of 24
8/12/2019 Using Splines and Surfaces
1/24
Using Splines and Surfaces
Inventor R2010
Estimated Time Required to Complete: 30 minutes
This Skill Builder explores the tools available for creating and controlling the shape of
splines. Surfaces are used to shape the part and to define the body split contours.
In Tis E!ercise
In this Skill Builder, you learn how to:
Create and define splines.
oft with a rail.
Create surfaces.
!eplace a face.
"xtend surface edges.
Split the part into #ultiple bodies.
$se the "#boss co##and.
Create a %rill.
"rerequisites
&ave Inventor '()( installed.
$nderstand how to open, create and save part files in your active pro*ect.
$nderstand the funda#entals of solid #odeling.
+ownload and un-ip the -ip file containing the source file to use during this
exercise to a folder in your active pro*ect.
#o$nload
spline/).-ip-ip 0 )1('2b
The -ip file contains two 3utodesk Inventor '()( part files na#edspline_1_start.iptandspline_ 1_complete.ipt. It also contains an ani#ation spline_1.swf which
http://images.autodesk.com/adsk/files/spline_1.ziphttp://images.autodesk.com/adsk/files/spline_1.ziphttp://images.autodesk.com/adsk/files/spline_1.zip8/12/2019 Using Splines and Surfaces
2/24
de#onstrates basic spline functionality.
S%stem Settings
4n the 3pplication 4ptions, Sketch tab enable the following settings:
"dit di#ension when created.
3utopro*ect edges for sketch creation and edit.
3utopro*ect part origin on sketch create.
The %rid lines display is not enabled in any of the sketch environ#ent i#ages in this
Skill Builder.
&ote:5ou can specify the icon color sche#e in 3pplication 4ptions. The appearance of
the icons presented in this Skill Builder #ay differ if you are not using the color sche#e
noted in the following i#age.
In the first section of this exercise, we will create two spline cross sections and one
spline rail to use in a oft operation.
). To begin, open the file spline'1'start(iptand orient to the )rontview on the
6iew Cube.
7otice that the part is wedge shaped and one end is wider than the other.
'. Start a '+ sketch on the face indicated.
8. Start the Splineco##and. !efer to the following i#age for place#ent. 9lace
a fit point at the #id0point green dot of the vertical line on the left ), another
directly above the origin '. +ouble0click to place the final point 8 at the #id0
point of the vertical line on the right. This action creates the spline. 5ou can also
right0click and choose Createto finish the spline seg#ent.
8/12/2019 Using Splines and Surfaces
3/24
. !ight0click and select #oneor press the "scape key to exit the co##and.
&ote:;it points at the end of a spline are s. 3ctivate the handle on all fit points. To activate a handle use one of the
following #ethods:
o 9ress and drag anywhere on the handle.o !ight0click a fit point and choose *ctivate +andlein the context #enu.
Tip: &andle #anipulation changes the shape of a spline. It is so#eti#es
necessary to ?undo@ a spline handle #anipulation. +epending on how #any
handles were #anipulated, a nor#al $ndo co##and #ight not produce the
re
8/12/2019 Using Splines and Surfaces
4/24
Tip: "nabling Curvature also activates the linear handle. "nabling the linearhandle does not activate Curvature.
. 9lace a hori-ontal constraint on all handles.
. 9lace a vertical constraint between the #iddle fit point not the handle and
the part origin.
1. 9lace a di#ension on each handle with a value of ). 3 linear handle
di#ension is unitless and indicates the distance the spline is tangent to the
handle.
)(. 9lace a radial di#ension of 110,mmon the #iddle fit point curvature handle. 3
radial di#ension is not a unitless di#ension.
)). 9lace a -,mmvertical di#ension fro# the pro*ected 4rigin point to the #iddle
fit point.
The following i#age shows the co#pleted sketch.
)'. ;inish the sketch. The -,mmdi#ension persistsD the handles and all handledi#ensions are visible only when the spline is active.
)8. Start the Save *sco##and and save the file as Spline'S.ills1(ipt.
To create an exact duplicate of the spline on the other side of the part perfor# the
following steps.
). 4rient the part to #atch the view in the following i#age and start a new
sketch on the indicated face.
8/12/2019 Using Splines and Surfaces
5/24
'. Start the "ro/ect eometr%co##and and pro*ect the spline to the new
sketch.
8. ;inish the sketch.
In the next portion of the exercise, we will create the rail or ?guide curve@ to use in the
lofting operation.
). 4rient the part so the narrow end is facing you as shown in the following i#age.
'. Start a new sketch on the narrow end of the part on the face indicated.
8. Start the Splineco##and and sketch a spline fro# the #idpoint of thepro*ected vertical line to a point above the #idpoint of the part. 9lace the final
point at the endpoint of the opposite pro*ected vertical line. +ouble0click the last
point to create the spline.
. Choose #onefro# the context #enu or press the "scape key to finish the spline
co##and.
>. 9lace a vertical constraint between the #iddle fit point and the #idpoint of
the pro*ected line.
8/12/2019 Using Splines and Surfaces
6/24
A. 9lace a ,mmdi#ension fro# the #idpoint of the top edge to the #iddle fit
point.
. Choose +one fro# the context #enu or press the "scape key to finish the
di#ension co##and.
. !ight0click the #iddle fit point and choose )latfro# the context #enu.
The #id0section of the spline now has -ero curvature. 3lthough not re
8/12/2019 Using Splines and Surfaces
7/24
'. 4n the dialog box, choose Surfacefor the 4utput.
8. Select the two parallel splines to satisfy the cross sections.
. Change the selection type to Railsusing one of the following #ethods, and then
select the spline you created as the drive rail:
o !ight0click and choose Select Railsin the context #enu.
o Select Clic. to addon the dialog box in the !ails pane.
>. Click 4to create the surface.
The new surface appears in the browser as a lofted feature and also in the
Surface Bodies folder.
Tip:3 Surface is initially translucent and a single color. To change the
appearance of a surface to opa
8/12/2019 Using Splines and Surfaces
8/24
8/12/2019 Using Splines and Surfaces
9/24
The top of the part now confor#s to the shape of the surface.
A. Start the Sellco##and.
. Specify a 2,mmthickness. +o not re#ove any faces. $se the default Inside
shell option.
. Select 4to co#plete the operation.
1. Savethe file.
The interior of the part is now hollow. In the next section of the exercise we will use a
top0down workflow to split the part into #ultiple solid bodies.
). 4n the Surface panel, select the Tic.en5ffsetco##and.
'. In the graphics area, select the top of the part to satisfy the selection.
8. 4n the dialog box, select Surfacefor the 4utput. "nter a distance value of 3,
mm. $se the flip direction arrow to offset the surface towards the interior of the
part.
8/12/2019 Using Splines and Surfaces
10/24
. Select 42 to create the offset surface and finish the co##and.
7otice that the offset surface does not extend to the outside edges on the sides of
the part. To use the surface to split the part into two bodies, all edges of the
dividing surface #ust #eet or extend beyond the edges of the part.
>. 4n the Surface panel, click the drop0down arrow to expose all available
co##ands.
A. Select the E!tendco##and in the drop0down.
. Select the two outside edges of the offset surface to satisfy the "dges selection.
Specify an offset value of (6 mm. Click 4to finish the co##and.
8/12/2019 Using Splines and Surfaces
11/24
. 4n the Eodify panel, click the Splitco##and.
1. 4n the dialog box, select the Split Solidoption.
)(. Select the offset surface as the Split Tool.
)). Click 4to split the part into two solid bodies and finish the co##and.
8/12/2019 Using Splines and Surfaces
12/24
)'. In the browser, turn off the visibility of the offset surface. Because the extended
edges are dependent on the offset surface, the feature visibility is controlled by
the originating surface.
)8. "xpand the Solid 7odiesfolder in the browser. 7ote that there are now two
solid bodies present in the file. 5ou can control the visibility and color of eachbody individually.
). Savethe file.
In the next section, we will create a spline profile and surface for another split tool.
). Start a new sketch on the botto# of the part.
'. 4rient the part view as shown in the following i#age with the wide end of the
part on the right.
8. Create a spline with five fit points as shown in the following i#age. +ouble0
click the last point to create the spline. It is of no conse
8/12/2019 Using Splines and Surfaces
13/24
. 9lace a vertical constraint between the following fit points:
o ) and >
o ' and
>. 9lace a hori-ontal constraint between fit point 8 and the pro*ected origin
point. spline/)(.png
A. "nable all linear handles on the spline using one of the following #ethods:
o !ight0click and select *ctivate +andlein the context #enu
o 9ress and drag anywhere on a handle.
. !ight0click the #iddle fit point and enable Curvature.
8/12/2019 Using Splines and Surfaces
14/24
. 9lace a vertical constraint on the handle at the #idpoint and the two endpoints.
1. 9lace a unitless di#ension of 1on each linear handle.
)(. 9lace a 12,mmradial di#ension on the curvature handle at the #idpoint.
)). 3dd an angular di#ension of 38degrees between the linear handles and the
edges of the part as shown in the following i#age.
8/12/2019 Using Splines and Surfaces
15/24
)'. +i#ension the fit points as shown in the following i#age.
)8. ;inish the sketch.
). Start the E!trudeco##and. Set the 4utput to Surfaceand select the
spline to satisfy the 9rofile selection. Set the +istance to 80,mm. !everse the
direction of the extrusion so the profile intersects the existing bodies. Click 4
to create the surface.
)>. Savethe file.
8/12/2019 Using Splines and Surfaces
16/24
In the next section, we will use the new surface to split the part and create a third body.
). 4n the Eodify panel, choose the Splitco##and.
'. 4n the dialog box, select the Split Solid option.
8. Select the extruded surface as the Split Tool.
. If only one body is visible in a #ulti0body part, Inventor selects the visible body
as the solid to include. Because #ore than one solid body is visible, select the
upper body to satisfy the Solid selection.
>. Click 4to create the body.
7otice there are now three bodies in the Solid Bodies folder in the browser.
A. "xpand the Solid Bodies folder in the browser. browser/#ulti/body.png
. !ight0click each body in the folder and select "ropertiesin the context #enu.
Change the 7od% Color St%lefor each body to a uni
8/12/2019 Using Splines and Surfaces
17/24
). "xpand the Solid 7odiesfolder and select the new body.
'. =ith the body highlighted, right0click and select +ide tersin the
context #enu. It isolates the body you want to work on.
7otice that the context #enu also contains the So$ *llco##and to unhide all
bodies.
In the next section, we will create an offset surface to use as a tri##ing tool.
). 4n the Eodel tab, Surface panel, start the Tic.en5ffsetco##and.
'. 4n the dialog box, set the utputto Surface and pick the extruded surface to
satisfy the selection. Set the direction of the new surface to the interior of the
body. Set the +istance to 2,mm. Click 4to create the surface.
8/12/2019 Using Splines and Surfaces
18/24
8/12/2019 Using Splines and Surfaces
19/24
A. Choose 4to re#ove the #aterial.
. Turn off the visibility of the surface.
. Turn on the visibility of all solid bodies. 7otice the 2,mmgap between the
bodies.
1. Savethe file.
This co#pletes the spline and surfacing portion of the exercise. To co#plete the part
you can continue the exercise.
In the next section, we will create the e#bossed feature.
). Turn on the visibility of the "#boss Sketch in the browser.
'. Turn off the visibility of the botto# solid and the large upper solid.
&ote:Turn off the visibility of the non0participating solids to allow Inventor tochoose the body to be operated on auto#atically.
8/12/2019 Using Splines and Surfaces
20/24
8. Start the Em9ossco##and.
. Set the #eptto 3,mm.
>. Select the Em9oss from )aceoption.
A. Click 4to create the e#bossed feature.
. Start the )illetco##and.
. 4n the ;illet dialog box, enter 2,mmfor the !adius value.
1. Select the dropdown and set the fillet type to Smoot 2;.
Click the pencil icon to change to a selection #ode.
8/12/2019 Using Splines and Surfaces
21/24
)(. 9ick the upper and lower edges of the e#boss feature, and then click 4to
create the fillets.
)). Savethe file
In the next section we will create a vented opening called a %rill.
). In the Solid Bodies folder, #ake sure the visibility of the botto# solid and thee#bossed solid is off. Eake the large top solid visible.
Tip:If you turn off the visibility of bodies, Inventor will not include the# in a
feature operation.
8/12/2019 Using Splines and Surfaces
22/24
'. Turn on the visibility of the rill S.etcin the browser.
8. 4n the Eodel tab, 9lastic 9art panel, click the rillco##and.
. 4n the grill sketch, select the large outer ellipse to satisfy the 9rofile selection in
the 7oundar%tab. 3ccept the default settings for si-e.
8/12/2019 Using Splines and Surfaces
23/24
8/12/2019 Using Splines and Surfaces
24/24
. Click 4to create the grill.
. Turn on the visibility of all bodies.
1. Savethe file.
Congratulations, you co#pleted the Spline and Surfacing Skill Builder.
etFs review your acco#plish#ents...
Summar%
In this Skill Builder you:
Created and di#ensioned splines. Eanipulated spline handles.
Created lofted and extruded surfaces.
Created #ultiple bodies in a part file.
$sed !eplace ;ace to change part contour.
"xtended surface edges.
$sed the "#boss co##and.
Created a %rill.
