Chapter 2: Creating the Base Feature

✓ Create a new part model using a predefined template.

✓ Create a sketch by appropriately selecting a sketch plane.
✓ Project references onto a sketch plane for use in locating entities.
✓ Create, dimension, and constrain 2D entities in a sketch.
✓ Create a 3D solid base feature.
✓ Make changes to a sketched feature.
Creating a New Part File
• New part files start with a template to provide standard configurations and settings.

Method 1: Create a part with a selected template.

1. Select New on the Home page.
2. Locate and select the required template.
3. Click Create.

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Creating a New Part File
Method 2: Create a part using the default template.

• Home page – Expand the New menu and select Part (.ipt).
• Quick Access Toolbar – Expand the (New) option and select Part.
• File menu – Select New>Part.

• Note that selecting New directly in any of these

areas opens the Create New File dialog box,
allowing you to select the template (Method 1).

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Creating a New Part File
• The default template is assigned in the Inventor Application Options.

1. In the Tools tab, click (Application Options).

2. In the Application Options dialog box, select the File tab and click Configure Default Template.
3. Set the required settings.
4. Click OK.
5. Close the Application Options dialog box.

• All new files created with the Part

option (Method 2) will use this
configured template.

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Creating a New Part File
• In a new part, the origin features are not visible.
• To toggle on visibility, click next to the Origin node to expand it, right-click and select Visibility.
• To toggle visibility on and off, select the feature and press <Alt>+<V>.
• To temporarily display, hover the cursor over the feature in the Model browser.

Y Axis
X Axis

Y Axis

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Sketched Base Features
General Steps:
Default origin plane
1. Start the creation of the sketch.
2. Define the sketch plane.
Solid base feature
3. Project reference entities, if required.
4. Create a 2D sketch of the base feature.
5. Select the base feature type.
6. Define the depth and direction.
7. Complete the feature.

Default origin planes

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Sketched Base Features
1. Start the creation of the sketch.
2. Define the sketch plane.
• In the 3D Model tab>Sketch panel, click .
• Right-click in the graphics window and select New Sketch.
• Once the command has been activated, the origin planes are temporarily displayed for selection.

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Sketched Base Features
3. Project reference entities, if required.

• In the Draw panel, click (Project Geometry) or right-click and select Project Geometry.
• Select any origin planes or axes to be projected onto the sketch plane.

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Sketched Base Features
4. Create a 2D sketch of the base feature.

• The Sketch tab contains options for sketching and editing the 2D geometry.

Sketch tab

• In the Tools tab>Options panel, expand (Application Options) or click (Document Settings).

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Sketched Base Features
4. Create a 2D sketch of the base feature.

• Sketch the 2D entities relative to the projected references.

• Line
• Move crosshairs to the start point and click the left mouse button.
• Move to the end point and click the left mouse button to locate the line.
• Continue selecting points to add more lines.
• Complete the line.
• Press <Esc> or <Enter>, right-click and select OK, or start new entity.
• After two or more line segments are drawn, right-click and select Close.

• Two Point Rectangle

• Move crosshairs to the start point and click the left mouse button.
• Move the crosshairs to the end point and click the left mouse button.
• Complete the rectangle.

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Sketched Base Features
4. Create a 2D sketch of the base feature.

• Center Point Circle

1. Select the center point as the start point for the circle.
2. Select a point on the outer extent of the circle.
3. Complete the circle.

• Center to Center Slot

1. Move the crosshairs to the start point at the arc-center on one end and click the left mouse button.
2. Move the crosshairs to the arc-center on the other end of the slot and click the left mouse button.
3. Move the cursor away from the created centerline to the required size of the slot and click the left
mouse button.
4. Complete the slot.

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Sketched Base Features
4. Create a 2D sketch of the base feature.

Revolved Sections
• Only sketch half the cross-section and an axis of revolution.
• Valid axis entities: lines, work axes, projected work planes, model edges, and construction lines.

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Sketched Base Features
4. Create a 2D sketch of the base feature.

• Dimensions
1. In the Sketch tab>Constrain panel, click (Dimension).
2. Select the entities with your left mouse button.
3. Click the left mouse button to place the dimension.

• (Automatic Dimensions)

• First general dimension determines sketch scale.

• Double-click on a dimension to modify it.
• Right-click on a dimension and select Delete.
• Dimensions vs. driven dimensions.
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Sketched Base Features
4. Create a 2D sketch of the base feature.

• Constraints
• Constraints are relationships between entities or between an entity and references.
• To display: Click (Show Constraints – Constrain panel) or (Show All Constraints – Status Bar).
• Color of entities can help identify if they are fully constrained (colors depend on the displayed environment)
• Click (Finish Sketch).
• Check Status Bar for sketch status.

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Sketched Base Features
5. Select the base feature type.

• In the 3D Model tab>Create panel, click (Extrude).

• Right-click in the graphics window and select Extrude.
• In the Model browser, right-click on the sketch and
click in graphics window.
• Press <E>.
• Similar options for other types.

Revolve Sweep
Extrude Loft

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Sketched Base Features
6. Define the depth and direction.

• There are two methods to define the depth of an extrude.

• Enter a Distance A value in the Properties panel or in the graphics window.
• Enable (Between) and customize a From and To reference plane selection.

Enter a value for Distance A appears as

Distance A. a driven dimension.

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Sketched Base Features
6. Define the depth and direction.

• There are four direction options to extrude from the selected profile.
Default Direction Flipped Direction

Asymmetrical Direction
Symmetrical Direction

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Sketched Base Features
7. Complete the feature.

• Click OK in the Properties panel.

• Right-click in graphics window and select OK.
• Press <Enter>.
• Click (Apply) to create the feature and continue creating another.

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Editing Sketched Features
• Many changes can be initiated through the Model browser.
• To redefine the sketch plane, right-click on the sketch, select Redefine, and select a new plane.
• To clear sketch visibility, right-click on the sketch and clear Visibility. Alternatively, select the sketch and
press <Alt>+<V>.
• To show source sketch plane, right-click on the sketch and click Show Input.

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Practices
Practice 2a: Extruded Base Features I

Practice 2b: Extruded Base Features II

Practice 2c: Revolved Base Feature

Practice 2d: Additional Parts

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