Tolerance Analysis Stackup: Specifying Part Dimensions Used

[Anonymous]

I have been looking at resources trying to figure out if it is possible to specify which part dimensions Tolerance Analysis will use in Inventor 2020. It seems like when doing an assembly stackup, Inventor likes to create its own dimensions on the part files that may or may not be defined in the sketch or model based dimensions. In other words, it likes to take shortcuts by dimensioning between the two faces that are involved in mate constraints in the assembly. Here is an example explaining what I am talking about.

Let's say I have a part that is dimensioned like this.

Part Dimensions & Tolerances

I then assemble two of these by mating the surfaces highlighted in red below.

Mate Constraint

Say I now want to analyze the stackup on the overall length of these two parts assembled as shown below.

Stack of Interest

Inventor, now performs the stack analysis, but it creates its own part dimensions that result in the shortest path possible as seen below (.410" and .360"). Now of course in this example, it would probably make sense to make these dimensions my controlled dimensions on the print from a design standpoint, but the hypothetical question is, what if I can't use these dimensions or don't want to for some reason? Can I force Inventor to use the .350", .060" and .050" dimensions I defined at the beginning?

Auto Dimensions

[lena.talkhina]

Hello @Anonymous  !

Great to see you here on Inventor Forum.

Don't hesitate to give an update here in your topic so all members know what ́s the progression on your question is and what might be helpful to achieve what you ́re looking for. 🙂

[PaulMunford]

Hi @Anonymous 

Inventor will analyze your assembly, and try to figure out your stack up from the constraints you've applied.

You can select the parts and faces that you want to be included in your stack up manually if you prefer.

More details here:

https://www.autodesk.com/autodesk-university/au-online?query=Tolerance+analysis