When modeling in Inventor, you often have a feature that you would like to copy to another location on the same part or even to a totally different part. One of the basic rules to follow when modeling in Inventor is to keep all features separate. This will give you maximum flexibility if and when you need to edit a feature or redefine it. There are always exceptions but it is generally a very good rule to follow.
My model is a very simple block with two features placed on one face, a through hole (extrusion) and a rectangular cutout around that hole.
I would like to first copy the hole to the same face. Right click on the hole extrusion either in the browser or the graphic screen and select Copy. You can use Ctrl+C is you desire.
Right click on the graphics screen and select Paste or Ctrl+V from the keyboard.
The Paste Features dialog box appears and a ghosted image of the feature you are copying appears on the graphics screen.
In the Paste Features dialog box you have a few options. The first one is Paste Features with two possibilities to select from. Selected will maintain your current selection of just the hole extrusion. The second option is Dependent which will add any features that are referenced to the hole extrusion. In my example, the rectangular cutout is dimensioned off of the projected hole center so it will be copied if the dependent option is selected.
The next option is to select whether the Parameters of the two features are Dependent or Independent. If the dependent option is selected, the copied features would be parametrically linked to the original features and would update if the dimensions of the original feature change. If the Independent option is selected the features dimensions are not affected by the originals. In my example, I am going to choose Dependent.
I have jumped ahead a bit to show you the results in the Parameter table of both methods to help you understand how the Parameters choice affects the model.
Getting back to the Paste Features process, the next step is selecting the face of the model the feature will be copied onto. This can be a flat face, origin plane or workplane. Once one of these is
selected, the Profile Plane will be satisfied which is indicated by a green check mark.
Three options can be controlled from the Past Features dialog box or by selection of controls on the graphic display. Below are the controls in the Paste Features dialog box. These do not have to be
changed if your feature is oriented correctly on your model.
The Select X or Y Axis to Align tool begins by selecting the icon indicated above and then selecting each axis in the graphic display and assigning it to an edge or axis.
You can select the blue cross and drag the feature to another location on the face. Select a second time to place the feature. You can select the blue partial circle and drag the angle of the feature in the same manner. The value can be typed in in the Place Features dialog box if needed.
Select Finish placing the feature(s) in position. It is important to edit the sketch of the base feature that you copied to enter the correct sketch dimensions and re-constrain it into position. The sketches
from the original copied feature(s) are copied along with the model.
Copying features between separate parts is possible but there is one less option. You cannot Place Features with Dependent Parameters in a separate part, they must be Independent. The Paste Features can still be Selected or Dependent.
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