1.1: Module 1 Projects

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Module 1 Projects

Wally Baumback

Learning Outcomes

When you have completed this module, you will be able to:

1. Describe an Inventor project.
2. Create the Inventor project that you will be using to organize and manage the files that you create while completing the Inventor book.

An Inventor Project

An Inventor project is a user named process to logically organize, store, and manage the valid links to the files created for an undertaking. For each project a user created name and a home folder is assigned. Inventor creates a project file that contains the project’s parameters and the paths to the locations of the files in that project. There is no limit to the number of projects that can be created. Inventor assigns a shortcut for each project so that you can easily select the appropriate project when required.

A project should be created so that it has a logical connection between the files in it. For example, if you were designing and drawing an office chair, all the individual parts of that chair, the assembly drawings, the design data, and the 2D working drawings would be stored in a project that you might name ‘ Office Chair ‘.

When a project is created, Inventor automatically creates a project file and saves it in the home folder of the project. A project file is automatically given the extension .ipj and contains the project parameters data as shown in Figure 1-1. This file also specifies the paths to the templates and files in the project. The information, parameters and data contained in the project file can be edited as required.

Figure 1-1
Typical Project Parameter Data List

MUST KNOW: When a project is created, Inventor automatically creates a project file and saves it in the home folder of the project. A project file is automatically given the extension.ipj and contains the data list of the project’s parameters. The extension .ipj is an acronym for Inventor Project.

Inventor Command: PROJECTS

The PROJECTS command is used to create or manage Inventor projects.

Shortcut: None

WORK ALONG: Creating the Project for the Inventor book

Step 1

Start Inventor and enable the Get Started tab. In the ribbon menu, click Projects. This will display the Projects window. (Figure Step 1)

Figure Step 1 [Click to see image full size]

AUTHOR’S COMMENTS: Do not be concerned if your version of Inventor does not match the figure exactly.

Step 2

Click the New button along the bottom of the dialogue box. The Inventor project wizard window will open. Enable the New Single User Project button and then click Next. (Figure Step 2A and 2B)

Figure Step 2A

Figure Step 2B

AUTHOR’S COMMENTS: Do not be concerned if your version of Inventor does not match the figures exactly.

Step 3

Name the project: Inventor Course. (Figure Step 3)

Figure Step 3

Step 4

Set the location for the Project (Workspace) Folder. To do that, click the Browse button (the one with the 3 dots at the right-hand of the Project (Workspace) Folder) window. In the Browse for Folder dialogue box, locate the folder: C:\CAD Courses\Inventor\Lab Exercises. Highlight it by selecting it and click OK. (Figure Step 4A and 4B)

Figure Step 4A

Figure Step 4B

AUTHOR’S COMMENTS: These are the folders that you created when you download the book and templates for the Inventor course. When the Inventor Course project is set as the current project,Inventor will automatically save the files that you create into the folder Lab Exercises – Inventor Course project.

Step 5

You should now see the Project (Workspace) Folder location as follows: C:\CAD Courses\Inventor\Lab Exercises (Figure Step 5)

Figure Step 5

AUTHOR’S COMMENTS: C:\CAD Courses\Inventor\Lab Exercises is the Home Folder for the Inventor Course project.

Step 6

The Project File to be created will automatically be created by Inventor. (Figure Step 6)

Figure Step 6

AUTHOR’S COMMENTS: Note how the box is grayed out. That means it cannot be edited and is there for information only.

Step 7

Check the completed page and ensure it matches the figure. Click the Finish button to complete the project setup. (Figure Step 7)

Figure Step 7

Step 8

The Project window will show the new project that you just created. Double click Inventor Course in the Projects name column and note how the check mark icon beside the Inventor Course project indicates it is the current project. (Figure Step 8)

Figure Step 8 [Click to see image full size]

AUTHOR’S COMMENTS: Ensure that the Inventor Course project is always the current project when you are working on all exercises in the Inventor book.

Step 9

Down near the bottom, expand Folder Options and click the Templates folder to select it. (Figure Step 9)

Figure Step 9

Step 10

While the Templates folder is selected, right-click the mouse. In the right-click menu, click Edit. (Figure Step 10)

Figure Step 10

Step 11

Click the Browse icon. (Figure Step 11)

Figure Step 11

AUTHOR’S COMMENTS: The Browse icon is the small magnifying glass folder icon at the end of the box.

Step 12

In the Browse For Folder dialogue box, locate and select the Templates folder: C:\CAD Courses\Inventor\Templates (Figure Step 12)

Figure Step 12

MUST KNOW: The folder location for the templates in the Inventor book should be set to C:\CAD Courses\Inventor\Templates\ in the Inventor Course project.

Step 13

Click OK and the dialogue box will appear similar to the figure. (Figure Step 13)

Figure Step 13 [Click to see image full size]

AUTHOR’S COMMENTS: This is the folder location where Inventor will look for template files when you enter the NEW command.

Step 14

Click Apply and Done to complete the new project.

Step 15

Exit Inventor.

Step 16

Open Windows Explorer and locate the folder Lab Exercises in the folder list. The file Inventor Course.ipj, that was automatically created by Inventor in this workalong, should appear in the file list. (Figure Step 16)

Figure Step 16

MUST KNOW: In the Projects window dialogue box, Inventor Course should always be the current project when you are working on all exercises in the Inventor book.

Key Principles

Key Principles in Module 1

1. An Inventor project is designed to logically organize, store, and manage the valid links to the files created for each undertaking. For each project, a name and a home folder must be assigned.
2. A project file is automatically given the extension .ipj and contains the project’s specifications.
3. check mark beside the Inventor Course project means it is the current project. Ensure that this project is always the current project when working on all exercises in the Inventor book.