Create and modify the frame generator

Create and modify frame members - Exercise

  1. Open the Mounting Frame.iam assembly file from your working folder.
  2. Activate the Design tab from the Inventor ribbon.
  3. Select Insert Frame from the Frame panel.



  4. Set the Family to ANSI MC/C – U-Shape. 
  5. Set Size to C 3 x 3.5.



  6. Select the 4 surface edges along the bottom of the frame skeleton (as shown). 
  7. Select the white circle (as shown) to position the frame members on the outside of the surface.



  8. Click OK three times to create the frame members. 
  9. Select Insert Frame from the Frame panel. 
  10. Set the Family to ANSI AISC (Rectangular) - Tube. 
  11. Set Size to 2 x 1 x 1/8.



  12. Select the white circle (as shown) to position the frame member on the inside of the surface edge.



  13. Click the green plus sign at the bottom of the dialogue box to Apply and Create new Frame.



  14. Create another vertical frame member on the other side of the skeleton. Make sure the position mirrors that of the opposite side.
  15. Click the green plus sign at the bottom of the dialogue box to Apply and Create new Frame. 
  16. Click the angled edge of the surface (as shown) and select the white circle to position the frame to the outside of the body.



  17. Create another angled frame member on the other side of the skeleton. Make sure the position mirrors that of the opposite side. 
  18. Click OK to confirm and review the current frame structure.



  19. Select Insert Frame from the Frame panel. 
  20. Click the 3 horizontal edges at the top of the frame (as shown). 
  21. Select the white circle to position the members on the inside/bottom of the surface (as shown).



  22. Select OK to create the frame members. 
  23. Right-click on the Frame Skeleton component the browser and select Open.



  24. Click the Parameters icon at the top of the Inventor window.  
  25. Change the frame_width parameter value from 7 in to 10 in.



  26. Click Done. 
  27. Save and close the Frame Skeleton part file. 
  28. Perform a Local Update on the Mounting Frame assembly. 
  29. View the completed frame and make sure it’s correct. 
  30. Save and Close the assembly.

Frame end treatments - Exercise

  1. Open the Mounting Frame Treatments.iam assembly file from your working folder. 
  2. Activate the Design tab from the Inventor ribbon. 
  3. Select Corner Joint from the Frame panel.



  4. Select the 3 AISC C 3 x 3.5 frame members shown below. Make sure to select the shorter member first.



  5. Click OK to confirm the end treatment. 
  6. Repeat the process to create corner joints on the other side of the base between the AISC C 3 x 3.5 frame members.



  7. Select Trim/Extend from the Frame panel.



  8. First, select the top face of one of the AISC C 3 x 3.5 members (shown in yellow). 
  9. Second, select the two angled AISC 2 x 1 x 1/8 frame members (shown in blue).



  10. Click OK to confirm the treatment. 
  11. Select Trim/Extend from the Frame panel. 
  12. First, select the top face of one of the horizontal AISC 2 x 1 x 1/8 members (shown in yellow). 
  13. Second, select the two angled AISC 2 x 1 x 1/8 frame members (shown in blue). 
  14. Click OK to confirm the treatment.



  15. Select Trim/Extend from the Frame panel. 
  16. First, select the side face of one of the vertical AISC 2 x 1 x 1/8 members (shown in yellow). 
  17. Second, select the two horizontal AISC 2 x 1 x 1/8 frame members (shown in blue). 
  18. Click OK to confirm the treatment.



  19. Select Miter from the Frame panel. 
  20. Select the three horizontal AISC 2 x 1 x 1/8 members shown in blue. 
  21. Enter 0.05 for the offset. 
  22. Click OK to confirm the treatment.





  23. Select Lengthen/Shorten from the Frame panel. 
  24. Select one of the vertical AISC 2 x 1 x 1/8 members (shown in blue). 
  25. Enter 1.5 for the Offset value. 
  26. Make sure the frame member is extended down to meet the bottom of the frame. If it’s extending at the top, select Flipped from the Offset Direction panel.



  27. Click the green plus sign at the bottom right of the dialogue box to Apply and create new Lengthen/Shorten.  
  28. Apply the same 1.5" lengthen to the other vertical AISC 2 x 1 x 1/8 member to match the other. Both members should extend to meet the base.



  29. Save and Close the model.