Creating Contoured and Plastic Parts - Autodesk Inventor 2010: No Experience Required - page 411

For the fi rst exercise, you'll use a tool that is unique in its approach to using
surfaces to develop a solid model.
The Sculpt Tool
In previous jobs, I've frequently worked with surface modeling tools. If you've
never worked with a dedicated surface modeler, don't. Relatively few product types
require it, and typically the workfl ow to create parts is considerably more com-
plex than should be necessary. I wish I'd had access to Inventor's Sculpt tool years
ago. It would've saved me many hours per week.
Using the tool is a straightforward process. First, you construct a collection of
overlapping surfaces. Then, you start the Sculpt tool and click those surfaces (or
planes); Sculpt fi nds the void between the surfaces and fi lls it with a solid model.
There is only one primary option. When you select surfaces, a double-ended arrow
appears, indicating the direction you want to favor. This can switch Inventor from
ignoring a surface that passes through the body to using it to change the exte-
rior boundary or create another void contour that acts like a part has been cut
out. You can also use Sculpt to modify an existing solid body, similar to the Split
tool but with more fl exibility.
The Sculpt tool's dialog box is very simple. If you have an existing body, you
can select whether you'll be adding or subtracting geometry as the default. You
then select the planes and surfaces.
Expanding the dialog with the More button displays the list of selected sur-
faces so you can choose the surface direction in the dialog instead of clicking
the arrows on the surfaces.
Now, you'll use the Sculpt tool to create the knob for your switch.
Sculpting the Power Knob
This quick exercise will give you a feel for the Sculpt tool and some practice with
the Emboss tool:
1. Open the Power Knob.ipt fi le from the Parts folder.