Autodesk Inventor 2011 Essentials PlusInstructor’s Name

Course Objectives• Create, Constrain, Dimension and Modify Sketches• Create and Edit Part Features • Create, Constrain and Analyze Assemblies• Create and Edit Drawing Views of Parts and Assemblies• Utilize Design Automation Techniques• Create Sheet Metal Parts

Chapter 1 Getting Started

• In this chapter, you will gain an understanding of the following:– The user interface– How to open files– How to create new files– Different file types used in Autodesk Inventor– Save options– Application options– How to issue commands– The Help system– Reasons for which a project file is used– How to create a project file for a single user– Autodesk Vault– Different viewing and appearance commands

Chapter 1 - Objectives

User Interface

Inventor Application Button• File related data• Recent and Open documents

Ribbon• Tabs – current tab is highlighted in green• Panels – breaks down commands• Reposition

Quick Access Toolbar• Common commands• Remove or Add commands• Move below Ribbon• Move above Ribbon

Open and Create New Files•Open

–Open an existing Autodesk Inventor file

•New–Template for a new part, assembly, presentation file, sheet metal part, or drawing

File Type Information• File Types

– Part .ipt• Contain only one part, which can be either 2D or 3D, but can have

multiple solid bodies

– Assembly .iam• Assemble multiple parts, or subassemblies

– Presentation .ipn• Shows parts of an assembly, exploded in different states

– Sheet Metal .ipt• Part files that have sheet metal environment loaded

• File Types– Drawing .idw

• Contain 2D projected drawing views of parts, assemblies and/or presentation files

– Project .ipj• ASCII-based text files, contain search paths to locations of all

files in project– iFeature .ide

• Contains complete parts, 3D features, or 2D sketches, that inserted into a part file

– Design Views (.idv) • Private Design Views are configuration files in which saves

component visibility, component selection status, color settings, zoom magnification, and viewing angle of an assembly.

File Type Information

Save Options• Save

– Save current document• Save As

– A new file is created and is made active • Save Copy As

– A new file is created but is not made active • Save Copy As Template

– A new file is created in the template folder• Save All

– Save all open documents and all of their dependents

Application OptionsCustomized to your preferences

– General - Common settings– Save - Set how files are saved– File - Set where files are located– Colors - Change the color scheme – Display - Adjust how parts look– Hardware - Adjust video card settings– Prompts - Modify responses– Drawing – Set how drawings are created and

displayed– Notebook - Set how the Engineer’s Notebook

is displayed– Sketch – Set how sketch data is created and

displayed– Part - Change how parts are created– iFeature – Set where iFeatures are stored– Assembly - Control assemblies– Content Center - Access options

Exercise 1-1

• User Interface

Command Entry– Command Entry– Tooltips– Shortcut Menus– Close sketch– Repeat Last Command– Auto-hide Dialogs– Undo & Redo

Help System• Help system in Autodesk Inventor

– Help Topics– New Features Workshop– Shortcut/Alias Quick

Reference– Learning Tools– Ribbon Learning Tools

• Help Access– F1 key– Information Toolbar– Dialog Boxes

Projects in Autodesk Inventor• Projects Overview

– Most designs involve more than a single file: parts, subassembly, top level assembly, presentation, and drawings

– Projects are files that contain search paths to find files that are required for a project

– Autodesk Inventor always has a project named Default. The default project’s path is located relative to the folder that the referencing file located

Projects in Autodesk Inventor•Project Setup

–Plan your project folder structure•Project File Search Options

–Inventor stores cross-file reference information–Resolves information to find referenced file

Projects in Autodesk Inventor•Project File Search Options

–Included File, Workspace & Local Search Paths–Workgroup Search Paths

• More file management sophistication–Library Search Paths

• Store standard company and third-party models–Project File Search Order

• Library Paths• Workspace• Local Search Paths in the order listed in the project file • Workgroup Search Paths in the order listed in the project file• Folder containing the parent document

Projects in Autodesk Inventor• Creating Projects

– .ipj file extension– Types of project

• Single User• Vault Project

– Available only if Autodesk Vault is installed

Projects in Autodesk Inventor• Project wizard

– Project Name– Location– Libraries

• Editing Projects

Autodesk Vault• Available on the Autodesk Inventor DVD • Autodesk Vault enhances the data

management process by – File check in / out– Manage any electronic file– Track file versions– Track team member access– Copy designs– Enhanced search capabilities

Exercise 1-2

• Projects

Viewpoint Options• Viewing Models From Different Viewpoints

– View Cube– Home View– Navigation Bar

• Customize

Appearance Options• Visual Styles

– Navigation Bar – Visual Styles– View Tab > Appearance Panel

• Appearance• Shadows• Reflections• Lights• Orthographic / Perspective• Ground Plane

Exercise 1-3• Viewing a Model

Checking Your Skills1.Explain the reasons why a project file is used.2.True__ False__ Only one project can be active at any time.3.True__ False__ Subfolders need to be added to the project file in order

for the files to be found.4.True__ False__ Autodesk Inventor stores the part, assembly

information, and related drawing views in the same file.5.True__ False__ Press and hold down the F4 key to dynamically rotate

the viewpoint.6.True__ False__ The Save Copy As command saves the active

document with a new name, and then makes it current.7. List four ways to access the Help system.8. Explain how to change the location of the Ribbon.9. True__ False__ Commands can be added to the Quick Access toolbar.10. True__ False__ Visual styles change the physical properties of the

model.