User Manual

36
|
CHAPTER 1 Inventor DesIgn PhIlosoPhy
Get the “feel” of Inventor. Inventor’s interface contains many elements that change and
update to give you the tools you need to perform the task at hand. Getting comfortable
with these automatic changes and learning to anticipate them will help you get the “feel” of
Inventor.
Master It You create an extrude feature using the Extrude button, but you cannot seem
to find an Edit Extrude button. How can you edit the extruded feature to change the
height?
Work with Inventor graphical interface. Inventor 2012 uses the Ribbon menu interface first
introduced in Inventor 2010. Tools are grouped, which makes finding them intuitive once you
become familiar with the basic layout.
Master It You are trying to draw a line on the face of a part, but you seem to have lost
the Sketch tab in the Ribbon. How do you get it back?
Work with Inventor file types. Inventor supports many different file types in its native
environment, separating tasks and files to improve performance and increase stability.
Master It You have trouble keeping the various file types straight because all of the file
icons look rather similar to you. Is there a way you can see which file is what type?
Move from AutoCAD to Inventor. If you are making the move from AutoCAD to Inventor,
you are not alone; most Inventor users have made that transition as well. You may find that
over time you use AutoCAD less and less, or you might find that Inventor and AutoCAD
both have a place in your design work. It is largely dependent upon the industry in which
you work.
Master It You find Inventor to be a bit foreign and wish it worked more like AutoCAD.
How can this be overcome?
Create 3D virtual prototypes. It is important to understand that the full power of Inventor
is realized when your models become more than just 3D and become true prototypes of the
object of your design.
Master It You want to make your models as intelligent and as close to real life as pos-
sible, so how do you get started?
Use functional design. Functional design includes a number of tools in Inventor. Most
often, though, the design accelerators are what come to mind when one hears the term func-
tional design.
Master It You need to fasten two assemblies together but are not certain what size bolt
to use; is there anything in Inventor that will assist with that?
016824c01.indd 36 4/29/11 6:56:27 AM