The Dan Miles Idea Factory

Autodesk Inventor and AutoCAD API 101 Videos

If you ever wanted to learn the basics of developing programs for Autodesk Inventor and AutoCAD using the API here are some great produced recordings.  Kean from Autodesk who writes for the "Through the Interface" blog just posted some very nice educational recordings.

http://through-the-interface.typepad.com/through_the_interface/2007/11/devtv-introduct.html

Hope these help you lay some code down to better your job or company

Dan

Import UG and Parasolid Files into Inventor

This past week Autodesk has released a new technology preview add-in for Autodesk Inventor on their "Labs" site.  This new add-in will allow you to import Parasolid verion 9-18 files and UG-NX version 3 & 4 files into Autodesk Inventor.  This new add-in is only for Autodesk Inventor 2008.  Basically this allows you to import these files as dump solids without features almost like a STEP file.  The good part is you don't need to create the STEP file.  I think this is a well needed feature for some users and glad Autodesk as able to come out with this.  You can downloaded the add-in at the Autodesk labs website

http://labs.autodesk.com/

Also if you need to import or export other file formats that are not included the TransMagic product works great.  (www.transmagic.com)

Dan

New 2D to 3D Application from Autodesk

Autodesk has released a new technology preview application called the 2D to 3D Tool for Autodesk Inventor.  This preview application can be downloaded from the Autodesk Labs website.

http://labs.autodesk.com/

The tool allows you to take several 2D (AutoCAD or Other CAD Files) drawings or views to create a 3D model from quickly.  The image blow best outlines the process.

Remember this is just another tool for your toolbox and you will need to determine when to use it and when not to use it.  That is the real art.

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

Autodesk Inventor 11 Shipping Soon

Everyone,

By the looks of it Autodesk Inventor Series 11 and Autodesk Inventor Professional 11 will start shipping to people with software subscription in early April 2006.  This is a HUGE release so make sure you take some time to learn or investigate all the new features before putting the new release into production.

Dan

Autodesk Completes Alias Acquisition

Today Autodesk posted it has completed the acquisition of Alias completely and they are now one team.  When I first heard about this deal a few months ago I was very surprised because I thought it would be HUGE moving forward for Autodesk.  There are several components of the Alias product family that will greatly assist the Autodesk Manufacturing solution for conceptual design and advanced surfacing tools.  You can read all about this at the link below in detail.

Autodesk and Alias Information Website

More toys and tools to play with

Dan

Inventor Beta is Coming

I am sitting here at home sick as a dog on new years eve (Most of my family has had this now) and noticed Amy posted information on her Blog that the new Inventor Beta is coming soon.  Please visit her post for more information at http://in_the_machine.blogs.com/

If you are interested in getting a jump start on the next release then you should sign up.  Boy I can't wait to get deeper into this.

Happy New Year

Dan