Inventor Solid Body Modeling

Autodesk Inventor has a marvelous tool called Solid Body Modeling or it is sometimes called Multi-Body Modeling.  I created a video showing how I can use this modeling method to create a male and female die for a plastic shell part supplied to me in a SAT format.  I then continued to show how to create the plastic shell part if you only had the male and female die using Multi-Body Modeling.  Click on this link to access the video.

My 10 Favorite Inventor Sketching Tips

I have published a video of my favorite 10 Autodesk Inventor sketching tips on YouTube.  There are a lot more but I tried to limit the video to 15 minutes.  I hope you will find some useful in your Inventor design work.  Please click here to be taken to video.

Using Autodesk A360 Drive for Collaborative Design - Part 3

Welcome back to part 3 of the article describing the features of Autodesk A360 Drive.  If you missed part 1 and part 2, simply click on the part you missed for a review.  I want to cover the main feature, and probably the reason it exists, of A360 Drive in this article.  Autodesk A360 Drive is a collaboration site where the poster of models can invite others to view, download and comment on designs.  Depending on the share permissions the owner of the site grants to other users will determine what functions or features are available.  

The first task of the owner is to "Share" some or all the files on A360 Drive with others.  This is done using the share function.  This function can be found on the "Home" view which is where all folders and files appear.  If you select "Share" on the folder level, all files contained in the folder will be given the same share permissions.  If you select "Share" on the file level, only that one file will have the granted share permissions.  This is why in part 2 of this article I recommended you place files in folders so you can share all files in one click.  I will be sharing my folder "Right Angle Engine" with my second account which uses my middle and last name in order to show the features.  I first select the folder by hovering over the share symbol beside the folder.

Selecting the "Share" icon will allow you to add email addresses and give the desired rights to the entire group you are inviting.  If you desire to give each email address different rights, you will have to execute the "Share" function multiple times.

The recipient will receive an email similar to the one below.  Please note the email message include your invitation message as well as a link to the files in the folder which was shared.

Full Access rights will give the recipient the ability to re-share the complete folder with others so be careful before giving this high level of access to your folders and files. If the recipient has been given "Full Access", they will have the right to send a view link to any individual file shared with them to anyone else.  Also they will have the right to allow downloading of the individual file as well.  The link will be created from A360 Drive, sent to the recipient by email and the recipient can click on the link and view the file online in Autodesk A360 Viewer.  

If the "View and Download" permission has been given during the share, the recipient can download any file to their local drive.  One great thing about A360 Drive is the download of the complete folder will automatically zip the entire contents to a folder on the recipient's computer.

During the collaboration effort, comments can be made directly inside the file viewer.  The icon is located in the upper right hand corner of the viewer window.  Anyone who receives a share from the owner will have comment ability.

Comments are cumulative and will remain during the share folder life.  The ability to reply to specific messages is available.  One feature I did not see is a visual or email notification that new comments have been added.

The last feature I would like to mention is the version handling ability of A360 Drive.  If you are the owner you have two ways to upload a new version of any file.  The first is to simply copy a new version to your A360 local drive and replace the existing files.  A360 will automatically upload and version the corresponding files on A360 Drive.  If you are not the owner, you must select the file(s) you want to version and select "Upload New Version".  The owner can use this method as well.

Once A360 Drive processes the version change it will display the newest version automatically and indicated which version is displaying.  Another great feature is the ability to select which version is displayed for design comparisons.

There are a few other features I hope you will explore on your own.  You have the ability to "Move" files to a folder of your choice on A360 Team which makes it handy if this application is used by your team.  A360 Drive has a trash bin so if a file or folder is deleted by accident, it can be recovered.  Do not forget to empty it once in awhile because you only have 5 GB free space.  Files may be copied within A360 Drive making it convenient to create new collaborative projects.

Please give Autodesk A360 Drive a try, you will be glad you did.

Using Autodesk A360 Drive for Collaborative Design - Part 2

I apologize of taking so long to get to part 2 of this article where I talk about the features when working inside Autodesk A360 Drive, so let's get started.

I will be using my second method of adding an Inventor assembly with all supporting files which I think is the most productive method of using A360 Drive.  If you need a refresher, see Part 1 of this article.  The first recommendation is to place all files in a folder structure.  Some of the functions within A360 Drive can only be applied to a group of files by selecting a folder, unless you enjoy selecting one file at a time and then applying the function.  In the following graphic I show one folder, which is selected, which in turn selects each file contained within.  

Next I would like to take a look at the functions available when viewing a file.  I will be viewing an Inventor assembly.  Selecting the folder, Right Angle Engine, you will be taken to the list of Inventor files.  I will select the assembly file and this will open the A360 Drive viewer.  At the bottom you will see various tools which are labeled below.

1. Orbit - This function operates identical to the Inventor Orbit function.  Using your left mouse button drag while hovering near various locations on the compass, you can achieve different obit motions.  Do not forget about the model centering feature by left clicking on a model location to make it the pivot of the orbit.  Of course after you really mess it up, you can return to "Home" position by selecting the "Home" icon in the upper right corner of the viewing window.  By the way, the orbit command is automatically engaged when you enter the viewing window, you just do not have all the controls the actual Orbit command offers.  To deselect the Orbit command, select the command again or press ESC on the keyboard.  This applies to all the commands.
2. Pan -  This function allows you to hold down your left button and pan the model in any direction.  You can skip this command by holding down your middle mouse button.  I you do not have a middle mouse button  hold down the Shift key and the left mouse button to perform the same function.  The right mouse button works also.
3. Zoom - Selecting this command allows you to use your left mouse button drag to zoom your model.  You can do the same thing using the wheel on your mouse if available.
4. First Person - This allows you to use the keyboard for viewing the model instead of using a mouse.  The keys are defined on-screen as soon as you select the command.
5. Camera Interactions - This command has three options, Fit to View, Roll and Focal Length.  Select the command then close to the small up arrow to change the option.
6. Section Views - This command has four model sectioning options, X, Y, Z axis and Box.  Select the command and then close to the small up arrow to change the sectioning option.  Leaving the command by selection it a second time or pressing ESC returns the model to a non-sectioned state.  One thing about the Box option I did not care for is that you can only "size" the box in one axis.  
7. Measure - By selecting two objects the measurement is returned.  This is meant for measurement estimates, not accuracy so be aware of your results.
8. Explode Model - Selecting this command will present a slider bar.  Dragging the slider with your left mouse will explode an assembly components.  This function will of course not work when viewing a single assembly component.
9. Properties - This function is of little value when viewing a model.  It reports the name of the component or assembly which you already know from the file name you selected to open the view.  Properties will be covered later in this article.
10. Settings - This function opens a dialog box with two tabs, Navigation and Selection settings and Performance and Appearance settings.  One particular setting you will want to use immediately is under the Performance and Appearance tab.  The Environmental and Lighting selection drop down will enable you to adjust the colors and intensity of the lighting for better viewing.  I would suggest using the "Plaza" selection which I found to be the best.  The viewer does a very poor job of representing true model colors.
11. Full Screen - This functions just as it is named.  Use ESC to return to the normal viewing window.

If you have selected the setting to show the View Cube, it functions exactly like the view cube in Inventor.  You will find the View Cube options appear below and to the right of the view cube when you hover over it.  The default view is perspective and even after you change it, it will return when the viewing window is open again.

When viewing an Inventor assembly, one of the most valuable tools is the Scenes button in the upper left corner of the viewing screen.  Selecting it will expand the assembly into a list of its components.  By selecting one or more (using the Shift key) you can hide all other components for detail viewing.  To return all hidden components either press ESC or right click in the background and select "Show All Objects".  The most valuable feature of this process is selecting the "Properties" function when only one component is showing.  The full Inventor iProperties are displayed.  The "Other" iProperties are the custom iProperties of the component.  the iProperty is not displayed unless it has a value.

This article is getting pretty long and I have a lot more to mention so I will continue in Part 3 of this article.  I promise it will not be as long as the time between Part 1 and Part 2.