3D Computer Modeling
Using Inventor
3D Modeling in Inventor
Getting Started
 When you first open
Inventor, the screen will
appear as you see to the
left.
 For a New File, make
sure you choose the
correct system, either
English or Metric.
 To open an existing
file, choose this icon.
Inventor Screen Layout
Pull-Down Menus
Standard Toolbar
Sketch Toolbar
Graphics
Window
Model
Browser
 Pull-Down Menus
Contain operations
for all models
 Standard Toolbar
Quick access to
frequently used
commands
 Sketch Toolbar
Tools for creating
basic geometry
 Model Browser
Access to features
and editing
 Graphics Window
Area where
models and
drawings are
displayed
Inventor Screen Layout
Pull-Down Menus
Standard Toolbar
View
Cube
Sketch Toolbar
Graphics
Window
Model
Browser
3D Indicator
Message or Help
 3D Indicator
Shows direction of
X, Y, and Z
coordinates. Red
represents X,
green represents
Y, blue represents
Z directions
 Message or Help
Shows single-line
help when the
cursor is on top of
an icon
 View Cube
Used to change
view orientation
Mouse Buttons
• Left Mouse Button
– Used to select icons,
menus, and graphics
• Right Mouse Button
– Brings up additional
options
– Accepts default option
– Ends a process
• Middle Button/Wheel
– Provides quick pan
and zoom functions
Geometric Constraints
Symbols that show
alignments to capture the
design intent
To use Geometric Constraints:
1. Open Sketch Toolbar, choose the
down arrow beside last constraint
used
2. Right click mouse, choose Create
Constraint
OR
Geometric Constraint Symbols
Perpendicular
Parallel
Tangent
Smooth
Coincident
Concentric
Collinear
Equal
Horizontal
Vertical
Fix
Symmetry
Lines are at right angles
Line is parallel to other objects
Touches at one point only
Create a continuous curve
Constrains 2 points or point to curve
Arc or Circle shares center point
2 lines lie along the same line
Resizes to same radius or length
Line is parallel to X axis
Line is parallel to Y axis
Points or curves stay locked in place
Objects align symmetrically about a line
Dynamic Viewing Functions
 Located on the Standard
Toolbar
 Used to Zoom and Pan to
reposition the sketch
Zoom All
Zoom Window
Zoom
Pan
Zoom Selected
Dynamic Rotation
Look At
Precise Input
The Precise Input
toolbar is added by
choosing
View,
Toolbar,
Inventor Precise Input
Create the shapes that
you labeled in Activity
1.5.1 The Coordinate
System and Descriptive
Geometry.
Image Resources
Microsoft, Inc. (2008). Clip Art. Retrieved November 4, 2008, from
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/clipart/default.aspx