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Wire Guards
2

Wire Guards

Wire Guards

(OP)
Hi All,

Program: Autodesk Inventor 2010

I'm trying to draw a circular wire guard using 6mm diameter M.S. wire on a 450mm O.D. (diameter) which I will attach a welded mesh.  I can produce a 2D drawing using Autocad but don't know where to start when it comes to Inventor.

Can anyone give me a clue on how to get this started.

Best Rgds,
Dave R.

RE: Wire Guards

Roughly speaking you need to define a 2d  cross section through your wire, and then sweep it around a big circle.

The trick here is to make sure you use workplanes correctly.

I haven't used inventor in a while, sorry i can't be more specific.

 

Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies  http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

RE: Wire Guards

(OP)
Hi Greg,

Yes getting the workplanes may be the answer.  I tried several ways without success but I'll keep trying - there's got to be a way.

Thanks again

Best Rgds,
Dave R

RE: Wire Guards

Are you trying to create it in the assembly? You can probably use the origin planes rather than create user defined work planes.

If it is simply a hoop, all you need is circular profile and an axis to rotate it around.

Can you post what you have so far or a picture of what you would like to achieve?
 

RE: Wire Guards

Open inventor
new part
opens in 2d sketch

select line tool
draw a line
right click on it, change it to a centreline.
select circle tool
draw a circle
finish sketch
select rotate
it automatically picks the axis and the section, and extrudes it for you.


 

Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies  http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

RE: Wire Guards

(OP)
Hi Greg,

I've been playing around and I'm slowly getting there.

I started off with a circle offset from the sketch centre and did a revolve then on different axis made sketches to create my centre support rods - file attached.  Now all I have to do is create the weldmesh placed over the whole frame, this I think is going to be the hard part.

Will let you know how I get on.

Best Rgds,
Dave R

RE: Wire Guards

(OP)
Hi mcgyvr,

Hey that's great.  That has just saved me from a lot of work.

Maybe the next version of Inventor will have an additional tab to create such items.  The current grill item on the plastic part tab appears only for square or rectangular mesh grills.

Best Rgds,
Dave R

RE: Wire Guards

I'd hate to see the file size of a model with an actual grill/mesh modeled like yours. I have enough trouble with sheet metal parts with over 100 vent holes.

RE: Wire Guards

(OP)
Hi mcgyvr,

I'm not sure I follow what you mean.?

The fan guard I am trying to draw with Inventor is a standard design that attaches to the flange on the actual fan case.  The welded mesh is also a standard "Off-the-shelf" item.

I did try using 3mm plate with round or square holes cut into it but that proved expensive to produce.

Best Rgds,
Dave R.

RE: Wire Guards

What I mean is if you were to actually try to model the mesh you could really slow Inventor down. That part might be a very large file size compared to simply attaching the texture to a surface. I have a part that I use that I modeled each and every hole (100+ holes..actually probably close to 500 holes) and to do changes to that model takes forever because of all the computing Inventor has to do with the 500 holes.  

RE: Wire Guards

(OP)
Hi mcgyvr,

I get your point now, just couldn't see it at the time.  Yes, there would be a lot of holes in my guard, will have to re-think the idea.

Thanks again
Dave R.

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