How many lines to you need to create a solid? The answer is One!
If you’ve come from drawing in AutoCAD, it is perfectly natural to have a tendency to put too much geometry into your sketches. In a smaller part, this might not matter. However, if you are using the master part modelling technique you may find that your master part quickly becomes very complicated.
Inventor examines your geometry for loops that it can use to make solids. The more loops Inventor finds the longer it will take to think about what’s going on. Crossing loops will make Inventor pause for longer.
But there is a simpler way. You don’t have to give Inventor a loop to turn into a solid – a Surface will suffice.
How to create a solid from a surface with Autodesk Inventor.
As always, I start by creating some parameters.
I have only used one line in my Base sketch!
I have used the ‘Surface’ option of the extrude command. In this case I have used the ‘From – to’ option to terminate the surface. This just gives us a little more control.
I have then used the ‘Thicken’ command to create a solid.
Ta Da! Not impressed?
OK, that is a bit dull. I have continued to used the Thicken command with the ‘New Solid’ option to add Face and Balance Veneers and Edging. This one master part can now be used to create a complete parametric assembly.
Check out this little bit of Video showing the Parametric panel in action!
