Setting Read and Write Permissions to Styles and Standards Library in Autodesk Inventor Professional

Platform: Autodesk Inventor Professional

Level of difficulty: Beginners

Author: Ndianabasi Udonkang

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PREAMBLE

I'm glad that this article is finally out. I've been so busy and could hardly fine time to sit down and write. So today, we are going to learn how to set read and write permissions for the Style and Standard Editor in Autodesk Inventor Professional. Many of us, who have gone a bit higher in Inventor or are inquisitive, have come across a dialog box called the "Style and Standard Editor." And we have always seen the scary "Read Only" tag suffixed to it. Some people have even come to know it has the "Style and Standard Editor - Read Only" editor :). Well, for the uninitiated, the "Read Only" tag simply means that you can only read (and apply) the content, or styles, presented to you via the dialog box. You do not have the "authorization" - to use military parlance - to make changes to the Inventor styles and style library.

Well, someone might say, but I can see the New button active in the read-only mode and have even created a custom style before. Yes! I don't doubt that. In the read-only mode, you can create a new style, but the style cannot be written or saved to the library. You can call it a "ghost" style because once you exit the dialog box, the style will be lost forever.

Someone is also asking, what is a style and style library? OK! Let's do it this way. I know that most designers pass through AutoCAD before they venture into Inventor Professional. In fact, we at Autodesk Authorized Training Centers (ATCs) will not teach someone Inventor Professional unless you've passed through at least AutoCAD 2D. Back to styles and style library. Inventor styles are like AutoCAD styles: Text styles, Dimension styles, Multileader styles, Point styles, etc. Styles are just a collection of settings that controls the behavior and appearance of objects. So in Inventor, you can control the color and material of models; the lighting of the scenes; the properties of balloons, center marks, dimensions, hatches, layers, part lists, leaders of your drawing file through styles. Cable & Harness and Pipe & Piping assemblies require styles to define the characteristics of the runs. A style library contains definitions for individual style types.

So why are Styles and Style Libraries set at read only by default? The simply answer to this that it prevents novices from tampering with the Inventor style and style libraries. It also shows you how important it is for you not to tamper with the styles until you really know what you are doing! It's like the superuser account in Linux :). So in the networked-office environment, only your CAD administrator might be able to change the permission status.

By now someone is already becoming impatient. Well, don't forget that the patient dog eats the fattest bone. OK, let’s unlock the door to reading and writing to Inventor styles and style libraries.

SETTING READ / WRITE PERMISSION TO STYLES AND STYLE LIBRARIES

By now, I'm sure that you already know about Inventor Project Files and that it's advisable to store related Inventor files inside the same project. Setting read/ write permission for Inventor style and style library is done per project through the Projects dialog box. Let us follow these steps outlined below:

1. Close any opened document in Inventor. When all documents have been closed you will see only three tabs on the ribbon - Getting Started, Tools, and Vault.
2. Go to Getting Started tab > Launch panel > Projects.
3. .
4. 
5. On the Projects dialog box, in the project list area, click on the name of the project you want to set read and write permission for. Note that in the project properties area (below), the Use Style Library property is set at Read Only.
6. In the project properties area, right click on Use Style Library. On the context menu, click Yes. This will set the Style Library permission to "Read and Write" for the selected project.
7. 
8. Click Save > Apply to save changes to the project file.
9. Ensure that the project is set current by double clicking on the project name. A tick will be placed before the name. Click Done to close the dialog box.
10. .
11. 
12. Now open or create a new document (part, assembly, drawing or presentation) under the same project. Go to Manage tab > Styles and Standard panel > Styles Editor.
13. 
14. The style and style libraries are now set at read / write.
15. 

A final word of caution: with more power comes more responsibility.

CONCLUSION

I hope you found the tutorial useful. I will love to get comments about my writing style and content. You can email via ndianabasi.udonkang@gmail.com. Cheers.

Using and Understanding Grounded Work Points in Autodesk Inventor Professional

Platform: Autodesk Inventor Professional

Level of difficulty: Beginners

Author: Ndianabasi Udonkang

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This is the last lesson in the series on using and understanding work features in Autodesk Inventor Professional. In this series we are going to learn how to use an important but often ignored tool called "grounded work point."

Overview

These are the other lessons about work features; check them out:

• Using and Understanding Work Points in Autodesk Inventor Professional
• Using and Understanding Work Axes in Autodesk Inventor Professional
• Using and Understanding Work Planes in Autodesk Inventor Professional

Grounded work points are one of the work features available in Autodesk Inventor. Grounded work points are just work points that are not parametrically attached to any model or component in your design. Ordinary work points are created by constraining them to faces, edges, or points on our models so that if the model changes, the work point will also update. However, grounded points are created relative to the coordinate system of the assembly or part i.e. they are created by specifying their X, Y, and Z coordinates with respect to the origin of the part or assembly. Grounded work points can be created in both part and assembly environments.

In Model Browser, a pushpin is attached to a work point to indicate that it’s grounded.

Creating Grounded Work Points

Method 1 - Creating a Grounded Work Point directly from the Grounded Work Point tool

This method creates a grounded work point directly from the Grounded Work Point tool. Here you will be asked to first of all select the vertex you wish to initially place the grounded work point on. Later you may redefine it by entering precise coordinate inputs.

Procedure:

1. On the Model environment, go to the Work Features panel. Click the drop-down arrow beside the Work Point tool and select Ground Point on the drop-down menu. Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut ";"
2. 
3. Select a work point or vertex to define the initial position of the grounded work point.
4. On the 3D Move / Rotate dialog box, click Apply to accept the initial position and orientation and create the grounded work point
5. 
6. Before clicking the Apply button, you may want to rotate the grounded work point about the X, Y, or Z axis. To do this, click any of the axes on the triad and rotate it to the desired angle. The magnitude of the angle will be shown dynamically on the 3D Move / Rotate dialog box
7. 
8. You may also like to enter precise coordinate values for the grounded work point. To do this, click on the Redefine alignment or position button on the 3D Move / Rotate dialog box and enter the precise X, Y, and Z coordinates.
9. 

Method 2 - Creating a Grounded Work Point from an existing Work Point

This method is used to convert a work point to a grounded work point.

Procedure:

1. Locate the existing work point on the Model Browser.
2. 
3. Right click on the work point and click Ground on the context menu. The work point is converted to a grounded work point and a pushpin is attached to it on the Model Browser.
4. 
   
   
5. 

Let me know your thoughts about the lesson. Why is useful? Are they area to improve on? Is there anything I failed to mention? What about my methodology? Just feel free to tell and I will appreciate it. Contact me via ndianabasi.udonkang@gmail.com. Thanks and God bless.

Using and Understanding Work Points in Autodesk Inventor Professional

Platform: Autodesk Inventor Professional

Level of difficulty: Beginners

Author: Ndianabasi Udonkang

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This is the third lesson in our series about work features. In part 1, we learnt how to create work planes and in part 2, we learnt how to create work axes. In this lesson, we are going to learn how to create work points.

These are the other three lessons about work features; check them out:

• Using and Understanding Work Axes in Autodesk Inventor Professional
• Using and Understanding Work Planes in Autodesk Inventor Professional
• Using and Understanding Grounded Work Points in Autodesk Inventor Professional

___________________________________________________________________________________

Overview

Work points are one of the work features in Autodesk Inventor. Work points are used extensively in part and assembly environments for defining centers of circular patterns, for assembly constraints, for 3D sweep, etc. These work points are parametrically attached to the models used for creating them so that if the model changes, the work points change too.

Applications of Work Points

1. Work points are used for defining the centers of circular patterns, and hole features.
2. Work points are used in the assembly environment for constraining one component to another.
3. Work points helps in the process of defining paths for 3D sweeps. Very important applications of this are found in the Cable &Harness and Piping & Tubing environments of Autodesk Inventor.
4. Work points can be projected onto a 2D sketch as a 2D point.
5. Work points are used for constructing other work features such as work axes and work planes.
6. Work points can be used for defining coordinate systems.

Techniques for Creating Work Points

Method 1 - Creating a Work Point on a 2D or 3D point, vertex, Endpoint or Midpoint of a Line or Linear Edge

This method is used for creating a work point on a 2D point of 2D sketch or 3D point of a 3D sketch. It is also used for creating a work point on a vertex of a component. A work point can be created on the endpoint or midpoint of a sketch or a linear edge of a component.

Procedure:

1. On the model environment, launch the Work Point tool (Ribbon: Model tab > Work Features panel > Work Point tool) or use the keyboard shortcut: "."
2. On the graphics window, click the vertex you want to create the work point on. A work point is created on the vertex. OR

1. On the graphics window, click the midpoint of a linear edge. A work point is created on the specified location. Similarly,

1. On the graphics window, click a 2D or 3D sketch point. A work point will be created on the point. Note that the 2D sketch must be visible or unconsumed.

Method 2 - Creating a Work Point at the Intersection of Three Planes

This method is used for creating a work point at the intersection of three work planes or planar faces.

Procedure:

1. On the model environment, launch the Work Point tool (Ribbon: Model tab > Work Features panel > Work Point tool) or use the keyboard shortcut: "."
2. On the graphics window, click on the three work planes (1,2 &3) or face to be used. A work point will be created at the intersection of the selected work planes.

Method 3 - Creating a Work Point at the Intersection of Two Lines

This method is used for creating a work point at the intersection of two lines or linear edges. For lines to used, a visible 2D or 3D sketch must be available.

Procedure:

1. On the model environment, launch the Work Point tool (Ribbon: Model tab > Work Features panel > Work Point tool) or use the keyboard shortcut: "."
2. On the graphics window, click on the two lines or linear edges (1 &2) to used. A work point will be created at the intersection of these lines or linear edges.

Method 4 - Creating a Work Point at the Center of the Loop of Edges

This is a very smart method for creating work points. Many inventor users do not know that such a method exist. In this method you create a work point at the center point of a selected loop of edges.

Procedure:

1. On the model environment, launch the Work Point tool (Ribbon: Model tab > Work Features panel > Work Point tool) or use the keyboard shortcut: "."
2. Right click on the graphics window and select "Loop Select" on the context menu.

1. On the graphics window point at any edge of the model, a loop will be pre-highlighted.
2. Select the desired loop and a work point will be created at the center of the loop.

Method 5 - Creating a Work Point at the Intersection of a Line with a Plane

This method is used for creating a work point at the intersection of a line or linear edge with a plane or face.

Procedure:

1. On the model environment, launch the Work Point tool (Ribbon: Model tab > Work Features panel > Work Point tool) or use the keyboard shortcut: "."
2. On the graphics window, click on the plane (1) and the line or linear edge (2). A work point will be created at the intersection of the work plane and the edge.

Using and Understanding Work Axes in Autodesk Inventor Professional

Platform: Autodesk Inventor Professional

Level of difficulty: Beginners



Author: Ndianabasi Udonkang

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This is the second lesson in the series. In the first part, we talk about using and understanding work planes. This lesson will focus on the use of work axes.

Overview

These are the other lessons about work features; check them out:

• Using and Understanding Work Points in Autodesk Inventor Professional
• Using and Understanding Work Planes in Autodesk Inventor Professional
• Using and Understanding Grounded Work Points in Autodesk Inventor Professional

Work axes are construction tools used for marking the positions of centerlines, symmetry lines, or the center axes of revolved features. Work axes are also used for generating other work features – work planes or work points.

Application of Work Axes

1. For indicating centerlines on 2D and 3D sketches. Work axes can be projected on 2D sketches as centerlines for revolve features.
2. Work axes can be used for indicating the axis of revolution of circular patterns in both part and assembly modeling environment.
3. Work axes can be used for creating other work features.

Techniques for Creating Work Axes

Method 1. Creating a Work Axis Collinear with an Edge or Sketch Line

This method is used for creating a work axis that is collinear (or on the same line) with the edge of a model or a sketch line of an unconsumed sketch.

Procedure:

1. On the model environment, launch the Work Axis tool (Ribbon: Model tab > Work Features panel > Work Axis tool) or use the keyboard shortcut: “/”

1. On the graphics window, click on the edge of the model or sketch line you want the work axis to be collinear to. Note that to create a work axis that is collinear with a sketch line, there must be a visible sketch on the graphics window. To make use of a consumed sketch, go to the model browser, right-click on the name of the sketch and click “Share sketch” or turn on the visibility of the sketch. A work axis is created.

Method 2. Creating a Work Axis Parallel to a Line or Edge through a Point

This method is used for creating a work axis that is parallel to a Sketch Line or Edge and passing through a work point.

Procedure:

1. On the model environment, launch the Work Point tool (Ribbon: Model tab > Work Features panel > Work Point tool) or use the keyboard shortcut: “.”
2. On the graphics window, click on a vertex to create a work point on the vertex. A work point is created.
3. 
4. On the model environment, launch the Work Axis tool (Ribbon: Model tab > Work Features panel > Work Axis tool) or use the keyboard shortcut: “/”
5. Click on the work point created in step 2 and then on an edge of the model. A work axis passing through the work point and parallel to the edge is created.
6. 

Method 3: Creating a Work Axis passing through Two Points

This method is used for creating a work axis that passes through two work points or vertices.

Procedure:

1. On the model environment, launch the Work Axis tool (Ribbon: Model tab > Work Features panel > Work Point tool) or use the keyboard shortcut: “/”
2. On the graphics window, click on two work points or vertices you want the work axis to pass through. A work axis passing through the two specified points will be created.

Method 4. Creating a Work Axis at the Intersection of Two Planes

This method is used for creating a work axis that is coincident with the intersection of two faces or work planes.

Procedure:

1. On the model environment, launch the Work Axis tool (Ribbon: Model tab > Work Features panel > Work Point tool) or use the keyboard shortcut: “/”
2. On the graphics window, click two “intersecting” faces or work planes. A work axis will be created at the intersection between them.

Method 5. Creating a Work Axis through a Revolved Face or Feature

This method is used for creating a work axis that passes through the longitudinal axis of a cylindrical face or feature.

Procedure:

1. On the model environment, launch the Work Axis tool (Ribbon: Model tab > Work Features panel > Work Point tool) or use the keyboard shortcut: “/”
2. On the graphics window, point and click on a cylindrical face or feature. A work axis passing through the longitudinal axis of the face or feature will be created.

Method 6. Creating a Work Axis Normal to a Plane through a Point

This method is used for creating a work axis that is normal to a plane and passing through a point or vertex.

Procedure:

1. On the model environment, launch the Work Axis tool (Ribbon: Model tab > Work Features panel > Work Point tool) or use the keyboard shortcut: “/”
2. On the graphics window, click on the face or plane you want the work axis to be normal to.
3. Click on the point, work point or vertex you want the work axis to pass through. A work axis passing through the point and normal to the specified plane will be created.

Conclusion

I hope you found the tutorial useful. I will love to get comments about my writing style and content. You can email via ndianabasi.udonkang@gmail.com. Cheers.