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CHAPTER 1 Inventor DesIgn PhIlosoPhy
ex p l o r i n g t h e vi e w cu B e
The ViewCube, shown in Figure 1.15, is a 3D tool that allows you to rotate the view. Here are
some viewing options:
If you click a face, edge, or corner of the cube, the view rotates so the selection is perpen-
•u
dicular to the screen.
If you click and drag an edge, the view rotates around the parallel axis.
•u
If you click and drag a corner, you can rotate the model freely.•u
If you click a face to have an orthogonal view, additional controls will display when your •u
mouse pointer is near the cube.
The four arrowheads pointed at the cube rotate the view to the next face.
•u
The arc arrows rotate the view by 90 degrees in the current plane.•u
If you click the Home icon (looks like a house), the view rotates to the default isometric view.
Clicking the drop-down arrow, or right-clicking the Home icon, reveals several options to change
the default isometric view behavior. For instance, you can modify the home view to any view you
like, and you can reset the front view in relation to your model so the named views of the cube
match what you consider the front, top, right, and so on.
Using a Wheel Mouse and 3D Input Device
Using a wheel mouse with Inventor is recommended. Scrolling the wheel will perform a Zoom In/
Out, while pressing the wheel will perform the Pan function. In Inventor, the wheel zoom is reversed
from AutoCAD. You can change this setting by going to the Tools tab, clicking Application Options,
selecting the Display tab, and selecting Reverse Direction in the 3D Navigation group.
Another useful tool for navigating in Inventor is a 3D controller device. A popular brand is the Space
series made by 3Dconnexion. These devices are small “joysticks” or “pucks” that sit on your desk.
The user grasps the puck, and by making very slight movements with the device, the model on the
screen moves. Pulling, pushing, and twisting the puck allows you to zoom, pan, and orbit the model
on-screen. Although you may find these devices awkward at first, most users say they could never
work as efficiently without one after just a few days of use.
Figure 1.15
The ViewCube
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