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Use a 3D sketch as a skeleton to create a structural frame of a robotic arm assembly.
Type:
Tutorial
Length:
5 min.
Tutorial resources
These downloadable resources will be used to complete this tutorial:
Transcript
00:03
You can use the Frame Generator in Inventor to create internal or external frame assemblies for machines.
00:10
In this tutorial, you use a 3D sketch as a skeleton for a structural frame of a robotic arm assembly.
00:18
From the Quick Access Toolbar, click New.
00:23
In the Templates > Metric folder, select the Weldment (ISO).iam template.
00:29
Click Create to create a new assembly file.
00:35
In the graphics display area, right-click to open the Marking menu and select Place Component.
00:42
In the Place Component dialog, select 3D Sketch Frame_001.ipt, and then click Open.
00:52
This part file contains a 3D sketch of a robotic arm frame that you can use as the skeleton for your structural frame.
01:01
From the Marking menu, select Place Grounded at Origin.
01:05
Press ESC to exit the place command, and then Save the assembly file to continue.
01:11
You can now start building the frame structure.
01:16
On the ribbon, in the Design tab, Frame panel, click Insert Frame.
01:21
In the Insert dialog, under Frame Member Selection, set the following:
01:26
Set the Standard to ISO,
01:30
Set the Family to ISO 4019 (Square),
01:35
Set the Size to 100x100x6,
01:42
Set the Material to Steel, Mild,
01:47
and set the Appearance to Glossy – Gold.
01:52
You can now select items in the sketch to place frame members.
01:57
In the assembly, select the upper four lines to apply frames.
02:05
Set the orientation to the right side, so that it is below and inside the sketch frame.
02:11
To do this, in the Insert dialog, enable Align, and then in the viewport, click the upper left alignment point.
02:20
Click OK to accept the part file names, then OK again to set the frame member naming.
02:29
Click Insert Frame again to continue applying members, this time to the bottom four segments.
02:36
Ensure their placement orientation is inside and above the selections by clicking the lower left alignment point.
02:45
Click OK twice to accept the part naming.
02:53
Again, click Insert Frame and this time, apply members to the middle four segments,
03:00
ensuring their alignment is inside and centered with your selections.
03:08
You can click the green plus sign (+) to add a frame member, and add a member to one of the vertical segments,
03:15
ensuring its placement is within the frame boundaries.
03:19
Click OK to accept the part naming.
03:22
Click plus (+) to continue.
03:28
Add three more members to the remaining vertical segments, ensuring their placements are all within the frame sketch.
03:35
Apply members to the two angled segments, again, ensuring they are within the frame boundaries.
03:43
Finally, select the remaining segment to apply a member to it.
03:48
In the Insert dialog, set the angle to –30 degrees.
03:53
Ensure the member is positioned inside the frame before applying it.
03:57
Click OK to finish the member insertions.
04:01
Now that you have created all the members in the assembly,
04:05
right-click the original 3D sketch frame part in the Model browser and uncheck Visibility to hide it.
04:11
Save the assembly to continue.
Video transcript
00:03
You can use the Frame Generator in Inventor to create internal or external frame assemblies for machines.
00:10
In this tutorial, you use a 3D sketch as a skeleton for a structural frame of a robotic arm assembly.
00:18
From the Quick Access Toolbar, click New.
00:23
In the Templates > Metric folder, select the Weldment (ISO).iam template.
00:29
Click Create to create a new assembly file.
00:35
In the graphics display area, right-click to open the Marking menu and select Place Component.
00:42
In the Place Component dialog, select 3D Sketch Frame_001.ipt, and then click Open.
00:52
This part file contains a 3D sketch of a robotic arm frame that you can use as the skeleton for your structural frame.
01:01
From the Marking menu, select Place Grounded at Origin.
01:05
Press ESC to exit the place command, and then Save the assembly file to continue.
01:11
You can now start building the frame structure.
01:16
On the ribbon, in the Design tab, Frame panel, click Insert Frame.
01:21
In the Insert dialog, under Frame Member Selection, set the following:
01:26
Set the Standard to ISO,
01:30
Set the Family to ISO 4019 (Square),
01:35
Set the Size to 100x100x6,
01:42
Set the Material to Steel, Mild,
01:47
and set the Appearance to Glossy – Gold.
01:52
You can now select items in the sketch to place frame members.
01:57
In the assembly, select the upper four lines to apply frames.
02:05
Set the orientation to the right side, so that it is below and inside the sketch frame.
02:11
To do this, in the Insert dialog, enable Align, and then in the viewport, click the upper left alignment point.
02:20
Click OK to accept the part file names, then OK again to set the frame member naming.
02:29
Click Insert Frame again to continue applying members, this time to the bottom four segments.
02:36
Ensure their placement orientation is inside and above the selections by clicking the lower left alignment point.
02:45
Click OK twice to accept the part naming.
02:53
Again, click Insert Frame and this time, apply members to the middle four segments,
03:00
ensuring their alignment is inside and centered with your selections.
03:08
You can click the green plus sign (+) to add a frame member, and add a member to one of the vertical segments,
03:15
ensuring its placement is within the frame boundaries.
03:19
Click OK to accept the part naming.
03:22
Click plus (+) to continue.
03:28
Add three more members to the remaining vertical segments, ensuring their placements are all within the frame sketch.
03:35
Apply members to the two angled segments, again, ensuring they are within the frame boundaries.
03:43
Finally, select the remaining segment to apply a member to it.
03:48
In the Insert dialog, set the angle to –30 degrees.
03:53
Ensure the member is positioned inside the frame before applying it.
03:57
Click OK to finish the member insertions.
04:01
Now that you have created all the members in the assembly,
04:05
right-click the original 3D sketch frame part in the Model browser and uncheck Visibility to hide it.
04:11
Save the assembly to continue.
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