IMAGINiT Manufacturing Solutions Blog

Frame Generator: Structural Shape Authoring Tool

Many companies and individuals require use of custom profiles. In Inventor 2009 software, users can publish their profiles to the Content Center for use in Frame Generator. A new Frame Shape Authoring tool has been developed to facilitate the publishing operations. The tool has the capability to prepare the custom profile for Frame Generator use. The feature affords complete control over the data displayed in the Frame Generator interface. This feature gives the user the necessary tools to add any custom profile to the Frame Generator.

Inventor 2009 addresses the needs of the many companies and individuals who use custom profiles. Examples of common uses include custom aluminum extrusions, dimensional lumber, profiled wood, rails, and miniature tubing. Inventor 2009 provides a new Frame Shape Authoring tool for defining and publishing user-defined profiles. The authoring tool affords complete control over the data displayed in the Frame Generator interface. All profiles, including user-defined profiles, are now managed in the Content Center.

I've authored a whitepaper on the new Structural Shape Authoring here:

//Structural Shape Authoring

Until next time, may your mouse zoom in the right direction!

Parker Product Configurator

Here I am in the middle of this big project and I need a cylinder. Not tomorrow, not the day after tomorrow and I don't have time for an intern to hunt one down and add it to the library after he asks me 10 questions about what a cylinder is and how I want it sized. So what do I do? I launch my web browser and go to the Parker Product Configuration.

This site has a lot of the parts you need and when you need them. That's not the best part though. When you run through a configuration of what product you want, the site will grant you access to place the file directly into an open session of Inventor as well as download it in a number of native file types. You can also give the files a look over with a number of model view manipulation tools built into the browser.

The next time you need a part from a Parker Division, try this site to make your job easier.

Until next time, may your mouse zoom in the right direction!

Inventor 2009 Bonus Tools!

Autodesk has just released its first ever Bonus Pack of enhancements to their subscription customers. This pack of enhancements includes such asked for items such as labels on your origin indicator and save reminders as well as a host of other nuances that make the software easier and more fun to use.

You can download the new Bonus Pack from the Subscription Portal assuming you are your company's contract contact for the Portal. You also need to have Service Pack 1 for Inventor 2009 installed and have the UI Technology Preview uninstalled.

The Bonus Pack also does not change the file schema of the software so you can use this right alongside other users of the software without repercussions. But you will have some jealousy.

I have put together a short introduction to these new commands which will be in the next release of the software although maybe even more improved upon.

Download Inventor 2009 Subscription Bonus Pack