With the release of Autodesk Inventor 2024, the software now provides a third method that you can use to create weld symbols in your designs. This new method allows you to add an annotation directly in the assembly model without associating it to any weldment feature geometry. Before I go into depth describing the new method, here is a quick summary of the other two methods that have been around for years:
- In an assembly file, you can create weldment geometry and then, within the weldment environment, associate a symbol to that weld geometry. You can add a welding symbol to any of the weld types during creation by activating the Create Welding Symbol option available in the Fillet Weld, Cosmetic Weld, and Groove Weld dialog boxes. You then define the weld, and it becomes associated with the weld feature geometry, as shown for the fillet and cosmetic weldment geometry in the image below. Weldments are discussed in ASCENT’s Autodesk Inventor: Advanced Assembly Modeling learning guide.
- Weld symbols can also be added in a drawing. This can be done using the Welding option in the Annotate tab>Symbols panel, as shown below.
In both these methods, and in the new third method, the dialog box that is used to define the weld is almost the same.
Note: If you have already created a weldment in your assembly, you can show the weldment symbol in a drawing view without having to create a new weld symbol in the drawing. Use the weldment options in the Drawing View dialog box’s Model tab, as needed, when placing the view to display the weldment geometry and/or its symbol.
Adding a Weld Annotation – New in Inventor 2024!
In Inventor 2024, you can now add a welding symbol as a 3D annotation to communicate weld information in either part or assembly models. By adding the symbol as an annotation that is stored with the model geometry, you can avoid creating weldment geometry. For example, the same model that was shown above is shown here with weld annotations. Weld annotations are taught in the Autodesk Inventor: Working with 3D Annotations & Model-Based Definition learning guide.
To add a weld annotation symbol, complete the following:
1. In the Annotate tab>General Annotation panel, click (Welding Symbol).
2. Select an edge or face to define the reference geometry that is to be welded. The selected location defines where the leader of the symbol will point.
3. Select the annotation plane to place the symbol. If the default annotation plane does not display as required, consider using the following options:
- Press <Spacebar> or right-click and select Change to Next Candidate Plane to toggle between the default options, if available.
- Press <Shift> or right-click and select Select Annotation Plane to select a specific plane. The selected plane must be perpendicular to the face.
Note: There are optional alignment options that you can use to align the annotation to existing references. You can right-click, select Align to Geometry, and then select an edge or work axis. Alternatively, you can right-click and select Toggle Alignment to flip the orientation of the annotation.
4. Select a location to place the symbol on the annotation plane. You can continue to select vertices for the symbol’s leader, or right-click and select Continue to open the Welding Symbol dialog box to define the annotation.
5. Use the Welding Symbol dialog box (shown below) to define the symbol. Note that this dialog box is similar whether you create a weldment symbol, drawing symbol, or annotation symbol.
6. Click OK to complete the welding symbol annotation.
Each of these methods can provide you with the symbol you may need in a drawing view; however, if you require the weld geometry in your model, you will want to create weldment features in your assembly models.
I hope that this helps.
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