Sketching In Inventor

[Anonymous]

I’m new to the Inventor side of things. So here is a brief history, I learned 2d AutoCAD in 1992 on a digitizer pad. I have been using 2d AutoCAD ever since in my professional career. I just bought back around Christmas Inventor 2008. I then went to AutoDesk classes to learn inventor. I love this software! It so much faster and easier then my 2d mechanical cad. I use the software around an average of 50 hrs a week.

Here is my complaint; I wish that when I was in sketch mode that I could pick the line or circle command. Then place a start point and then move the mouse in the direction I went that line/circle to grow. Then type (2.5625) in the length I need, then hit enter and it be that length.

Instead I pick the point, and the make some length. Then I go pick the dimension command and specify the length. I understand that this is how it works! I would just like to have the option to specify the length as I’m entering the command.

I sure hope that makes sense?

[Anonymous]

Submit your list to the AUGI wishlist (there's plenty, or too many, wishes from people wanting to make Inventor more AutoCAD-like) .... or accept that you're no longer using AutoCAD and start *sketching*, not drawing. That's the key and it needs to be understood and accepted. You're no longer *drawing*, you are sketching.

[mflayler2]

Have you used Inventor precise input yet?

Right click on your Standard toolbar at the top of the screen and toggle on the Inventor Precise Input box. This might make you a little happier 🙂

[Anonymous]

a possible comprise however could be to have an option for Inventor to add the dimension as you draw the line/circle. This would be similar to the option box that chooses construction vs regular lines. So if you had the "auto-dim" box selected, when you draw a line, Inventor would add the dimension dynamically and let you type in the length you wanted.

[JDMather]

>Have you used Inventor precise input yet?

No, no, no. Don't tell anybody about Precise Input. I'm already seeing way too many unconstrained sketches.

I wanted Direct Distance Entry in Inventor when I first started too. Now I am absolutely against it simply because there are so many untrained, undisciplined users out there.

I guess maybe a combination of AutoCAD DDE and Pro/E autodimension might work, but I'm very skeptical.

[JDMather]

Pottsy,
I know what you are saying, many of us here went along the same path, just give the different techniques more time.

You might read this document http://home.pct.edu/~jmather/AU2007/MA105-1L%20Mather.pdf

[Anonymous]

I concur.

10 years of Autocad habits were tough to leave behind.

Do I miss the ability to do things the Autocad way? Nope.

Richard

wrote in message news:5895294@discussion.autodesk.com...
Pottsy,
I know what you are saying, many of us here went along the same path, just
give the different techniques more time.

You might read this document
http://home.pct.edu/~jmather/AU2007/MA105-1L%20Mather.pdf

[Anonymous]

Same here, except I used MDT in between for a few years.
It was dureing MDT use, that I learned to trust dimensioning the profile, to
get my desired size.
The transition to Inventor, was much easier becuase of using MDT.

Mike

"Richard Hinterhoeller (AIS 2008 Sp 2)" wrote
in message news:5895340@discussion.autodesk.com...
I concur.

10 years of Autocad habits were tough to leave behind.

Do I miss the ability to do things the Autocad way? Nope.

Richard

wrote in message news:5895294@discussion.autodesk.com...
Pottsy,
I know what you are saying, many of us here went along the same path, just
give the different techniques more time.

You might read this document
http://home.pct.edu/~jmather/AU2007/MA105-1L%20Mather.pdf

[Anonymous]

> a possible comprise however could be to have an option for Inventor to add the dimension
> as you draw the line/circle.

I've suggested that in the past based on my experience with ProE. In ProE, everything you draw is automatically dimensioned "weak". If you don't change that, it remains like a reference dimension, changing as you continue to sketch. If you double-click it and enter a value, it changes to a "strong" dimension (constrained) and won't change. Downside is the screen can get cluttered....

[Anonymous]

That was the toughest thing to change over to from ACAD to IV "sketching",
now I wish that ACAD had a sketch mode for the little bit that I work in.

--
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3gb memory, SCSI320-15k
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wrote in message news:5895294@discussion.autodesk.com...
Pottsy,
I know what you are saying, many of us here went along the same path, just
give the different techniques more time.

You might read this document
http://home.pct.edu/~jmather/AU2007/MA105-1L%20Mather.pdf

[Anonymous]

If you observe status line at the bottom of the screen while sketching, it
will give approzimate coordinate lengths.

--
Dennis Jeffrey, Autodesk Inventor Certified Expert
Autodesk Manufacturing Implementation Certified Expert.
Instructor/Author/Sr. App Engr.
AIP 2008 SP2, AIP 2009 PcCillin AV
HP zv5000 AMD64 2GB
Geforce Go 440, Driver: .8185
XP Pro SP2, Windows XP Silver Theme
http://teknigroup.com
wrote in message news:5895280@discussion.autodesk.com...
I'm new to the Inventor side of things. So here is a brief history, I
learned 2d AutoCAD in 1992 on a digitizer pad. I have been using 2d AutoCAD
ever since in my professional career. I just bought back around Christmas
Inventor 2008. I then went to AutoDesk classes to learn inventor. I love
this software! It so much faster and easier then my 2d mechanical cad. I use
the software around an average of 50 hrs a week.

Here is my complaint; I wish that when I was in sketch mode that I could
pick the line or circle command. Then place a start point and then move the
mouse in the direction I went that line/circle to grow. Then type (2.5625)
in the length I need, then hit enter and it be that length.

Instead I pick the point, and the make some length. Then I go pick the
dimension command and specify the length. I understand that this is how it
works! I would just like to have the option to specify the length as I'm
entering the command.

I sure hope that makes sense?

[SBix26]

I have the Application Option checked to edit dimension on placement-- saves clicking on it later. I also, like Dennis, watch the measurements in the status bar for rough scale while placing sketch elements.

Sam

[Anonymous]

Looking down at the corner of the screen when dragging an entity in the
middle sounds rather distracting.

What I find works well is to set a sensible sketch grid and I can achieve
the same in a heads-up fashion. For example, my imperial system template is
set to one minor grid line at every inch and one major grid line at every
foot.

Similarly my metric system template is set with every minor grid line at
every centimeter and every major at every decimeter.

I know JD isn't a big fan of grids and I respect where he's coming from, but
I find getting an object within the right order of magnitude saves a bit of
chasing around. Do I try to get it perfect - not a chance.

Richard

"Dennis Jeffrey" wrote in message
news:5895872@discussion.autodesk.com...
If you observe status line at the bottom of the screen while sketching, it
will give approzimate coordinate lengths.

--
Dennis Jeffrey, Autodesk Inventor Certified Expert
Autodesk Manufacturing Implementation Certified Expert.
Instructor/Author/Sr. App Engr.
AIP 2008 SP2, AIP 2009 PcCillin AV
HP zv5000 AMD64 2GB
Geforce Go 440, Driver: .8185
XP Pro SP2, Windows XP Silver Theme
http://teknigroup.com
wrote in message news:5895280@discussion.autodesk.com...
I'm new to the Inventor side of things. So here is a brief history, I
learned 2d AutoCAD in 1992 on a digitizer pad. I have been using 2d AutoCAD
ever since in my professional career. I just bought back around Christmas
Inventor 2008. I then went to AutoDesk classes to learn inventor. I love
this software! It so much faster and easier then my 2d mechanical cad. I use
the software around an average of 50 hrs a week.

Here is my complaint; I wish that when I was in sketch mode that I could
pick the line or circle command. Then place a start point and then move the
mouse in the direction I went that line/circle to grow. Then type (2.5625)
in the length I need, then hit enter and it be that length.

Instead I pick the point, and the make some length. Then I go pick the
dimension command and specify the length. I understand that this is how it
works! I would just like to have the option to specify the length as I'm
entering the command.

I sure hope that makes sense?

[Anonymous]

Hold on Sam!

I said you COULD watch the measurements on the status bar. I NEVER said that
I use that technique.... 🙂

I like the others.... create a paper napkin sketch that shows the general
shape of the part. Then, add any missing geometric constraints to control
the shape. After that is done at the dimensions starting with the smallest
dimension moving up to the largest dimension to control the size.

Any other approach is a total waste of time!

Dennis

--
Dennis Jeffrey, Autodesk Inventor Certified Expert
Autodesk Manufacturing Implementation Certified Expert.
Instructor/Author/Sr. App Engr.
AIP 2008 SP2, AIP 2009 PcCillin AV
HP zv5000 AMD64 2GB
Geforce Go 440, Driver: .8185
XP Pro SP2, Windows XP Silver Theme
http://teknigroup.com
wrote in message news:5895951@discussion.autodesk.com...
I have the Application Option checked to edit dimension on placement-- saves
clicking on it later. I also, like Dennis, watch the measurements in the
status bar for rough scale while placing sketch elements.

Sam

[SBix26]

Oops, my bad!

To clarify, I only use the status bar for rough order of magnitude for the first couple of lines/arcs of the first sketch of a part, and only when the sketched profile is more complex than a circle or rectangle. It saves the hassle of dragging my sketch back into rough shape after the first dimension placed changes the scale by a large amount.

[Anonymous]

You are forgiven... 🙂

--
Dennis Jeffrey, Autodesk Inventor Certified Expert
Autodesk Manufacturing Implementation Certified Expert.
Instructor/Author/Sr. App Engr.
AIP 2008 SP2, AIP 2009 PcCillin AV
HP zv5000 AMD64 2GB
Geforce Go 440, Driver: .8185
XP Pro SP2, Windows XP Silver Theme
http://teknigroup.com
wrote in message news:5896920@discussion.autodesk.com...
Oops, my bad!

To clarify, I only use the status bar for rough order of magnitude for the
first couple of lines/arcs of the first sketch of a part, and only when the
sketched profile is more complex than a circle or rectangle. It saves the
hassle of dragging my sketch back into rough shape after the first dimension
placed changes the scale by a large amount.

[Anonymous]

Quote -- "No, no, no. Don't tell anybody about Precise Input"

I agree. One of my biggest wishes is for AutoDesk to remove the precise input. It does nothing but cause problems.

Kristina Vogt
Mechanical Engineer

[JDMather]

>One of my biggest wishes is for AutoDesk to remove the precise input.

I don't think I would go that far, it might have it's purpose in a 3D sketch, but it always bothers me when I see a book that starts out with instruction on how to use Precise Input. It should remain hidden from beginning users. Once they get experienced with the program they will eventually find it on their own and be in a better position to determine when and how to use it.
My rule is always, sketch one line, rectangle, polygon or circle and dimension it immediately for a sense of scale (whether we had DDE or not we will have to enter the size so do it up front by dimensioning the first entity.
I have found this technique works best in teaching Inventor, SolidWorks and Pro/E. The whole problem of sketches overlapping, twisting or whatever out of shape is largely avoided using this technique.

[Anonymous]

I haven't used 3D sketches, so I can't argue it's use there.

I agree about the beginner instructions. There is not a place for precise input for beginners. It just causes issues with the AutoCAD transfers.

I keep my sketches from twisting around by using the geometric constraints. It the shape is set, the size adjusts more predictably. Geometric constraints are what I miss most when I do have to draw in AutoCAD.

I agree that your teaching technique is the best for beginners.

Kristina