Autodesk inventor 2015 frame generator free

Frame Generator consists of several tools to automate frame modeling. You can select lines, edges, and points to specify the location of members. Frame Generator derives the selections into a part. This part is called a skeleton because it provides the framework for the members.

The skeleton part automatically updates when a change is made to the original geometry, which updates the frame member size or position. Frame Generator gets structural profiles from Content Center.

This capacity is useful for adding profiles of extruded aluminum, plastic, and other materials because the structural profiles in the Inventor libraries are standard steel shapes. The Frame panel, shown in Figure Figure Since the API does not provide access to all the Inventor functionalities, there are some user interface differences between add-ins and core Inventor tools.

For example, the edit fields in the core Inventor tools have an extensive flyout menu. The add-ins do not have access to this functionality, so their edit fields are more limited. When you create the first members in a frame assembly, a dialog box prompts you for filenames.

Frame Generator creates a subassembly and a skeleton file in the parent assembly. The subassembly does several things. It acts as a container for the skeleton and frame members, isolating them from the assembly solver, and it acts as a filter so Frame Generator tools, such as Frame Member Info, ignore other assembly components.

The skeleton file is created in the subassembly and consists of all of the edges and points you select when placing frame members. Each frame member is created as a separate file and saved into a subdirectory named after the frame assembly. As an example, imagine you create a cube to use as the basis on which to model a frame.

You could then use the cube to create a basic frame, using each of its edges as a placement reference for the frame members. When you create the frame, you will be prompted to supply the following items:.

In this folder once you have saved the top-level assembly , you will find an assembly file named Frame Special attributes in the frame subassembly contain references to the parent assembly.

This enables the frame skeleton to maintain references to the other assembly components. When you click the OK button to create the Frame Generator assembly and place the first members, a folder is created in the directory.

However, like all Inventor files created in the context of an assembly, the parts are not written to disk until you save the assembly. This is true when you create frame members as well, and since it is so easy to create members, it may not be obvious that you need to save them after the initial creation.

Pay attention to the Save reminders and limit the amount of data you risk losing between saves. Keep in mind that you needn’t have used iLogic to use the iLogic Design Copy tool for copying frames.

You can find the iLogic Design Copy tool by closing all of your Inventor files and then going to the Tools tab and looking on the iLogic panel. Use the Assemblies list panel in the iLogic Design Copy dialog box to select the frame assembly you want to copy. All files referenced by the frame assembly will be selected in the other lists. You can then specify a target folder to copy to and specify a naming prefix or suffix as needed. Once you start the copy process, the frame files will be copied, and the internal references will be updated.

Note that there are a couple of limitations to be aware of. First, you cannot create more than one frame subassembly in the same assembly.

Another limitation is that you can’t use copies of the frame generated with the assembly Copy tool in other assemblies and maintain Frame Generator functionality. Frame Generator initially creates frame members the same length as the selected geometry. When you add end treatments, the length is adjusted to make the member longer or shorter.

To accomplish this, the structural profiles are created with a From-To extrusion between two work planes, as shown in Figure When the part is first created, the start plane is coincident with the XY plane, and the end plane is set to the initial length. When an end treatment is added, the start or end plane is moved to shorten or lengthen the member. The parameter relationships that control the length are complex. Three parameters drive the length, two parameters are driven by those parameters to determine the length, a reference parameter reports the overall length, and a parameter is used in the BOM, as indicated in Figure The process for inserting frame members can be broken down into three basic steps.

You select the frame member profile this comes from Content Center , select the placement geometry for placing the frame members, and then adjust the orientation of the frame members. The left side of the Insert dialog box, shown in Figure These fields are progressive from top to bottom, with one updating when changes are made to the one above it.

However, the update behavior varies depending on the field selected. If you select a new standard, the first family is automatically selected. If you select a new family, the size is not automatically selected. After you have selected the placement geometry, you can change the position and orientation of the member.

A thumbnail of the profile is displayed in a grid of radio buttons that control the position of the member, as shown in Figure These positions are based on the rectangular bounds of the profile. As a result, the corner positions of a pipe that’s 1 inch in diameter are the same as they are in a 1-inch-byinch square tube. You can fine-tune the placement position by entering values in the horizontal and vertical offset fields.

You can also rotate the member. For example, food processing equipment frequently has horizontal members rotated 45 degrees so spilled food doesn’t build up on top of square tubing. The Mirror Frame Member button is shown in the lower-right corner of Figure This button is used for profiles that don’t have rotational symmetry, such as C-channel and angle iron. The orientation changes affect all the members of a select set.

Depending on the geometry, it might be more efficient to use a batch select tool and change the orientation of a few members afterward, or you might want to select only those members that have a similar orientation. Since structural shapes are extruded, Frame Generator needs a method for determining the extrude direction.

When an edge is selected, Frame Generator uses the closest endpoint as the start of the extrusion. Depending on where you select an edge, the same radio button can cause the member to be in a different position. The thumbnail is the view of the profile looking at the XY plane.

It takes some practice to get a good feel for the relationship between how an edge is selected and the behavior of the radio buttons. Once you understand this relationship, you will be able to predict the behavior and use it to increase your productivity. Although you can use 3D sketches to base a frame on, you don’t need to do this.

You can create 3D solids or surfaces to create a frame base. Once you have a 3D shape, you can then add 2D sketches to the various faces and use those sketches as selection edges as well. So, you don’t need to be well versed in the 3D sketch tools to create 3D frames. When you’re using a custom profile with an alternate insertion point defined, the Custom Point control is enabled. This adds another insertion point to the nine standard ones.

The custom point is not displayed in the thumbnail image, so you should confirm that the preview is in the expected position relative to the selected edge. When selecting placement geometry, you can select edges of 3D models and visible sketch lines, or you can select two endpoints.

For instance, if you had a cube-shaped base solid, you would use the edges to place vertical and horizontal frame members.

To place diagonal cross bracing, you would use the corner endpoints. When you use the default Insert Members On Edges option, you can select edges and lines for placement references. Using edges for placement allows you to insert multiple members at once. When you use the Insert Members Between Points option, you select two vertices or endpoints.

This method allows you to place only one member at a time. The most common placement method is by selecting lines and edges.

This allows the most flexibility in geometry selection and the use of batch select tools. There are two philosophies for placing frame members. Some people like to place frame members individually, making sure each one is in the correct position and orientation. Others like to place as many members as possible and then edit them as necessary. The method you choose will depend on the type of models you work with, how much effort you put into setting up the skeleton models, and, most importantly, the way you like to work.

Frame Generator has several tools for selecting geometry. Multi Select is the default selection mode. The standard methods for creating a Multi Select selection allow you to select individual edges, use selection windows, and use the Shift and Ctrl keys to add and remove objects to or from the selection. In addition to Multi Select, two other select modes are available in the context menu shown in Figure Chain Select automatically selects all lines and edges that are tangentially connected to the selection.

Chain Select will not follow past a point that has multiple lines or edges, even if one of them is tangential. For instance, if you have a rectangular sketch profile with rounded corners, you can use Chain Select and select just one of the lines or arcs, and all of the others will be added automatically.

By contrast, if you have the same profile in a 3D shape, Chain Select will not automatically select the edges because each edge of the 3D shape has multiple edge intersections. Sketch Select selects all the lines in a sketch.

You can select the sketch in the browser or click a line in the graphics window. For instance, if you have a ladder-shaped sketch, you can use Sketch Select and automatically select the rungs and rails all at once.

Autodesk inventor 2015 frame generator free.Frame generator – Rebuild all

So I explored programs like Tecla end Parabuild. Try to incorporate the model you created in inventor! The actual generator has allso some problems; You are creating sommething, so sometimes you must change the size of the beam.

Next when you completed the frame you can start the clumbersomme work off making individual drawings off every element off that frame. It is maby nice to have mudbox in the suit.

A good working frame generator would make more peaple happy. Go to Solution. Solved by JDMather. It would be nice to have a built in generator for things like caps and reinforcement gussets, but I suspect most users have a limited number of sizes they need and even if not limited it would be pretty easy to create iParts for the purpose.

The price in comparison with other programs that do not communicate with Inventor are much more expensive. Summe 2. I asked them many times for a solution but until now I dint received any reply. When I get acquainted with the program I let you know and I will inform the Belgian representatives. This program looks very impressive, and quite a lot of work went into it I would love to hear how well it will work for you, Solidworks has a very good frame generator, I believe it is called Solidworks Weldments.

Has easy placement of gussets, caps, easy to change sizes, cut list, and it generates a part file, instead of an assembly file. The skeleton sketch in Solidworks is much easier to build also. Inventor has terrible 3d sketching tools, or a lack therof. Solidworks has Inventor beat in a lot of areas. I use both. The biggest thing Solidworks does is make their software intuitive.

Its not as advanced as some other software gear more toward surfacing work, but Inventor and Solidworks go head to head in machine design and Solidworks is out ahead by a good margin right now.

I cannot figure out what you see as difference between Inventor and SolidWorks 3D sketching. They both work logically and fine for me! I am a certified Solidworks Professional. I learned Inventor in school, and have been using it professionally off and on for 6 years.

The main tools that both packages have for 3d sketching are there, yes, however Solidworks does make it far easier to use. How much Solidworks training or experience do you have? My technique for 3D sketching is quite different in both SolidWorks and Inventor than the technique that I see most people use. Attach a completed Inventor 3D sketch here or even a SolidWorks example and I will demonstrate how I might create the sketch.

At work right now, but will try to come up with something later. Maybe I am unfamiliar with the 3d sketch tools in INventor, but in Solidworks I really like the constraints. All I can see is to make the line coincident to a plane, or perpendicular to another line. Maybe I need to go to the settings and turn something on to have more 3d sketching tools, but they seem basic in Inventor. I was able to create some nice gun stock designs for Remington Arms in Solidworks, and tried Inventor for similar projects and couldn’t get anywhere with it.

I wasn’t even aware Autodesk had a certification program like Solidworks. There is a reduced cost “Open Doors” certification day coming up on Oct 2. I think that we all have to come to the conclusion that at the least the frame generator in Inventor has some issues. Is not bad at all. For the it is all a matter of copy and paste. If you start a project the first day they are already breeding in your neck and wanted to see the results. If possible with a bom and the construction drawings spick and span ready for the workshop.

SO you can forget iPart libraries. I work 7days a week and about 10 hours a day. And last but not least for my friend Raygyver I know 3d sketch in Inventor is a pain in the proverbial!

All his videos are very nice. Take a look at it and maybe it will release you of your agony. I finally installed ASI-Profile. It works like a charm!!! IT is adaptive it is intuitive it is parametric it makes correct bill off materials even if you change lengths of profiles during the design.

AND if you put two connection plates on a profile the profile length automatically adapt itself and it does it also in the bill off material. I will continuing working and experimenting with it and I will post you some updates in due course. For those who need bolted structural design in Inventor this is the way to go.

It pays itself in one job. Even though that I was the moron they pulled me trough and the job was finish in a minimum of time. Send me a mail on francis. Take care. Inventor Forum. Share your knowledge, ask questions, and explore popular Inventor topics. Turn on suggestions. Auto-suggest helps you quickly narrow down your search results by suggesting possible matches as you type. Showing results for. Search instead for. Did you mean:. This page has been translated for your convenience with an automatic translation service.

This is not an official translation and may contain errors and inaccurate translations. Autodesk does not warrant, either expressly or implied, the accuracy, reliability or completeness of the information translated by the machine translation service and will not be liable for damages or losses caused by the trust placed in the translation service. Back to Inventor Category. Back to Topic Listing Previous Next. Message 1 of Frame generator is a verry good start.

But for making a frame there is more to it than beams. Good luck! No problem a beam of mm becoms one of mm. Francis Solved! Message 2 of Message 3 of I suspect you never sleep! It is an idea for one of the problems. I have to find some solutions for the other problems. Message 4 of OK I find probably a solution.

Paul Schneider a chap from Germany made an application that functions with Inventor ad provide all the things that do not exist in frame generator. It is calls ASi-profile and I gone to test it next week.

Message 5 of I think this would be an interesting approach. I will by the program because it is on the same platform as Inventor! And this is a great advantage. Perfection is not of this world but it can evaluate in the good direction.

Maybe Autodesk and ASI should put they heads together. Message 6 of Thanks for sharing your research! Message 7 of Message 8 of How much Inventor Training have you had? Message 9 of JD, I am a certified Solidworks Professional. Message 10 of

Autodesk inventor 2015 frame generator free

It doesn’t take that long once you’ve done this a bunch and I would rather spend the time to make sure I got everything the way I want it before I hit the “save” button, than to find out later I am accidentally reusing a file from the old location. I go through each file, line by line and select from the “action” column which files I want to copy, which I want to rename, and which files I want to replace In most of my instances I end up copying everything but the other tools are handy once in a while and sometimes I want to reuse some of the existing files.

You can use the shift select to get them all to “copy” quickly if you just need a copy of everything. After I have set the files to “copy” I use either the “subfolder” column or the “name” column to set the location, and new name if needed , of the new files that are to be created. The “subfolder” method allows you to change multiple files easily to a new folder provided the subfolder path is in the same project file as the design you are copying.

The “name” method can take more time because you have to do the files one at a time but you can copy the files outside the project file path and rename them at the same time. If you set the new folder up in one of your Windows “favorites” locations then it can be pretty quick to go through these.

Just remember to follow the same Frame Generator folder structure that is there by default frame member files in a subfolder named “Frame”, etc. There is a copy design tool that you can unpack and install as well but I have had a terrible time using that tool on frame generator designs so I abandoned it. Others may have additional advice though. I thought I’d share this link for those of you who need to copy Frame Genertor Assemblies. I tested this just briefly, and it seemed to work. I hope this helps.

I will try it and let you know how it works. I am currently using the CopyDesign utility and it works okay but I do have some reserves about it. Maybe this is better? I think the current best way to copy a frame generator assembly would be to use the iLogic Design Copy tool. There is some info on it here:. It works really well with a few exceptions: Any file not updated to the latest Inventor version in my case won’t copy. Any assembly with unresolved files won’t copy.

IDW with a. BMP file in it like I have that is not properly linked to the drawing won’t copy. Basically any file that you are attempting to copy that has anything unresolved or has not updated, won’t copy. The bad thing is that Inventor doesn’t tell you WHY it won’t copy.

I went pretty deep into the CopyDesign tool a few times with someone from Autodesk using a third party software like visual basic I forget to troubleshoot it and I got a really good idea of how it works.

Essentially it opens every file tied to a. If it’s not included with the software any longer then this is where I have it sitting. If it’s not there I think I can send you a copy of it. Supposedly the best way to copy an existing assembly is with Vault.

Unfortunately I’m not using Vault so this is not an option for me. This means after I copy an assembly Inventor looks for all of the unresolved links which I in turn have to find, which is a pain, etc. If you don’t have Vault I’ve just got to this stage the need to create a copy of a frame and at the risk of sounding like an old Solidworks forced convert, Inventor seriously SUCKS in this department. I know all the Inventor die-hards are going to crawl out of the woodwork and make little dolly’s of me with pins in but seriously, having to either pull out hair I no longer can afford to pull and just fanny about or re-invent the wheel by redrawing a frame just defies belief.

C’mon , if bloody Desault can manage it I’m damned sure someone the size of AutoDesk really ought to be be able to simplify it. Solidworks has its issues serious lack of stability to start with , like any software but they do have some cracking ideas, just a shame they don’t implement the core very well.

The problem at AutoDesk appears to be the other way, more stability but at the cost in innovation. There’s no shame in seeing what your competition are doing and then beating them at it. I appreciate the comments. But, I think you are over-generalizing the situation. Inventor is not perfect.

Nor is Solidworks. We do have significant number of ex-Solidworks users using Inventor productively and liking it on a daily basis. Likewise, I would not be surprised that Solidworks has former Inventor users happily adopting to their new solution. Personally I think it is true in certain workflows, Inventor lags behind Solidworks.

But, it is also true that Solidworks lags behind Inventor in many workflows. If Inventor was an inferior product than Solidworks, it would not have stood up to the test of time. The market would have abandoned it. The growth of user base and the level of enthusiasm and engagement here proves otherwise. I respect your opinion. Your criticism shows that we have a lot of work to do and we need to work harder. You will be able to test the latest in-development Inventor features and interact with project teams directly.

I agree neither is perfect, Solidworks being a loooong way from perfect, hence our companies decision to drop it and looking in the forums it’s obvious there’s a lot of us who bailed the Solidworks experience, however, I believe a good idea is a good idea, irrespective of who came up with it but I do feel there’s a belief in certain circles that because someone else initiated the idea then ‘we’ couldn’t possible use it.

Just as well the the same wasn’t felt by those looking at the invention of the wheel or those choosing an alternative would have a bumpy ride, literally.

I dare say incorporating some aspects could be technically difficult due to the coding of the software and compatibility issues in legacy aspects etc. The biggest issue with Solidworks is it should actually be named Jellyworks as it’s about as stable as a wet jelly. It appears Desault are so obsessed with the ‘latest’ idea who cares if it is actually works in the real world. Floating around the forums there’s definitely a section of the Inventor community are a little sick of us converts bleating about the functions available in Solidworks, sorry, but there’s some bloody good ideas in their software and frankly to brutally honestly they blow away their Inventor counter parts, and anyone who has used both programs would know this.

Generally I actually prefer Inventor and none of the above detracts from some of the excellent functions within it, lets be honest, we wouldn’t have converted had there not been but anyone who has created frames in Solidworks and seen the flexibility in the way their multibody parts work or used the very powerful mating functions will look at Inventors equivalents and wonder if AutoDesk have even looked at the competition. Click the Change Orientation check box and then set the rotation to 45 degrees.

This simple exercise demonstrates the use of the Change tool to modify frame members. Keep in mind that if you make a change that requires a new file to be generated, such as changing the size, the old part will be replaced with a new one but the old file will remain in the folder in which it is saved.

You can close this file without saving changes. The end treatments are among the most powerful Frame Generator tools. As you add end treatments, the frame member length automatically updates. The end treatments also carry over if you change the frame member to a different profile.

End treatments are listed under the frame member node in the browser and can be accessed by expanding the browser node, as shown in Figure You can delete end treatments from the browser, or you can use the Remove End Treatments tool found on the Frame drop-down list of the Design tab. When you use the Remove End Treatments tool, all end treatments are stripped from the selected frame member.

If a member has end treatments on it already and you attempt to add another, you will need to select the Delete Existing End Treatment s check box in the dialog box; otherwise, an error such as the one shown in Figure If you do encounter an error, simply undo the change and reapply the end treatment, this time using the Delete Existing End Treatment s option.

The Miter end treatment makes angle cuts on two members. You can miter multiple members by applying the end treatment to each pair of members. You can add a gap between the members by entering a value in the gap input box. The default gap is split between the two members. If you want the gap to be taken from just one member, you can use the Miter Cut At One Side button, and the gap will be taken from the first member you selected.

The default selections cut along an angle, resulting in full-face contact between the members, as shown in Figure Bi-sect Miter splits the angle between the members.

The vertical member needs to be mitered to fit. The vertical member still needs a miter to trim the other side, so the miter is repeated with the same settings, this time choosing the member on the right and the vertical member, as shown in Figure The resulting miter, shown in Figure Practice creating miter gaps and two- and three-member miters to understand the process.

This end treatment is the only one that can trim multiple members at once. When trimming or extending to a face, you select the members you want to trim and then select the cutting face. A separate end treatment feature is created for each frame member. If you edit or delete the end treatment for a particular member, it does not affect the other members.

You would select the vertical member for the member to trim and the top face of the horizontal member as the face to trim to. This end treatment can also be used to create miters. Applying miter end treatments to already mitered frame members results in a costly complex joint cut for all three members.

Remember, you can select multiple frame members to trim to the same face. Experiment with this file as you like—there is no set solution to the final frame outcome. Be aware that when using the Trim tools in Frame Generator, the short end is always the one to be discarded. This end treatment trims or extends both members so they are flush.

The first selection is made flush to the second selection, and the second selection butts up to the first. These tools are often used together to achieve a specific result. The Notch tool cuts one frame member to match the other. It uses the profile to create a cutting surface. By default you can’t create an offset, so the cut is an exact match. This is simply a cut operation, so the frame member is not shortened or extended before the cut.

If you have authored a notch profile into a custom frame member library file, you can select the Apply Notch Profile check box; however, if the member does not contain a notch profile definition, the check box is grayed out.

If you were to notch the shorter I-beam shown in Figure If the members don’t intersect, the notch will have no effect. Because of this, it’s often best to create a notch as a secondary end treatment. For example, if you had two intersecting frame members as shown in Figure Use the flanged beams to create notches in the T-shaped members.

Notch shapes are driven by manufacturing requirements. Typically, the shape is simplified to reduce cost, and there may be a gap between the members to allow for tolerances. You can also define notch profiles in custom frame member definitions. By default, frame members are initially assigned the length of the reference edge or the distance between selected points.

However, you will often need to change the length. Much of the time you will simply use another frame member and one of the Extend or Trim tools. So if you applied a mm extension value, the frame member would grow mm on both ends for a total of mm. If you enter a negative value, the frame member will be shortened.

You should spend time planning your frame design to minimize the number of end treatments required because each end treatment is an opportunity for the model to fail if a change is made. For example, if you create a skeleton to the inside dimensions of a frame, you can offset members during placement so the members butt against one another without adding end treatments.

When you use the Insert Frame tool, Inventor creates a new part file for each new frame member you insert. This allows you to create separate part files that allow separate end treatments. For instance, you might initially insert two identical frame members but then choose to miter both ends of one but only one end of the other. Having two separate part files allows this. However, there are often times when you might want to reuse the same frame member over and over. In these cases you would prefer not to have separate part files and could use the Reuse tool to ensure that the same part file is being reused as needed.

To see the Reuse tool in action, follow these steps:. Click the longer sketch line to use as the Placement selection, but be sure to select it at the end of the line furthest from the existing short member near the sketched arc. Choose the member you just created and then click the Reverse Member Direction button; then click the OK button to see the change.

Notice the direction of the holes again. Click the Miter tool and select the ends of the two original frame members when they come to an intersection and then click Apply. Still in the Miter tool, click the remaining end of the short member and the corresponding end of the new long frame member even though it is already mitered and then click the OK button. Choose the remaining straight sketch line for the Placement selection and then click the OK button to create the new frame member.

Click the Change Reuse button, select the new short frame member, set Orientation Angle to degrees, and then click the OK button. Click the Miter tool and select the unmitered end of the original longer member and the corresponding end of the shorter member; then click the OK button to create the miter. The Reuse and Change Reuse tools offer powerful options for working with repetitive frame members in your frame designs. Keep these tools in mind when working with frame design, and you can likely simplify your frame bill of materials and save yourself some work along the way.

When you’ve finished exploring the Reuse and Change Reuse tools, you can close this file without saving changes and continue to the next section. Maintaining existing assemblies can be time-consuming.

Frame Generator provides several tools that help streamline the process of modifying end treatments and determining how frames were originally designed. The Remove End Treatments tool removes all end treatments from a selected frame member.

You can also select multiple members for the batch removal of end treatments. This is handy if you need to change the end treatments on a few members or if you have to rebuild a frame.

You can find the Remove End Treatments tool in the Frame drop-down list indicated by the small black arrow on the Frame panel of the Design tab. See Figure The Frame Member Information tool is used to query frame members. It displays the family and size information, mass properties, and material.

This is a useful tool because it quickly gives you information about a member. For example, it can help you quickly determine the difference in the wall thickness of two similarly sized hollow tubes. Since the tool filters for only frame members, you can use it at any level of the assembly. You can find the Frame Member Information tool in the Frame drop-down list indicated by the small black arrow found on the Frame panel of the Design tab. The Refresh tool is a Content Center tool.

It checks Content Center for the latest revision of the members in the frame. If a newer version is available, it will prompt you to replace it. End treatments are retained during refresh, but other features, such as holes, are not carried over to the new member.

You can find the Refresh tool in the Frame drop-down list indicated by the small black arrow on the Frame panel of the Design tab. Frame Generator uses an algorithm to create default filenames. You can rename the files as you create them, when prompted by the Frame Member Naming dialog.

But often this slows the design process and requires you to enter information you may not currently know. Another approach is to let Inventor apply the filenames automatically. To do so, you can uncheck the filenaming prompt check box in the Insert Frame dialog box, and Inventor will create the filenames and save the files to the location specified when the frame subassembly and skeleton files were initially created.

It is a good idea to set the frame subassembly and skeleton filenames and locations to use a well-planned naming scheme, whether you specify the frame member names or let Inventor do so. If you decide to accept the default filenames, it is a good idea to use the BOM Editor to set the part number iProperty for each file to match your standard.

In this way, you have a unique identifier for each part member. You can set two identical frame members to have the same part number so they are rolled up together in the BOM. Using part numbers you can think of them as mark numbers , rather than the filenames, to manage the frame members provides a more flexible and real-world workflow for the typical frame design.

Once part numbers have been defined, you can also set the assembly browser to use the part number rather than the filenames. This allows you to quickly index individual frame parts more easily.

Do this by selecting the Assembly tab, clicking the drop-down list on the Productivity panel, and choosing the Rename Browser Nodes tool. Although Frame Generator can create frames and therefore a lot of part files quickly, once the frame is modeled, you should slow down and take the time to manage part numbers.

This allows your design to be managed properly in the detailing and revision stages. These calculators are design accelerator tools that can do a simple stress analysis. The Beam And Column Calculator, for instance, can analyze a single beam or column, but it assumes a uniform cross section, so it does not take into account holes or end treatments.

If you have Inventor Professional or Inventor Simulation, you can use the Frame Analysis tools that are part of those packages. You can find the Beam And Column Calculator tool in the Frame drop-down list indicated by the small black arrow found on the Frame panel of the Design tab. As with other design accelerator dialog boxes, the message pane at the bottom and the calculation results pane on the right side can be opened and closed by clicking the small symbols. You can drag the splitter bar double gray lines to resize the panes, or you can double-click the splitter bar to open or close the panes.

Take a moment to open this file from the Chapter 15 directory to become familiar with it. You will use this file to complete the exercise steps presented later. In this assembly, the Beam And Column Calculator might be used to calculate the loading on the power roller supports.

When one of the gold tubes is selected, the calculator automatically loads the section properties from Content Center, as shown in Figure Although Content Center has most of the section properties, be aware that some data is missing. You can use several methods for determining the properties. Inventor has a tool to calculate the properties of a closed sketch profile. If you want to use this tool for the section properties of a frame member, you can open the frame member, place a sketch on one end, and project the face.

Once you have the profile, select the Inspect tab, and click the Region Properties tool on the Measure panel. Select the profile you want to analyze and click Calculate. The basic region properties for any closed loop are calculated. You can then calculate the rest of the properties based on those results. The region properties are calculated with respect to the sketch origin.

Depending on the profile, you may have to edit the sketch coordinate system to locate the sketch origin at the center of the profile.

Another option for calculating section properties is to use the Section button in the Beam And Column Calculator. When you click the button, a list of geometric shapes appears. When you select a shape, a dialog box like Figure The calculated properties assume sharp corners and constant thickness, so the results won’t be accurate for profiles with tapered flanges but may be good enough for many applications.

The Flip Section button is used to change the orientation of the x- and y-axes. The z-axis is always in the direction of the extrusion. Gravity is always in the negative y-axis direction, so it is important to make sure the calculation coordinates match the assembly coordinates.

If the beam is at an angle, you have a couple of options for handling gravity. You can place a copy of the beam horizontally in the assembly. If you want to ignore the effect of gravity, there is an option on the Beam Calculation tab to turn the gravity load off. Both Beam and Column calculations are available. The Beam calculations focus on deflection based on loads and supports. The Column calculation checks for buckling.

You can select Beam, Column, or both calculation types. The Calculation tabs are turned on and off based on the selections. The default material properties do not correspond to a material style and are not linked to the style library in any way. Instead, these materials provide you with a starting point and an example of the required properties.

You can enter properties for a particular material, or you can select one of the generic materials listed. When you check the box, a dialog box appears with materials such as gray cast iron, steel, and aluminum. These properties can be used for initial calculations, but for more accurate results, you should enter the properties for the particular alloy you are using.

Follow these steps to enter the member data into the dialog box:. Recall that this button can be found in the drop-down list indicated by the small black arrow on the Frame panel of the Design tab. If necessary, click the padlock icon for the Section Length row in the table, thereby unlocking it for editing. Change the value to 12 inch. In the Rectangle dialog box, enter the tubing dimensions. Enter 1. Then click the OK button.

Click the check box next to the Material field to launch the Material Types dialog box. Select Steel and click the OK button. Leave this dialog open because you will use it in the next set of steps, where you’ll work with loads and supports. The coordinate system alignment is correct for this example.

So in this case, gravity could be ignored, but having the correct orientation simplifies adding the loads and interpreting the results. Log in. Sign up. Autodesk inventor. Collection by Eddy Castro.

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