After the model is assembled in the assembly file, a presentation file can be created using it. A presentation file is a file in which a view of an assembly is exploded and can be animated. It can also be rotated so that is can be viewed from different angles. A presentation file is created using the NEW command and selecting a presentation template. A presentation file has the extension .ipn. IPN is an acronym for Inventor PreseNtation.

Exploded Views

An exploded view shows the assembly as if it were dismantled and the components of the assembly shown in the order and orientation that they fit together to create the assembly. Assemblies can be exploded automatically by Inventor, tweaked manually, or a combination of the two methods, complete with trails. A tweak is the distance that the part is moved from the grounded part while the trails are the lines in an exploded view that show the relationship of the component to the assembly. Combined, they indicate the direction and distance that a component was moved to create the view. Exploded assembly drawings are used in design presentations, catalogues, and assembly instruction. Figure 23-1 shows an exploded and rotated view of an assembly.

Animations

An animation is a series of images of an exploded assembly showing each components tweak at a set interval speed making a small motion picture of an assembly or a disassembly.

Tweaking

Tweaking is the process of moving the components from the grounded component. The tweak is the distance measured from the grounded unit. In the automated explosion method, the tweak distance is same for each part. If the tweak distance is set to 35, that means the first part is 35 mm from its location and the second part is 70 mm etc. This can be seen if the children in the Browser bar are expanded as shown in Figure 23-2. To tweak components manually, use the TWEAK COMPONENT command.

Animating the Exploded Assembly

After the exploded assembly is tweaked, it can animated to show the assembly and the disassembly of the model. An animation is simply a series of frames or pictures of the assembly displayed one frame at a time. The amount of time between frames is called the interval. The larger the interval, the slower the animation and the shorter the interval, the faster the animation. The number of repetitions can also be set.

Step 1

Check the default project and if necessary, set it to Inventor Course.

Step 2

Use the following instructions to complete all parts in this workalong. Create the following parts and ensure that you do the following:
A Each part must be saved in its own .ipt file.
B Project the Center Point onto the Base sketch plane and note the location of X0Y0Z0.
C Draw the necessary sketches and extrude or revolve them to produce the solid model. Apply all of the necessary geometrical and dimensional constraints to fully constrain it.
D Apply the colour and material shown.

Step 3

Create the part file as follows:
Part: Base
Part Name: Inventor Workalong 23-1A Template: Metric-Modules Part (mm).ipt Color: Aluminum Cast Material: Aluminum 6061 (Figure Step 3A and 3B)

Template: Metric-Modules Part (mm).ipt

Color: Aluminum

Cast Material: Aluminum 6061 (Figure Step 3A and 3B)

Step 4

Change the colour of the machined faces to: Mirror.

Part: Slotted Wheel
Part Name: Inventor Workalong 23-1B
Template: Metric-Modules Part (mm).ipt
Color: Mirror
Material: Chrome – Polished Blue (Figure Step 4A, 4B, and 4C)

Part: Connecting Shaft
Part Name: Inventor Workalong 23-1C
Template: Metric-Modules Part (mm).ipt
Color: Copper – Polished
Material: Copper (Figure Step 4D and 4E)

Part: Spacer
Part Name: Inventor Workalong 23-1D
Template: Metric-Modules Part (mm).ipt
Color: Blue – Wall Paint – Glossy
Material: ABS Plastic (Figure Step 4F and 4G)

Part: Washer
Part Name: Inventor Workalong 23-1E
Template: Metric-Modules Part (mm).ipt
Color: Steel – Polished
Material: Steel (Figure Step 4H and 4J)

Part: Nut
Part Name: Inventor Workalong 23-1F
Template: Metric-Modules Part (mm).ipt
Color: Steel – Polished
Material: Steel (Figure Step 4K and 4L)

Step 5

Assemble all of the parts that you just created as shown in the figures.
Assembly: Slotted Connector
Assembly Name: Inventor Workalong 23-1.iam
Template: Metric-Modules Assembly (mm).iam (Figure Step 5A and 5B)

Step 6

Enter the NEW command and enable the Metric tab. Select the template file: Modules Presentation (mm).ipn (Figure Step 6)

Step 7

Enter the CREATE VIEW command. It will open the Select Assembly dialogue box. (Figure Step 7)

Step 8

Click the Search Folder icon at the end of the file name. It will open the Open dialogue box. In the Lab Exercises folder, select the file: Inventor Workalong 23-1.iam and click Open. (Figure Step 8)

Step 9

In the Select Assembly dialogue box enable Automatic and Create Trails in the Explosion Method area. Enter the Distance of 35 mm. Click OK. The exploded assembly should appear as shown in the figure. (Figure Step 9A and 9B)

Step 10

Enter the PRECISE VIEW ROTATION command. In the Incremental View Rotate dialogue box, set the Increment to 10. (Figure Step 10)

Step 11

Click the Right Rotate icon twice. This will rotate the model 20 degrees to the right. Click the Up Rotate icon once. This will rotate the model 10 degrees upwards. (Figure Step 11)

Step 12

Enter the TWEAK COMPONENTS command. It will open the Tweak Component dialogue box. Set it as shown in the figure. (Figure Step 12)

Step 13

Ensuring that Direction is enabled, zoom in and move the cursor on the top of the nut. When the direction icon is displayed as shown in the figure, click the left mouse button. (Figure Step 13A and 13B)

Step 14

Look at the Browser bar for the tweak you just created. It will show two tweaks for part:

Inventor Workalong 23-1F:1, which is the nut. The 175.000 mm tweak was created in the automatic explosion in Step 9 and the 185.000 mm from the manual tweak you just completed. (Figure Step 14)

Step 15

Click the Clear button to clear the current settings. Using the Browser bar in Figure Step 15A, manually tweak the assembly to match the figure shown in Figure Step 15B. (Figure Step 15A and 15B)

Step 16

Enter the ANIMATE command. It will open the Animation dialogue box. Set the Interval to 25 and the Repetitions to 1. (Figure Step 16)

Step 17

Study Figure Step 17A, 17B, 17C, and 17D. Play the animation of the assembly that you created in this workalong. Try the different options allowed in the Motion box. (Figure Step 17A, 17B, 17C, and 17D)

Step 18

Set the Interval to 15 and the Repetitions to 3. Play the animation using these parameters both forward and in reverse. (Figure Step 18)

Step 19

Save and close the file.