Master sketches or skeleton assemblies

[czc]

When using a master sketch or skeleton assemblies is it best to model everything along the origin planes or to model everything positioned where it should be (ie I don't just draw the top view on one plane but on varying levels.) Also, many sketches or all the information in one sketch?

 

Thanks, I'm just trying to get my head around this.

[MarkFlayler]

Depends on the purpose and the design criteria. I have done it both ways, but in general for sketches you don't want too much in a single sketch. It will slow Inventor down on the constraint and dimension crunching.

 

Mostly I use Workplanes from Origins as referable planes when I derive into my new parts.

[Pablo Ferral]

Here;s my workflow:

 

1. Create user parameters

2. Create workplanes/points/axis (to use as levels and datums)

3. Create construction surfaces (if required)

4. Create sketches

5. Create solids

 

Repeat steps 4 and 5 until done.

 

Defiantly create the sketches where they need to be wherever possible. Think about using Blocks if you need similar elements in more than one sketch.

 

By referencing user parameters or datums between sketches, it is possible to have much more control over the feature tree, when it comes to re-ordering sketches and features.

 

I recommend that you keep each sketch as simple as possible. It's better to have lots of sketches than lots of geometry in a single sketch.

 

Listen to Mark - he da' man!