To delete faces in Autodesk Inventor, you use the dedicated Delete Face command. You cannot use the Delete key to remove individual faces directly in the graphics window or from the browser hierarchy in the same way you might delete a sketch object or a feature.
Here's a breakdown of how the Delete Face command works and what it does:
Understanding the Delete Face Command
Unlike simply pressing the Delete key, the Delete Face command in Inventor is a specific modeling tool designed for removing faces from solid bodies or surface bodies.
- When you execute the Delete Face command, it doesn't just instantly vanish the face. Instead, the Delete Face command creates a Delete Face feature. This feature is then added to the browser hierarchy, showing up as an icon that you can edit or suppress later. This makes the operation parametric and part of your model's history.
- A key consequence of using this command on a solid body is that the operation automatically converts a part to a surface. The software replaces the solid part icon at the top of the browser with a surface icon, indicating that your model is now a surface body, as it's no longer watertight or completely enclosed.
- You can delete multiple faces simultaneously using this command.
How to Use the Delete Face Command (General Steps)
While the exact location might vary slightly depending on your Inventor version and workspace, the command is typically found within the 3D Model tab.
- Locate the Delete Face command. It's often found in panels related to surface modeling or modifying features.
- Activate the command.
- Select the face(s) you wish to delete in the graphics window.
- Confirm the selection (usually by clicking OK or Apply in the command dialog).
The selected faces will be removed, and if applied to a solid, your model will become a surface body with a new Delete Face feature listed in the browser.
Why Not Just Use the Delete Key?
As highlighted in the reference, attempting to press the Delete key on an individual face of a solid body does not trigger the specialized face-removal operation required in parametric modeling software like Inventor. The Delete Face command is specifically engineered to handle the geometric complexities and topological changes that occur when a face is removed, including the conversion to a surface body and maintaining a feature history.
In summary, remember that deleting faces in Inventor is a feature-based operation performed with the Delete Face command, not just a simple key press.
