The "Infrastructure Modeler/Infrastructure Parts Editor" tools recently released for InfraWorks (IW) and Civil 3D (C3D) are used to create content for IW and C3D. (Drainage and Pressure Pipe system parts.) Infrastructure Modeler (MI) in an Inventor add-in that requires Inventor LT or Inventor Pro.
The IM/IPE combination does not add great functionality to IW and C3D; it helps users fill gaps in the content provided by Autodesk. I do not want to learn Inventor, but I will, if I need it to patch IW and C3D. I resent having to rent Inventor LT to do so. The optics suck. Thus, to fully utilize IW and Civil 3D, Inventor LT should be included in the AEC Collection and in Infrastructure Design Suite Premium (IDSP).
Alexey Kurenkov posted a similar idea in the InfraWorks Ideas forum: Include in the AEC Collection Inventor
Vote both up if you concur.
Background:
This is new and confusing. I believe that the new parts creation engine is in two parts. Part 1 is the "Infrastructure Modeler"(IM) add-in for Inventor or Inventor LT. Part 2 is the "Infrastructure Parts Editor" (IPF)that launches from inside of InfraWorks or Civil 3D. Inventor is $50/mo or $380/year so it is more affordable than Inventor at $235/mo or $1,890/year. I still think it should be included in the AEC Collection. Autodesk will suggest that you might want to do a one month rental of LT, create your content and be done with rental. I generally do not agree, but there may be some merit to this suggestion:
As I understand it, You only need to create one prototype (parametric) model in Inventor/IM. Using IPE, you convert that model to a part that you can copy and modify to crate a part family. That is you use IM to create a 8-inch "Widget" model, then use ICE to make 8-inch, 10-inch and 12-inch Widget parts. Then use IPM to add these parts to a catalog to use with IW or C3d. Months later you have a need for a 6-inch and 18-inch widget. Using IPE create 6-inch and 18-inch Widgets, based on the model you created in step 1. You do not need Inventor/IM again. If the base catalog has a part that is close to what you need, you may be able to use IPE to copy and modify the existing part with out using Inventor/IM. Like I said, this is confusing. Report
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