To change workspace units in Inventor, you need to access the Document Settings and modify the units there. This process ensures that measurements for length, mass, and angle within your active design are displayed and calculated according to your preferred system.
Understanding Inventor Units
Inventor allows users to work with various unit systems to accommodate different design standards and geographical requirements. Changing the workspace units typically affects the active document, meaning each part, assembly, or drawing file can have its own unit settings. This is crucial for maintaining design intent and ensuring compatibility when collaborating with others.
Common unit types you might encounter include:
- Length: Millimeters (mm), Inches (in), Centimeters (cm), Meters (m), Feet (ft)
- Mass: Kilograms (kg), Pounds (lb), Grams (g)
- Angle: Degrees (deg), Radians (rad)
- Time: Seconds (s)
Step-by-Step Guide to Changing Units
Changing the units in your Inventor workspace is a straightforward process that can be completed in just a few clicks. Follow these steps for precise control over your document's measurement system:
- Go to the 'Tools' Tab.
- Navigate to the top ribbon in Inventor. You will find various tabs like "Model," "Sketch," "Annotate," and "Tools." Click on the 'Tools' Tab to access document-specific and application options.
- Select 'Document Settings'.
- Within the 'Tools' tab, look for the 'Options' panel. Here, you will find the 'Document Settings' icon or dropdown menu. Click on it to open the Document Settings dialog box. This dialog box contains various configurations specific to your current Inventor file.
- Activate the "Units" tab.
- The 'Document Settings' dialog box will present several tabs (e.g., 'Standard,' 'Modeling,' 'Drawing'). Locate and click on the "Units" tab. This tab is specifically designed for managing the measurement units of your active document.
- Switch Units.
- Once on the "Units" tab, you will see dropdown menus or options for different unit categories (Length, Angle, Mass, Time, etc.). Switch Units by selecting your desired measurement system (e.g., changing 'Length' from 'mm' to 'in' or 'Mass' from 'kg' to 'lb').
- After making your selections, click 'Apply' or 'OK' to save the changes and update your document's workspace units.
Table: Common Unit Settings in Inventor
| Unit Type | Default (Metric) | Common Alternatives (Imperial/Other) |
|---|---|---|
| Length | Millimeter (mm) | Inch (in), Centimeter (cm) |
| Angle | Degree (deg) | Radian (rad) |
| Mass | Kilogram (kg) | Pound (lb), Gram (g) |
| Time | Second (s) | Minute (min), Hour (hr) |
Practical Insights and Considerations
- Document-Specific: Remember that changing units through 'Document Settings' affects only the current Inventor file you are working on. It does not change the global application settings or other files you open.
- Templates: If you frequently work with specific units, consider creating custom document templates (
.ipt,.iam,.idw) with your preferred unit settings pre-configured. This saves time and ensures consistency. - Unit Conversion: When you change units, Inventor typically performs a geometric scale to adapt the existing model to the new unit system. For instance, if you change from inches to millimeters, a 1-inch feature will become a 25.4 mm feature. Be mindful of this when switching units on an already designed model.
- Drawing Files: For drawing files, the units set in the base part or assembly document usually dictate the dimension units. However, you can often override or display alternate units within the drawing environment itself.
By following these steps, you can effectively manage and change the workspace units in your Inventor documents, ensuring your designs adhere to the necessary measurement standards.
