Opened Inventor 2012 IPT, no sketches

[Anonymous]

I have a fairly complex ipt file created with Inventor 2012 for Windows.  It opened successfully but it doesn't seem to contain any sketches.  Is this expected behavior?  Is there a way to fix this?

[Phil.E]

Fusion does not import Inventor sketches, only bodies.

Are you using Inventor Fusion for Mac?

[Anonymous]

Hi Phil,

Yes, I'm using Inventor Fusion for Mac, importing from Autodesk Inventor Professional 2012 on Windows.  I'm wondering how useful the import is if I lose my sketches.  It seems I would not be able to modify the drawing in Fusion for the Mac if the sketches are gone.  Am I missing something?

Either way, I'm just so glad to have a product of this level avalable on the Mac.  I'm one program away from No More Windows.  🙂

[Phil.E · Accepted solution]

Thanks for using Fusion on the Mac!

Fusion is a direct modeler, rather than parametric like Inventor. The two products, despite both being 3D modelers, are intended to work completely differently, each solving problems according to it's strengths. 

In Inventor your sketch drives the shape: Edit the sketch, the shape is rebuilt with the changes. This is done with parameters: saved numerical input, to put it simply. Fusion, by being a direct modeler allows trouble free direct editing. Just grab a face and move it where you want. No parametric relationships to navigate or failed "down-browser" features.

So to answer your concern about editing in Fusion: try out the Press-pull or Tweak faces commands!

As for moving off of windows: Have you seen the Fusion 360 site? This is the next step for Fusion and it's in beta right now. Have a look! (feel free to sign up for the beta)

[Anonymous]

Hi Phil,

Thank you for the most excellent answer.  I hadn't really understood the fundamental difference between the two approaches, but you made it clear.  It then makes sense not to import sketches.  I assume I could have built exactly the same model at least as easily (relatively) in Fusion as in Inventor.  Great!

I'll take a closer look at Fusion 360.  Anything that gets me further from Windows is a plus.