IMAGINiT Manufacturing Solutions Blog

AutoCAD 2016 - Selection Effect Re-Visited

I wrote an article earlier this year covering the new AutoCAD 2015 "selectioneffect" system variable.  The article can be found at at this address.  At the time I really was not too keen on the change since I found it a lot easier to see the old dotted line selection.

AutoCAD 2016 has added an option to the new selection effect that has made me a convert to the new highlighting method, they have added another system variable which allows you to select the color of the selection effect.  I guess I did not like the blue tint they offered in AutoCAD 2015 because I really find blue a hard color to see on a black modelspace background.

If you refer back to the original post, you must have "Hardware Acceleration" turned on for the selection effect to function.  You can check if this is enabled by looking in the status bar near the right side.

The selection effect is turned on by default but just in case you need to turn it on, use the "selectioneffect" system variable.  The system variable is now also located in the System Variable editor located on the Express Tools ribbon.

If you do go to the system variable editor, the "selectioneffectcolor" system variable is the next one in the list.  You can also type it at the command line.

The editor and the command line system variable will be asking you for a color to use.  You will need to know the AutoCAD color number.  If you do not know them by heart, you can stop your editing and jump into the "Layer Properties" dialog, select a color in the layer list and you will see all the AutoCAD colors by number.  I will be choosing "red" which is color number 1.

Typing the system variable name "selectioneffectcolor" and pressing Enter, I will enter "1" as the command prompt.  You could do the same thing in the System Variables dialog box.

The next time I select entities on the modelspace screen, they will highlight in red.  This is one enhancement in AutoCAD 2016 I will be using.

Simulating Models in Autodesk Inventor

When designing a part, model, or assembly, engineers often want to test multiple variants of the design within the same setup. To solve this problem, Autodesk Inventor offers a unique simulation toolset called Parametric Dimension Study. There are many reasons why firms like to use this functionality:

• Parametric Dimension Study dramatically reduces the amount of work for designers. It eliminates the need to have multiple analysis files for the same geometry and increases the efficiency of the design process. 
• It’s possible to compare the results of multiple design choices. The information generated by Parametric Dimension study helps decision-makers select the best design combinations.

• Comprehensive simulations can be done with a minimal amount of effort. Simulations can be run using an option called “Exhaustive” which captures every variation.

To learn more, download our whitepaper – Inventor Simulation: Parametric Dimension Study. In the whitepaper, IMAGINiT expert Nino Caldarola illustrates the functionality in detail, using a real-life design scenario.

Getting the Most from the Vault Preview Panel

Inventor assembly models are often enhanced by including design views and/or position representations which are essential to productive design practices.  If you use Inventor with the Autodesk Vault, you may be disappointed when it seems these special views are lost during check in to the Vault.  The "Preview" panel presents a view of the entire 3D model which you can zoom and pan but you cannot find the representations you created in the assembly.

Take heart, there is a Vault settings that will allow you to capture these views and using Autodesk Design Assistant, you will be able to view them easily.  The setting I mentioned is found under the Vault Settings, Visualization tab, Options.  In the Publish Options dialog box, first select the 3D Inventor version from the drop down box, then place check marks beside the "Include Design Views" and "Include Positional Representation" entries.

You may also want to check the "Include Annimations" if you would like to see your annimated presentation files.  The next time you check an assembly into the Vault, and create a visualization file during check-in, the DWF or DWFx placed in the Vault will contain your assembly view representations.

After doing this you may again may be disappointed that they do not appear in the Vault Preview.  The Vault preview is driven by Autodesk Design View and that is where you need to be to see the full visualization file.  It is super easy to get there, just right click over top the Vault preview and select "Open in Autodesk Design Review".

Once you are in in Design Review, find the "Views" panel.  If you do not see it, you can activate it using the method shown below.

In the Views dialog box you will find both the design views and position representations contained in the model.  
If you use Vault Professional 2015, the design views and positional representations will also be available in the Autodesk Thin Client.  The Thin Client also uses Autodesk Design Review to show visualization files so you will find the same Views panel contains the views you are looking for.

Enjoy, share and have others review your designs using your new found tools.

Using Special Characters in Inventor iProperty Fields

There are many Windows font characters that you can add to Inventor models and drawings using the Inventor text editor and the Windows character map.  You can enter most anything from the Euro symbol to a skull and crossbones from the Wingdings font.

The focus of this article is to talk about entering special characters in other text fields that do not allow the use of the text editor.  This article will use two symbols, the Register symbol® and the Trademark symbol™.  I will use a drawing iProperties "Comments" field to enter my test symbols but any text field will do.

You have two basic methods to add these symbols.  You can open the Window "Character Map" from the Start, Accessories, System Tools (Windows 7) panel or if you have selected the character map from the Inventor text editor, it is already open in your taskbar.

Browse to the font you are using and find the character you desire.  The character map is searchable if you check "Advanced view".  Below I have entered a search for the register symbol.
 
Next, select the symbol in the top field and then pick "Select" beside the field labeled "Characters to copy:"  Last select the "Copy" icon to place it on your Windows Clipboard.

Navigate in Inventor to your drawing iProperties dialog box, and click inside the "Comments" field.  Type your required text and when you need the character, right click and select "Paste" from the context menu.

The other method is a lot easier but you have to know the ANSI Alt code for the symbol.  You can get this code from the character map you just used or there are a number of websites that give listings.
The next step requires a keyboard that has a numeric pad.  Some laptops do not have a seperate numeric pad but have a function key to change some of the keys to emulate a numeric pad.  Be sure your NumLock key is pressed, hold down the Alt key and type the character ANSI code, in my case 0174 for the Register symbol or 0153 for the Trademark symbol.  Voila, the register symbol appears.  Next time you can enter the symbol quickly, if you remember the code(s).
There is one more tibbit of information I want to add.  When using the Inventor text editor, the second method of entering the symbol using the Alt+0174 method has some advantages.  As you can see in the graphic, the symbol changes the font size when placed from the character map.  It may be OK for this symbol but not for others.

Not all ANSI codes will work with the Alt+code method so do not be discouraged.  Two excellent websites to help you are: How to Enter Unicode Chacters in Microsoft Windows and ANSI Character Set and Equivalent Unicode and HTML Characters