The Dan Miles Idea Factory

Model Dimensions vs. Reference Dimensions

This is always a hot topic with any 3D CAD system.  To cover this topic in detail may take several posts but I guess we better start working on it now to get some of the pro’s and con’s out on the table.  So the question is should you use the model dimensions that were used to create the parametric solid model in the drawing for detailing or should you add reference dimensions to the drawing view separating for detailing.  Also this is a moving target because with each release of software for example Autodesk Inventor 11 the possibilities change.  Listed below are some points that come to mind:

Model Dimensions

Pro’s

• Sales time during detailing if a high percentage of the model dimensions can be used
• Allows for a different person to detail the component and capture the design intent

Con’s

• You must model similar to the way you want to detail the component
• It is impossible most of the time to use model dimensions 100% of the time
• Often deleting, selecting, and moving dimensions takes as much time as applying new reference dimensions.

Reference Drawing Dimensions

Pro’s

• Quick and easy to place and add the dimensions you want
• Allows you to model in the best way without thinking about the drawing detailing

Con’s

• Minimal use of already created model dimensions
• When major changes accrue dimensions in the drawing may need to be repaired

I will save my thoughts on this topic for later but I am becoming more of a fan of using a hybrid of the two.  In the past back in the Inventor 8 days I would only recommend using reference drawing dimensions but has the software functionality increases I am changing.

Please feel free to post your comments to this one and we can maybe try to cover this topic in detail over time.

Dan

Creating Views of Large Assemblies

With the release of Autodesk Inventor 11 there is a new application option called "Memory Saving Mode" which offers a nice option when creating drawing views of large assemblies.  Creating drawing views of large assemblies can often require a lot of memory to process the full view and Inventor may even pop up the 80% memory warning message box when you start to run low on memory.  If you are having these issues you may want to try the new option for files like this.  By enabling this Autodesk Inventor 11 will release some of the memory of parts as the view is processed allowing you to create drawing views of of large assemblies.  With this new option on creating views will take a little longer to process but atleast you can create them without having 4GB of memory.  The new setting is under the "Drawing" tab within application options as shown below:

Note:  All of the files used to create the view must be migrated to release 11 format to see the benefits.

Hope this help with your larger assemblies - And thanks Autodesk for this new option

Dan

NEW Autodesk Inventor 11 DWF Extension

Autodesk will be releasing a new extension for Autodesk Inventor 11 and Autodesk Inventor Professional 11 this week called the "DWF Extension".  This extension adds additional functionality around creating and using Autodesk DWF files and can be downloaded from the Autodesk Subscrition Center for everyone that has subscription for their Inventor.  Listed below are some of the new features that are included in this extension.

• Animations and assembly instructions from presentation files
• Positional representations and design view support
• Bill of Material support
• Level of detail support for active setting
• Inventor Professional FEA results viewing
• Password protection
• Disable measure and print to prevent unauthorized analysis
• Tons of new publishing options
• Send email with DWF attachment
• Hyperlink between views in DWF drawing sheets and item balloons
• Round trip 2D DWF markups to Inventor and back to DWF again (Great for overlaying redlines onto the IDW drawing)
• JT File export (YEAH!!!!  This really helps everyone working in the auto and aero industries)
• Assembly STL output for rapid prototyping of assemblies just not parts

I personally like the JT Export and Assembly Instruction features the best.  The round trip and ability to to not let someone measure or print is also nice depending on what you are doing with the files.

Give it a try and let me know your thoughts I will be going deep (Learning) on this one a little more today and tomorrow.

Dan

FREE Inventor Skill Assessment

The folks at iKnowledge Solutions (IKS) have made available a free Autodesk Inventor skill gap assessment (Quiz) to test your current Inventor knowledge.  You can give it a try by filling out a simple registration form at www.ikstata.com/inventortd then they will email you a login to take the test.  The assessment focuses on core Autodesk Inventor functions only and is 100 questions.

Good luck and have fun with it!

Dan

Inventor Application Options

Well it has been way to long sense I have posted some valuable information.  During the month of May I was on holiday for a few weeks J but I am back and all recharged and ready to get back to posting.  There is so many new things out there and things I have been working on but I got a call today requesting some application option settings questions which is pretty common so I figure I would provide some information on this topic for everyone.  Over the years of using Inventor I have found a few application option settings I change all the time.  These are the first things I do when I reinstall of load a new version.  Listed below are the application option settings and reasons why I change them from the default values.  (These are from Autodesk Inventor 11)

General Tab

Undo File Size = I change this to 512 MB to make it large so you can undo more if needed.  This also helps if you are working with large files where one undo may eat up more then normal.

File Tab

Default Templates = This is normally set to a network drive where my template files are located.

Design Data = This is normally set to a network drive where my design data folder is.

Colors Tab

Color Scheme = Millennium or Presentation are my top two favorites

Background = Gradient it my personal favorite and provides a nice balance I think.

Display Tab

Display Quality = I set this to “Smooth” for the best graphics.  If you have a LARGE assembly or maybe a video card with less then 256 MB of memory then you may want to keep it lower.

View Transition Time = I lower this to 0.5 to make the view switches quicker so I don’t have to wait.  I don’t like to set it to zero because I like the effect of the model rotating J

Active Edge Display = For most of the time I leave this OFF unless working on a complex part model that has a lot of fillets, surfaces, or drafted faces.

Enabled Edge Display = For most of the time I leave this OFF unless working on a complex part model that has a lot of fillets, surfaces, or drafted faces.

Hardware Tab

I use the “Override recommended setting – use Full optimization” on my workstation grade systems.  This is the best one to use if you have a good 3D CAD graphics card and proper driver.

Sketch Tab

Display Grid Line = Off (I like to keep the screen clear)

Display Minor Grid Lines = Off (I like to keep the screen clear)

Autoproject edges for sketch creation and edit = This one I turn Off so Inventor only projects the outer loops when I want.  Sometimes projecting the complete face can cause editing problems down the road when you go to make changes on a model.  Plus you can project the face if need with only two clicks.

These are not all the settings I play with but are the ones I just about all the time alter in most cases.

Hope this provides some value

Dan