Introduction to Autodesk® 123D® Tatjana Dzambazova – Autodesk

Assembling  components  –  Make  a  bike  

Above  is  an  illustration  of  a  bike  that  was  created  as  an  assembly  of  various  components.  In  this  lesson,  you  will  learn  how  to  assemble  various  components  that  exist  as  separate  123D  models  into  one  construct.  

Table  of  Contents  ASSEMBLIES  ....................................................................................................................................  2  

The  principle  of  assembling  .....................................................................................................  2  CREATING  AN  ASSEMBLY  ................................................................................................................  7  

Grounded  .................................................................................................................................  7  Insert  a  component  .................................................................................................................  8  Exercise  .................................................................................................................................  10  

Introduction to Autodesk 123D – Assembling components

2

ASSEMBLIES  

The  principle  of  assembling  123D   offers   a   powerful   set   of   assembly   tools,   accessible   in   the   ‘Main   Toolbar’,   under   the  ‘Design  Intent’  section.  

 

Assembling   tools   are   only   applicable   between   different   Components,   and   thus,   you   have   to  organize   your   123D  model   accordingly.     You   cannot   apply   assembly   rules   between   different  geometries  that  belong  to  the  same  component.  In  this  example,  the  approach  is  that  each  part  of   the   bike   is   modeled   as   a   separate   123D   model   and   then,   we   would   be   inserting   those  individual   components   in  one  overarching   ‘Bike’  project  and  assemble   them  with   the  help  of  various  assembly  technics.        

You  can  find  6  different  assembly  techniques  in  123D:  

• Mate:   allows   to   assembly   two   faces   of   two   different   components   to   become  parallel.   In  this  mode  of  assembly  the  direction  of  the  normal  of  the  two  faces  are  opposite   of   each   other   (see   illustration   for   clarification).   There   is   an   additional  option   to  define  a  gap   (offset)  between   the   spaces.  Note   that  when   selecting   two  components,   it   is   the   first   one   that   will   be   the   one   that   will   move   towards   the  second  one.  

   

Introduction to Autodesk 123D – Assembling components

3

• Flush:  This   technic   is   similar   to  Mate,  with   the  difference   that   the  direction  of   the  faces  is  the  same,  not  opposite  as  in  Mate.  Here  you  also  have  the  option  to  set  an  offset  between  the  assembled  faces.  

 • Angle:   Allows   you   to   define   an   angle   value   between   the   two   faces.   Additional  

control  allows  inverting  of  the  angle  value.  

 1. Align:   Use   the   Align   mode   between   two   edges   of   components   that   need   to   be  

aligned.   You   have   the   offset   option   here   as   well.   Align   can   also   be   applied   to  assemble  two  cylindrical  faces  or  two  axes.    

Introduction to Autodesk 123D – Assembling components

4

 2. Center:  Allows  you  to  place  2  circular  edges  in  a  concentric  manner.  You  can  inverse  

the  positioning  with  additional  option.  Offset  option  is  also  available.  

 3. Tangent:  Allows  you  to  position  two  faces  at  a  tangent.  Additional  control  allows  for  

inversing  the  tangent  condition.  Offset  is  also  available.    

 

Introduction to Autodesk 123D – Assembling components

5

123D  proposes  a  selection  of  assembly  modes  dependent  on  the  selection  made.  For  example,  if  two  faces  of  cylinders  were  selected,  123D  will  propose  only  those  assembly  modes  that  are  applicable;  which  would  be:  ‘Align’,  ‘Tangent’,  ‘Center’.  

Once  you  have  made  an  assembly  connection,  you  will  see  it   listed  in  the  Browser.  There  you  will   find   the   type   of   assembly   mode   that   was   applied   (Mate,   Flush,   Angle,   Align,   Center,  Tangent)   and   under   the   main   assembly   node,   you   can   see   the   components   used   in   the  assembly.  You  can  rename  the  default  name  of  an  assembly.  

 

A  right  click  on  the  assembly  in  the  Browser  opens  a  context  menu  in  which  one  can  find  the  following  options:  

4. Edit:  Allows  modifying  of  an  assembly.  It  is  however  not  possible  to  change  the  type  of   assembly.   The   controls   relevant   to   the   used   assembly   mode   will   be   displayed  (offset  and  inversion)  and  can  be  modified.    

5. Suppress:   This   option   is   displayed  with   a   delete   checkbox.  Once   an   assembly   rule  has  been  applied,  it  can  limit  the  movements  of  components  in  the  assembly.  If,  for  example,  you  used  ‘Mate’  assembly  type,   it  will  not  be  possible  any  more  to  move  one  of  the  objects  in  the  assembly.  The  ‘Suppress’  option,  when  checked,  indicates  to  123D  that  you  wish  to   ignore  the   imposed  constraints  by  the  selected  assembly  type.  

6. Delete:  Allows  deleting   in  a  definitive  way.  This   can  be   interesting  when  you  have  used  the  assembly  tool  only  to  position  easily  components  in  respect  to  each  other  but  where  you  are  not  interested  to  keep  a  constraint  between  the  components.    

Once   an   assembly   tool   is   used,   123D   will   try   to   preserve   the   constraints   during   the  editing  of  one  of  its  components.  For  example,  in  the  robot  example  that  you  see  in  the  illustration,   if   a   rotation   is   applied   to   the   ‘Upper   Leg   -­‐   Right’   component,   all   related  components  (‘Lower  Leg  -­‐  Right’  and  ‘Foot  -­‐  Right’)  will  also  move/pan  accordingly:  

Introduction to Autodesk 123D – Assembling components

6

 

Here  a  diagram  of  how  the  individual  components  were  assembled:  

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction to Autodesk 123D – Assembling components

7

CREATING  AN  ASSEMBLY  To  use  assembly  you  need  at  least  two  components.  The  order  of  what  you  click  first  is  crucially  important  for  the  final  result.  The  component  that  you  will  select  first  will  be  the  one  that  will  be  submitted  to  change  (move,  rotate  etc.)  to  accommodate  the  required  assembly  type.  After  having  selected  the  first  component  (or  a  face  of  it)  you  will  have  to  press  and  hold  the  ‘Shift’  key  before  selecting  the  second  component  (or  a  face  on  it).  In  the  following  example  we  want  to  create  assembly  between  the  rod  (green)  and  the  handle  (red).    This  is  how  the  scenario  will  look  like:  

• Select  the  circle  at  the  bottom  of  the  rod.  • Press  and  hold  the  ‘Shift’  key.  • Select  the  circle  at  the  end  of  the  red  component.    

 

In  this  example,  the  rod  will  be  moved  towards  the  handle.  

In  majority   of   the   cases   123D  will   choose   to   apply   the   correct   type  of   assembly,   but  we   still  have  a  choice  to  apply  different  ones,  using  the  selection  in  the  pill  menu.  Note  that  as  a  rule,  only  the  possible  assembly  types  will  be  displayed.    

Grounded  There  is  one  property  that  a  component  can  have  that  can  be  very  useful  during  assembling.  It  is  called  ‘Grounded’.  When  this  property  is  assigned  to  a  component,  this  component  will  not  move  from  its  location,  regardless  the  commands  applied.    To  see  or  apply  this  property,  select  a  component  node  in  the  browser  and  right  click.  

Introduction to Autodesk 123D – Assembling components

8

 

In   the   following   illustration  you  can  see  an  assembled  object.  The  goal   in   it  was   to  create  an  assembly   that   will   function   as   bielle/piston   when   the   red   handle   is   turned.   Without   any  component  set  as  ‘Grounded’,  the  rotation  of  the  handle  will  rotate  all  other  components  (see  the   illustration   in  the  middle)  which   is  not  the  effect  that  you  desire.   If  however,  you  declare  the  cylinder  to  be  ‘grounded’,  the  assembly  will  function  correctly  (as  shown  in  the  illustration  on  the  right  side).  

 

Insert  a  component  If  you  had  modeled  all  your  components  as  separate  123D  models,  you  will  have  to  insert  them  in  your  model   in  order  to  use  them  in  your  assembling.  To  do  that,  you  can  select  the   ‘Insert  Component’  option  that  appears  in  the  context  menu  of  the  main  node  in  the  Browser  or  you  can  find  the  same  option  in  the  ‘Main  Toolbar’,  under  the  ‘Primitives’  section.  

Introduction to Autodesk 123D – Assembling components

9

 

 

In  both  cases,  a  new  dialog  box  will  open.  In  it,  you  can  navigate  your  folders  and  find  the  123D  files  you  wish  to  insert.  Finish  with  Open.  

 

Once   the   insert   is   finished,   the   inserted   component   will   be   visible   in   the   Browser.   You   can  rename  it,   if  you  desire,  by  double-­‐clicking  on  the  name.    By  default,  123D  will  add  the  suffix  ‘CopyX’  where  ‘X’  represents  the  number  of  times  this  component  was  inserted.  If  as  example,  you  imported  twice  the  component  called  ‘Wheel  –  08’,  the  first  import  will  be  called  ‘Wheel  –  08Copy1’  and  the  second  ‘Wheel  –  08  Copy2’.  

 

Introduction to Autodesk 123D – Assembling components

10

   

Exercise  1. Open  the  folder  ‘KidBike-­‐Base.123d’.  It  contains  the  front  wheel  of  the  bike.  Zoom  in  to  

start  placing  other  components.    2. In   this   model,   using   the   method   described   before,   insert   the   ‘Rear   Wheel.123d’  

component.  Try  not  to  place  too  close  to  the  existing  component.    

 3. Insert  also  the  component  ‘Frame.123d’.  Place  it  close  to  the  rear  wheel.  

 4. Connect  the  rear  wheel  and  the  hole  of  the  ‘Frame’  component  using  an  assembly  type  

‘Center.  Use   zoom  whenever   you   feel   that   you  are  not  having  enough   control   to  pick  what  you  intended.  Start  by  selecting  the  hole  of  the  ‘Frame’  component  when  you  start  the  assembly.  Validate  when  done  (right  click,  ok).      

Introduction to Autodesk 123D – Assembling components

11

 

 

5. Insert  the  file  called  ‘Saddle.123d’.  Place  it  close  and  above  the  ‘Frame’  component.    

 6. Create,  between  the  ‘Saddle’  and  the  hole  in  the  ‘Frame’  component,  an  assembly  type  

using   the   ‘Center’   option.   Start   by   selecting   the   axis   of   the   ‘Saddle’   component  when  you  start  the  assembly.  Right  click,  OK  to  finish.  

Introduction to Autodesk 123D – Assembling components

12

 7. You  have  to  create  the  same  assembly  for  the  lower  axis  and  the  hole  corresponding  to  

the  ‘Frame’  component.  For  that,  you  should:  -­‐ Hide  the  ‘Frame’  component  in  order  to  be  able  to  see  the  entire  axis  of  the  

‘Saddle’  component.    -­‐ Start  with  the  assembly  by  selecting  the  circle  on  the  axis  (just  as  we  did   in  

step  6)    -­‐ Turn  back  on  the  visibility  of  the  ‘Frame’  component  and  hide  the  ‘Saddle’  to  

be  able  to  see  the  hole  in  the  frame.  -­‐ Finish  the  assembly  by  selecting  the  lower  circle  from  the  frame  (just  as  we  

did  in  step  6)  -­‐ Validate  to  confirm  the  assembly.  

8. Insert  the  ‘Fork.123d’  component.  Place  it  close  and  above  the  front  wheel.    

Introduction to Autodesk 123D – Assembling components

13

 9. Create,   between   the   axis   of   the   wheel   and   the   corresponding   hole   of   the   ‘Fork’   an  

assembly   type   ‘Center’.   Start   the   assembly   by   selecting   the   hole   in   the   ‘Fork’  component.  Validate  to  finish.  

 

 

10. Create   between   the   ‘Fork’   component   and   the   corresponding   hole   on   the   ‘Frame’  component  an  assembly  type  ‘Align’.  Start  the  assembly  process  by  selecting  the  hole  in  the  Fork’  component.  Validate  to  confirm  the  assembly.      

Introduction to Autodesk 123D – Assembling components

14

   

11. Make  additional  assembly  of  the  ‘Align’  type  between  these  two  components  in  a  way  that   the   fork   is  correctly  placed   in   the   framework.  Start   the  assembly  by  selecting   the  face  of  the  ‘Fork’  component  (attention,  it's  the  interior  face  that  needs  to  be  selected).  Validate  to  finish.  

 According  to  the  placement  made  for  the  framework,  you  might  need  to  select  different  faces  than  the  one   indicated  –  remember  the  goal   is  to  arrive  to  correct  placement  of  the  fork  in  the  frame.    

Introduction to Autodesk 123D – Assembling components

15

 12. Insert  the  file  called  ‘Main  Axis.123d’.  Place  it  close  and  above  the  framework.  

 13. Create  an  assembly   type   ‘Align’  between  the   ‘Main  Axis’  ad   the  corresponding  hole   in  

the   ‘Fork’.   Zoom   and   orbit   if   needed.   Start   the   assembly   process   by   selecting   the  cylinder  of  the  ‘Main  Axis’  component.  Validate  to  confirm  the  assembly.    

Introduction to Autodesk 123D – Assembling components

16

 14. You   will   need   to   make   additional   new   assembly   type   ‘Flush’   between   these   two  

components,   such   that   the   axis   is   correctly   positioned   in   respect   to   the   fork   and   the  framework.   You   should   start   the  assembly  by   first   selecting   the   top   face  of   the   ‘Main  Axis’  component.  Set  offset  value  of  -­‐0.5.  Validate  when  done.    

 15. From  the  Browser,  select  the  ‘Frame’  component.  Select  the  tool  ‘Move/Rotate/Scale’,  

reposition  the  triad  over  the  center  of  the  axis  of  the  back  wheel.  Don't  hesitate  to  zoom  or  orbit  to  place  the  elements  correctly.    Click  on  ‘Finish  Reorient’.  

Introduction to Autodesk 123D – Assembling components

17

 16. Orbit  the  view  so  that  you  can  make  a  rotation  around  the  ‘X’  axis.  Click  on  the  circle  of  

the  triad,  hold  the  click  and  apply  a  rotation  of  the  framework  by  dragging  the  mouse  in  (towards?)  right  direction.    

 17. Right  click  and  select  ‘Cancel’  to  delete  the  rotation.  

 

Introduction to Autodesk 123D – Assembling components

18

18. In  the  browser,  expand  the  ‘Assembly  Constraints’  node.  The  assembly  types  are  listed  and  when   you   hoover   the  mouse   over   each,   you   can   see   that   each   of   them  will   get  highlighted  in  the  model.  Find  the  one  that  we  placed  in  step  11  (between  the  fork  and  framework).  It  should  be  the  second  assembly  of  the  ‘Align’  type.        

19. Right  click  on  this  assembly  and  select  ‘Suppress’.  

 This,  as  previously  explained,  will  allow  you  to  turn  the  fork  and  see  if  the  constrains  are  respected  (if  all  was  done  well,  the  wheel  should  at  the  same  time).  

20. From  the  browser,  select  the  ‘Fork’  component.  Select  ‘Move/Rotate/Scale’,  reposition  the  triad  over  the  center  of  the  ‘Main  Axis’.  Zoom  to  position  correctly.  Click  on  ‘Finish  Reorient’  to  accept  the  new  position  of  the  triad.  

 21. Orbit  the  view  in  a  way  that  you  will  be  able  to  rotate  around  the  ‘Z’  axis.  Click  on  the  

circle  of  the  triad,  hold  the  click  and  apply  a  rotation  of  the  fork  by  dragging  the  mouse  towards  the  right.  

Introduction to Autodesk 123D – Assembling components

19

               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Autodesk  and  123D  are  registered  trademarks  or  trademarks  of  Autodesk,  Inc.,  and/or  its  subsidiaries  and/or  affiliates  in  the  USA  and/or  other  countries.  All  other  brand  names,  product  names,  or  trademarks  belong  to  their  respective  holders.  Autodesk  reserves  the  right  to  alter  product  and  services  offerings,  and  specifications  and  pricing  at  any  time  without  notice,  and  is  not  responsible  for  typographical  or  graphical  errors  that  may  appear  in  this  document.  ©  2012  Autodesk,  Inc.  All  rights  reserved.