Autodesk Inventor is a software of Modélisation 3D carried out by the company Autodesk, also creator of the software of CAD AutoCAD.

This one makes it possible to exploit the parametric concept of Conception. It is a software of Technical design to vocation Mécanique which one finds in several field: Automobile, Architecture, Construction, Consumer goods, Industrial plant, Material industrialist, Education, Electricity, Production by process

This software makes it possible to model:

  • Of the parts
  • Of the assemblies
  • Of the drawings in the form of plan

There exists a certain number of modules:

Autodesk Inventor 9 (2004)

Here a small round of horizon of Inventor program. Let us recall that Inventor Series gathers the software of design, the module of data management Vault, AutoCAD 2005 and Mechanical 2005. The package “Professional” adds to it an environment of design of ways of piping and wiring electric, as well as the importation of electronic charts to format IDF.

Controlling from now on the evolution of its engine of modeling Shape Manager, Autodesk worked on the increase in its rough performances and in particular on the functions hull, skin, mirror, but also on the design of networks, 20 times faster than on the previous model according to Autodesk. The representation of a mechanical system according to its various positions of operation was optimized, with amongst other things the associativeness of the sights of each authority of the mechanism, and the edition of simplified documentations of kinematics.

Version 9 also brings advantage of flexibility for the operations of assembly through the improvement of the functions: revolution, sweeping, vacation and management of the limits of drilling. In addition, the smoothing of surface is more effective. Its action can be pre visualized, and it is possible to lay down conditions of tangencies to the rails of smoothing adopted by the software. The modeller allows to limit the edges of plans automatically and to generate a continuity of curve or a continuity in tangency between two surfaces.

Lastly, the history of construction preserves the states before/after operations of mirrors, which makes it possible to retrogress very simply. Autodesk in parallel worked on the selection of the components within an assembly. The operator can use criteria of regrouping such as: internal or external components, framing, relative position compared to a plan. The operations of drilling are on their side easier to manage: faster positioning, drilling of release for the screws and direct access with the geometrical tolerances. Extrusion Revolution Drilling Hull Leave S Chamfer S Sweeping Ribs and drawing Strip of Hélicoïde face

  • Put in plan and interworking
Second axis of improvement of this new grinding, the setting in plan can be controlled in a more pointed way with management centralized of the styles and the copies. Similar so that one finds in AutoCAD, it makes it possible for example to update in a click all the plans of an assembly in the event of modifications of the mode of presentation. Also let us note the correspondence of the copies between Inventor and AutoCAD.

Same manner, the automatic location of the parts put in plan and the management of the cross-sections were optimized. In the field of the opening to the other products, Inventor 9 is characterized by a compatibility DWG reinforced with, the assumption of responsibility of the copies, the respect of dimensions and the text (for export), the management of the cartridges, edges and objects OLE (logos, worksheets for example). In addition, the management of the formats “iges” and “step” is more powerful and it possible from now on to import telegraphic drawings 2D and 3D. Autodesk also proposes Viewer Inventor for the posting and the impression of files without using the native software.

  • Extension of the field covered

Inventor Professionnel 9 lays out in addition to functionalities specific to the design of tubes and pipings and beams of electric cables.

In addition, the tree of construction makes it possible more effectively to treat on a hierarchical basis the structure of the pipes according to the needs specific to the nomenclatures and the drawings, or to employ several routings and styles by control. In the same way, the design, thanks to the splines 3D, from the flexible devices profits from some new functions like the automatic calculation length of pipes or the control of the radius of curvature and integrates a library of standard elements of the Parker mark. The software creates automatically the representations 2D (board with nails), ensures the update - associative plans, allows the “intelligent” annotation and calculates the dimension of cables.

The realization of the courses of pipings is facilitated in this version 9 by the automatic creation of the tables of bending, which can be transmitted directly to the bending machines with numerical control.

But the large innovation of this version is the integration of a simplified module of finite element analysis of technology ANSYS. Intended for the pre dimensioning, this environment of linear FEA makes it possible to analyze the constraints, deformations and to determine the factors of safety of single parts but according to multiple loads. The operator can generate reports/ratios and export the loads and the grid with the format Ansys Design Space for the modal analysis.

Version 9 comprises a library of mechanical components (assembly by screws, gears, bearings, springs, joined…), of the computational tools facilitating the choice of mechanical components, and a handbook of the engineer on line. The next grinding of Inventor Series should thus integrate in more one assistant of “functional design” which forecasts a potential of progression interesting.

Auxiliary files usable in Autodesk Inventor 9

  • Importation of files IDF (electronic printed circuit boards).
  • Functionalities of calculation by finite elements (technology ANSYS®) associable to carry out stress analyzes and deformations.
  • Files of presentation IPN (video animations, burst sights of drawings)
  • Files IGES (this format of export is directly importable in the software of CAD). This type of format of export presents a rather strong universality in the field of the directed CAD surface and voluminal 3D.
  • Files IDE (parts “block” i.e. parts of a catalog)
  • Files SAT (so insertable parts 3D of short stature in the programs of Microsoft Office),
  • Files STEP (interface developed under the direction of the ISO which standardizes the exchange of the geometrical data of product, technological and administrative).

Names and publication dates

The first publications of Autodesk Inventor were developed with a code name of a popular vehicle. With version 11, Autodesk starts to give names of an inventor or scientifist:

  • Inventor 1 " Mustang" 9/20/1999

  • Inventor 2 " Thunderbird" 3/1/2000
  • Inventor 3 " Camaro" 8/1/2000
  • Inventor 4 " Corvette" 12/1/2000
  • Inventor 5 " Durango" 9/17/2001
  • Inventor 5.3 " Prowler" 1/30/2002
  • Inventor 6 " Viper" 10/15/2002
  • Inventor 7 " Wrangler" 4/18/2003
  • Inventor 8 " Cherokee" 10/15/2003
  • Inventor 9 " Crossfire" 7/15/2004
  • Inventor 10 " Freestyle" 4/6/2005
  • Inventor 11 " Faraday" 4/6/2006

External bonds

  • Official site of Autodesk
  • Autodesk France
  • Inventor 11 (2006)
  • Forum Inventor CADxp
  • Inventor Wizard: Tips 'N Tricks, Tutorials, Tools…
  • Site of Windcad, Retailer Autodesk Inventor

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