Trouble Creating Holes At Angles

[vertical horizons]

Hello.

 

I am having trouble with a project I am working on.

 

I am trying to put three holes into a solid.

The problem is that each of the holes need to be at an 18° angle from the center of the solid piece, and spaced out equally apart from each other. I used the "circular pattern" for that. I can use the "HOLE" command, but that only makes the holes perpendicular to the solid. I think the answer may have something to do with "PROJECT GEOMETRY", but if it does, I am not figuring it out.

 

The closest I came to solving my problem, I rotated the solid (from the side view) 18°. Then I used project geometry to make one of the holes. It looked pretty good, until I rotated the solid again for the next hole. As soon as I rotated it, the first hole, for some reason, moved, cutting through the solid at a different angle.

 

I am sure that there is really easy way to get this accomplished, but I just don't know what that is yet.

 

Any ideas?

 

I have only been learning Inventor 2009 for about 2 months.

[kencaz]

Having a little trouble visualizing what your attempting, however, If it is just three holes in a circular pattern 18 degrees apart then I would create one hole, either with the hole command or extrude cut, and just do a circular array of the hole feature.

 

A screenshot would help...

 

KC

[vertical horizons]

...If it is just three holes in a circular pattern 18 degrees apart...

 

The three holes' centers are on a centerline that has a 1.75"Ø that is in the center of the solid. The solid is round.

 

The best way I can think of how to explain it is to take 3 pencils and put them perpendicular to a round table, with all of them pointing upwards. Then tilt the tops of the pencils away from the center of the table 18°. This puts the tops of the pencils pointing away, and the bottoms of the pencils pointing towards the inside.

 

Basically, I need to know how to make several holes at an angle that is not on the X, Y or Z.

 

Using the hole command or the extrude cut, I have to be on one of these coordinates.

[vertical horizons]

How do I upload a screen shot?

[kencaz]

You mean kind-of like a tripod for a table.

 

Here I created an 18 degree offset workplane to make the sketch and extrude for the hole. Then just did a circular array.

 

 

I did not cut the holes so you could see better. You would of course use the cut option.

 

KC

[kencaz]

Click on the paper clip to upload your screen shot.

 

 

KC

[JD Mather]

Using the hole command or the extrude cut, I have to be on one of these coordinates.

 

You can always sketch a rectangle at an angle (3-point rectangle or line-by-line) and then Revolve-Cut.

[vertical horizons]

Thank you for the fast response.

 

...I created an 18 degree offset...

 

How did you create the 18° offset?

I have spent a lot of time searching the help section and also looking online, but to no avail.

[vertical horizons]

You can always sketch a rectangle at an angle (3-point rectangle or line-by-line) and then Revolve-Cut.

 

That sounds a little on the advanced side for me. But, I am learning more every day.

 

Thanks a lot.

[JD Mather]

See attached. Revolve-cut around the centerline side of the rectangle would do what?

[kencaz]

How did you create the 18° offset?

 

You can use a surface as here or select the plane and axis from the browser.

 

 

KC

[vertical horizons]

kencaz,

 

I tried to duplicate what I saw in your video, but I am doing something wrong.

 

When I choose WORK PANE, then select the X AXIS, I don't get a pop-up dialog box where I can enter an angle.

 

What are you doing to get that dialog box to come up?

*******************

Never mind this last post.

I don't know what I did just now, but I am now getting the angle dialog box.

 

You guys are the AutoDesk Gurus.

Thank you so much.

[kencaz]

Select the plane first... then the axis. I used a surface so I did not need to select the plane...

 

KC

[vertical horizons]

I just thought of a glitch with your solution.

 

Being able to change the work plane to an 18° slope, I can now make the 1st hole. But, that 18° work plane will not work, as far as making the other 2 holes.

 

All 3 holes are evenly spaced from each other (120° apart), and their centers are riding on a centerline circle that has a 1.75"Ø. Therefore, in order to make the 2 additional circles, if I do not change the 18° slope, the angle of the 2 holes will be at the same angle as the 1st hole. Being cut from the same plane, they will be cut at 18°, & will look like the 1st hole, same slant, just in a different location on the axis.

 

When completed, all three holes will be pointing away from the center, in three different directions. Looking at the object from the side, you should be able to see three different holes. Each hole should be slanting from the top of the object downward (& outward). Any hole left of the object's center would show that it is going from upper right down to lower left, and vice versa for the other side of the object.

 

How do I change the work plane to align with the other holes?

 

I am sorry if this is confusing. It would be a lot better if I could show you what I am trying to do.

 

I will attempt to insert an image tomorrow.

(What format does the image need to be: jpeg, gif, bitmap, etc.)?

 

I can draw what I am trying to illustrate in AutoCAD. Can I use a PDF as the correct format?

[vertical horizons]

I have included a PDF showing what I am attempting to do.

 

Hope this helps.

18 Degree Holes.pdf

[vertical horizons]

See attached. Revolve-cut around the centerline side of the rectangle would do what?

 

I will try the Revolve-Cut command to see if that will work.

Will that cut a slot all the way around the object, or will I be able to tell the program that I want 3 holes cut into the object?

[shift1313]

I just thought of a glitch with your solution.

 

Being able to change the work plane to an 18° slope, I can now make the 1st hole. But, that 18° work plane will not work, as far as making the other 2 holes.

 

All 3 holes are evenly spaced from each other (120° apart), and their centers are riding on a centerline circle that has a 1.75"Ø. Therefore, in order to make the 2 additional circles, if I do not change the 18° slope, the angle of the 2 holes will be at the same angle as the 1st hole. Being cut from the same plane, they will be cut at 18°, & will look like the 1st hole, same slant, just in a different location on the axis.

 

When completed, all three holes will be pointing away from the center, in three different directions. Looking at the object from the side, you should be able to see three different holes. Each hole should be slanting from the top of the object downward (& outward). Any hole left of the object's center would show that it is going from upper right down to lower left, and vice versa for the other side of the object.

 

How do I change the work plane to align with the other holes?

 

I am sorry if this is confusing. It would be a lot better if I could show you what I am trying to do.

 

I will attempt to insert an image tomorrow.

(What format does the image need to be: jpeg, gif, bitmap, etc.)?

 

I can draw what I am trying to illustrate in AutoCAD. Can I use a PDF as the correct format?

 

 

You want to cut a single hole through your part. Then you will do a circular pattern of that one hole as opposed to doing a pattern in the sketch. This will give you the results you are looking for. When the dialog asks you for Feature to pattern, select the Extrusion from your model tree. When it asks you for the axis, either select the axis you want from your origin, or you can select the circlular edge of your part.

[JD Mather]

...to see if that will work.

 

 

Of course it will work. This part is trivially trivially trivially easy.

 

Let's go through it step-by-step.

 

Start a new part.

 

Sketch the 2 cicles and dimension as shown. (I don't know the 5" actuall dimension - change it to what it is supposed to be.)

 

Zip and attach your file here for step 2.

[kencaz]

I just thought of a glitch with your solution.

 

Being able to change the work plane to an 18° slope, I can now make the 1st hole. But, that 18° work plane will not work, as far as making the other 2 holes.

 

I don't see the glitch? Doing a circular array, inventor will rotate the first hole feature around a center line including the 18 degree angle as pictured in Post #5.

 

KC

[vertical horizons]

You want to cut a single hole through your part. Then you will do a circular pattern of that one hole as opposed to doing a pattern in the sketch...

 

That did the trick.

I thought that you could select "Circular Pattern" only while in Sketch Mode.

 

Of course it will work. This part is trivially trivially trivially easy.

 

Let's go through it step-by-step.

 

Start a new part.

 

Sketch the 2 cicles and dimension as shown. (I don't know the 5" actuall dimension - change it to what it is supposed to be.)...

 

JD,

Thank you for your help. Between you, Shift & KC, I have found valuable iinformation.

Thanks again.

 

I don't see the glitch? Doing a circular array, inventor will rotate the first hole feature around a center line including the 18 degree angle as pictured in Post #5.

 

KC

 

KC,

You're right. There is no glitch. Just me not knowing what I was doing.