Advanced feature validation - on or off?

[pachubby]

Two simple questions (btw I'm using Autodesk Inventor 2017 and I have read the help topic):

1. What's the general consensus for having Advanced Feature Validation (AFV) turned on or off?

2(a). Why in the 2017 part file templates is the 'hint' text greyed out? (image below)

2(b). If I customise the template why can I not get the part file to remember the checkbox has been deselected?

Thanks in advance

[mcgyvr]

I have it turned on but for no valid reason (I think it just defaulted to on)...

Per the help....

"When selected, uses a comprehensive compute algorithm that is slower but, can produce more accurate feature results in rare cases" 

The fact that it says "in rare cases" makes me believe its not needed that often if at all for most people/situations but unless you absolutely need to increase performance in every way possible you might as well just leave it on just in case you hit one of those "rare cases".. 

But all I wrote is speculation/assumptions.. 

[Curtis_Waguespack]

Hi @pachubby,

Interesting questions.

1. What's the general consensus for having Advanced Feature Validation (AFV) turned on or off?

I think unless you're doing advanced surfaces and lots of curvy, "swoopy" stuff with Shell and Thicken features I'd leave it off. If those are the types of parts you create, then you might want to enable it. I'd guess most users would have it set off.

Edit: I just read mcgyvr's thought to leave it on. I'm speculating also... so maybe we need to ask @johnsonshiue for a more informed opinion. 

2(a). Why in the 2017 part file templates is the 'hint' text greyed out? (image below)

2(b). If I customise the template why can I not get the part file to remember the checkbox has been deselected?

Are the templates the ones that shipped with 2017, my guess would be that it has something to do the "legacy parts" note. But again i'm guessing, so maybe johnsonshiue can provide some insight for this as well.

I hope this helps.
Best of luck to you in all of your Inventor pursuits,
Curtis
http://inventortrenches.blogspot.com

[pachubby]

Hi @Curtis_Waguespack,

1. I agree with having Advanced Feature Validation turned on, if "you're doing advanced surfaces and lots of curvy, "swoopy" stuff with Shell and Thicken features".  In a nutshell the engineering design I do is less lofty or swoopy, just your typical flat plates and cylindrical pins.

2. The templates come from the 2017 install.  Accessing the files from this location C:\Users\Public\Documents\Autodesk\Inventor 2017\Templates.  Let me know if they exist elsewhere?  My preference is to have the Advanced Feature Validation turned off in my template part file, i.e. any performance saving is worth having.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! This particular option was added back in R7 or R8 if my memory still serves right without human multi-threading errors. It was meant for offset related operations like Shell, Thicken, Offset, and Draft. There was a need to boost performance in those operations. A bottleneck in checking the body was identified as a good target. By skipping some checks, the performance becomes much better. However, in some ambiguous cases, with checks and without checks on the same operation on the same body can generate slightly different results. The option is to serve as a backup if the result is not desirable.

Fast forward to Inventor 2018 (R22), the overall performance has been drastically improved. And, the option becomes somewhat irrelevant. We still see cases that the option on/off generates different results but it is very rare. If you see one, please let me know asap.

Many thanks!

[pachubby]

Hi @johnsonshiue,

Thanks for the information.  Do you mean in the latest versions of Inventor (i.e 2017) it makes a negligible difference having Advance Feature Validation turned on?

[johnsonshiue · Accepted solution]

Yes! Correct, in terms of performance, there should not be noticeable difference with the option on/off. If you notice a difference, it could be geometry specific. Please share the file with us (johnson.shiue@autodesk.com). There is still chance, though tiny, that the option on/off could generate different result. It can happen when there are a lot of internal voids or compartments. But, it is very rare. Again, if you see a different behavior, please let us know asap.

Many thanks!