Being Inventive

A new twist to shrinkwrap

On Autodesk Labs, we just launched a new app called Inventor Simplification with an improved and slightly different approach to shrinkwrapping specifically aimed at BIM workflows.
Check it out at: http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/inventor_simplification/

Bob

Vault Client - Open error

After selecting a file in the vault client and double clicking on it or RMB>Open, you see the following message:

"This file was created with Inventor. We cannot find this application on your computer."

 

This can happen if another program has become associated with Inventor assembly files. In this situation, the message was caused by Importing an Inventor file into Autodesk Showcase 2012, which although is not a Qualifying CAD Application for Vault, it is still a part of the Product Design Suite.

The workaround is to close the Vault Client and Inventor and re-start Inventor. This will re-register Inventor with the Operating System.

via crackingthevault.typepad.com

Export Inventor part file as OBJ file

You want to export an Inventor part file as OBJ file for using it in a 3D digital image editing program, as Maya, Mudbox, etc.

In order to do this:

• Download and unzip this VBA_Macro to your local drive.
• Open the VBA editor.
• File > Import and insert the file Ipt_Obj.bas into your application project.
• Open the part file to export.
• Run the macro CreatOBJFile.

 

• Enter the value for the density of the mesh.

 

• Save the OBJ file in the desired location.

 

Note. The VBA is just for single body part file.

2012 Options for Export Face As - Hot Fix

Users could no longer export geometry directly to DXF and DWG files in older formats like 2000, 2004 and 2007.

Please go to the following link and download the Hotfix that solves the problem.

Difficulties importing STEP or IGES file into Inventor?

We continue to see quite a bit of crashes from customers come in during STEP and IGES import operations due to HTML embed problems.
This problem has been around since Inventor 2009 but so far we have not been able to exactly pinpoint why it happens only on certain machines and not on others. Anti-virus programs might play a role in it but what is certain is that the import fails at the point where Inventor tries to embed the translation report inside the Inventor file. 
On the machine where the STEP or IGES import fails to create the embedded report, other operations unrelated to Inventor,  like inserting a HTML file in Microsoft Word, would equally fail. So we are very interested to get a reproducible workflow so that we consistently can reproduce the issue in the Autodesk offices. In the meantime, read this technical solution to prevent the problem from happening.

Bob

Import JT files into Inventor 2010

You imported a .jt file into Inventor 2010 and the imported file is empty. Please refer to the technical solution TS13836987 for more information.

 

Unable to Import STEP or IGES file in Inventor 2009

While trying to load any STEP or IGES file in Inventor 2009, Inventor hangs and doesn't respond.

This issue is caused by a Microsoft defect. We need to generate the translation report while importing IGES/STEP/Parasolid files, but this defect blocks the report creation.

In such cases, try the following workaround after installing  Service Pack 2 for Inventor 2009.

1.Right click on My Computer and choose Properties.

2.In Windows XP, Click “Advanced”.

3.In Windows Vista, Click "Advanced system settings".

4.Then Click the Environment Variables, a dialog pops up.

You can add the variable as following.

Variable name  : TRANS_REPORT_OPTION
Variable value : 1

With Inventor 2009, TRANS_REPORT_OPTION can be any value if only it is not empty (Works with 1 & 2).
With Inventor 2010, TRANS_REPORT_OPTION should be 2.

5. Restart Inventor.

6. Try to import a STEP or IGES file into Inventor.

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