IAM reader

[eleblanc]

Is there such a software from autodesk that would open iam files and let the user to take measurement only?

Eric

[JDMather]

Can you request a *.dwf or *.dwfx rather than an iam?

[eleblanc]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Can you request a *.dwf or *.dwfx rather than an iam?

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No, it would be too much trouble to save a dwf each time we change something to a iam. I'd like my shop foreman to be able to open idw (containing layout with iam) or directly the iam to go take mesearment that could be missing on idw. No edit no save. Just open take the dimension and close. I was suggested to use inventor LT, but it will not open anything with a reference to a IAM.

Unless there aren't a easy solution, It look like i will have to get a complete Inventor license for the shop foreman, so he can retreive a dimension in the event the inventor operator is away! hard to beleive!

[JDMather]

Free Inventor View and fully dimension the drawings.

Inventor View will open Inventor files. http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/item?siteID=123112&id=18585712

I don't think it has a measure tool.

another option might be Inventor Fusion (for ipt and iam files).  http://labs.autodesk.com

[mcgyvr]

I would never use Fusion for this (neat suggestion though).. Why.. Because they can MODIFY files.. BAD..BAD Thing

[eleblanc]

Yes bad idea. I've just lunch fusion 2012 and tried to open a iam, but the assembly was probably way too big. still loading after 5 minute. And Fusion comes with inventor, so you cannot install fusion as stand alone on a other station.

[eleblanc]

Funny enough i was told the 3D version of this will do it! Yep not a autodesk product but oracle. But expensive.

http://www.oracle.com/us/products/applications/autoVue/autovue-3d-professional-advanced/index.html

I've yet to give it a try tho.

[JDMather]

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@mcgyvr wrote:

I would never use Fusion for this (neat suggestion though).. Why.. Because they can MODIFY files.. BAD..BAD Thing

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Fusion doesn't save Inventor format files.

[mcgyvr]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@mcgyvr wrote:

I would never use Fusion for this (neat suggestion though).. Why.. Because they can MODIFY files.. BAD..BAD Thing

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Fusion doesn't save Inventor format files.

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Ahh.. I was not aware of that.. (I never use fusion obviously)..

[JDMather]

...but it does save as a dwg that Inventor somehow recognizes changes from the ipt.

Change Manager can be used to compare the Fusion changes to the Inventor original and accept or decline the changes.  I have seen shop floor changes made that are not communicated to engineering and therefore the documentation doesn't match the shipped part.  Maybe this would be a way to help communicate shop-floor changes back to engineering to ensure that documention matches the actual parts.  Of course everyone needs to work together on this.

[Curtis_Waguespack]

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@eleblanc wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

Can you request a *.dwf or *.dwfx rather than an iam?

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No, it would be too much trouble to save a dwf each time we change something to a iam. I'd like my shop foreman to be able to open idw (containing layout with iam) or directly the iam to go take mesearment that could be missing on idw. No edit no save. Just open take the dimension and close. I was suggested to use inventor LT, but it will not open anything with a reference to a IAM.

Unless there aren't a easy solution, It look like i will have to get a complete Inventor license for the shop foreman, so he can retreive a dimension in the event the inventor operator is away! hard to beleive!

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Hi eleblanc,

Understanding that you said DWF would not work for you, I just wanted to point out that you can set up a DWF publish task using the Task Schedulaer. This can be set up to run every evening so that any changes you make today are published out to a directory of your choosing for the shop to look at tomorrow.

If that still won't work, then the Vault products might be worth looking at, if they fit your setup.

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

[jletcher]

We have a computer in the shop for this it has a seat of inventor but in the network permissions that computer can only do a saveas on the desktop they cannot save to the network. This way they can do anything they want but save it back to the real file..

[eleblanc]

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@Anonymous wrote:

We have a computer in the shop for this it has a seat of inventor but in the network permissions that computer can only do a saveas on the desktop they cannot save to the network. This way they can do anything they want but save it back to the real file..

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Yeah, obviously i'm trying to avoid a second Inventor license for doing that only and only about half hour a day. A second license mean double subscription every year. For a small shop double is alot.

I was hoping that inventor LT would allow to open idw with layout of IAM. But it does not.

[eleblanc]

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@Curtis_Waguespack wrote:

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If that still won't work, then the Vault products might be worth looking at, if they fit your setup.

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

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Vault product? can you elaborate?

[Curtis_Waguespack]

Hi eleblanc,

I'm really not the right person to talk to about Vault, as I don't stay up on all of the details. But if you feel that the only solution is to spend some money then it might be worth looking at Vault Workgroup, which allows Non-CAD users to view your engineering files securely. There's a lot more to it than that as well. Attached is a basic Vault brochure, but you'll probably want to speak with your reseller for more information.

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

[eleblanc]

Well looks like edrawing from SW can open assemblies and measure from it.!

[ampster40]

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@eleblanc wrote:

Well looks like edrawing from SW can open assemblies and measure from it.!

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I just installed eDrawings 2012 (x64 edition) on Win7/64 that has Inventor 2011 on it.  Just the "plain" version of eDrawings, not the Professional version.

I am not able to open an Inventor assy file.

What did you do differently?

TIA

[jletcher]

I think it only opens Solid Works file he was just letting Autodesk know how they are still behind the times...

And if they stop waisting time on crappy Interfaces they may be able to make it so Inentor View measure...

[eleblanc]

You are correct. edrawing can open native solidworks part or assembly and measure. Autodesk as nothing equivalent, and i'm being ask to get a full inventor license for that. Having to maintain a license to measure assemblies is very expensive.

Sadly even inventor view can't handle large assemblies.

[mrattray]

I would seriously consider Curtis's suggestion of using task scheduler to automatically export dwf's.