thank You for any help !

W. Charles Alexander

[Anonymous]

Have you done either the assembly or weldment tutorial that are delivered
with Inventor?

To completely position a flat plate on a square tube you will need three
"mate" constraints:

- one will mate the large flat face of the plate to the face of the tube.
This one will probably have no offset (that is the two faces will touch)
- one will align the edge of your plate to a face on the tube parallel to
the edge of the plate. This one could have an offset value.
- one will align an edge of your plate to the end of the tube. This one will
also likely have an offset.

All of this assumes a perfectly square tube and a perfectly rectangular
plate. If there are angles involved, you'll need to place your constraints
to edges and/or vertices and/or possibly reference planes.

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Gary R. Smith
Autodesk Manufacturing Solutions Division
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[JDMather]

Open the attached. Find the constraint named "Adjust This" under the Test2 plate part. Double click on the constraint and the offset distance 2 will appear. You can edit to any distance.

[w8wca]

OK Thank you:

I did use the Tutorials that came with Inventor - most all are related to Round parts and rotational movement.
The Weldment Tutorial seems to start with a piece already made and just shows how to add welds to them.
But as I went thru some more show me's - I found a bit about Constraints, and Grip Snap

When you say 3 mate constraints - I am guessing you are meaning any 3 constraints?
And Setting the constraints with the constraint tool and maybe even the Grip Snap tool?

Which would let me place a part on some surface - center it (or offset it) and place even with end of tube or offset that also.

I think after I review this more I will have what I am looking for.

Thank You for your help AND patience.


W. Charles Alexander

[JDMather]

>I found a bit about..., ... Grip Snap ...and maybe even the Grip Snap tool

Run (don't walk) to the nearest ATC class. Keep at it and be sure to ask questions here.