Sketch Rotation

[brent_e_barbour]

I have a plane (Work Plane4) constrained to pivot around Y-Axis.  I created a sketch (PinPatternPlane) on the plane.  In the sketch there are “Points” collected from attached “delete.xlsx.”  The points fill the right half of the circle as shown below.  “Work Plane4” has an angular value to the back surface of 180 degrees set by the parameter “PinFaceRt.”  In theory when “PinFaceRt” changes from 180 degrees to 0 degrees, the point field should flip horizontally from the right side to the left side.  However, it’s not.  It’s flipping vertically as though the plane is pivoting around the X-Axis instead of the Y-Axis.  I’ve done this successfully before is an earlier version of Inventor.  Is this a glitch in 2022?  Is there a better way to do this?  I’ve also attached “P_MS27484_24_35__.ipt” to play with.

An experiment I tried is in the Parameters dialog box, I gradually changed the angle of “PinFaceRt” by typing in values like “180 deg - 10 deg” and it rotated properly up through “180 deg – 89.9 deg.”  Once I got to “180 deg – 90 deg,” it rotated around the X-Axis.

Ultimately when I can achieve this, I’ll insert the full “MIL-STD-1560_24-35.xlsx” point field and assign Pin numbers to each of those points as when as pin and socket features to each of those points.

[johnsonshiue · Accepted solution]

Hi Brent,

I suspect this has something to do with the sketch coordinate system. Its X and Y may be reversed of the origin X and Y. Right-click on the sketch -> Edit Sketch Coordinate. You will see the sketch X and Y. You may redefine it along with the origin X and Y.

Another workflow to consider is to create a parametric UCS. Then create sketches on top of a UCS. It offers more predictable sketch coordinate system orientation. Also, when you need to manipulate the sketch, you can simply rotate the UCS. Then the sketch will follow.

Many thanks!

[brent_e_barbour]

Johnson,

The end goal is to create an iPart of a connector so that I can select pins or sockets.  Pins and sockets have mirror pin arrangements.  My solution is to create a point field on a rotating work plane and assign pins 1 - 128 to each of those points.  If pin 1 is on the left side of the connector for a male connector, a female connector member of the same iPart table will rotate the work plane with the sketch containing the point field 180 degrees about the Y-axis so pin 1 is mirrored to the right side and becomes a socket.  I have a couple of dozen connectors I created in my library already using this method done in earlier versions of Inventor and it's worked.  However this time, the work plane will rotate about the Y-axis as it's supposed to up until it gets to and past 90 degrees as I realized in my experiment.  Then it does the unpredictable and rotates about both the Y and X axis resulting in once it reaches it's final destination, the point field flips up-side-down in the vertical rather than to the other side in the horizonal.  I can't just readjust the sketch coordinates after the work plane reaches it's destination because that will defeat the purpose of having an iPart driven by a table.  However, what do you mean by a parametric UCS?  Is that when the sketch UCS is assigned to some geometry that also pivots?

[brent_e_barbour · Accepted solution]

Johnson,

I don't know if this is what you meant by a parametric UCS, but it seams to work.  I created an extra work plane (Work Planr6) along Z-Axis and angularly constrained to the XZ Plane and tied it  to the same “PinFaceRt” parameter.  I sketched (Sketch8) a horizontal line across Work Planr6.  I then edited the coordinates system of the "PinPatternPlane" sketch to constrain the X axis to the horizontal line in Sketch8.  Now the “PinFaceRt” parameter drives both Work Planr6 and Work Planr4...

When PinFaceRt = 180 degrees...

When PinFaceRt = 0 degrees...

[johnsonshiue]

Hi Brent,

That is one way to do it. But, I was explicitly talking about UCS. It is a user-defined coordinate system. The command is in the same group as Work features. In a part, UCS can have dual mode. You can simply pick a point in the space (not vertex) to place it, which becomes a parameter-driven UCS. You will see the 6 variables associated with it in the Parameters dialog.

The other mode is geometry-driven. You will need to pick three vertices (for origin, X, and Y) to define a UCS. This kind of UCS will move with the selected vertices.

Many thansk!

[brent_e_barbour]

Johnson,

I never used that command before.  Can you describe how I'd use that on an iPart or direct me to some tutorials?

Thanks,

    Brent

[brent_e_barbour]

In case you are interested and I'm open to new ideas of a different approach or how to make it better, attached is the finished part.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi Brent,

Many thanks for sharing the part! I don't have much to add. The workflow you are using is fine, as long as it works.

I just want to clarify something about UCS. What I meant by UCS, is the UCS command in the part environment. Go to Work Features section -> UCS. Click the command and pick a point in the space (not associated with any vertex). In this mode, the UCS is driven by 6 parameters. You can see them in the Parameters dialog. These parameters just like any parameter can be driven by the iPart table.

In this way, you have precise location control. Each UCS has three ortho planes and three axes. You can easily create sketches or features based on the UCS.

Thanks again!

[brent_e_barbour]

Johnson,

I've never messed with the UCS command before, so bare with me.  ...but what you're saying is that I can maneuver the sketch UCS with 6 points driven by parameters linked to the iPart table rather than flipping the sketch plane around?  I'd like to know more.  Can you attach a simple example part I can study or modify my part?  ...if it's not too much trouble?

Thanks,

     Brent

[johnsonshiue]

Hi Brent,

I am sorry that I might have simplified the steps to drive a UCS in an iPart/iAssembly. When creating an iPart/iAssembly, the UCS parameters are not automatically populated. It is because UCS has dual mode, it can be confusing to show it in different modes in the author table.

To drive UCS parameters, you can leverage user parameters. For example, you can create user parameters for offset values and angular rotation values. Then equate these parameters to UCS parameters. On the iPart, drive the user parameters. Attached is a very simple example. Please take a look.

BTW, the limitation above does not apply to Model State (2022 and later). The UCS parameters can be driven directly in the Model State table.

Many thanks!

[brent_e_barbour]

Johnson,

Thank you!  That's very useful!

Brent