Bill Fane moderated a recent discussion titled “Cad Smackdown – Direct vs. Parametric Modeling”, that, as he put it, was not intended as a debate of one’s benefit over the other, but a realistic discussion of the two paradigms as a whole. There was very little pitting capabilities of platforms against each other, and did prove to be an overall discussion of the two platforms and industry concerns. Unfortunately, the conversation was not designed to [...] ...Read the rest of this article...
Inventor | Multi-Body Concept Sketching without Constraints
Here’s a simple and quick idea to consider next time you are beating out an initial concept. Use the awesome capabilities of Multi-body modeling to create separate components in an assembly, but don’t add Dimensional or Geometric constraints…yet. Look, let’s say you’re having trouble working some details out in your mind. You want to start adding rough components and then refine them later. Perfect. Not adding dimensions and the like make things so much easier [...] ...Read the rest of this article...
Inventor – Top Down Design and Manufacturing Limitations
All Manufacturing methods and materials have limitations. See how you can use your Top Down Design to distribute adaptable parameters ...Read the rest of this article...
Inventor – Top Down Design and Passing Parameters
See why Parameters are at the heart of Top-Down Design, and some general points for new implementation Updated July 14th ...Read the rest of this article...
Inventor | More Parameter fun with Min and Max
I want to show how we can limit the range of motion within Inventor's parameter. Min and Max are the tools you need. ...Read the rest of this article...
Inventor – Direct Parameter Naming Tip
We’ve seen this demonstrated, but I wanted it in my collection, so call it a cover if you like. Autodesk added a new function to Inventor 2011, that permits the use of ‘=’ character to instruct the application to RENAME the parameter AND dimension it according to the input, all in one fast entry. This eliminates the need to navigate to the Parameters dialog, or to edit the dimensional properties later. This is one of [...] ...Read the rest of this article...
Inventor – Weld Gap nominal parameter
I’d like to see a way to get the Frame Generator tools to access the parameters. I am a top down kind of guy, and like using extrusions and dependent sketches for my frame skeletons. I derive almost everything to keep all my parameters centrally located. The design I am currently engaged in was started without some specs, and after receiving them I find that he builder does not want any weld gapping. So I [...] ...Read the rest of this article...
Civil 3D – Part Builder Context Solution Part 2
Part Builder Context Solution Part 1 Ok, at last, the end of the journey. We covered getting the model values out of an existing part. The remaining issue lies with what to do now that we have a mandatory context added to the structure type. Each time we create a new form of that structure type, that variable will be added to the Part XML file with all the other OEM required variables, such as [...] ...Read the rest of this article...
Civil 3D – Part Builder Context Solution Part 1
I stated previously that David Neill gave me an idea. A simple switch that had not been useful previously. The problem was that I had just not returned to it after so many new ideas. Thanks David!! I guess collaboration works huh. It took a while. I had beaten this up over and over. I did not want to rerun it all. Through the frustration, I just kept thinking there is no way David is [...] ...Read the rest of this article...
Inventor – 3D Axis Calcs Part 1
I often get wrapped up with ‘having to know the solution’, and I’m a sucker for a design challenge. My wife just loves it. If I just learned some equations, I wouldn’t understand the process. That’s only useful in 1 instance, and not adaptable. I gotta know how and why. Like when I was figuring center of gravity while calculating the direct material volume replacement for differing densities to achieve a target combined mass. That [...] ...Read the rest of this article...