Predefined Steel Shapes

[Anonymous]

Using 2017 Inventor

Does Inventor have predefined steel shapes somewhere - like SW does?

[CCarreiras · Accepted solution]

Yes, of course.

They are in Inventor's Content Center.
They say that are there about 12.000 standard parts, i never count it, though, but i know they are a lot.

You can find it in several standards, like ISO, DIN, ANSI, etc etc.

Open an assembly, and go to "PLACE FROM CONTENT CENTER" to place them.

Also check the tool "FRAME GENERATOR". It can help you a lot when using steel strutures.

[Anonymous]

But there's not a way to bring in a sketch of the shape ad be able to extrude it on your own?

[Mark.Lancaster]

@Anonymous

Structural shapes have very simple profiles.   Just sketch it and be done with it.  You spent more time talking about it then getting it done.. 

[CCarreiras]

---

@Anonymous wrote:
But there's not a way to bring in a sketch of the shape ad be able to extrude it on your own?

---

Why???!!!, if you create the profile part in the assembly you will be able to give the lenght you need.

Anyway..... YES you can.

You have to create the part in the assembly, save ir, open/edit the profile part, copy the sketch, paste the sketch in the new part....

[Anonymous]

Why?...Because I am used to doing it that way in Solidworks. I would create each member based off of the profile, then manipulate it the way I wanted it done. That way, I have a PART and not an ASSEMBLY...

The way that Inventor does it is VERY similar to the way that Solidworks does weldments. Basing the outline off of a sketch then just telling each "line" which profile it will be.

This is fine, I am just used to having them as a part file.

Do I have to create a sketch, save it, then start an assembly and use the sketch as the first placement? - OR - is their an easier/quicker way to do it?

[CCarreiras]

What do you want to achieve? An assembly ofseveral steel profiles?A struture?

Or do you want only a part?

Tip, when you place a content center steelprofile in an assembly, after you save it, automatically youe creating the steel profile file.... so, is easyer than the way you do. And this is nothing bteewn solidworks and inventor, because they work the steel profiles strutures in a very similar way. the question here is about your process.... i think is not the better approach.

But o, this all deppends about the frst two questions.... wht you want to achieve??!!

[Anonymous]

Actually structural shapes do not have simple profiles, especially when you are talking H-type or T-type beams.  Depending on the weight and size, dimensions change for a given class such as W12 for instance.  You cannot set the beam height to 12 inches and expect your design to be correct.  A W12x58 has a depth of 12.19 and a W12x53 has a depth of 12.06.  That may not seem like much, but for building equipment your design will be off as well as your weight.  For C shapes, the K dimension and grip are different.  Also incorporated radii cannot be set to 90 degrees as would be the case for just being done with it.  If you are running an FEA your results will be grossly inaccurate with a sharp corner.

You can use the method of using Place from Content Center and selecting a shape.  I agree SW works does an easier and better job of allowing you to either build a single part or use frame generator.

[Anonymous]

@Mark.Lancaster because you cannot use a 3D helix curve as an edge for a FG member.

[Mark.Lancaster]

@Anonymous 

I'm confused..   What does that have to do with this conversation or what I was saying a few months ago?

My point back then....   Just go sketch it out and be done with it..  😁   

[Anonymous]

@Mark.Lancaster I read the post out of context.  Please disregard.

[JDMather]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

@Mark.Lancaster because you cannot use a 3D helix curve as an edge for a FG member.

---

I don't know about controlling twist, but....