joining parts

[deRabes]

Hi
I'm very new to Inventor and have a very basic question. I have created three cylinders which I want to stack one on top of the other and join them permanently. From reading the manual etc I know I can do it by creating separate parts and using an assembly. My question is can it be done to separate elements within the same part doc.? This is probably a very rudimentary question but my problem is I'm not familiar with the terminology and find it hard to do a search. I would appreciate any assistance or a link to an appropriate tutorial.

[JD Mather]

In the real world is it one part or three?
If one part - then model as one part.
If three parts then model as multi-body solids or individual parts and assembly - just like the real world.
Attach your file(s) here.

[deRabes]

Hi
Thanks for getting back. It will be one part. I just thought it might make sense to model it in separate parts and join them - obviously not. I have attached the file and will set about re-modelling. Thanks again.

In the real world is it one part or three?
If one part - then model as one part.
If three parts then model as multi-body solids or individual parts and assembly - just like the real world.
Attach your file(s) here.

[JD Mather]

You could use the Move Bodies and Combine to join them together - but why do all that extra work?
Also, I noticed that your sketches aren't constrained or making use of obvious symmetry about the origin - you might want to read this document
http://home.pct.edu/~jmather/skillsusa%20university.pdf