Adris Computing Concepts - Mechanical Tips and Tricks - No 8

Welcome to this edition of Adris Computing Concepts Mechanical ‘Tips and Tricks’ newsletter. We have produced this with you our Clients, in mind. Our aim is to regularly pass on helpful Tips and Tricks on Autodesk Mechanical Software products. We will try and keep this document full of useful and relevant information for you but if you want to make some suggestions on the content, drop us a line and we will do our best to include your requests.

Please take the time to look at the contents of this Newsletter, you never know, the answer to something that is puzzling you today may be right here.

Can I create my own toolbar in Inventor?

Solution: Yes, utilize Inventors customization interface tool to create your own personalised toolbar.

To create your toolbar select Tools>Customize, and then click the Toolbars tab, click new and enter the toolbar name in the dialog box, click ok or press enter to accept. Your tool bar will then appear near the top left of the screen, to select the features you want to use click the commands tab. In the categories list click the command category you want, position your new toolbar near the customization dialog box, drag and drop the features required onto the new tool bar. You can also copy existing toolbars and add and remove features from them to suit your own needs, an example of this would be to copy and modify the sketch and part features panel and attach them to your top toolbar to increase the view of your model browser.

Click here for example

Can I get a command line in Inventor similar to AutoCAD?

Solution: You can use the multi-character command alias to use features rather than using the mouse or tool panels. To activate pre-defined command aliases select Tools>Customize, and then click the Keyboard tab. In the Categories list, click the command category that you want. In the filter list, select All, Assigned, or Unassigned, to see a list of associated commands and aliases in the command box. In the command box, click in the Keys column next to the associated command you wish to modify or add to. Enter the shortcut using numbers and/or letters, to accept the alias click the tick mark or press Enter. You can now enter aliases which will appear on the bottom status bar, to activate the command dialog box select Tools>Application options, and then click the General tab. Under toot tip appearance select “show alias command dialog box”. Also select “show autocomplete for alias command input” by enabling this multiple options will appear if there is more than one function associated with the primary letter.

Click here for example

How do you create text to follow the profile of a circular edge in Inventor?

Solution: A quick and easy way to create arced text is to use the Arc text express tool in AutoCAD or AutoCAD Mechanical.

Start up AutoCAD and create two layers for text and construction. Create an arc in the size and position you require on the construction layer. Change to text layer and select the arc text tool (Express>Text, Arc-Aligned Text.) Select the arc and set the appropriate settings you require for your text, type in your text and select ok. You now need to explode the text, we do this as arc aligned text can sometimes move around, once exploded copy the arc and text. Paste into sketch and use the move tool from the panel bar to position the text as required (in the example we are positioning to the centre of a hub, which is ideal to align to when using the centre of the arc as a base point, more construction geometry may be required if you are not locating to a centre point.) Finish sketch and select the Emboss tool from the panel bar, select the text, specify the depth, select required emboss method, change colour and select ok.

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In AutoCAD is it possible to move an object or multiple objects in both the X & Y without having to reselect?

Solution: Many people do not realise you can do this with the “from” tool which has been in AutoCAD for some time. In the example we are trying to position a hole with centrelines onto a clamp, we are referencing the movement from the corner of the clamp and moving in a positive value in the X (+25mm) and a negative value in the Y (-10mm). Select the move tool, select the objects to be move, press enter to confirm selection, select base point (remember to consider where you will be referencing from). To enable the from tool press SHIFT+ rightclick to bring up the isolation snaps and select from, select the point from where you wish to reference your movement. If Dynamic input is activated enter your X value (25) then press comma (,) to enter your Y value (-10) the stairs is then placed in the position required.

NOTE: If you are not using Dynamic Input you will need to enter @25, -10 on the command bar.

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2008 Inventor.dwg will not open in AutoCAD 2007 Applications?

Solution: Install DWG True Connect 2007 Object Enabler, this is a freeware application that you can use to view Autodesk Inventor drawing files on any Autodesk product based on AutoCAD® 2007.

Use the link below to download and apply application.

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=9611377&linkID=9242019

I quickly obtain layer and property information from x-refs and blocks?

Solution: By typing xlist in the command bar you can select any part of geometry in blocks and xrefs contained within your drawing, a window will then appear displaying: Object type, Block name, layer, and property information.

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