IMAGINiT Manufacturing Solutions Blog

Inventor 3DA Labs Preview: 3D Annotations

Autodesk released recently and add in for Inventor called Inventor 3DA which starts (not finishes) the answer to the question some users have been asking Autodesk...Why doesn't Inventor support model dimensioning in line with ASME 14.41-2003 for documentation of 3D models?

From the Autodesk Labs website: (labs.autodesk.com)

Overview

The 3D Annotation for Inventor technology preview allows the Inventor user to apply 3D Annotations: dimensions, geometric tolerances, surface finish symbols, datum symbols, and notes to a part model, which are then displayed in the graphics view.

The technology preview is an emulation intended to provide the Inventor user with a sense of a 3D annotation capability to solicit feedback and to gauge interest level.

The 3D Annotation for Inventor technology preview is licensed for a limited term and for a particular territory as referenced in the End User License Agreement.

Mark's experience: This add in made me unload and then reload some add ins before I could even use it.  Namely Feature Recognition.  So you if you want to try this out you may find yourself turning on and off some add ins.  What worked for me was turning off FR and 3DA then exiting Inventor, then when I come back in I reloaded 3DA first and then FR.

Now as for the add in...I am a little disappointed in the lack of flexibility of the tool set.  Namely it inability to move annotations around easily or to even grab their correct references for GD&T marking.  This is definitely a step in the right direction three years late to the party, but really shows some promise if users contribute enough feedback for what they would want to see in here.

Adding Toolbars with the Ribbon: AutoCAD

In my last post I discussed the Quick Access Toolbar which is highly customizable to the user without being unwieldy.  This time lets look at adding our toolbars we would normally associate with the Classic interface.

First up, in 2011 this is now an option on the View Tab --> Windows Panel --> Toolbars command.  In older versions of AutoCAD (2009 and 2010) you will have to do something else which I will show at the end.

 

Next find one that you like to add to the interface.  Me? I prefer the old Dimension toolbar.

I know what you are thinking, that the commands there are repeated in the Ribbon.  Actually they are repeated twice in the Ribbon, some are on the Home Tab and some also appear on the Annotate Tab.  Consider using ones that you are accustomed to.  After all, Customization is at the heart of any AutoCAD power user.  Autodesk cannot foresee everyone's methods, they can only work with who screams the loudest.

Now if you have 2009 or 2010, simply go to the Quick Access Toolbar and hit the far right button to get the fly out and chose Show Menu Bar.  If you have trouble remembering that there is a command that toggles it on called MENUBAR.  Set that sucker to 1 to turn it on.

 

Now you access to all your old Menu pull downs.  Go to the Tools one and find Toolbars to bring in your favorite little bar.

Hope this makes your time in AutoCAD more productive!

What's in your Quick Access Toolbar? - AutoCAD 2011

The quick access toolbar is one of my favorite aspects of the Ribbon although most users I come across do not know how useful it can really be.

First off, I really don't understand why Autodesk put the Workspace pull down up here other than to help people use the antiquated toolbar system faster.  So that is the first thing I change.  Right click on the Workspace pull down and select Remove from Quick Access Toolbar.

I do like having a pull down up there, just not that one.  What I add is the Layers pull down so no matter where I go in the Ribbon I can always have my Layers available to me without having to go back to the Home Tab.  To add that just right click on your Layers pull down and select Add to Quick Access Toolbar.

Some items are already considered by Autodesk to be customizable for the QAT.  If you select the far right arrow key on the QAT you can find some commonly added items courtesy of the CIP data.  I personally add Match Properties because I do not like its location on the Clipboard Panel.

When all is said and done I usually have my QAT looking like the one below with Layer Control, Match Properties, and Measure Geometry added to it.

Don't forget you can also display the QAT below the Ribbon if you find yourself using it a whole lot more.  For instance I suppose you could look at the QAT as your super tool bar and not need any of the old style toolbars.

In the next post we will take a look at how to add those old style toolbars to the interface without feeling forced to use the AutoCAD classic interface.

Feel free to post what you add to the QAT in the comments.  I would like to hear about some other perspectives.