IMAGINiT Manufacturing Solutions Blog

Inventor iLogic: Multi-Value Text Parameter to Custom iProperty

I love the forms in Inventor 2012 and up.  In fact I try to find a use for them whenever I can.  One of the more recurring uses I have done for clients is a Form in the drawing environment.  Recently I was asked to have a pick list in the form based on known customers the client works with.  So I start with a new text user parameter in the drawing and I make it a Multi-Value list.

Normally I would just slap that parameter right in there and call it a day.

But wait, we want this to track in Autodesk Vault as well in a Custom iProperty called Client.  Normally this isn't a problem because when we click the Export Parameter column in the parameters window, it automatically does this for us.  The problem we run into is that Mulit-Value text parameters do not support export to iProperties like normal numerical ones do.  And in the drawing it isn't even a option at all for even the numeric ones.

This is where iLogic comes in.  Create a new Rule and use this code snipped in the Rule Editor

Download MV Parameter to Custom iProp Snippet

Follow the comments to change a few variables here for it to work for you.  In the end you will have a rule that will take your current value of your MV Parameter and transcribe it to your Custom iProperties for proper metadata tracking.

Inventor Imagery: Fixing the Ground Plane and Model Reflection

Some of the new Visual aspects of the Inventor modeling engine include the ability to set a model reflection across a ground plane.  Unfortunately, sometimes it doesn't match the way you modeling your part or assembly so we have to adjust it.  Here we have a reflection image that is in the wrong position.  We want it below this feeder assembly, not behind it.

To resolve this, start by going to the View Tab --> Appearance Panel and select the flyout for either the Reflection or the Ground Plane.  In either of these flyouts you will find a Settings button.

You will notice one glaring omission from this "settings" box.  The ability to reposition the Ground Plane used in Reflection!  But you do get a hint about where to actually do it...sort of.  It tells you that it is tied to the View Cube...but how?

Well, the Ground Plane will represent the bottom of the model, so if you were to change your Top setting on the View Cube it will readjust the ground plane automatically.  To adjust this, simply orient the cube so that you are looking in a downward fashion to where you actually would be viewing your new Top of the model.  Once you have your model tilted, rotated, or otherwise in the postion of your new Top, simply right click anywhere on the cube and select to "Set Current View As" and select Top.

This will change the orientation of the cube all around to match what you really want now and your Ground Plane and Reflection will be correct too!

Navisworks Simulate: Custom Avatars for Walkthrough / Review

Coming off my post about how you can actually use Navisworks in a Manufacturing or Factory Layout setting, I got a great question from reader.

How can I put something more exciting in the program for an avatar?

Well, you can actually take just about any 3Ds Max or OBJ file and put it in Navisworks as an avatar.  You just have to import it, orient it correctly, save it as a NWD, and have it in the correct folder.

Here are some samples for you to have some fun with. Download NWavatars

I am particularly favorable to the Skeleton and the Raptor, but the updated female avatar fits too.  Just keep it safe for work guys and gals.  I plan on adding an Optimus Prime and maybe a Tour Group in the future, well see how much interest this post gets.  For now, put these in your C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Navisworks Simulate 2013\avatars folder.  Here are the steps to change your avatar in NavisWorks:

1: Open something you are going to walk through.  If you don't have a good Navisworks sample, use this one:  Download Factory Navigation 

2: Make sure your Realism is as you see below (you may need to switch to Walk mode instead of Fly).

3: Choose the DEPT 500 Mainenacne Viewpoint.  Edit the Viewpoint (also notice the saved ones here in case you get lost in the model.

4: Click on the Collision settings and choose your Hero.

Inventor Imagery: Setting your Default Visual Settings

I really annoyed a co-worker the other day.  I saved my part model with the ever effective Watercolor Visual Style so when he opened up the document he was presented with a less than stellar style for his review.  It has almost become a Rick-Rolling type of prank I play on the unsuspecting Inventor modeler.

Now from time to time, I have found that this can cause some serious problems for those with less sophisticated graphics cards where it would actually cause a CTD (Crash to Desktop) due to the settings of that computer's hardware and video settings.  So how do we stop this CTD if we are one of the affected users or prevent Inventor pranks if we are not?  The answer lies in our Application Options for Inventor.

On the Display Tab of the Application Options we need to adjust the settings at the very top of this dialog box.  The default is to use the document settings which would be whatever the file was last saved as for visual styles and other settings.  To take control of our Inventor so that it opens every time the way we want to see it, simply select the Application settings radio button instead.  This will now ignore the document settings in favor of our pre-defined application ones.

Select the Settings button here to really fine tune the opening options for your file.  I really prefer the Shaded with Edges as the default (that's what it always was before all these fancy new ones).  I also have a penchant for turning on the faked Ambient Shadows to give the part some depth visually.  We'll talk about some other settings in upcoming posts.  For now, "Style-Roll" your other Inventor users and then teach them this handy trick to avoid it in the future.

Inventor 2013: Status Bar Icons

Starting in Inventor 2013, Autodesk has added Sketch toggles to the Status Bar at the bottom of the screen.  From left to right we have Snap to Grid, Show/Hide Constraints, Dimension Display, Slice Graphics, and Show/Hide Degrees of Freedom.

You may already have known some of these tools existed, but in case you didn't you can see why this enhancement was a nice one for new users or those looking for better access to these sketching tools.  In case you need a refresher...

Snap to Grid: Pretty self-explanatory, but if you want to adjust the grid snapping, go to your Document Settings and adjust it there

Show/Hide Constraints: When you just need to see what has been persistantly created while you were sketching or if you need to delete a conflicting constraint that is binding you up.

Dimension Display: Tolerance is your default, but I much prefer to see my dimensions with their Expression settings to see the whole picture of my parametric intelligence.  Your other options here are Value, Name, and Precise (all boring).

Slice Graphics: Use this when you are in a sketch inside a model and need to see a cutaway for better sketching and visual acuity.  The tool will slice depending on which side of the plane you are viewing it from.  Go ahead, ask me how I got ANSI31 hatch style in the model, I dare ya.  Bow before my awesome customization skillz.

Show/Hide Degrees of Freedom:  Ever get down to one or two dimensions and you just can't figure out how this wacky geometry cannot be constrained yet or somehow jumps around when you pull on something?  Well this is the sketch tool for you.  This tool will visually show you the available 2D degrees of freedom of the sketch elements so you can better understand what to lock down.