Implementing Autodesk Inventor in Your Company MA405-1 Dan Miles INCAT Autodesk Practice Manager Email = [email protected] Blog Site = danmiles.blogs.com.
Download ReportTranscript Implementing Autodesk Inventor in Your Company MA405-1 Dan Miles INCAT Autodesk Practice Manager Email = [email protected] Blog Site = danmiles.blogs.com.
Slide 1
Implementing Autodesk
Inventor in Your Company
MA405-1
Dan Miles
INCAT Autodesk Practice Manager
Email = [email protected]
Blog Site = danmiles.blogs.com
Slide 2
Course Topics
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Upfront Decisions
File and Folder Organization
Content Center and Standard Component Files
Engineering Data Folders
File Naming Standards
Inventor File iProperties Standards
Style and Standards Library
Template Files
Application Option Preferences
Project Files
Slide 3
Course Survey
Autodesk University 2007
Session Evaluation
Course #: MA405-1
Course Name: Implementing Inventor
Speaker: Dan Miles
Your Badge #:
????
Slide 4
What Does Implementing Mean?
To me implementing means adopting new technology
within a group in a repeatable and standardized way that
delivers true measureable advantages.
The quotes we would like to avoid.
“If I knew what I know now, I would have done it differently from the start.”
“Everyone works differently and it is hard to share things.”
“The system is not setup for our company.”
“We are always redoing the same things over and over.”
Slide 5
What is Not an Implementation
Using the software right out of the box.
Each user using the software differently.
Not leveraging all of the functions you could.
Not streamlining common tasks
Slide 6
Course Overview
This class provides proven best practices for
implementing Autodesk Inventor to ensure that you
realize the benefits the solution offers.
Also ensure you are able to deploy the solution to a
group of people or full company.
Provide a check list approach on several topics to help
guide you through your implementation process.
Slide 7
Elements of an Implementation
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Upfront Decisions
File / Folder Organization
File Naming
Inventor File iProperties
Style and Standards Library
Template Files
Application Option Preferences
Project Files
Content Center
Slide 8
Upfront Decisions Required
Before you begin your implementation you need to
consider the following:
• Project or Product Based Company
• Drawing File Format
• File (Data) Management Method
Slide 9
Project or Product Based Company
Project Focused
Project focused engineering departments and companies
generally receive their work from a customer. Most of the
parts and assemblies created for the project are not reused
across projects.
Product Focused
Product focused engineering departments and companies
have their own products that they engineer, manufacture, and
bring to market. Components are generally shared across
products and standard components are treated as their own.
Slide 10
Drawing File Format
Autodesk Inventor 2008 Provides You a Choose.
Inventor “IDW” Format
Inventor IDW files are native to Autodesk Inventor
only and were the only drawing files until release
2008.
Inventor “DWG” Format
With release 2008 you can now create and use
AutoCAD DWG files within Autodesk Inventor.
If you are just starting out I recommend using the DWG format.
Slide 11
File (Data) Management Method
Network File Folders
Standard Windows file folders is the most basic
method.
Autodesk Vault / Productstream
Autodesk Vault comes with Inventor and you only
need a basic server in place to get started.
Third Party Data Management Solution
Most companies choose one of these solutions if
they are managing other non Autodesk files and
connecting to other CAD or business systems.
Slide 12
File / Folder Organization
There are several different categories of file folders you
need to define:
• General Folders
• Content Center Files
• Standard Component Files
• Engineering Data Folders
Slide 13
General Folders
Design Data
Styles library and other required files.
Templates
Inventor startup file templates
Catalog
iFeatures and Sheetmetal Punches
Preferences
XML Application Option Files
Slide 14
Slide 15
Content Center & Std. Components
Network File Folders
Slide 16
Content Center & Std. Components
Autodesk Vault / Productstream Environment
Slide 17
Content Center & Std. Components
Autodesk Vault / Productstream Workspace
Option 1 – Local Folder
Option 2 – Network Folder
Slide 18
Engineering Data Folders
Project Based
Note: All of the folder names listed are just concepts and should be replaced with meaningful names
within your organization.
Slide 19
Engineering Data Folders
Product Based
Note: All of the folder names listed are just concepts and should be replaced with meaningful names
within your organization.
Slide 20
Slide 21
File Naming Overview
In most cases the files names follow your companies
part numbering convention.
They may also contains some special characters for
management of CAD only related files.
Slide 22
File Naming
Sequential Generic Part Numbering
This is for product based companies or companies with
design reuse across projects in most cases.
Example: C-1034.ipt
Slide 23
File Naming
Project Based Sequential Part Numbering
Example on how a project based part number convention can
be implemented.
Example: 4560-001366.ipt
Slide 24
File Naming
Weldment Sub Component Example
Example on how you might name a sub component of a
weldment that is not assigned a part number.
Example: 456-0234-01.ipt
Slide 25
Inventor File iProperties
Inventor file iProperties are property fields attached to a
file. This is one of the most important items to ensure
that everyone is following the same standards and filling
them in on each file.
iProperties are used for the following items:
•
•
•
•
•
Parts Lists
Title Blocks
Sketch Symbols / Blocks
Balloons
Data Management File Searching
Slide 26
Inventor File iProperty Guidelines
• Use as many of the standard default iProperties.
• Create custom iProperties as needed.
• Add custom iProperties to your based template files.
• Avoid using drawing iProperties for generic component
information like description or part number.
• If a component is reused across projects only store generic
information on the model and have the project information
within the drawing files.
Slide 27
Slide 28
Style and Standard Library
Style libraries have two main purposes:
Part and Assembly Information
Centralize all of the shared information for parts and
assembly files like colors, lighting, and materials. These
items are connected live to the central mapped style library
location.
Drawing Information
Manage and control all of the drawing (IDW and DWG)
environment settings like layers, dimension styles, text styles,
and etc.. These items are not connected live to the central
mapped library and instead need to be manually updated
within the files.
Slide 29
Style and Standard Library
I recommend starting your own empty style library before
you start creating your file templates.
You can then populate the new
library with all of the item you
would like from the standard out
of box library. I recommend only
adding the standard colors,
materials, and lighting items
from the out of box library.
Slide 30
Slide 31
Template Files
Creating template files to be used within Inventor is one
of my pet peeves. I take creating these files very serious
and take great care in creating the perfect template.
These are the files that start all other files so they will be
used thousands of times if not more over a year or two.
I also recommend that every other release of Inventor
take the time and recreate your template files from
scratch.
Slide 32
IPT, IAM, IPN Template Files
The main item you need to configure within your part,
assembly, and presentation template files are
iProperties.
Also with Inventor 2008 and older your sheetmetal styles
are stored within the template files so you need to preset
those also.
Note: Inventor Professional may require a few additional template files.
Slide 33
Slide 34
Drawing Template Files
This is where all of the magic comes into play. Creating
a good drawing template file can take some time but is
well worth the investment. I recommend using the DWG
file format for your custom drawing templates.
Slide 35
Drawing Template Guidelines
Start with an empty file.
Creation Sequence
1. Styles and Standards
Modify the text, leader, layers, and object defaults first
2. Title Block and Border
Create border before title block
Test several text values in your title blocks
3. Sketch Symbols and Blocks
Create all required standard symbols / blocks
4. Test Everything
Slide 36
Slide 37
Content Center
The current libraries within Autodesk Inventor contain
hundreds of thousands of components. In most cases a
company will not use all of the available items so only a
small percentage of are used.
To help increase the performance and simplify the user
interface I recommend creating your own company
content center library. At first the library will be empty
but you can add only what you need. This also provides
a foundation for adding custom content.
Slide 38
Project Files (Content Libraries)
Library configurations are managed through the Inventor
Project Editor using the Configure Content Center
Libraries command.
Note: The fewer libraries actively searched by Content Center, the
better the performance.
Slide 39
Project Files
Slide 40
Slide 41
Application Option Preferences
Autodesk Inventor 2008 allows you to import and export
application options settings to an XML preferences files.
Store these is your “General” preferences folder.
Slide 42
Slide 43
THANK YOU!!!!!
Autodesk University 2007
Session Evaluation
Course #: MA405-1
Course Name: Implementing Inventor
Speaker: Dan Miles
Your Badge #:
????
Implementing Autodesk
Inventor in Your Company
MA405-1
Dan Miles
INCAT Autodesk Practice Manager
Email = [email protected]
Blog Site = danmiles.blogs.com
Slide 2
Course Topics
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Upfront Decisions
File and Folder Organization
Content Center and Standard Component Files
Engineering Data Folders
File Naming Standards
Inventor File iProperties Standards
Style and Standards Library
Template Files
Application Option Preferences
Project Files
Slide 3
Course Survey
Autodesk University 2007
Session Evaluation
Course #: MA405-1
Course Name: Implementing Inventor
Speaker: Dan Miles
Your Badge #:
????
Slide 4
What Does Implementing Mean?
To me implementing means adopting new technology
within a group in a repeatable and standardized way that
delivers true measureable advantages.
The quotes we would like to avoid.
“If I knew what I know now, I would have done it differently from the start.”
“Everyone works differently and it is hard to share things.”
“The system is not setup for our company.”
“We are always redoing the same things over and over.”
Slide 5
What is Not an Implementation
Using the software right out of the box.
Each user using the software differently.
Not leveraging all of the functions you could.
Not streamlining common tasks
Slide 6
Course Overview
This class provides proven best practices for
implementing Autodesk Inventor to ensure that you
realize the benefits the solution offers.
Also ensure you are able to deploy the solution to a
group of people or full company.
Provide a check list approach on several topics to help
guide you through your implementation process.
Slide 7
Elements of an Implementation
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Upfront Decisions
File / Folder Organization
File Naming
Inventor File iProperties
Style and Standards Library
Template Files
Application Option Preferences
Project Files
Content Center
Slide 8
Upfront Decisions Required
Before you begin your implementation you need to
consider the following:
• Project or Product Based Company
• Drawing File Format
• File (Data) Management Method
Slide 9
Project or Product Based Company
Project Focused
Project focused engineering departments and companies
generally receive their work from a customer. Most of the
parts and assemblies created for the project are not reused
across projects.
Product Focused
Product focused engineering departments and companies
have their own products that they engineer, manufacture, and
bring to market. Components are generally shared across
products and standard components are treated as their own.
Slide 10
Drawing File Format
Autodesk Inventor 2008 Provides You a Choose.
Inventor “IDW” Format
Inventor IDW files are native to Autodesk Inventor
only and were the only drawing files until release
2008.
Inventor “DWG” Format
With release 2008 you can now create and use
AutoCAD DWG files within Autodesk Inventor.
If you are just starting out I recommend using the DWG format.
Slide 11
File (Data) Management Method
Network File Folders
Standard Windows file folders is the most basic
method.
Autodesk Vault / Productstream
Autodesk Vault comes with Inventor and you only
need a basic server in place to get started.
Third Party Data Management Solution
Most companies choose one of these solutions if
they are managing other non Autodesk files and
connecting to other CAD or business systems.
Slide 12
File / Folder Organization
There are several different categories of file folders you
need to define:
• General Folders
• Content Center Files
• Standard Component Files
• Engineering Data Folders
Slide 13
General Folders
Design Data
Styles library and other required files.
Templates
Inventor startup file templates
Catalog
iFeatures and Sheetmetal Punches
Preferences
XML Application Option Files
Slide 14
Slide 15
Content Center & Std. Components
Network File Folders
Slide 16
Content Center & Std. Components
Autodesk Vault / Productstream Environment
Slide 17
Content Center & Std. Components
Autodesk Vault / Productstream Workspace
Option 1 – Local Folder
Option 2 – Network Folder
Slide 18
Engineering Data Folders
Project Based
Note: All of the folder names listed are just concepts and should be replaced with meaningful names
within your organization.
Slide 19
Engineering Data Folders
Product Based
Note: All of the folder names listed are just concepts and should be replaced with meaningful names
within your organization.
Slide 20
Slide 21
File Naming Overview
In most cases the files names follow your companies
part numbering convention.
They may also contains some special characters for
management of CAD only related files.
Slide 22
File Naming
Sequential Generic Part Numbering
This is for product based companies or companies with
design reuse across projects in most cases.
Example: C-1034.ipt
Slide 23
File Naming
Project Based Sequential Part Numbering
Example on how a project based part number convention can
be implemented.
Example: 4560-001366.ipt
Slide 24
File Naming
Weldment Sub Component Example
Example on how you might name a sub component of a
weldment that is not assigned a part number.
Example: 456-0234-01.ipt
Slide 25
Inventor File iProperties
Inventor file iProperties are property fields attached to a
file. This is one of the most important items to ensure
that everyone is following the same standards and filling
them in on each file.
iProperties are used for the following items:
•
•
•
•
•
Parts Lists
Title Blocks
Sketch Symbols / Blocks
Balloons
Data Management File Searching
Slide 26
Inventor File iProperty Guidelines
• Use as many of the standard default iProperties.
• Create custom iProperties as needed.
• Add custom iProperties to your based template files.
• Avoid using drawing iProperties for generic component
information like description or part number.
• If a component is reused across projects only store generic
information on the model and have the project information
within the drawing files.
Slide 27
Slide 28
Style and Standard Library
Style libraries have two main purposes:
Part and Assembly Information
Centralize all of the shared information for parts and
assembly files like colors, lighting, and materials. These
items are connected live to the central mapped style library
location.
Drawing Information
Manage and control all of the drawing (IDW and DWG)
environment settings like layers, dimension styles, text styles,
and etc.. These items are not connected live to the central
mapped library and instead need to be manually updated
within the files.
Slide 29
Style and Standard Library
I recommend starting your own empty style library before
you start creating your file templates.
You can then populate the new
library with all of the item you
would like from the standard out
of box library. I recommend only
adding the standard colors,
materials, and lighting items
from the out of box library.
Slide 30
Slide 31
Template Files
Creating template files to be used within Inventor is one
of my pet peeves. I take creating these files very serious
and take great care in creating the perfect template.
These are the files that start all other files so they will be
used thousands of times if not more over a year or two.
I also recommend that every other release of Inventor
take the time and recreate your template files from
scratch.
Slide 32
IPT, IAM, IPN Template Files
The main item you need to configure within your part,
assembly, and presentation template files are
iProperties.
Also with Inventor 2008 and older your sheetmetal styles
are stored within the template files so you need to preset
those also.
Note: Inventor Professional may require a few additional template files.
Slide 33
Slide 34
Drawing Template Files
This is where all of the magic comes into play. Creating
a good drawing template file can take some time but is
well worth the investment. I recommend using the DWG
file format for your custom drawing templates.
Slide 35
Drawing Template Guidelines
Start with an empty file.
Creation Sequence
1. Styles and Standards
Modify the text, leader, layers, and object defaults first
2. Title Block and Border
Create border before title block
Test several text values in your title blocks
3. Sketch Symbols and Blocks
Create all required standard symbols / blocks
4. Test Everything
Slide 36
Slide 37
Content Center
The current libraries within Autodesk Inventor contain
hundreds of thousands of components. In most cases a
company will not use all of the available items so only a
small percentage of are used.
To help increase the performance and simplify the user
interface I recommend creating your own company
content center library. At first the library will be empty
but you can add only what you need. This also provides
a foundation for adding custom content.
Slide 38
Project Files (Content Libraries)
Library configurations are managed through the Inventor
Project Editor using the Configure Content Center
Libraries command.
Note: The fewer libraries actively searched by Content Center, the
better the performance.
Slide 39
Project Files
Slide 40
Slide 41
Application Option Preferences
Autodesk Inventor 2008 allows you to import and export
application options settings to an XML preferences files.
Store these is your “General” preferences folder.
Slide 42
Slide 43
THANK YOU!!!!!
Autodesk University 2007
Session Evaluation
Course #: MA405-1
Course Name: Implementing Inventor
Speaker: Dan Miles
Your Badge #:
????