How to Change Units in Autodesk Inventor 2018?

Understanding the Unit System in Autodesk Inventor 2018

Autodesk Inventor 2018 provides a flexible unit system that allows users to work with various measurement types, including imperial and metric units. Changing units is an essential skill that ensures your designs are accurately represented according to your requirements.

Changing Units in a Part or Assembly Document

1. Launch Autodesk Inventor and open your desired part or assembly document.
2. Navigate to the Tools tab located in the main menu.
3. Within the Tools tab, locate and select Document Settings.
4. A dialog box will appear with different settings. Click on the Units option.
5. From the unit selection menu, choose your preferred measurement system, such as inches or millimeters. Confirm your selection by clicking OK.

Viewing Current Unit Settings

If you want to check the existing unit settings for your document:

1. Go back to the Tools tab and click on Options.
2. In the panel that appears, navigate to Document Settings and select the Standard tab.
3. Look for the Active Standard dropdown menu, where you can view and change your unit settings (e.g., switching from ANSI to ANSI-mm).

Switching from Imperial to Metric Units

To transform units from an imperial system (like inches) to a metric system (like millimeters):

1. Open the part or assembly document in Inventor.
2. Click on the Manage tab found on the menu.
3. In the Styles Editor, go to the Dimension category.
4. Here, you have two options: right-click to create a new dimension style, or select an existing style to modify.
5. Find the Units box within the Units tab, click the dropdown menu, and select mm for millimeters.

Adjusting Dimensional Units in Drawings

To modify specific dimensional units within your drawing:

1. In the drawing interface, right-click on the dimension you want to change.
2. Select the Edit Dimension Style option from the context menu.
3. You will be taken to the Style and Standard Editor, where you can change various settings related to dimension units.

Changing Angular Measurement Units

For designs that involve angular measurements, it might be necessary to switch between radians and degrees:

1. In the document settings, navigate to the Units tab.
2. Locate the angle measurement section and change the default from radians to degrees.
3. Click OK to apply the changes.

Scaling Your Design

When you need to resize your components or sketches, you can follow these steps:

1. Click on the Sketch tab, locate the Modify panel, and select Scale.
2. Choose the geometry to be scaled in the graphics area.
3. Set your base point for scaling by clicking within the graphics window.
4. Drag outward or inward to increase or decrease the size accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I revert my unit settings back to their original state?
Yes, you can always revisit the Document Settings under the Tools tab to switch back to your previous unit settings if needed.

2. Will changing units affect existing measurements within my model?
While changing the units does not alter the geometry itself, it will update how dimensions are displayed. Ensure to check your dimensions for accuracy post-adjustment.

3. Can I customize my unit settings for future projects?
Absolutely! You can set a standard for your documents by adjusting the default unit settings in the Document Settings menu. This way, every new project will start with your preferred unit configuration.