Part Modeling 2018
Autodesk Inventor 2018 is here (read more here) and is chalk full of updates, enhancements, tweaks, and other goodies. Part Modeling 2018 got the biggest piece of the update pie, with some of the most significant updates within this year’s Inventor release
3D Annotation
The concept of documenting and detailing the 3D model is not a new concept. The idea is to forgo 2D drawings and replace them with the 3D model containing all the dimensions and annotations required to manufacture the component.
In the 2012-2013 time period, Autodesk toyed with the idea with the 3DA add-in for Inventor (was available on Autodesk Labs). Autodesk was excited but found a collective “meh” from the intended audience based on the feature set presented to them. No one really jumped up and down with excitement, Autodesk didn’t get the warm and fuzzies, and development was put on hold…. drum roll… until now!
Inventor 2018 contains Model Based Definition workflows to generate 3D Annotations within the Part Modeling 2018 environment.
We’ll be covering this in a “deep-dive” coming up later this month.
Sheet Metal
What’s the very first thing just about everybody said when Autodesk added multi-body sheet metal support? Can I have different styles and thicknesses per body?
The answer before 2018 was NO. Well, that is no longer the case as Inventor 2018 now supports multiple thicknesses and styles.
The unique style is set with the Face, Contour Flange, Lofted Flange, and/or Contour Roll. Within these dialogs, disable Follow Defaults and select the desired rule.
You can also right-click a solid body within the browser and select the desired Sheet Metal Rule.
Extrude Enhancements
The new Distance from Face extents option within Part Modeling 2018 is phenomenal when you want to use one central sketch to build multiple features at different starting locations.
With this new feature, you specify the starting face or workplane and the desired distance.
Hole Enhancements
With Simple Holes use the new symmetric option to extrude the hole in two directions. The Hole dialog termination buttons now match the Extrude dialog, providing consistency and easier identification.
Spotface holes support zero bore depths, which is useful for termination faces on a body.
Utilize the new Extend Start feature to extend the hole to the first place of intersection… aka remove the slivers or pieces of geometry not cleaned properly by the hole.
Partial Chamfers
With the new Partial option generate Chamfers that bevel only part of an edge. Using the Partial settings specify the chamfer based on a combination of the starting point, ending point, and chamfer distance. The Driven Dimension Type sets the value being driven by what you specify for the other two options.
Other Updates
Within the Parameters dialog, the new Consumed by column shows the features using the parameter.
Trim Surface contains an Apply button, making it so you can continue to trim surfaces without exiting the command.
Feature Image by Miguel Salgado
