Inventor Question about Opening .stp files
 

Hello Everyone,

In inventor, when I try to open .stp files, sometimes it says that the file cannot be inserted, and then sometimes it shows up, and sometimes it doesn't. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks,
- Sunny

Re: Inventor Question about Opening .stp files
 

If you give me more information I may be able to help you out. What file are you opening? What version of Inventor? Is your computer able to support large assemblies with easy, or does it slow it down?

-Rion

Re: Inventor Question about Opening .stp files
 

It sounds like you are trying to place the file directly into an assembly. What you need to do is open the step file by itself save it to inventor and then place it in your assembly

Re: Inventor Question about Opening .stp files
 

Sorry for not getting to this thread.

I mean, it happens with every .stp file that I try to open. When I take the file for the standard 2010 KOP toughbox from AndyMark, it says it cannot insert the object, and then it opens up a blank display.

But then when I opened the 3.5" extension shaft for the toughbox, that still gave me the same error, but the shaft appeared directly after I hit "Cancel" on the error screen.


That's what I've been trying to do. I've just tried to simply open the file and that's the error I get. I haven't tried to directly import it into an assembly.

Re: Inventor Question about Opening .stp files
 

Very weird... I can not help with the step issue but I can give you a link to a different copy of the drawing.
http://team1323.com/cad/pages/motors-gearboxes.html
Under Gearboxes you will find the toughbox

Re: Inventor Question about Opening .stp files
 

Awesome, Thanks for the link. It's just as good as the original.

While I have your attentions, I just have one last question.

I have been wanting to make my own gearbox for a couple of days now, but I'm just kind of lost as to how to approach this. I guess the main thing that is throwing me off is the distance between the center of the gears.

I was tempted to say that the distance between the center of gears would be equal to the inner radius of the gear + the outer radius of the other gear, but I know that gears don't sit tight into each other.

Then, I was just tempted to eyeball it, but that's not a "correct" workflow and it's not something that I wanted to depend on.

Thanks for any help.

Re: Inventor Question about Opening .stp files
 

You can use Inventor Design accelator and set the gear size (teeth) and the pitch and the pressure angle and it will produce a center distance some people add .003 to that number. I believe AndyMark does (I maybe wrong please correct me)

Re: Inventor Question about Opening .stp files
 

Sunny,

I used a calculator that chrisL made and a member on our team integrated parts of it into one big one.

http://www.team1323.com/resources/ma...alculator.html

Just enter 20 under DP. It adds a .003 to the overall Center to Center. I've used this multiple times in designing gearboxes for last year and this year.

Yep Jeff,

You are right with the added Center to Center distance.

-RC

Re: Inventor Question about Opening .stp files
 

Thanks for the help everyone. I found the formula online, and I've been adding .001, but I guess I'll add a little extra room.

Thanks again,
Sunny