inventor for sheet metal parts

[glazier]

i have inventor 8 and mechanical desktop 2004, i am trying to learn inventor and am doing sheet metal parts, my question is, can i put constraints with sheet metal parts and im also having problems dimensioning the parts , can anyone help.

[ReMark]

Try visiting CAD Digest at:

http://www.caddigest.com/

At the top of the page enter for search criteria the word Inventor.

At the next page click on Inventor Tutorials.

When you get to the list of tutorials use your page down key and look for the following two topics:

Inventor Drawing Dimensions Enchancements

and:

Advanced Inventor Techniques

Note: There are actually two listings for the first topic but each bear a different date. They happen to be streaming video tutorials so you get both video and narration.

I also saw a couple of topics referencing sheet metal but I'm not quite sure they are what you are looking for. Perhaps after reading the descriptions they may be of some interest to you. Good luck.

[Lazer]

Hello my friend, you canot add constraints within the sheetmetal feature, the interface is different than the normal Inventor solid modeling interface, you can get round this by saving in sheet metal part then inserting the model into an assembily, but then you will looses the sheetmetal tools.

As for dims, you use FACE to add depth then use offset workplanes to work from that face. you will notice there are not many commands, the reason for this is each command is powerfull and cover lots of gounds.

[glazier]

Thanks for the replys, im trying to understand this, to dimension in sheet metal i make an offset work plane, then i dimension that, is it possible to dimension the piece when you flatten it out and how do i dimension the work plane.

[Lazer]

is it possible to dimension the piece when you flatten it out
No you cannot make changes to the model from a flat pattern.

and how do i dimension the work plane.
you create a workplane from an existing plane by offsetting it, then sketch on the new workplane, and dimension on the new sketch drawn on the new workplane.

All dims are added to the sketch, then add a face, then create offset workplanes, sketch on the new offset workplane and dimension the sketch as you sketch it.

[glazier]

Ok i think i got it now, ill give it a try and thanks a ton for the time and the help.

[Mr T]

If you run thru the IV tutorials free with the install, it covers how to make most sheet metal parts inc. offsets, bends, corner radius reliefs, flat paterns etc.

Nick

[glazier]

Thanks for the reply nick, i read the inventor tutorials and i can make the parts pretty good but am still having problems with the dimensions, i was reading on the inventor tutorials some of the ones you made for weldments which are very good, could it be possible to get you to make some on dimensioning in sheet metal.

[Mr T]

If you mean the onscreen videos, then yes.

I'll sketch, constrain with dims, then offset and bend ?

Nick

[glazier]

Thanks Nick, that is what i am having problems with is the dimensions cant seem to grasp it.

[Mr T]

Start a Part File. Start a sketch, draw something closed with dims. Then return. Next pull down the Application menu, pick sheet metal.

If you now select the closed profile sketch and FACE it. Now if you open the explorer bar and expand the FACE you can edit the sketch, dims as well, as though it was a normal sketch.

It's sheet metal features rather than the normal modelling features.

Nick