Happy Halloween!

“I think a lot more people are getting into Halloween because it's the one time of year where adults can be kids.”

Craig McDonald

 

Once again this weeks post is a little delayed.   I spent this weekend amongst friends enjoying the Halloween weekend, and in that time, I didn't get a chance to work on a blog post. 

 

So once again, this week we'll be a little late.   Look for a post a little later this week!

Until then, Happy Halloween!

This is Your Section. Controlling Sectioning in Inventor Drawings.

“Divide your movements into easy-to-do sections. If you fail, divide again.”
Peter Nivio Zarlenga quotes

While on working off site on an assignment, I encountered more section views than I'd seen in a long time.

We all know that there's going to be components that won't be sectioned.  But Inventor doesn't necessarily know which components we want to participate in the section view.

Not what we want, the plunger and shaft shouldn't be sectioned

 So how to we tell Inventor that it shouldn't be sectioned?

This is what we want!

Here's a video on how to control which parts are sectioned in the drawing.  Happy Inventing!

Monday Post Delayed

“Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday.”
Don Marquis

I've been pretty consistent about putting up a post Monday, but this Monday is an exception.  I was lucky enough to take a quick camping trip this weekend to Joshua Tree.  But that prevented me from getting a post ready for my Monday deadline.

But never fear, I should have one by tomorrow, and then, back to the usual schedule!

Until then, here's a couple of pictures from the trip!

A tree trying to grow along one of the hikes

The road near camp

The view near the camp site

My loyal steed near the hike we took.

Dimension Display - See Dimensions in a Different Way.

“There is always a better way.”
Thomas Alva Edison

Now that Autodesk Manufacturing Academy  has at last drawn to a close, it's time to play catch up.

This week, it's a quick video on dimension display in the sketch environment.

If you've used Inventor for a while, you likely know that you can create equations that display your design intent.  But what you might not know is that you can change how your dimensions are displayed on the screen.

Right click to see the options!

There's a nice little tool called dimension display for that.  It's a tool that's like an old dependable car.  It isn't flashy, but it always comes through when you need it.

So without further adieu, here's the video!



Happy Inventing!

Naming Parameters in Autodesk Inventor

"You're never ready, you just run out of time."

With the Autodesk Manufacturing Academy looming close, these weeks blog is going to be quick and simple.

Many of us know that you can (and in some cases should), rename parameters inside of Autodesk Inventor. This makes the parameters easy to call back at a later time.  For example, it's much easier ot find a parameter named 'Length' opposed to trying to remember what parameter 'd89' represents.

Typically, you rename your parameters in the parameter screen of Inventor. 

A parameter renamed

But there is a quick way to rename them as your typing the parameter.  Just type "parameter = dx' when creating a dimension, and the parameter will rename at the time you're placing the dimension.

Renaming the Parameter

This renames the parameter all at once!  You don't need to go and open the parameters screen!

Verifying the renaming of the parameter

That's it!  A simple tip, but one I think is helpful!

More to come when AMA is done!

Creating a Cooling Grill in Inventor Sheet Metal - By Using Plastics Tools

“The wise adapt themselves to circumstances, as water moulds itself to the pitcher” 
 Chinese Proverb

Inspiration comes from unique directions at times.  I've been offsite working with a lot of electronic encolsures, which has been a fantastic experience for me.  But that's a story for another day.

While speaking with one of our techs, Mike Carlson about the project, the subject of cooling grills came up.

An example of a fairly typical cooling grill

Try using the grill from the Plastics tool set, he suggests.

I pause for a second.  I think there was a visible light bulb over my head.  My wheels spin for a second at at my first instinct, which is to blurt out, "That's a plastics tool, you can't use that in sheet metal!"

But my brain processes the information.  It can't find a flaw in that plan.  Instead my answer is "Bloody hell, that will work!"

I try it at my first opportunity.  Sure enough.  It works great.

So here it is!  Thank Mike Carlson for the inspiration.  I can't take the credit.

How to create a cooling grill in Inventor's sheet metal environment.... using plastics.