How do you design things from scratch in inventor?

[jezequel]

This may seem like a silly question, but i havent seen any help on how to approach the design of something new, e.g a machine module. Personally i think you need to consider the thing as a whole, main lengths, pitches, datums etc then gradually add detail to each part.

Has anybody got any advice on how to aproach this...? Would you make a large 2D sketch and then extrude the various components into different parts? Clearly you wouldnt just design one component in isolation, then move onto the next etc.

Any help appreciated

 

[DesignerMike]

There are many different methods.

There is something called "skeleton modeling" where you use a 2D sketch which is derived and provides the basis for all the parts, or "muscular modeling"...Top down, bottom up...

It really depends on what type of equipment you are designing, are you starting with a bunch of existing components that are already in your library or starting from scratch? It also depends on how the designer "thinks" I personally see the big picture and throw some basic components together to get a general idea and flush it into all the details from there. It usually changes a lot along the way.

Sean has some great tutorials about some of these methods.

http://www.sdotson.com/tutorials.asp

 

[PeterCharles]

I'm currently designing an assembly model as the basis for a family of similar assemblies but with different dimensions.

I'm 'deriving' all the parts I need from one master sketch. So change the dimensions of the master sketch and hey presto a new assembly pops out!