Better snap center area

[Uwe_Lindner]

Users want an easier way to snap to a center point of a rectangular or square area.
Currently you can help yourself with a visible auxiliary sketch or as described in the video about “Move origin”. However, you have to know the dimensions and halve them.
It would be easier if you could select the 2nd center point and thus the intersection point or the center point of the surface, as in the sketch environment.

[MKE_Howard]

Maybe this will help, select the first part then press "CTRL" to select the center of a slot. Works for me.

[Uwe_Lindner]

MkEHWD - Sorry, at my environment "CTRL" doesn't work. I's possible that you post a little Video?

[MKE_Howard]

I don't have a screen recorder software but I will try my best to explain it. 

First get your 2 parts :

Use the "JOINT" constraints and select your bolt :

Hover with your mouse the "Side point" of the rectangular slot. (Don't select it) :

Then press "Ctrl" on your keyboard and move your mouse on the middle point (Keep "Ctrl" pressed)

There you go

[Uwe_Lindner]

Thank you for snapshots. In our environment (2024.2) - It's doesn't work.

[Yijiang.Cai]

@Uwe_Lindner, please see the video below, and it works fine in Inventor 2024.2.

 

[MKE_Howard]

Thanks @Yijiang.Cai for the video this is exactly what I was trying to explain. And Uwe_Lindner it's weird that it doesn't work but I think I know why. Are you using sheet metal or part? Because When I try with Sheet metal, everything works fine but with a "normal" part with extrusion, it doesnt work (I can't find the middle point)

[Uwe_Lindner]

For me, in both environments (either sheet metal or normal model) the CTRL key has no function, see video

[Uwe_Lindner]

Then I'll ask support, not that this is a problem with the localized version (Germany).

[Uwe_Lindner]

At sheet metal environment we use for the rectangle "Notch" and in the normal part we use Extrusion with difference.

And if we have generally no chance in the normal Parts to snap the middlepoint of a rectangle then we think it's a requirement of next Inventor patches or releases

[Yijiang.Cai]

@Uwe_Lindner It is not specific to the localization version. I can reproduce it now when the rectangle profile used for extrusion cut is not in the center of base feature, and the center of outer loop of face can be used for joint.

For this case, you can create the boundary patch for the outer loop of extrusion cut, and the center can be used for joint.

[Uwe_Lindner]

@Yijiang.Cai - Better usability would be very helpful for users.

[MKE_Howard]

I agree with @Uwe_Lindner. 

[Yijiang.Cai]

 @Uwe_Lindner Understand!