In the previous post, we came across basics of 3D Annotation for Autodesk Inventor. Here in this post we will see how to work with 3D Annotation.

3D Annotation is a beta tool from Autodesk Labs, that will migrate (graduate) from labs after feedback from users like you on how you want the tool to look like or work like, so if you are working on this tool on a frequent basis, I would recommend you to write a mail to the Labs Team - labs.iv.3da@autodesk.com

So, let’s move ahead with the tool.

I would recommend you to see the list of countries where you can download this tool Here, this tool would expand to other geographies in the future, say something similar to Inventor Technology Fusion.

3D Annotation after installation would appear as shown below in the Ribbon

3D Annotation Tool Bar

Again something very important is, make sure you have enabled the Tool Bar (3D Annotation) from the Add-In (Options Panel) of the Tools (Tab)

Add-In Loader

Now, lets the options from the 3DA Tab

• Activate 3DA

This activates the 3DA command options in Inventor, see below

Activate 3DA

• Dimension

This tool helps in inserting Dimensions with tolerance settings. The dimensions include Linear, Aligned, Radius etc., see a video below. In case you need to edit the dimensions all you need to do is just right click and select the edit dimensions.

3DA Dimension

• Hole & Thread

This helps us in knowing more about the hole type and its relevant details, dimensions related to counter bore, countersink, spot face,  drilled holes can be obtained, see the video below

Hole and Thread

• 3DA Fillet and Chamfer

This command supports in dimensioning the chamfer / fillet in a 3D Model, some loop fillets are dimensioned as (No of fillet entities) X Radius X Description, while Chamfer as No of Chamfer X Distance (D1 / D2 / Angle) X Description. See a video below for more details.

Please not in case you need to modify the dimensions or values in Fillet or Chamfer, you need to press the space bar to enable the edit window.

Fillet and Chamfer

In Part three we will see little more about GD&T with 3D Annotation.  In case you did not read Part – I

Learning new technology and releases for Autodesk Inventor is easy only at CAD Professor

Autodesk Labs, a sub division of Autodesk works in developing new technology product preview and based on the customer feedback the products are tweaked and finally released to the Autodesk Users either in new release or available as free to download un till certain period and later these products  graduate from labs.

3D Annotation for Autodesk Inventor

A new beta tool released in the Labs, helps users to create 3D Annotation.

The 3D Annotation for Inventor technology preview allows the Inventor user to apply 3D Annotations: dimensions, geometric tolerances, surface finish symbols, datum symbols, and notes to a part model, which are then displayed in the graphics view.

The technology preview is an emulation intended to provide the Inventor user with a sense of a 3D annotation capability to solicit feedback and to gauge interest level. The 3D Annotation for Inventor technology preview is licensed for a limited term and for a particular territory as referenced in the End User License Agreement.

Please be aware that this tool is available only in the following countries as shown below

Annotated 3D Model
An Annotated Model is a 3D CAD Solid Model that contains annotation and certain attribute entities in addition to geometric entities. Most 3D CAD Solid Models contain only geometric data – the geometry of the model itself. Of course these 3D CAD Solid Models are built upon supporting data, such as the data used in the construction of the geometry, including entities such as 2D sketches, constraints, parametric relationships, etc. AnAnnotated Model includes other information that historically resided on an Engineering Drawing, which in this context is called Model-Based Annotation, such as explicitly-specified dimensions, tolerances, GD&T, surface texture symbols, finish requirements, welding symbols, notes, revision symbols, etc.

In our next post we will see the tool 3DA for Autodesk Inventor

Autodesk India, is organizing a one day Design Innovation Conference for users from users from Educational Institutions which includes faculty, staff and students on 28th July 2010 between 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM at Bangalore, India

This program is open for Educational Institutions from Bangalore, India only

I’ll be there in the conference, let’s meet there

The major advantage of using Autodesk Inventor is working with large assembly files. Well, that’s excellent, having read this any user must go ahead and purchase Autodesk Inventor, but the fact that he or she should not forget to look forward at the system specification that is essential for working with large assembly.

All fine, so what should I look at when I go ahead and purchase my Desktop / Laptop or Workstation ?

• CPU Processor ( Say Corei7)
• Number of Cores
• Graphics Card
• Operating System
• Physical Memory
• Rating for all the above ( If these companies or their new products are certified by Autodesk and specific for Autodesk Inventor 2009, 2010, 2011)
• Also don’t forget to look for users feed back in the forums, discussion board of Autodesk etc.,

So, I tried to look at my system configuration to see if I was using a certified graphics card and recommended hardware to run my AIP. When I migrated to Autodesk Inventor 2011, it was very much essential to see I matched all the system requirements to run my software.

First look at my workstation configuration

• Intel Core i7  CPU  Q 720@ 1.60GHz
• 6MB L2 Cache
• 6144MB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
• NVIDIA GeForce GTS 360M
• 1TB HDD
• Win 7 Pro 64-bit

I now looked at the website “ http://www.inventor-certified.com ” to see if I had a certified hardware to support my work. Yes, indeed all are certified including the Graphics Card. But what about YOU ?

The following are system test results for Autodesk Inventor® running on various Workstations.

Testing done with the “System Verification” test This test has three main parts:

The data used represents a general cross-section of Autodesk Inventor® applications.

What to look for when configuring a workstation:

Links to Autodesk Inventor® 2011 Workstation Certifications:

By System Vendor

By Total Time

Historical Certifications

Inventor 2010

Inventor 2009

Inventor 2008

Sketch geometry behaves differently in a sketch depending on the linetype assigned to it. In a part or assembly file, the sketch linetypes available are Normal, Construction, Centerline, and Reference.

In a drawing file, you have access to all the linetypes defined by the Drafting Standard you have selected.

Using linetypes in part and assembly sketches

Using linetypes in drawing sketches

When you enable sketch mode in a drawing file, all linetypes associated with the current style are available. Use these linetypes to differentiate the 2D annotations to your model.

Change linetype before creating sketch geometry

1. Click Sketch tab  Format panel  Construction . Construction linetype is active when the command is selected.
2. Click the sketch command and create the geometry.

Note: You must be in Sketch

Change linetype after creating sketch geometry

1. Click the geometry to change.
2. Click Sketch tab  Format panel  Construction .

Note: You must be in Sketch mode to change linetypes.

Direct Manipulation is a new feature added to Autodesk Inventor 2011. Its an user interface that enables the user to interact and modify a model, while viewing the changes in real time. The resulting interaction is dynamic, visual and predictable. The user focuses on the geometry in an in-canvas display instead of interacting with user interface elements such as the ribbon, browser, and a dialog box.

The In-Canvas Display

The in-canvas display is a user interface that is overlaid on the graphics window to support Direct Manipulation operations. It typically contains a mini-toolbar featuring command options, manipulators, a value input box, and selection tags. The mini-toolbar enables direct and predictable interaction with the 3D model. OK and Cancel buttons are located at the bottom of the in-canvas display to confirm or cancel an operation.

Manipulators

Manipulators are in-canvas interactive objects that enable the user to easily manipulate objects for various modeling and editing tasks.

Some examples include:

• a rotational arrow to dynamically revolve 2D profiles around a single axis, or to rotate a work plane around an edge.
• a distance arrow to dynamically drag the extrusion distance of one or more 2D profiles, or drag the distance of an offset parallel work plane.
• a sphere to locate the center of a hole, or to adjust the taper angle of an extrusion.

Mini-toolbars

The mini-toolbars display in-canvas buttons that provide quick access to frequently used commands and command options. They are located in close proximity to a selected object in the graphics window. Button flyouts display command options where appropriate.

When an edge is selected, the mini-toolbar displays Fillet and Chamfer command buttons. A Cancel button is also displayed.

When a face is selected, the mini-toolbar displays command buttons to perform Edit Feature, Edit Sketch, or Create Sketch operations. A Cancel button is also displayed.

When a sketch is selected, the mini-toolbar displays Extrude, Revolve, Hole, and Edit Sketch command buttons. A Cancel button is also displayed.

Selection tags

Selection tags are labels that appear in the in-canvas display and prompt for the selection of profiles, faces, and axes for feature creation and editing.

Once a profile, face, or axis has been selected, selection tags assume a nearly transparent appearance to indicate that the selection has been satisfied.

Value input box

The value input box is used to enter numeric values for modeling and editing operations. It is located just above the mini-toolbar in the in-canvas display.

Autodesk Factory Design Suites:

Autodesk® Factory Design Suites are a 2D/3D factory layout solution purpose-built to help you make better design decisions and accelerate the factory layout process by creating a digital prototype of your factory. Autodesk Factory Design Suite can help you better design, optimize, and visualize the layout before the equipment is installed and commissioned on the factory floor. The suites enable you to integrate 2D layout data with custom or out-of-the-box 3D models of factory equipment and create a digital factory model. Use the factory model to quickly try multiple “what if” scenarios and help transform facility liabilities into profit-generating assets.

Autodesk® Factory Design Suite is an easy-to-use2D/3D factory layout solution specifically built tohelp you make better layout decisions by enablingyou to create a Digital Prototype of your factory.

Suite Options

Autodesk® Factory Design Suite Premium includes:

• AutoCAD® Architecture
• Autodesk® Inventor®
• Autodesk® Factory Design Utilities
• Autodesk® Vault
• Autodesk® Navisworks® Simulate

Autodesk® Factory Design Suite Advanced includes:

• AutoCAD® Architecture
• Autodesk® Inventor® Professional
• Autodesk® Factory Design Utilities
• Autodesk® Vault
• Autodesk® Navisworks® Manage

Try or Buy

Free Trial

Did you know, Autodesk has an section called Skill Builder

What is a Skill Builder ?

You might have come across Body Builder that’s just building your body although you might show your muscular skills, but that might not be enough, as you need Skills to build your knowledge, to have your daily bread

Well, that’s enough, see below all about Autodesk Inventor Skill Builder

Autodesk publishes Skill Builders to help you continue learning about Autodesk® Inventor® software in between our annual releases. Many Inventor Skill Builders include a data set and step-by-step instructions similar to Inventor tutorials. Others include animations and images that demonstrate a feature or workflow.

• Simulation
  Learn more about Dynamic Simulation and Inventor Stress Analysis.
• Assemblies
  Learn more about assembly bill of materials, how to mirror assembly components, and assembly constraints.
• Content Center
  See how to tune the Inventor Content Center to meet your company’s specific needs.
• Design Accelerator
  These Skill Builders show you how to design a spur gear connection and how to quickly add a bolted connection to an assembly.
• Drawings
  Learn how to define and place sketched symbols in drawings, how to show assemblies in multiple positions in a single view, and more.
• Inventor LT
  This is the Inventor 2010 Command Locator, tailor-made for Inventor LT. 1) Make sure Inventor LT is not running. 2) download the zip file 3) place the chm in the Help folder of your Inventor LT 2010 installation. This will overwrite the existing full command locator. You can then access the command locator from the Get Started tab or the Help drop-down menu. (April 2009)
• Inventor Tooling
  In this Skill Builder, explore how to use Autodesk Inventor Tooling to customize a mold base layout.
• Manage Information
  Learn about improved migration processing and how to package an assembly file and all its file references.
• Parts
  These Skill Builders focus on working with parts, including creating complex part shapes, editing parts on the fly, and creating and using derived parts.
• Routed Systems
  These Skill Builders focus on ribbon cables, tube and pipe styles, and more.
• Studio
  Learn how to animate a camera.

As a student builds skills from a Professor at a college, building your skills on Autodesk Inventor is only at CADProfessor  Blog

Dimensions in Sketches can be created and edited in Autodesk Inventor 2011.

However, I would like to show you a simple trick on how to edit dimensions when they are created, see the video below

Edit Dimensions