Getting Started With Autodesk Inventor Professional 2013 Phase 2

Relevant Vocabulary Make sure to write in each vocabulary word on your relevant vocabulary worksheet when you see it in the presentation! Don’t forget to spell it correctly!!!

What is a Constraint? A Constraint is a limitation or restriction. (This is the same as in the design process, so why do we need to learn it again for Inventor?)

There are specific types of constraints in Inventor. These constraints are actually functions that allow you to limit what lines and shapes in your drawing can and can not do. They let you give your drawing “rules.”

Geometric Constraints Geometric Constraints are restrictions applied to geometric entities; for example horizontal, parallel, perpendicular, tangent and vertical.

Let’s Try Something New! 1- Go Log In. 2- Open Inventor. 3-Start a New Standard.ipt. 4-Start a 2D sketch on the XY plane. 5- Wait here!

Horizontal Horizontal means Parallel to the X axis. The blue line below is horizontal.

This section contains the constraints that Inventor offers to make your drawings easier and more exact. This button is used to make sure that a line is perfectly horizontal. Draw this button on your Vocab Sheet Next to “Horizontal”.

Step 1- Draw a Diagonal line anywhere on your screen. Step 2- Press ESC Step 3- Click on the diagonal line with your mouse. Step 4- Click on the “Horizontal” Constraint Button.

Parallel Parallel refers to lines, planes or surfaces side by side and having the same distance continually between them. (If they ran on forever, they would never cross each other!) The top line and the bottom line of this rectangle are parallel to each other. Are the two side lines parallel to each other as well?

Step 1- Draw two lines on your screen that are going in different directions. Step 2- Press ESC Step 3- This is the parallel constraint button. Draw the symbol next to “Parallel” on your vocab sheet. Then click on it. Step 4- Click on one of your lines, then the other. What happens?

Draw another diagonal line. Press ESC. Use your mouse to grab one end of the diagonal line and move it around. Now use your mouse to grab the end of the line you made horizontal. Does it move?

Perpendicular Perpendicular means at an angle of 90 degrees to a given line, plane or surface. The lines below are perpendicular.

I think you get the idea, so try the following… 1. Draw two lines. Find the Perpendicular constraint button on the ribbon. Draw the symbol on your vocab sheet next to “Perpendicular” Click on the button, then click on the two lines.

Try to move these lines around and see what happens.

Tangent Tangent means a straight line or plane that touches a curve or curved surface at one point. The line below is tangent to the circle.

2. Draw a circle and a line. Make sure they do not intersect or touch. Find the “Tangent” constraint button. Draw the symbol on your vocab sheet next to “Tangent” Click on the button, then click on the circle and the line.

Vertical Parallel to the Y Axis. The line below is vertical.

3. Draw a diagonal line. Find the “Vertical” constraint button. Draw the symbol on your vocab sheet next to “Vertical” Click on the button, then click on the the line.

Coincident Coincident means Occupying the same area in space.

4. Draw a circle and a line. Make sure they do not intersect or touch. Find the “Coincident” constraint button. Draw the symbol on your vocab sheet next to “Coincident” Click on the button, then click on the center point of the circle and the line.

Collinear Collinear means lying in the same straight line.

5. Draw two lines. Make sure they do not intersect or touch. Find the “Collinear” constraint button. Draw the symbol on your vocab sheet next to “Collinear.” Click on the button, then click on the lines.

Concentric Concentric means circles or arcs that share the same center.

6. Draw two circles. Make sure they do not intersect or touch. Find the “Concentric” constraint button. Draw the symbol on your vocab sheet next to “Concentric” Click on the button, then click on the center point of each circle.

Fix Fix means to attach or position securely.

7.Draw a line. Find the “Fix” constraint button. Draw the symbol on your vocab sheet next to “Fix.” Click on the button, then click on the line. Press ESC to exit the function. Try to grab and move the line.

Trim Trim means to cut off irregular or unwanted parts.

Use the line tool to draw a rectangle and make sure that on the last side, you go through and past the corner point.

Find and click on the “Trim” button. (It is in the “Modify” section)

Hover on the unwanted section of the last line. Dashes should appear on it. Click on it and it disappears.

Challenge!!! Start a new 2D sketch. You can draw anything you want, but in your drawing you must use each of the constraints we have gone over at least once. It has to be a picture of something; not just random lines and shapes. Save it in your 3D folder as “Constraints.” Drop box it to the Assignment “Constraints- Inventor Part.”