IMAGINiT Technologies Software Exercise 1

Curve Driven Patterns

Autodesk Inventor

Curve Driven Patterns

Inventors Rectangular Feature Pattern contains advanced options for complicated patterns of geometry
including curve driven patterns based on curve length, distance, and spacing along a curve. The Curve
Length option uses the length of the path geometry (e.g., line, spline) as the total distance between the
first and last occurrence, and coupled with more complex sketches this type of Pattern is quite powerful.

This exercise will also showcase some of the more advanced modeling approaches available in the Inventor
Part environment including advanced patterns, coiled surfaces, and 3D Intersection curves.

Task 1: Create a New Part and Basic Shape

In this task a basic shape is created but this shape allows for complex design later in the exercise. A curve
driven pattern can exist on simpler geometry like flat faces or cylinders as well. The steps outlined in Tasks 1
and 2 create a solid foundation for the geometry that will be built later and maintain a healthy parametric
relationship for updating and revision throughout the design phase. Parameter relationships will be utilized for
stability.
Note: In place Parameter name definitions performed in the following tasks are only available in Inventor
2010. For previous versions rename the parameters directly in the Parameters dialog box.
Step Action and Instruction Result and Screenshots
1. Create a New Part
Make sure your default sketch plane is
set to XY in your Application Options.
Create a Part using the Standard
(mm).ipt template on the Metric tab.
2. Sketch the Basic Profile
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 IMAGINiT Technologies Software Exercise 2
Curve Driven Patterns
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Sketch the profile as shown on the
right taking care to anchor it to the
origin of the model with constraints.
Create Parameters in Place during the
creation.

Finish the Sketch.

3. Extrude the Shape
Start the Extrude command and use
HT=100mm for the Extents and
creation against the normal of the
plane.

Task 2: Create a 3D Path for Pattern

The steps in this task are some of the most complicated for creating geometry, but are very powerful. On
simpler shapes a simple line, arc, circle, or spline can suffice for a curve driven pattern.
Step Action and Instruction Result and Screenshots
1. Create a Coil profile
Use Thicken/Offset to offset the top face into the
cylinder; Use Hoffset=10mm.

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Curve Driven Patterns
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2. Create a Coil Sk etch
Use on the Offset Surface (located on
the Expanded portion of the Surface Panel);
Accept the defaults.
Create a new 2D sketch on the XZ Plane.
Use F7 to slice the graphics.
Use (located in Project
Geometry fly out).
Finish the Sketch and turn off the Visibility of
the OffsetSrf1 (Extend1 will turn off as well).

2. Create a Coil
Start the command.

Select Surface as the Output Type.

Select the small line profile in the 2D sketch.

Select the Z axis for the coil axis reference.
Ensure the Shape Axis builds toward the
bottom of the cylinder.
Click on the Coil Size tab.
3. Define Coil Siz e
Choose Revolution and Height from the pull
down list.
For Height use: CoilHT = HT 2*Hoffset.
For Revolutions: 3.00

Click OK

4. Create Intersection Curve

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Start a new 3D sketch.

Click Intersection Curve ( ).

Select the outside surface of the cylinder and the
coiled surface as references.
Click OK and Finish the Sketch.
Turn off the Visibility of Coil1.

Task 3: Create a Hole on the Shape

In this task a Hole is created using an On Point approach to properly place itself on the cylindrical shape.
This also adds more flexibility with its reference features for the Hole as described in the next task.
Step Action and Instruction Result and Screenshots
1. Create Hole References
Create a at the beginning of the
Intersection Curve.
Create a by selecting the new Work
Point in the browser (be careful not to select the
start point of the curve) and the outer face of the
cylinder. This will create a Work Axis
perpendicular to the face through the Work
Point.

2. Create a Hole
Start the Hole Command.
Select On Point from the drop down placement
list. Select the Work Point and the new Axis
for the Placement References (you may have to
flip the termination).
Assign Wall to Hole Depth.
Create HoleDia=6mm for Hole Width.
Turn off the Visibility of the Work Point, Work
Axis, and Coiled Surface created for the Hole.

Task 4: Pattern the Features

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 IMAGINiT Technologies Software Exercise 5
Curve Driven Patterns
Autodesk Inventor
In the previous task, a Hole is created for eventual use in the curve driven pattern. This is ideal if the holes
are identical throughout the pattern; however, if the holes are not to be identical the pattern should consist of
the Work Axis and Work Point alone for individual precise feature creation.
Step Action and Instruction Result and Screenshots
1. Create a Rectangular Pattern
Start
Select the Hole feature for Pattern.
Select Direction 1 Arrow and choose the
intersection curve. Make sure the direction
creates in the vector of the curve.
Select Curve Length from the drop down for the
feature placement of Direction 1. This will
input a grayed out value that is the length of the
actual intersection curve.
Use HoleCt=30 in the Count field.

2. Adjust Advanced Settings Identical Orientation

Expand the more chevrons.

Change the Orientation of the feature to

Direction 1 rather than the default Identical.
This will maintain the features creation to be
tangent to the 2D vector of the path based on the
first feature.

Direction 1 Orientation

Click OK.
From this exercise you can start to imagine the
depth of complex patterns that can arise during
the modeling process and can now look beyond
standard Rectangular Pattern.

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