GEOMETRIC MODELING OF CASTED MACHINE PARTS WITH THE FOLLOWING MECHANICAL PROCESSING IN THE AUTODESK INVENTOR SOFTWARE

Abstract

The paper proposes an algorithm for geometric modeling in the environment of the Autodesk Inventor program for body machine-building parts, the subsequent production of which involves casting with subsequent machining. A modeling technology is proposed that is as close as possible to the real sequence of technological production operations. At the first stage, a casting model is built – a blank of a body part, which contains all the allowances for machining and the necessary casting radii. Then, using the inherently kinematic operations of three-dimensional modeling of the program, the structural elements of the part are simulated, the production of which requires mechanical processing (turning, milling, drilling, etc. operations).

The proposed approach is the most effective for modeling rather complex body parts with a large number of cast surfaces without subsequent machining. It is based on the use of Autodesk Inventor's automatic fillet function for all available edges (concave and convex). Performing mates by the classical method, when the designer manually selects the edges that require mating with a casting radius, after the formation of all structural elements of the part, inevitably takes a lot of time and requires a lot of experience, since it is associated with the need to select a large number of edges in a strictly defined sequence. This method often leads to errors, and in some cases, in principle, does not allow obtaining a model that would be adequate to the one that can actually be manufactured.

The paper gives options for the implementation of the proposed approach using the tools of the modeling environment of the Autodesk Inventor program. The algorithm was tested on a large number of training models, when creating models of real cast housing machine-building parts with subsequent machining.

The materials can be used when teaching a course in engineering and computer graphics, to study the basics of three-dimensional modeling and technology of mechanical engineering. They should also interest modern designers.

Key words: geometric modeling, computer graphics, Autodesk Inventor, body part, casting radii, educational process.