Autodesk Inventor

The Autodesk Approach

Inventor software is a history-based parametric solid modeler. With Inventor, you create digital objects that simulate physical objects. Inventor models are accurate 3D digital prototypes. Autodesk calls its approach to model design “digital prototyping.” With the parametric modeling tools in Inventor, you can apply driving dimensions and geometric relationships to an object. These dimensions and relationships are called parameters. The size and shape or geometry of an object depends upon dimensions and relationships to other parts. When one part is changed, the object automatically updates to reflect the change.

[edit] Inventor Workflow

Unlike freeform design where design data is unstructured, Inventor maintains the history of design for every model. You can view the history of a design to make changes, or to understand the intent of the designer. Designers and engineers typically use the following workflow to create models in Inventor.

1. Open a template file, which includes a set of rules that determine common attributes for a part. For example, a sheet metal template file has rules determining material type and thickness, unfolding roles, and gap sizes. By changing a rule, you can change the material of a part.
2. Create simple sketches for the parts. A first sketch for a part can be a simple shape or a series of shapes, such as circles, lines, and other 2D objects. Sketched part features depend on sketch geometry. The sketch serves as the basis for the 3D part design, profiling a feature and any geometry (such as a sweep path or axis of rotation) required to create the feature.
3. Convert your sketches into 3D parts using Inventor tools (because Inventor is a parametric modeler, you can modify any of the sketches and features later without rebuilding the entire part):
   • Extrude adds depth to a sketch profile along a straight path.
   • Revolve projects a sketch profile around an axis.
   • Loft uses two or more profiles to transition the object from one shape to the next.
   • Sweep projects a single sketch profile along a single sketched path, which can be open or closed.
   • Coil extrudes a sketch profile along a helical path to create springs or physical threads on a part.
4. Connect parts to create assemblies using constraints, mates, and other relationships. Assemblies can consist of parts and other assemblies. You can create very large, complicated assemblies in Inventor. Sets of parts can be assembled before they are joined to the main assembly. Some assemblies contain many subassemblies.
5. Create renderings, bills of materials, stress analyses, and 2D production drawings from your Inventor models, which are accurate 3D digital prototypes.
6. In preparation for production, add parts lists, tables, title blocks, dimensions, balloons, and other annotations to the 2D drawings of your models that Inventor creates.
7. Create animated presentations of models to illustrate the operation of assemblies.
8. Render models using Inventor Studio as needed. Inventor Studio is a rendering and animation environment based on the mental ray rendering engine.

[edit] Environments

[edit] Part Modeling

Part modeling combines solids and surfaces to create a range of complex geometries. Use Zebra and Gaussian analysis tools for checking tangency, continuity, and curvature. You can create parts from scratch, reuse and alter existing part designs, and incorporate curve and surface data from concept designs created in Autodesk Alias software.

[edit] Sheet Metal Design

Sheet metal design automates many aspects of working with sheet metal parts. You can generate flat patterns, control sheet metal unfolding, define custom sheet metal punch libraries, insert specialized sheet metal fasteners, and create manufacturing drawings to support sheet metal manufacturing operations.

[edit] Frame Generator

Frame generator helps you design and develop welded frames for industrial machinery applications. It builds structural frames by dropping predefined steel shapes onto wireframe or solid skeletal frames. The frame generator simplifies creation of end conditions with predefined options for mitered, notched, and straight butt welded joints. It includes profile authoring, letting you add custom profiles to the existing library of standard profiles.

[edit] Tube & Pipe

Tube & Pipe helps you design tube and pipe runs or spools to fit into complex assemblies or tight spaces. It includes a very generic pipe fittings library with some commonly used, industry-standard fittings, tubing, piping, and hoses. Associative documentation for tube and pipe runs provides assembly drawings that update when a change is made to the 3D design. Tube & Pipe is included in AutoCAD Inventor Routed Systems Suite. AutoCAD Inventor Routed Systems is, however, a difficult and cumbersome program to master, and with very little liturature on the market may not be the best program for your piping needs.

[edit] Cable & Harness

Cable & Harness lets you:

• Design cable and harness components in 3D.
• Import wire lists from AutoCAD Electrical or third-party schematic design applications.
• Route thousands of wires.
• Define cable and harness paths.
• Set up company-specific connector libraries.
• Add ribbon cables between connectors.

Inventor automatically calculates quality parameters, including bundle diameter, bend radius, and wire lengths, whenever changes are made to the harness. Cable & Harness is included in AutoCAD Inventor Routed Systems Suite.

[edit] Integrated Motion Simulation and Assembly Stress Analysis

Inventor includes an integrated motion simulation and assembly stress analysis environment. You can input driving loads, friction characteristics, and dynamic components, and then run dynamic simulation tests to see how a product will work under real-world conditions. Use the simulation tools to resolve design problems such as optimizing strength and weight, identifying high-stress areas, identifying and reducing unwanted vibrations, and sizing motors and actuators to reduce energy consumption. With finite element analysis (FEA), you can validate component design by testing how parts perform under loads (using actual load information instead of estimates).

Inventor also includes Parametric Studies and Optimization technology that lets you modify design parameters from within the assembly stress environment and compare various design options. When you find the best design solution, you can instruct Inventor to update the 3D model with the optimized parameters.

The motion simulation and assembly stress analysis environment includes visualization tools that help you see exactly how your design behaves. It also lets you bring reaction forces from a motion simulation into your stress analysis so you get more accurate results.

[edit] Data and Exchange

Inventor uses specific file formats for parts (IPT), assemblies (IAM), and drawing views (IDW or DWG). You can directly import and export files in DWG format. Design Web Format (DWF) is the preferred 2D/3D data interchange and review format in the Autodesk family of products.

Inventor includes an Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) Exchange tool. This tool is used to create and publish simplified 3D representations, intelligent connection points, and additional information in native file formats for AutoCAD MEP software. You can export 3D geometry to AutoCAD Architecture, Revit-based software, and AutoCAD software.

In Inventor, you can exchange data between applications, including CATIA V5, UGS, SolidWorks, and Pro/ENGINEER. Inventor supports direct import and export of CATIA V5, JT 6, JT 7, Parasolid, and Granite files. It also supports direct import of UG-NX™, SolidWorks, Pro/E, and SAT files.

The Inventor Construction Environment provides fault-tolerant import of large STEP and IGES data sets. A quarantine holds entities containing geometric problems, such as surface slivers and mismatched boundary curves. In Inventor, you can:

• Publish drawings as PDF files.
• Publish 3D part and assembly models in SAT or JT formats.
• Create STL files for output to stereo lithography and 3D print machines.