Inventor

and Its Applications

Chapter 5B

S t u d e n t We b S i t e

Solid Body Fundamentals

Inventor includes many surface and solid tools for a variety of applications. The solid body
functions provided for feature tools, as well as additional solid tools, are primarily for creating
assembly components in a part model. A part file with a single solid is a single part. However,
you can create multiple solids in a part file to represent different parts, and then derive the solids
to build an assembly and multiple part files. This is an example of a process that some designers
refer to as top-down design.

Multiple Solids
Figure 5B- illustrates a basic example of creating two solid bodies in a part file
Manage
to model the two pieces of a thumb nut. Solid1 represents the threaded metal insert
> Layout
and Solid2 represents the plastic housing. The New solid button of the Extrude
dialog box allows you to build Extrusion1 as the base feature, which is the first
Solid1 feature required to build Solid1. You need to use the New solid button of the
Make Components
Extrude dialog box only once more to create Extrusion2, which is the first Solid2
feature. See Figure 5B-2A.
Ribbon

top-down design: A design approach in which the assembly controls, or produces, individual components.
Inventor and Its Applications 2010
Copyright by Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.

Inventor
and Its Applications

Chapter 5B

S t u d e n t We b S i t e
Figure5B-1.
An example of a thumb
nut assembly of two
components created in a part
model using two solids. Each
solid is assigned a unique
color to distinguish its
features. By default, all solids
use the same color.

Features consumed
by Solid1

Features consumed
by Solid2

When adding a feature to the model, you now have the option of selecting which solid
receives the feature. The Solids button available in feature dialog boxes allows you pick one or
more solids to associate with the feature. Figure 5B-2B shows using the Solids button to select
Solid2 to apply Revolution2. Generally, each solid includes only its own unique features, as does
a part. Use the Solids folder in the browser to view and select solids and features assigned to
each solid.

Inventor and Its Applications 2010

Copyright by Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.

Inventor
and Its Applications

Chapter 5B

S t u d e n t We b S i t e
Figure5B-2
AAdding an extrusion to
the part model, and creating
a new solid. BAssigning
a new feature to an existing
solid.

Solid1 formed as a
new solid when creating
Extrusion1
Solid1 and part model
base feature

Pick to create a new solid

and the first feature consumed
by the solid

New
solid

Solid2
base
feature

New solid Extrusion2

sketch profile

A
Highlighted solid
receives the feature

Select only when

creating a new solid

B
Inventor and Its Applications 2010
Copyright by Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.

Inventor
and Its Applications

Chapter 5B

S t u d e n t We b S i t e
Deriving Solids
Once you create solids to represent each assembly component, you can use the Make Components
tool to derive an assembly file and each component. See Figure 5B-3. You can make changes to
features in the original part model to adjust the design, and then update the changes in the derived
part and assembly files. This represents a very different method of working with an assembly
and components. You may find this process appropriate for some applications, such as molded
polymer products that have few components.
Figure5B-3.
Deriving solids from a part
model to create an assembly
file and two part files. Notice
the names of the solids are
changed to the desired file
names before deriving.

Using the Make Components tool and

dialog box to extract solids as parts

Change default solid

names to file names

Solids selected from browser

Assembly file that will

receive solids as parts

Original Part Model

Inventor and Its Applications 2010

Copyright by Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.

Inventor
and Its Applications

Chapter 5B

S t u d e n t We b S i t e
Figure 5B-3. (continued)

Derived Assembly

Derived Parts

Single Solid
This textbook focuses on creating a single solid body in a part file. This is an example of a
process that some designers refer to as bottom-up design. You will, however, explore the process
of creating assembly components within an assembly file, which is also a form of top-down

bottom-up design: A design approach that brings individual components together to form an assembly.
Inventor and Its Applications 2010
Copyright by Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.

Inventor
and Its Applications

Chapter 5B

S t u d e n t We b S i t e
design. When each part model includes a single solid, the base feature uses the New solid operation. The Solids button is inactive because the model does not include additional solids from
which to choose. Do not select the New solid button, available when adding features, if you
intend to create a separate part file for each assembly part.

CAUTION
As you learn to use Inventor, you may want to explore tools and techniques
for creating multiple solid bodies, and then derive the bodies to create
assembly and individual part files. For now, and throughout the exercise
and problems in this textbook, create a single solid body per part file.

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sougsgo.

NOTE
Inventor includes several tools and options for creating and working with
solid bodies. Many of these functions are required for importing, converting,
and exporting surface models.

Inventor and Its Applications 2010

Copyright by Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.