Inventor - shorten chassis segments?

[Domtech]

Originally Posted by scottydoh

This is a better method. If I remember correctly the "C" channels are drawn as sheet metal parts that at folded much as they are in real life. Its a much better practice to simply edit the original extrusion or sheet metal feature, rather than add additional sketches or features to the part.

They are extruded parts not sheet metal parts (in inventor, the reverse is true in reality)

[kramarczyk]

If you want to maintain an accurate BOM while shortening the rail, I recommend that you add the C-Base Rail to an assembly (presumably called Rail-Short or Rail - Long) and then add an extrusion(s) to cut the rail. You would then make a print of Rail-Short and flag out the use of the C-Base Rail in its construction. Save-As disconnects the new geometry from the old which may not be desirable. Also, if you add information to the AM rail at some point, like a hole or some iProperties (cost data) then none of the Save-As geometry will update, but all the stuff modified at assembly will.

Don't forget to pay attention to where the holes are in the AM rail are as you shorten it; it may be beneficial to take some material off both ends so that the hole patterns remain centered.

[smcmahon]

I assume many people use the Kit/Parts files provided by Autodesk or AndyMark (whichever creates them). Everyone should have the same issue then, of having to shorten the C-channel to make anything aside from a square. Again, being a novice, this seems difficult.

I'm getting the hang of constraining things, but I don't know about trying to modify already-created parts. I wonder if any teams have Inventor files available containing the shortened bars for a "long wheel base" style machine. I'll look around.

Anyways, thanks to everyone that's replied so far. Accurate, detailed, and quick answers are why I always come to Chief Delphi first. Thanks!

[inventor_phild]

Great discussion.

I modeled the chassis parts so you can edit a chassis section to whatever size you need.

My preference is using the Edit Feature option on the appropriate extruded feature.

[mglucido]

How do I avoid making the shortened channel affect all similar parts? Thx!

[jwfoss]

Originally Posted by mglucido

How do I avoid making the shortened channel affect all similar parts? Thx!

Do a "Save As" to the modified part, parts with the same name will be the same in your assemblies. You can do a "Replace Part" in the assembly once you have the new file created.

[mglucido]

Thx. EZ! ... still new to this

[inventor_phild]

Looks like you got good advice on how to modify the chassis parts. Let me know if you have any other questions.