Inventor DirectionsOpening Inventor for the First Time

1. Double click the orange “I” (Autodesk Inventor Pro) on your desktop. Double click only once!! A light silver window will pop up with a fancy machine on it. WAIT! DON’T touch anything. This will take a while.

2. You may see an Autodesk “Join the Customer Involvement Program” window pop up. Please click the bubble that says “No, I do not want to join the program at this time” and click OK.

3. Now a dark gray window may pop up. Please unclick the box that says “Display at Startup” in the lower left hand corner and click “Close.”

4. Inventor should now be open. You will see a gray screen.

Check Network Path

1. Start in the lower left-hand corner and click on what looks like a colorful flag (the Windows symbol).

2. Click on the word Computer in the right hand column of the window.

3. Under Network Location, check to see if you a PLTW (P:) drive, which may have a big red X on it. If you do have a big red X, right click and disconnect it, and go on to step 4. If you don’t have a big red X, just exit out of the window and wait. Do not go on to step 4.

4. In the upper middle part of the window, click on Map Network Drive.

5. Next to the word Drive, there is a pull down. Select the P drive.

6. Next to the word folder, there is another pull down. Select \\projects2\pltw.

7. Instead of \\projects2\pltw, rename it \\share\pltw.

8. Be sure there is a check next to Reconnect at logon, but not the box below.

9. Click Finish.10. Another box will pop up with the

names Fanning, Gall, etc... Exit out of it. Also exit out of any other windows that may be open besides the gray Inventor screen.

Set Up Inventor Options

1. Follow the directions on the screen.

Create New Folder

1. In the upper left hand corner, click Projects.

2. Choose New.3. Click Next.4. In the Name box, delete

“ProjectName” and type the word “Projects.”

5. Next to the Project (Workspace) Folder box, click the box that has three dots in a row on it.

6. Click Computer.7. Click the PLTW (P:) drive.8. Click Dorset.

9. Click the folder with the current school year.

10. Click your section.11. Click your computer number.12. Click OK.13. Now check to make sure you did it

right. Your Project (Workspace) Folder should have the path that appears something like this: P:\Dorset\2015-2016\Section2\ Computer1.

14. Check it carefully! Is it right? If not, go back and do steps 1-14 again!

15. Click Finish.16. Click Done.

Create New Sketch

1. In the upper left hand corner, click Projects. In the window that pops up, “Projects” should have a blue checkmark next to it. If it does, do nothing. If it does not, double click on projects. Now there should be a checkmark. Click Done.

2. In the upper left hand corner, click New. Double click on the standard.ipt icon that looks like a cube. This may take a while. Wait.

3. When the part opens, look in the left hand column (Model Browser) where there is a brown folder that says Origin. Click the plus sign next to it.

4. Click on the XY plane.5. To the right where the drawing

appears, there will be a small icon with a picture of a pencil and paper. Click it to create a new sketch.

Browse for Folder That Has ALREADY Been Created (Partner #2)

1. Be sure the other person in your partnership is logged in.

2. Double click the orange “I” (Autodesk Inventor Pro) on your desktop. Double click only once!! A light silver window will pop up with a big machine on it. WAIT! DON’T touch anything. This will take a while.

3. You may see an Autodesk “Join the Customer Involvement Program” window pop up. Please click the bubble that says “No, I do not want to join the program at this time” and click OK.

4. Now a dark gray window may pop up. Please unclick the box that says “Display at Startup” in the lower left hand corner and click “Close.”

5. Inventor should now be open. You will see a gray screen.

6. In the upper left hand corner, click Projects.

7. Click Browse.8. In the left hand column, click

Computer.9. Double click PLTW (P:).10. Double click Dorset.11. Double click your current school

year.12. Double click your section number.13. Double click your computer number.14. Single click the orange Projects icon.15. Click Open.16. Click Done.

Draw a Line:

1. In the upper left hand corner of the screen, click “Line”.

2. Place the crosshairs anywhere on the screen where you would like the line to begin.

3. Click to begin the line.4. Drag the mouse to where you want the line

to end. Click.5. Now right click and select “Done” at the top

of the menu to stop making lines.6. To continue making lines that connect to

your original line, skip step 5 above and repeat steps 2-4.

Make a Triangle:

1. Follow the directions for making a line.2. After you have clicked to complete the line,

drag the crosshairs to where you want the second side of the triangle to be, and click.

3. Finally, complete the triangle by dragging the crosshairs back to the starting point of the triangle and click.

4. Right click and select “Done” at the top of the menu.

Make a Rectangle:

1. In the upper left hand corner of the screen, click “Rectangle”.

2. Place the crosshairs anywhere on the screen where you would like a corner of the rectangle to be.

3. Click to place the first corner of the rectangle.

4. Drag the mouse to where you want the opposite corner of the rectangle to be. Click.

5. Now right click and select “Done” at the top of the menu to stop making rectangles.

Make a Circle:

1. In the rfupper left hand corner of the screen, click “Circle”.

2. Place the crosshairs anywhere on the screen where you would like the center of the circle to be.

3. Click to place the center of the circle.4. Drag and expand the mouse to where you

want the outside of the circle to be. Click.5. Now right click and select “Done” at the top

of the menu to stop making circles.

Dimensioning an Object:

1. Begin with and object you wish to dimension, such as a rectangle.

2. In the upper left middle of the screen, click “Dimension”.

3. Drag the arrow to one edge of the object. This will turn the edge red.

4. Click. This will make the edge blue.5. Drag the arrow to the opposite side of the

object. A number with some arrows will pop up.

6. When you reach the other edge of your object, that edge will turn red as well. Click to make it blue.

7. Now drag the arrow in the direction parallel to the blue lines to the outside of the object.

8. Click to finish dimensioning.

Editing a Dimension:

1. You must have an object with a dimension.2. Click on the number that represents the

dimension.3. A small box will pop up.4. Enter the dimension you would like it to

change to (in inches).5. Click the green check mark.

Create a Hole: Method #1

1. In your sketch, create a circle or other shape within another shape. For example:

2. Finish the sketch and hit “Extrude”.3. Click on the area of the shape outside

of the shape you created for the hole. For example: the shaded area below.

4. Indicate how far you wish to extrude in the distance box. Hit “OK”.

*This method allows you to make holes of different shapes, but the holes must go all the way through the object.

Create a Hole: Method #2

1. From an extruded shape, click the “Hole” button from the top.

2. Click on the place you wish to put the hole.3. Click the orange sphere that appears and

then click one of the edges of the 3D object on the SAME face you put the hole on. A dimension box will appear. Type in how far you want the hole from that edge.

4. Repeat step #3 with another edge to position the hole further.

5. Choose if you want a flat or angled drill point.

6. Type in the length and width of the screw that would make the hole.

7. Click “Apply”.

Extrude:

1. To extrude, there must first be a 2 dimensional shape on your screen.

2. In the upper right hand corner of your screen, click “Finish Sketch”.

3. In the upper left hand corner of your screen, click “Extrude”.

4. There are many options when extruding. To do the most basic extrusion, click in the box under “Distance” and enter a length (in inches) you want your object to be extruded. In essence, you are choosing the depth of your sketch.

5. Click “Ok”.

To Edit Any Extrusion or Sketch:

1. Look in the left hand column. There will be a list of things such as “Extrusion 1” or “Extrusion 2”. Click on the extrusion you wish to edit in the browser window. Two buttons will appear in the graphics window. The first button, which looks like a pencil pointing at 2 3D objects, is “Edit Extrude.” Click it.

2. To edit a sketch, click on the plus sign next to “Extrusion 1”, “Extrusion 2”, etc . “Sketch 1” or “Sketch 2” will appear.

3. Click on the Sketch you wish to edit in the browser window. In the graphics window, a button will pop up that looks like a pencil pointing at a right angle. Click it. You may now edit the sketch. HINT: You must click “Finish Sketch” in order to get back to the 3d object.

To Create A Sketch on a Sketch:

1. Create your sketch, finish the sketch, and extrude the sketch.

2. In the upper right hand corner of the graphics window, click on the face of the cube that you would like to have the new object extrude from. Your drawing will spin until one two-dimensional shape is showing.

3. Click on the actual face of your drawing.4. Three buttons will appear. Place the cursor

over the button farthest to the right (it looks like a pencil pointing at a right angle), and a bubble that says “Create Sketch” should appear. Click this button.

5. You now have the ability to place new shapes to extrude on this face.

6. Draw whichever shape you wish. You may dimension and use constraints on this just as in your original sketch.

7. Click “Finish Sketch”.

Create a Shape that “Sticks Out” from the Main Body:

1. Create your sketch, finish the sketch, and extrude the sketch.

2. In the upper right hand corner of the graphics window, click on the face of the cube that you would like to have the new object extrude from. Your drawing will spin until one two-dimensional shape is showing.

3. Click on the actual face of your drawing.4. Three buttons will appear. Place the cursor

over the button farthest to the right (it looks like a pencil pointing at a right angle), and a bubble that says “Create Sketch” should appear. Click this button.

5. You now have the ability to place new shapes to extrude on this face.

6. Draw whichever shape you wish. You may dimension and use constraints on this just as in your original sketch.

7. Click “Finish Sketch”. 8. Click “Extrude”.9. Click the area INSIDE the new shape you

just created. Type in the distance you would like the shape to “Extrude”.

10. Determine which way you would like the extrusion to go. Below the distance there are 4 buttons with arrows showing the direction that the “hole” will go. Click the picture that shows the direction you would like the extrusion.

11. Click “OK” (It may not appear immediately that the extrusion has occurred. To see it, simply rotate the object using the cube in the upper right hand corner of the graphics window.)

Add Color:

1. Typically color will be added after extruding or on an assembly of multiple parts.

2. If there is more than one part on the screen, click on the part you wish to be colored.

3. At the top of the screen, there will be a drop down menu that says either “As Material” or “Color,” depending on at which point you are adding color to your object. Click the drop down menu.

4. Select a color or texture.

To Revolve and Create a Solid Object:

1. Create an ENCLOSED shape in a sketch. IMPORTANT: One of the edges of your shape needs to be STRAIGHT! It may help to picture your shape and then cut it in half by drawing a line through the middle.

2. Click “Finish Sketch”.3. Click “Revolve”.4. Click on the STRAIGHT edge of your drawing

that you want the shape to revolve around.5. If the shape looks like you would like, click

“OK”. If it doesn’t, click “Cancel”.

To Revolve and Create An Object with a Hole in the Middle:

1. Create an ENCLOSED shape in a sketch. One of the lines does NOT have to be straight.

2. Draw a line somewhere in your sketch. This line will be the axis that your shape is revolved around. Place it the appropriate distance away from your object to meet your dimensions.

3. Click “Finish Sketch”.4. Click “Revolve”.5. Click the “Axis” button on the left side of

the box that pops up. It is located just below where it says “Profile”. Click “Axis”.

6. Click the line you created to be the axis in your drawing.

7. If the shape looks like you would like, click “OK”. If it doesn’t, click “Cancel”.

Fillet: (on a sketch)

1. A fillet on a sketch will round any corner to produce a smooth, curved finish.

2. Begin with an object with a corner.3. In the upper middle-left of the screen, click

“Fillet”.4. A pop up box will appear. Ignore this for

now.5. For whichever corner you want rounded,

click on the 2 edges which meet at that corner.

6. Your fillet will appear.

Fillet: (on an extrusion)

1. A fillet on an extrusion will round any edge (not corner like it does on a sketch) to produce a smooth, curved finish.

2. In the upper middle-left of the screen, click “Fillet”.

3. A pop up box will appear. Ignore this for now.

4. Select any edge you wish to be rounded and click “Ok”.

5. Your fillet will appear.

Chamfer:

1. A chamfer will route any edge to create a flat surface instead of a sharp edge.

2. You must have an extruded sketch in order to use the chamfer feature.

3. In the upper middle-left of the screen, click “Chamfer”.

4. A pop up box will appear. Select the size of the chamfer under “Distance”.

5. Highlight the edge you wish to chamfer.6. Click “Ok”.

Create a Coil:

1. Draw a circle. 2. Draw a line somewhere in your sketch. This

line will be the axis that your shape is revolved around. Place it the appropriate distance away from your object to meet your dimensions.

3. Click “Finish Sketch”.4. Click the “Coil” button.5. Click the line in your drawing.6. Click the “Coil Size” tab. Choose the “Pitch”

and “Revolution” that you want. Pitch means how “scrunched up” your coil will be. A higher number means the coils are tighter together. Revolution means how many times you want the coil to go around. A higher number means more coils.

7. At this point, your coil will only appear as a green line. Hit “OK”. Your coil will become 3D!