Inventing the future with past wisdom

One of the most striking aspects of Autodesk Inventor 2008 is its integration of design processes – as opposed to just speeding the creation of 3D geometry. While none of the underlying ideas are very new, Rickard Lindgren – technical sales executive for the Nordic and Baltic regions – described it as: “More adding to existing features rather than instituting new areas.” Many features have been made more useful. For example, an enhanced, integrated engineering handbook contains the engineering theory, formulae and algorithms used in machine design – including the background references and the theory behind the generation of calculations. It is thus possible to automatically design a shaft for a fan, rotate the fan, then look back and see what assumptions went into designing it. While shafts, springs, and roller chains are now linked to geometry generation, other items – such as cams – are still not. Lindgren’s demonstration of the roller chain generator on full version shipping day was particularly impressive, because it even allows input of parameters such as motor duty requirements, and so forms a complete automated design package for chain drives. In other areas, sketching has been enhanced to reduce screen clutter, and it is now possible to change line colour, type and weight as in AutoCAD. It is possible to move, rotate scale and stretch sketch entities while preserving constraints. In sheet metal, there is support for multiple flanges in a single operation and better control over corner conditions. Contour flanges can be generated globally or edge by edge with auto mitring. It is now possible to dimension isometric views and cross hatch in isometric views. Tables and standards have been improved. For pump and valve designers there is a new area loft feature that allows one to produce a passage connecting one port area to another, and control the changing shape and position along its course so it maintains the right thickness in the pump or valve body. In the cable and harness design module, Autodesk Inventor delivers automatic path generation and wire length calculation. Now, if extra cables are added, details can be fed back to AutoCAD Electrical and new functionality has been added with regard to ribbon cables, allowing the software to create single folds and double folds. “No one else can do this,” Lindgren claimed. The end result is that cable harnesses can be plotted out and put on a nail board and the wires cut to correct lengths. Cable and harness designs are updated when the underlying 3D model is updated. In steel frame design, there is a library of standard and user defined steel shapes that can be automatically generated on a frame model. Joints too are automatically generated in response to user choice of type of joint. In a special purpose machine design, moving a motor can be made to take its supports with it, recreating all geometry when its new position is fixed. “We have put some more money into tube and pipe design,” said Lindgren – which, he said, enabled rules based routing and automatic updates of routing when the underlying 3D model is updated – as in the case of the cable and harness design module. The module can be made to populate piping routes with correct pipes and correct fittings, leaving correct gaps for welding. The system can be made to take care of choosing pipes, flanges and sealing, but Lindgren admitted: “It is still possible to put together an impossible design.” Iin analysis, it is possible to make an automated transfer of motion simulator load results to FEA, which can then be undertaken at multiple motion positions. Autodesk Pointers * Latest version includes very useful enhancements in most areas, but not a lot of totally new areas * Functionality has been noticeably enhanced in sketching, sheet metal, area lofting for pump and valve design, cable and harness design, steel frame design and tube and pipe design * It is possible to make an automated transfer of motion simulator load results to FEA, which can then be undertaken at multiple motion positions