Chapter 3

Creating and Editing

Sketched Features

Chapter 3 - Objectives
After completing this chapter, you will be
able to

Understand what a feature is

Use the Autodesk Inventor Browser to edit parts
Extrude a sketch into a part
Revolve a sketch into a part
Edit features of a part
Edit the sketch of a feature
Make an active sketch on a plane
Create sketched features using one of three operations:
cut, join, or intersect

Understanding Features
Describing Features

Sketch into a 3D feature

Base feature
Placed features
Edited, deleted, or reordered

Consumed and
Unconsumed Sketches
Unconsumed sketch
not yet been used in a
feature

Profiles
Feature consumes the
profile

Consumed sketch

Using the Browser for creating

and editing
Autodesk Inventor Browser
Displays the history of the file
Create, edit, rename, copy, delete,
and reorder features or parts
Expanded or Collapsed

Using the Browser for creating

and editing
Autodesk Inventor Browser
Dependent features
Parent-child relationship

Filter out some object types

Funnel icon

Using the Browser for creating

and editing
Autodesk Inventor Browser
Default names
Extrusion1

Locate parts and features

Resized while docked
Close Browser
Right-click
Double-click

Switching Environments
Switching Environments
Sketch & Part environment
Automatically
Tools available to current situation

Part Features
Feature Tools
Part environment
Panel Bar icons

Extruding a Sketch
Extruding a Sketch
Depth along Z-axis
Preview
Extrude dialog box
Shape & More tabs
Values & options

Shape
Profile
Multiple closed profiles

Extruding a Sketch
Extruding a Sketch
Operation
Join = adds
Cut = removes
Intersect = common

Extents
Type & Distance

Termination
How sketch will extrude
Distance
To Next
From To
To
All

Extruding a Sketch
Extruding a Sketch
Extents
Distance
measure two points
most recent values
drag it
units appear red
preview

Direction
3 buttons
flip the extrusion direction
equal distances, mid-plane

Extruding a Sketch
Extruding a
Sketch
Output
Solid
Surface

More
Taper
Alternate
solution
Minimum
solution

Exercise 3-1
Extruding a Sketch

Revolving a Sketch
Revolving a Sketch
Create cylindrical parts
Revolve sketch around a straight edge or axis
Shape
Profile
Axis

Operation

Join
Cut
Intersect

Extents

Full
Angle

Output

Solid
Surface

Revolving a Sketch
Centerlines & Diametric
Dimensions
Specify linear diameter
dimensions
Quarter section
Place diameter dimensions
Changed to normal line to
centerline

Exercise 3-2
Revolving a Sketch

Editing a Feature
Editing a Feature
Feature consumes all the
dimensions
To edit sketch or feature

Dimensions values
Taper
Operation
Termination
Output type

For base features, everything

can be changed except join
operation

Editing a Feature
Editing a Feature
Editing a Feature size
Change the dimensional
values multiple methods
In Browsers double-click
right-click
expand the children,
right-click

Command bar
Feature priority
Update button

Editing a Feature
3D Grips
Used to push or pull the faces
Extruded feature
Revolved feature
Sweep feature

Editing a Feature
Move Feature
Move a face of a part
3D Grips
Triad move

Editing a Feature
Editing a Feature
Renaming Features and
Sketches
Default name
Locate
Descriptive to your design
intent
Rename, slowly double-click

Feature Color
Parts become complex
Feature Properties dialog box

Editing a Feature
Editing a Feature
Deleting a Feature
Failed Features

Browser turns Red, an alert

Not successfully regenerated
Undo
Sketch Doctor

Editing a Features Sketch

Add & remove objects
Adding geometry, lines, arcs, circles
and splines
Deleting geometry

Exercise 3-3
Editing Features and Sketches

Sketched Features
Sketched Features
You draw on a
plane
Add or remove
material from the
part
Unlimited
Needs its own
plane

Defining the Active Sketch Plane

Defining the Active Sketch Plane
Each sketch must exist on its own
plane
Requirements to assign a plane
Inventor Part
Part active
Planar face or Work plane

Make a sketch active

Face Cycling
Dynamic face highlighting
Help select the correct face
Select Other tool
Time delay

Exercise 3-4
Sketch Planes

Projecting Part Edges

Projecting Part Edges
Building parts partially based
on existing geometry
Reference faces, edges, or
loops
Associative link

Direct Model Edge

Referencing
Automatically project edges
Create dimensions and
constraints
Control the automatic
projection

Projecting Part Edges

Projecting Part Edges
Creating Reference Geometry
Move the cursor over an edge
Click an edge
Reference edges

Project Loop and Chain

Option

Project Geometry tool

Edges
Loops
Faces

Summary
To

Do This

Place a sketch plane

Click the Sketch tool on the command bar

and click an existing face or work plane.

Edit sketch features

Right-click the sketch icon in the Browser,

and then select Edit Sketch from the menu
or use 3D Grips or Move Feature.

Define relationships to existing

features

Click the Join, Cut, or Intersect operation.

Create an extruded feature

Click the Extrude tool on the Panel Bar or

on the Features toolbar.

Create a revolved feature

Click the Revolve tool on the Panel Bar or

on the Features toolbar.

Display sketch geometry

Right-click the Sketch icon in the Browser,

and then select Visibility from the menu.

Project faces, loops, or edges

from existing features

Click the Project Geometry tool on the

Panel Bar or on the Sketch toolbar.

Applying Your Skills

Skill Exercise 3-1
Skill Exercise 3-2
Skill Exercise 3-3