Inventor Tools 2009
Graham Harrison
Micro Concepts Ltd
2© 2008 Micro Concepts Ltd 2© 2007 Micro Concepts Ltd.
Inventor Tools 2009
• What is it? Additional Productivity
Tools for Inventor
• Who is it For? UK - Micro Concepts
Supported Customers Only
Authorisation – 1 per license covered by contract
Domain Authorisation for >10 licenses
• Autodesk Certified
Micro Concepts Ltd
3© 2008 Micro Concepts Ltd 3© 2007 Micro Concepts Ltd.
Inventor Tools Interface
One General Pulldown menu – MCTools One General Toolbar Environment specific Commands in Panel Toolbars Right Click Menus
• Download approximately 1.5MB Inventor Tools 2009 (Autodesk Certified) - download (1.5MB) Inventor Tools 2009 (Autodesk Certified) x64 edition - download
(1.5MB)
Uninstall Existing versions prior to Install
Micro Concepts Ltd
4© 2008 Micro Concepts Ltd 4© 2007 Micro Concepts Ltd.
Property Tools
• Copy To Parameters & Properties Copy/Update Values to
Parameters and/or Properties When File Saved
Drawing Scale
First View All Views
First Sheet Size
Part/Assembly Mass Volume Area Flat Pattern Extents
Micro Concepts Ltd
5© 2008 Micro Concepts Ltd 5© 2007 Micro Concepts Ltd.Micro Concepts Ltd
Property Tools
• Set Properties Consistent Property entry for Title blocks and Vault info
Set Standard & Custom Properties Can be set to show automatically on save or show manually Update Model Properties when within drawing Mandatory Fields Lookup Fields Calendar Lookup Set maximum number of characters Force to Uppercase Supports Concatenation Equations
6© 2008 Micro Concepts Ltd 6© 2007 Micro Concepts Ltd.
Set Properties – Configuration
• XML definition file in Styles folder
• Simple Edit of xml file via Options
• Define Lookup Lists• Tabs for categorization• A property can only appear
on one tab
• Define different Options for model & drawing
Micro Concepts Ltd
7© 2008 Micro Concepts Ltd 7© 2007 Micro Concepts Ltd.
• Interface• Set Properties
Demo
8© 2008 Micro Concepts Ltd 8© 2007 Micro Concepts Ltd.Micro Concepts Ltd
General Productivity Tools
• Enhanced SAVE AS• Like save as but option to copy associated
model/drawing – copied drawing references the new model
• Auto Publish – easily create snapshot files DWF or PDF – from drawing DWF from models Set location, filename (with revision appended option) Duplicate structure On Save – prompt or automatic Manual from Auto Snapshot command
9© 2008 Micro Concepts Ltd 9© 2007 Micro Concepts Ltd.
General Tools
• Pack and Go From Within Inventor - Current file and children
only Creates zip file Defaults to name of
current file Flat structure only Can include styles
(colour, material formats etc.)
Email option Micro Concepts Ltd
10© 2008 Micro Concepts Ltd 10© 2007 Micro Concepts Ltd.Micro Concepts Ltd
General Tools
• Open Explorer Opens explorer window Folder opened is where
current file is located
• Toggle Edge Display Replicates setting in
application options
11© 2008 Micro Concepts Ltd 11© 2007 Micro Concepts Ltd.Micro Concepts Ltd
General Tools
• Open Parent Part, Assembly, or Presentation environment Only enabled if idw of same name exists in same folder IDW may not even reference the current file
12© 2008 Micro Concepts Ltd 12© 2007 Micro Concepts Ltd.
• Auto Publish• Enhanced Save as
Pack and Go Open Explorer Open Parent
Demo
13© 2008 Micro Concepts Ltd 13© 2007 Micro Concepts Ltd.
Part Tools
• Replay Part Floating command toolbar Other commands still available while toolbar showing
• End of Part Toggle Toggles end of part marker to top or bottom of part
• Reset Face Colours Resets all overridden face colours to as feature, then all
features to as part – useful on imports
• Reset Display Name Resets browser and toolbar to default (filename) Common on copied library/Content center parts
Micro Concepts Ltd
14© 2008 Micro Concepts Ltd 14© 2007 Micro Concepts Ltd.
• Part Tools Replay Part End of Part Toggle Toggle Edge Display
Demo
15© 2008 Micro Concepts Ltd 15© 2007 Micro Concepts Ltd.
Assembly and Presentation Tools
• Copy & replace Available on right click menu Follows enhanced save as
functionality
• Derive to part Takes assembly and derives
to part of same name Ensure Assembly up to date
and saved prior to command
• Insert & Fix Skeletal Modelling Inserts one or multiple
components and fixes them to the assembly origin point
Micro Concepts Ltd
16© 2008 Micro Concepts Ltd 16© 2007 Micro Concepts Ltd.
Assembly and Presentation Tools
• Browser Rename Rename Browser to show
descriptions by filename or part number + sequential number
• Copy & replace Referenced Assembly
• Change Referenced Assembly
Micro Concepts Ltd
17© 2008 Micro Concepts Ltd 17© 2007 Micro Concepts Ltd.
• Assembly & Presentation Copy & Replace Derive to Part Copy & Replace referenced Assembly
Demo
18© 2008 Micro Concepts Ltd 18© 2007 Micro Concepts Ltd.
Drawing Tools
• Replace Reference Can choose which referenced
model to be replaced Model must have originated
from existing view model Right click on view and select
command or Start command from panel bar
and select view
• Open Ballooned Component Right click on view and select
balloon Start command from panel bar
and select balloonMicro Concepts Ltd
19© 2008 Micro Concepts Ltd 19© 2007 Micro Concepts Ltd.
Drawing Tools
• Renumber Balloons Clockwise or Anti
Clockwise From Selected Balloon Right Click for Options
prior to Selecting Balloon
20© 2008 Micro Concepts Ltd 20© 2007 Micro Concepts Ltd.
• Drawing Tools Replace Reference Open Ballooned Component Renumber Balloons
Demo
21© 2008 Micro Concepts Ltd 21© 2007 Micro Concepts Ltd.Micro Concepts Ltd
Inventor Tools - Help
22© 2008 Micro Concepts Ltd 22© 2007 Micro Concepts Ltd.Micro Concepts Ltd
Inventor Tools 2009 - Help
• Remote Support MC Remote Support client Phone support desk prior to use
• Support Request Include pack and go of current
• Misc Export of options to Reg file for consistent setup
23© 2008 Micro Concepts Ltd 23© 2007 Micro Concepts Ltd.
And Finally – Future development
• Enhancements Based on Feedback from users• Currently In Development
Auto Publish – Step option Auto Publish – Filename based on any property Set Properties – Synchronise model and drawing
properties Set Properties – Linked Lookup Lists Set Properties – Boolean Property Type Automatic Filename Automatic Folder Location Drawing – Open From Parts List
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