Inventor: Back to Basics
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Inventor: Back to the Basics
Michael Davis – www.YourCad.Guru
PD15337 This class will be an introduction or reintroduction to Autodesk Inventor software. It will also go into general detail about a lot of the common issues that come up on the Inventor Forum. It is generally understood that there are more intermediate and advanced Inventor sessions at Autodesk University; however, sometimes you need to go back to the basics and introduce/reintroduce people to some of these features they might not or may not know or understand—whether it's how to find them, or how to use them. This session features Inventor Professional 2016 and 2017.
• Learning Objective 1: Gain a basic overview of the Home Page and Application Options
• Learning Objective 2: Get a template overview of IPT, IAM, IPN, weldments, sheet metal, styles manager, and IProperties/parameters.
• Learning Objective 3: Gain an overview of AnyCAD, iLogic, 3D PDF, and Screencast
• Learning Objective 4: Learn where to go for help: Knowledge Network, forums,
WikiHelp, blogs
About the Speaker(s)
Michael Davis is currently a Mechanical Design Engineer, and the owner of YourCad.guru. He’s based in Charlotte, North Carolina, with a remote office the Metro Detroit area of Michigan. He provides design services, support, tips & tricks, and updates for various Autodesk products. Michael has been working as a Mechanical Design Engineer for over 25 years, as well as being an Mechanical Design Engineer, he has also held the position of Cad Manager where he has provided Cad support and mentoring to others. Michael has been using Autodesk products for the mass majority of his careers and was a former Autodesk support employee. He has been part of the Autodesk Expert Elite program for 2 years and helps on various Autodesk forums (in English and German) daily. This is Michael’s second year speaking at AU.
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• Learning Objective 1: Gain a basic overview of the Home Page and
Application 0ptions
Inventor Home Page
What is the Homepage?
The home page is the centralized location for your given projects, templates, recently opened document, and it has the ability to pin documents that are commonly used. From here you can start a new file, change your template and open your most recently opened files.
(If it’s still available)
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You have just about every option for starting or opening an Inventor file from the homepage. You can pick from all of your templates from the New section.
From the Projects tab, we can pick a new IPJ project from the list of available Project files.
Note: Currently you cannot browse and add any new ipj’s or create a new one from the Projects box.
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From the Shortcuts tab, you can create a shortcut to a work folder. When you click on the shortcut folder you can open an existing file from that folder.
You can also pick from the drop down box and find the file you’d like to open.
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In this following image from the lower left area of the homepage, you can control how you view your recently opened documents.
Your choices are: Project, File Types, Sort By and Date Modified
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From the viewing panel at the bottom you can see all of your recent or pin files.
In the next few images, you will see the different viewing options.
(Large)
(Small)
(List)
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Application Options
Application Options control your preferences for appearance, behaviors, and file locations in your Inventor application.
You have a couple of ways to access the Application Options interface.
You can find it under the Tools Tab
Also under the File tab in Inventor 2017
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Under the Inventor Icon (application menu) in the left upper corner for Inventor 2016 and prior versions of Inventor.
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General Tab Knowledge Network Link
Notes:
Set your User name here
Turn on and off your Homepage from here. You can also set how many recent documents (Inventor 2017 only) you see on it
Set your Font and Font Height from here
Tool Tips Timer
You can save your Application options by exporting them (saving ). You can then import them each year your pc or to other pc’s.
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Save Tab Knowledge Network Link
Notes:
Save time reminder notification.
This is the pop-up you’ll see while working in a file.
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File Tab Reference Knowledge Network Link
Notes:
Standard Template location
Design Data Locations (including drawing styles)
Sketch Symbol Library location
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Colors Tab Reference Knowledge Network Link
Notes:
Choose here the area you want to change / adjust
Where you pick your background color, from the Color Schemes Available Color
Schemes to be used for backgrounds
Where to set your Ribbon Button Icon look
Your chrome image/reflection. (Remember the motorcycle man)
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Display Tab Knowledge Network Link
Notes:
See page #14
View Cube Settings
Steering Wheel Settings
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Display Tab Knowledge Network Link
Display Appearance Dialog Reference Knowledge Network Link
Notes:
Set’s your Default 3d model’s view setting
Where you set your viewing mode. Either Orthographic or Perspective mode
Ground Reflections When selected, displays model ground reflections.
Ground Plane When selected, displays the model ground plane.
Ground Shadows When selected, displays model ground shadows.
Object Shadows When selected, displays model object shadows.
Ambient Shadows When selected, displays model ambient shadows
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Hardware Tab Knowledge Network Link
Notes:
From this page you can set your video cards performance level. You can also run a diagnostic test on your video card from here as well.
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Prompts Tab Knowledge Network Link
Notes:
This tab is where you control which prompts to display
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Drawings Tab Knowledge Network Link
Notes:
Places Model Dimensions in IDW Views
How the view is justified in the IDW view box
Sets your Default 2d dwg/idw type on the Homepage. Not sure why the default is DWG
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Notebook Tab Knowledge Network Link
Notes:
This Tab is where you set your preferences for NoteBook
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Sketch Tab Knowledge Network Link
Notes:
When you make a sketch and it rotates to look at it.
Control settings for display, creation, interference, relax dragging and over-constraint for sketch constraints and dimension
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Part Tab Knowledge Network Link
Notes:
Sets the preference for the planes that sketches are started on
Sets the color from the base component into the target part. If unchecked, the appearance is set to default appearance of the target part
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Ifeature Tab Knowledge Network Link
Notes:
Where your sheet metal punches and IDE’s are stored
Where your Ifeatures and IDE’s are stored
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Assembly Tab Knowledge Network Link
Notes:
Section all parts, you’ll need this checked if you section Content Center Parts
Enable, or Disable Express Mode from here.
Just as stated , Place and ground first component at origin.
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Content Center Tab Knowledge Network Link
Notes:
This Tab is where you set your preferences for Content Center
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Below are the links to all of the Application Options Reference tabs on the Autodesk Knowledge Network:
Application Options References
• General Tab Reference (Application Options) Sets behavioral options for operations in the application.
• Save Tab Reference (Application Options) Specifies whether changes warrant forced check-out and save in multi-user modes. Save the file on close, and save the file when saving another file that references it.
• File Tab Reference (Application Options) Sets the locations for files used for various functions.
• Colors Tab Reference (Application Options) Sets the color scheme for the graphics window, appearance of the background, and optional background image.
• Display Tab Reference (Application Options) Controls settings for display of a model when you open it, or displays a new view on the current model.
• Display Appearance Dialog Reference Specifies how new document windows display the model.
• Hardware Tab Reference (Application Options) These settings pertain to the graphical appearance and system performance.
• Prompts Tab Reference (Application Options) Sets the responses to questions in several Inventor dialog boxes.
• Drawing Tab Reference (Application Options) Sets the options for working with drawings.
• Notebook Tab Reference (Application Options) Controls the display of design notes in the Engineer's Notebook.
• Sketch Tab Reference (Application Options) Sets preferences for sketching.
• Heads-Up Display (HUD) Settings Reference Sets the options for the Dynamic Input Heads-Up Display (HUD).
• Part Tab Reference (Application Options) Sets the defaults for creating new parts.
• iFeature Tab Reference (Application Options) Specifies the location for iFeature (catalog) files and the viewer used to manage and view the files.
• Assembly Tab Reference (Application Options) Sets the preferences for working with assemblies.(not available in Inventor LT)
• Content Center Tab Reference (Application Options) Sets the preferences for working with Content Center.(not available in Inventor LT)
• Line Weight Settings Reference (Application Options) Sets the line weight display in drawings.
• File Open Options - IDW Drawings Reference
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Learning Objective 2: Get an overview of IPT, IAM, IPN, weldments, sheet metal templates, styles manager and iProperties/parameters.
Autodesk Inventor has different file types based on what you’re doing within Inventor. For example, when you create a part or component, it is stored with a file which is different than when working with an assembly file. These file types are noticed and distinguished with the help of the file extensions (e.g. *.ipt). There are six types of files that can be created with Autodesk Inventor Professional:
1. Standard Part Files (.ipt);
2. Standard Assembly Files (iam);
3. Sheet metal Part Files (.ipt)
4. Weldment Assembly Files (.iam)
5. Presentation Files (.ipn)
6. Drawing Files (idw or dwg)
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Under the Projects Box, Folder Options templates you can see these templates
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Sheet Metal (part) File:
Sheet metal parts can be created from the New Templates options, or from the Convert to Sheet metal function under part modeling.
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Assembly File
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Weldment Assembly File:
Weldment assemblies can be created from the New Templates option, or from the Convert to Weldment via the Environment Tab.
Here you pick the material you’ll be using as for the Weldment weld bead. This can be changed later if needed
Type of BOM Structure for the weldment
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Weldment File:
Knowledge Network: Weldment environment
Default look of a weldment assembly.
Preparation: From here you can prep the parts/components.. This is where you might add a chamfer to the plate.
Weldment Preparation
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Weldment File:
This is where you’ll add the weld to the model
Post Weld Machining
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Presentation File:
2016
2017
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Types of Drawing Files:
For drawings files, you have the option of Inventor IDW or DWG.
IPT version
DWG version
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Environments Tab:
http://www.autodesk.com/products/inventor/features/simulation-visualization/dynamic-simulation
http://www.autodesk.com/products/inventor/features/simulation-visualization/stress-analysis
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Inventor Studio:
This is checked with a default Install
Continues to render/reiteration till you stop it.
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Tube and Pipe
For more information on Tube and Pipe check out the following class online:
Images courtesy of Powell Fabrication & Manufacturing, Inc.
Notes:
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Assembly Representations
Assembly representations and configurations
Notes:
View Rep
Positional Representations
Level of Detail
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Some Advantages of View representations
View Representations
Use View representations to control the display state of an assembly during the design process: • Turn component visibility on and off to simplify the current task. • Assign a unique appearance to components. For example, a component
can be opaque gray in one view and transparent blue in another view. • Create display configurations that contain the appropriate component
visibility, camera viewing angle, and zoom area to recall. • Control sketch visibility of sketches controlled by the Object Visibility
command. (A view representation does not capture the visibility state of sketches that are controlled in the browser.)
• Control work feature visibility. • Save views of an assembly design in progress to preserve working
ideas. • Create views that aid in documenting the assembly. For example, a view
with the cover turned off to see the components inside. • Create unique views to filter the parts list in a drawing. For example, to
document an assembly procedure. • Simplify the task of creating positional representations by turning off all
unnecessary components. • Speed up drawing view creation by turning off components that are not
shown. For example, internal components. • Prepare the assembly for the creation of a Level of Detail representation
before using the Copy to Level of Detail command. • Prepare the assembly for creating a derived assembly by creating a view
representation that includes only the components required for the derive process.
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Few examples of View representations
Example of fasteners only View Rep.
Example of wear parts only View Rep.
Default View Rep. showing everything
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Positional Representations (examples)
Positional representations in assemblies
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Level of Detail aka: LOD
Level of Detail representations
Levels of Detail representations improve capacity and performance. They suppress unneeded components or replace many parts with a single part representation to reduce memory consumption and to simplify the modeling environment. LODs do not change the model’s Bill of Materials.
Notes:
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After creating the LOD and suppressing items:
As you can see from these images, by suppressing the Cam Lever and Stop Block Cushion, the total block count has decreased.
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Templates Pt. 2
Styles Manager
Notes:
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You can import and export all different types of Styles, making it easier to share them. However if you set them up in your “Default Standard” in the templates, everyone will have access to them in the IDW’s.
Right Mouse Button (RMB) on style you’d like to export
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How to change your sheet size:
Right Mouse Button (RMB) on Sheet, Click on Edit sheet
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To Create a Base View and Projected View
Use the Custom View Orientation option to create a custom view.
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Sketch Symbols
Sketch Symbols in drawings
AKN Sketch Symbols
You can insert symbols from the browser
Or from the Annotate tab, Insert sketch symbols
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Sketch Symbols / Symbols are predefined annotations, such as tables, surface finishes, standard notes, datum’s.
Notes:
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iProperties Reference
iProperties Dialog Box
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iProperties General Tab
Notes:
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iProperties Summary Tab
Notes:
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iProperties Project Tab
Notes:
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iProperties Status Tab
Notes:
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iProperties Custom Tab
Notes:
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iProperties Save Tab
Notes:
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iProperties Physical Tab
Notes:
COG / Center of Gravity location
Mass
Material
Volume
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iProperties dialog box - Details tab
This tab shows check in and version information for the selected file. NOTE: You cannot edit the information.
From Design Assistant, select an Autodesk Inventor file, right-click, and then select iProperties from the menu. Click the Detail tab.
From Windows Explorer, select an Autodesk Inventor file, right-click, and then select iProperties from the menu. Click the Detail tab.
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Parameters
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• Learning Objective 3: Gain an overview of AnyCAD, iLogic, 3D PDF, and Screencast
AnyCad
Prior to Inventor 2016, when you had a file from another supporting CAD applications, you’d just translate it into Inventor and saved it as a related Inventor file. In 2016, Autodesk introduced AnyCad, giving you the option to keep those types of files in their native format. With 2017, keeping STEP files in their native format is also now possible.
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iLogic
About Rules and Forms in iLogic
The ILogic browser can be found under the Manage tab.
Within the ILogic Browser, you have multiple tabs consisting of 2 Forms tabs and 2 Rules Tab.
.
The Rules tab lists all rules stored in the document
The Forms tab lists all forms and buttons to trigger rules stored in the current document
The Global Forms tab lists all forms and buttons to trigger rules stored outside of Inventor, regardless of the open document
The External Rules tab lists all rules stored outside of Inventor (ex. Hard Drive), regardless of the open document.
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Screencast
What is Autodesk Screencast… Well, it’s a simple FREE video recording program that Autodesk released in a few years ago. They summed it up best with “A simple way to share what you know”
https://knowledge.autodesk.com/community/screencast
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With that being said, you can see that it keeps all of your videos (Contributions) in a controlled location for you.
You have various viewing options for these videos: Public, Private and Unlisted
Bonus: You aren’t limited to just Autodesk Products when creating Screencast videos.
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3d PDF’s
To Export a Model to 3d PDF
3d PDF’s are a new feature that started with Inventor 2017. Autodesk provides you with several templates to work with.
Blank Blank - DVR Carousel Sample Part Template Sample Assembly Template In order to modify and use the 3d PDS’ to their fullest potential you’ll need the following additional programs: Adobe DC, NotePad (for editing the JavaScript) and if needed Photoshop, or Paint./
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Example of an assembly file 3d PDF using View Reps
Full 3d PDF
Example of a View Rep in a 3d PDF. This example is showing wear parts only.
Clicking on a part/assembly in a 3d model will highlight the ipt/assembly in the parts list
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• Learning Objective 4: Learn where to go for help: knowledge network,
forums, WikiHelp, blogs
Inventor Forum (English)
International Forums (All software’s)
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Support
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Some additional sites, blogs, websites and information you might find useful: Tips, Tricks, Support www.yourcad.guru https://cadtipstricks.wordpress.com/ Represent! With Level of Details or View Reps http://blogs.autodesk.com/inventor/2016/08/23/represent-with-level-of-details-or-view-reps/
Anti-virus exception – Boost performance:
http://knowledge.autodesk.com/search-result/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Are-there-antivirus-exclusions-I-can-implement-to-make-programs-run-better.html
Recommended settings: http://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/inventor-products/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Recommending-settings-to-optimize-performance-of-Inventor.html http://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/inventor-products/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2014/ENU/Inventor/files/GUID-46E714D8-8D90-4D1D-BD6D-8B30ABF78E50-htm.html Working with large assemblies: http://beinginventive.typepad.com/files/inventor-deep-dive---large-assembly-instructions.pdf 2017 Presentations Tutorial http://blogs.autodesk.com/inventor/2016/05/10/inventor-2017-presentations-tutorial/ What’s New 2017 https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/inventor-products/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2017/ENU/Inventor-WhatsNew/files/GUID-F772ABAD-C1CC-4E59-9612-C5EEFC3BC3AD-htm.html 2016 https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/inventor-products/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2016/ENU/Inventor-WhatsNew/files/GUID-A4A21E04-2F90-4A76-9C0D-28F61EEEDC93-htm.html