Tuesday, January 4, 2011

ALT + Drag Assembly Constraints

Issue:
In past versions of  Inventor you used the ALT + Drag method to create assembly constraints, and employed keyboard shortcuts to allow you to change the constraint type. But now when you try it the ALT key highlights the Ribbon Keytips* as shown below, and does not allow you to enter the keyboard short cut to change the constraint type.


Solution:
When you see the Ribbon Keytips appear, let up on the ALT key and then press the ALT key again.

Procedure:
You can drag a component into position and automatically place a constraint (with no offset) by following these steps
   1. Hold down ALT, and then click the component to drag.
   2. Drag the component into position. As the dragged component nears the target component, the constraint is previewed.
   3. When the component is in the appropriate position, release the mouse to place the constraint. 

The type and solution of constraint you get depends on the geometry selected. For instance, when you drag a cylindrical part over another cylindrical part or hole, an inferred Mate constraint along the axes results. If you position the dragged part over a component face, Inventor infers a mate between planar faces.

   4. Change the constraint type by letting up on the ALT key and then pressing the ALT key again, then use one of these keyboard shortcuts:

M or 1 Changes to a mate constraint.
A or 2 Changes to an angle constraint.
T or 3 Changes to a tangent constraint.
I or 4 Changes to an insert constraint.
R or 5 Changes to a rotation motion constraint.
S or 6 Changes to a translation (slide) motion constraint.
X or 8 Changes to a transitional constraint.

The constraint glyph will change to indicate the current constraint type. If the geometry does not allow for one of the constraint types that Keyboard short cut is not offered.


*What are Keytips?
  • Use the keyboard to access the Application Menu, Quick Access toolbar, and ribbon. 
  • Press the Alt key or F10 to display shortcut keys for common tools in the application window. Keytips allow you to perform tasks without using your mouse. 
  • When you select a keytip, more keytips are displayed for that tool. Keytips appear as underlined characters to indicate which key or combination of keys on the keyboard must be pressed to activate a command.

Keytips allow you to navigate in the Application Menu and in the ribbon using only the keyboard. Use the keyboard arrows to navigate to commands on the ribbon and Application Menu

Note: Keytips are not customizable.