Moving an object

[sk8shorty01]

Ok, I know I sound like an idiot and I am sure its really easy but I am having more trouble just moving an object than I could have ever believed. I searched through the forum but was unable to find anything of any relavence so sorry if this is a redundant post.

 

After drawing my object and extruding (in this case a leg to a table) how can I move the object to where I want it. I can get things to move in some cases, but in others they will not move, or only move in one direction. I cannot figure out what I am doing different between the different outcomes so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[JD Mather]

How would you move it in the real world? Start an assembly and place the first instance of the leg (or better yet, the table top) add constraints to assemble the other components - just like the real world.

[sk8shorty01]

The problem I am having is that I do not understand the program at all yet at this point. Here is my exact project.

 

I am trying to design the plumbing for my fish tank. In order to design it I will first need to draw the tank and stand. I drew the tank first, next I draw the legs and I am fine as long as I stick them where they go when I start to draw them. I just cannot figure out how to move them to specific points. I also do not understand how the constaints work yet, I am still new to this.

 

After I drew the tank, I made a new sketch and drew each leg one at a time (all the legs are connected by a 2x2 at the top and bottom). I finished all the legs and got them in place but I drew them where they were going to go rather than off to the side and moving them into place.

 

Now I have run into a new problem. I thought, well this will be cool if I can render the whole thing and make it look realistic. The problem I have here is that I highlight my extrusion 1(fish tank) and I pick glass but it changes everything that is on the same plane as any of the sides of the tank into glass as well. This makes all the outsides of every leg glass, obviously incorrect. Is there a way to seperate the parts so that they can each have their own surface material?

 

Sorry for the long winded and stupid questions but today is my first day on the software and I am just completely lost. I have used autocad for years (and microstation) but this is a whole new ball of wax.

 

Thanks!

[sk8shorty01]

Ok nevermind I have it figured out. The reason is because my file was an .idp file instead of starting in an .iam so I was drawing a single part rather than an entire assembly. Sorry again for the stupid questions.

[eribiste]

Just a quick note of encouragement here; don't worry too much about asking dumb questions, we've all had to do that at some time or other. You are after all using a brilliant but complex piece of software that's very difficult to learn unaided. I would recommend looking around for a college evening course to help you. There are also some very helpful books around too. The good books tend to be a bit pricey but they are really useful reference works and will help you self learn.

 

Eribiste

[sk8shorty01]

Thank you very much. I was actually shopping around for a book last night, I just have not decided on which one I want yet. Do you happen to have any recommendations?

[shift1313]

It seems as though you figured it out but here are a few tips.

 

The first component you bring into an assembly file will be "grounded". If you right click on the object you will see a box that says grounded with a check mark by it. If you uncheck that you will be allowed to free move/rotate your object.

 

If you Create Component in an assembly and select a face or part of another object you will be placing a constraint with that face. This will cause issues especially if the two pieces are supposed to be free in relation to each other.

 

If you look in your model tree in an assembly you will notice a folder called Origin. This folder contains planes, axes and origin point. There is a folder if you expand each one of your components. Make sure you are using sketch planes that reference the part you are working with.

 

If you click on the link in JDMathers sig you will go to some tutorials he created.

[eribiste]

I've got on very well with a book called "Inventor 2008 for Designers". It's by Someone called Sham Tickoo who I think works at Calumet. You can find info about it, plus some useful tutorial help if you Google cadcim technologies. J.D. Mather of this very forum fame has got some very good tutorial stuff too.

 

I expect some of the other regulars will be along soon with their recommendations too.