Subtracting one solid from another in an assembly

[Anonymous]

Hello all

Is there a way of subtracting one solid from another in an Inventor assembly (or any other way), like you can do in Autocad using the boolean subtract function? This especially in regards to getting the interpenetration cut out shapes when one pipe joins another at an odd angle or one pipe joins an elbow.

I know how to do it redrawing what you want to remove and using the subtract extrude funtion, but I would like to do it without having to redraw the subtracted piece.

I have been working in Inventor for many years now, (six) and would really like to know.

Using Inventor 2013 here at work, Inventor 2015 at home.

Regards

Mike Kovacik

Alutip

Load Body Manufacturers

Pretoria, South Africa

[JDMather]

Edit the file you wish to trim in the context of the assembly.

Use the Copy Object tool to copy (usually as Surface Body) the trimming geometry from other part(s).

Then Sculpt or Split to trim the part.

another option would be to use the technique that is identical to AutoCAD - multi-body solids modeling.

Attach your assembly here (only need two parts to demonstrate).

[Anonymous]

Thanks will have a look at your reply from home tonight, and log on from my
home email.



Mike

[MikeKovacik4928]

Thanks

I am at home now logging on with my personal ID.

That did the trick.

I'm glad it is possible in inventor, I thought it might be.

See attached

Mike

[MikeKovacik4928]

okay

I subtracted the outer surface of the elbow from the pipe.

When I  tried to subtract the pipe from th elbow to give a hole, this succeeded but the piece I originally cut away  from the

pipe reappeared, obviously because that surface I orginally used as the cutting surface has now disappeared.

How do I get around this and do them both at once.

Mike

[JDMather]

An assembly file (*.iam) is only a list of (local) hyperlinks to the part files (*.ipt) and a record of assembly constraints (and a bit more).

You must include the part files.

[MikeKovacik4928]

See attached. I like this function, I can see many uses for it. It is identical to the Autocad Boolean subtract function, but better!

If I can figure out a way to do both subtracts in one, without losing the first one, that would be good.

On my way to work now

Mike

[JDMather]

Copy Object the trimming surfaces into both parts BEFORE doing any trimming of the parts.

Other techniques - multi-body solids (this is the same as AutoCAD, except that no bodies are consumed).

Derived Components.

I prefer to use either of these two alternative techniques.

[Anonymous]

Is this thread still alive? I have a similar problem 🙂

I have a funnel wich has channels to transport air through them, and I would like to have a mould which is a negative from these channels.

I have made two models, where the first model is the original consept, and the other one has included a sculpt in one of these channels. My idea was to use Trim or something similar to remove the shape of the funnel itself on the model with sculpt included, but I can't make my idea work.

Can anyone give me a hand?

Geir,

Norway