Webinar Recording | Autodesk Inventor add-ins – What is available for me?

This webinar recording takes a look at Autodesk Inventor’s complete portfolio, made up of powerful add-ins at hand within the Autodesk Product Design and Manufacturing Collection subscription.

https://www.symetri.co.uk/insights/video-library/autodesk-inventor-add-ins-what-is-available-for-me

The add-ins include:

• Tolerance Analysis
• Inventor Nesting
• Inventor CAM
• Inventor Nastran
• Factory Design Utilities

These add-ins are designed to help in supercharging your workflows, driving efficiency and aid  you with getting the most out of your subscription.

By watching the video, you will learn:

• Which applications are available with your subscription?
• An introduction to use cases for each add-in
• Digital Prototyping to save time and money 

For more information, please get in touch with by completing the form on the Autodesk Inventor page. Alternatively, please call us on 0345 370 1444.

Three main goals of integrated PLM

What is most important when looking for a PLM system?

PLM is about information, how it is produced and handled and shared across a whole company. It can be considered as the backbone of everyday operations and a practice that helps define and reinforce the competitive advantage.

When considering PLM and the software you use to implement it you should consider its reliability in achieving the following three main goals:

• Design efficiency and productivity
  Are you able to deliver the correct design data to any user, on any device, across the company? By securely storing and managing engineering design data and related documents, you can quickly find and re-use design and engineering data.

• Cost reduction
  Are you able to free up design engineers to focus on innovation rather than administration? By integrating product information with Procurement and Production you can deliver improved quality at lower costs.

• Speed to market
  Have you automated data sharing across your supply chain? By ensuring data accuracy for each delivered area, you can support field management and turn users into advocates; favourably impacting reputation and facilitating sales growth.

Make it easy, make IT smarter

PLM addresses the day-to-day issues that may arise from inconsistent information sources and methodologies but can only do this if they’re all brought together in one platform. Such a platform can provide an automatic, and automated, connection between the constituent phases and practices involved in the overall PLM process.

Sovelia provides a lean approach to PLM

Our Sovelia digital platform for engineering and PLM enables you to provide your teams with the solutions they need for seamless collaboration, to link your processes and systems, and optimise your data. Sovelia drives cost-efficient practices by giving you the tools to create, innovate, and manage, effortlessly.

For further information about Sovelia or to discuss your PLM requirements please contact Symetri.  

What’s New in Factory Design Suite 2022

Model States has now replaced the Level of Detail functionality of Inventor in previous releases. When publishing a part/assembly that contains multiple Model states, FDU assumes them as different interpretations of the same part/assembly.  It is vital all have the same key parameters and parameter values.

When using model states, the 2D representation used in AutoCAD may not always match with the 3D representation. When publishing, the 2D representation reflects the active model state at publish time. When  being updated to reflect parameter changes, it will always be based on which model state was the active model state, chosen to generate 2D asset at publish time and does not reflect the various model states.

iLogic Form Enhancement

The iLogic Form now can be accessed straight from the asset's context menu.

Select an asset or multiple assets.

1. Right-click to display the context menu.
2. Hover over Factory to display its drop-down menu.
3. Click Open iLogic Form.

Manage Revit AnyCAD references in Vault for Factory Layouts

Revit AnyCAD references included in Factory Layouts can be managed in Vault from the Factory Vault Integration, the same way as regular Inventor assemblies.

You can manage libraries, store, view, and download assets by using Vault Professional integration features.

The Vault Assets folder includes assets stored in Vault and appear in the Factory Asset Browser. The structure of the folder mirrors the library structure in Vault. If any folders are added or deleted in Vault, the change is reflected within the Asset Browser.

The Inventor AnyCAD capability allows you to:

• Reference a .rvt (Revit Project) file as an AnyCAD model. See To Import Revit Files as an AnyCAD Reference Model.
• Import a .rvt (Revit Project) file converting the Revit elements to Inventor components.

Revit interoperability functionality must be installed in order to interact with Revit models to both extract and record building information. If you do not install the Revit interoperability sub component, you are unable to import and export the Revit files.

Inventor BOM settings in FDU asset publishing

Bill of Materials settings is now able to be selected during asset publishing FDS. Inventor Document settings can be used to set the default BOM structure. Changing it during asset publishing will also change the document settings.

                                     

Control the BOM setting from the "Convert to Assets"

Bill of Materials settings can now be adjusted during “Convert to Assets”. The selected option updates the Inventor Document settings.

Imported CAD models can also be converted into factory assets using the Convert to Assets feature.

The Convert to Assets feature allows you to convert imported CAD models into factory assets. If, for example, you receive component data from a supplier that you want to evaluate or run through collision detection, this feature can be used to quickly convert that data to a factory asset for placement in your layout designs.

Create a sub-layout of selected assets using Inventor/AutoCAD.

Multiple objects can be selected to create a sub-layout. The advantage is to make it possible to break the specific items or areas into multiple sub-layouts for individual designers to work on.

The Create Sub-Layout command creates a sub-layout within the current layout.

Select the Factory tab > Layout panel > Create Sub-Layout .

3D factory assets and/or Inventor part, assembly, existing sub-layout when selected will be included in the newly created sub-layout.

Similarly in AutoCAD, Select the Factory tab > Layout panel > Create Sub-Layout 

Select multiple objects to create a sub-layout, making it possible to break the specific items into various sub-layouts for individual designers to work on.

The new Factory Design update 2022.1.1 is now available from your Subscription account.

Visit our website for further information about Factory Design Suite or feel free to contact us at Symetri to arrange a consultation with one of our technical specialists.

FEA Made Easy.

As a designer and Engineer you can spend a significant amount of your time trying to get original CAD data ready for FEA studies. This entails suppressing non-structural parts, supressing features like holes and bolted connections and in extreme cases remodelling.

This is particularly true for welded and bolted fabrications including sheet metal and structural frame type components. This is required to make the mesh process as smooth as possible whilst trying to keep element numbers sufficiently low to enable faster FEA run times.

Taking out geometry simplification and meshing can make the FEA process simple and easy to use allowing designers and engineers to adopt FEA in their workplace to make optimised and innovative products.

Altair SimSolid simulation technology for designers, engineers, and analysts eliminates geometry preparation and meshing: the two most time-consuming, expertise-extensive, and error-prone tasks performed in a conventional structural simulation.

Read how our customer Pentre Engineering has introduced SimSolid to their design process and is achieving super-fast structural analysis in their designs and what took them 3-4 days of effort is now reduced to a matter of hours.

Find out more about SimSolid for yourself and download a free trial.

How to Setup and Update Title Blocks Within Electrical Projects

This blog looks at the setting up and update of the title block information within existing electrical projects using AutoCAD Electrical.  

Title Block Setup

If you already have a company template setup within AutoCAD with an attributed title block this can be used to integrate the title block setup process from AutoCAD Electrical.

The title block setup procedure begins via the Project Tab > Title Block Setup. 

The following title block setup methods are available within AutoCAD Electrical in the sequence order highlighted below:

·  WD_TB (Attribute) – Invisible attribute that is stored within the block definition of the title block.

·  <Project Name>.wdt – Project specific template mapping file stored within the active project folder.

·  default.wdt - Default template mapping file stored within the active project folder.

· default.wdt - Default template mapping file stored within a specified location within the application options (Files tab) under the ‘Support File Search Path’.

The attributes within the title block need to be mapped to either project values (Project Descriptions) or drawing values (Drawing Properties) as shown in the example below:

Project Values

Drawing Values

The attributes can be mapped to the values via ‘Pick’ or from the drop-down menu option, once mapped, the title block setup process has been completed.

Title Block Update

The following procedure must be carried out in order to update the title block with the latest project and drawing values:

1.  Run the Title Block Update within the ‘Project Tab’

2.  

Select the relevant project and drawing values to be updated (Example below).

The values can be updated within the active drawing, specific drawings, project sub-folders or across the complete project.

For further information on the benefits of using AutoCAD Electrical for your electrical design, feel free to contact us at Symetri to arrange a consultation with one of our electrical specialists.

We offer scheduled AutoCAD Electrical essentials training, as well as be-spoke training tailored to your requirements to help you work smarter for a better future. 

On-Demand | What's New in Fusion 360 with PowerMill

During this on-demand webinar, you will be shown the latest features and updates within Fusion 360 with PowerMill.

See the latest features and improvements made to Fusion 360 with PowerMill, displaying how you can utilise this application helping serve a valuable purpose in your manufacturing and or business processes.

What to expect from the webinar:

• What's new in Powermill 2022
• The ability to exclude flat faces when calculating certain types of finishing toolpath
• Improved accuracy and quality when producing flat machining toolpaths
• Constant Z machining of parts with undercuts can now use automatic collision avoidance
• The ability to use automatic collision avoidance on 4-axis and rotary toolpaths
• User controls over projection range for Curve and Surface Projection finishing
• The option to stagger start points on toolpaths containing closed segments
• Several speed enhancements

 

What are the Autodesk Inventor add-ins available to me?

You may not know that there are several add-ins available to you within Autodesk Inventor. Therefore, this on-demand webinar explores Autodesk Inventor’s complete portfolio of powerful add-ins, which are included as part of the Autodesk Product Design and Manufacturing Collection subscription.

They include:

• Tolerance Analysis
• Inventor Nesting
• Inventor CAM
• Inventor Nastran
• Factory Design Utilities

These add-ins are designed to supercharge your Autodesk Inventor workflows and drive efficiency and help you get the most out of your subscription.

By watching this webinar, you will learn:

• Which applications are available with your subscription?
• An introduction to use cases for each add-in
• Digital Prototyping to save time and money 

You can download the  recording by completing the form on our webpage:

https://www.symetri.co.uk/insights/video-library/autodesk-inventor-add-ins-what-is-available-for-me

Webinar Recording | We all need a good “role module” – Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) Modules Explained

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTDtyBfxp5w

Within this webinar recording, you will be provided with the opportunity to view the different flavours of Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) at a high level, as well as being shown some technical demonstrations and tips throughout.

Webinar Overview

Everyone has a specific “module” within Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC), that will assist in their specific role. The platform is inclusive of all avenues that are within the design and construction market, regardless of whether you come from a design, a project management, a building background or purely from a take-off role. It is catered to everyone’s needs.

Webinar Agenda

• Welcome and Introduction
• Discussion about Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC)
• Role Modules - What module best suits your role?

Webinar Presenters

Bettool Jabur

Senior Consultant and BIM 360 / ACC Technical Lead

Claus Vemgaard

AEC Technical Account Manager

For more information about Autodesk Construction Cloud, please get in touch with us by emailing info@symetri.co.uk or call us on 0345 370 1444.

Webinar Recording | #WorkSmarterWednesdays | Create and Collaborate - Integrating AutoCAD with Autodesk Build

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHDfPE7KYfs

This special edition of our #WorkSmarterWednesdays webinar series includes our partner Autodesk, discussing how integrating AutoCAD with Autodesk Build can make the sharing of drawing changes simple.

Webinar Overview

Being an architect, engineer, or designer, means the process of actioning changes to CAD drawings from contractors can be a difficult task. This is due to those working on site not always having access to the necessary tools to help their design counterparts with updates to the actual drawings. This results in changes being captured in the form of handwritten notes or marked up PDFs, creating more work for both those on site and the design teams.

During this webinar from our partner Autodesk, you'll learn the benefits of digitising drawing changes, as well as how this can be achieved by integrating Autodesk Build with which AutoCAD based authorising tool you’re using.

 

Webinar Agenda

• Share documents with the entire Autodesk Construction Cloud
• Host digital versions of drawings that are accessible from any device
• Assign tasks to team members
• Mark changes, tag and notify design reviewers
• Create a single source of truth for everyone on a project

For more information, please get in touch with us by emailing info@symetri.co.uk or call us on 0345 370 1444.

 

Factory Design Utilities – 2D & 3D Factory Layout and Optimisation Solution

As part of the Product Design & Manufacturing Collection not only do you have access to standard tools such as AutoCAD and Inventor you also have Factory Design Utilities.

Factory is Autodesk terminology to determine if Autodesk software can assist in a global change in the design environment as opposed to adopting an individual one into designs and processes.

Do you design in 2D and model in AutoCAD 3D or Autodesk Inventor?

Many companies have the Manufacturing collection but don’t know they have the Factory suite which enables them to round trip their 2D design from AutoCAD to Inventor or Vice-versa.

With factory Design Utilities, your Design Engineer can create 3D assets in Inventor, take them into AutoCAD and manipulate them in 2D.

If your contractors need to collaborate their Revit Models or Navisworks documents with your 2D/3D models they can do this in Factory Design Utilities as part of the Design & Manufacture Collection.

Factory Design Utilities can assist in not only designing factories, but also Design Co-ordination, Playground Design, Petrol Stations, Process Analysis and many more.

Watch our on-demand webinar to learn more about and Factory Design Utilities.

For more information or to discuss your requirements further please contact Symetri.

Find out how you can automate Autodesk Vault without being a coder

It is important to track where in the process our design is in line with our business process, allowing other users to access the design when needed. This is why we use lifecycle states in Autodesk Vault to keep us on track.

Typically, our state change indicates that other functions need to happen, such as translations, notifications, and general information distribution to all required stakeholders. Often an admin overhead that impacts our time available for innovation, Autodesk Vault can be customised to automatically trigger and take care of these mundane tasks for you.

The only problem is, you have to be a coder to put these in place and, once in place, further code change may be needed when your processes need to change.

Sovelia Vault offers the best of both worlds; A configurable add in for Autodesk Vault that any competent administrator can adjust and use. It offers the automation to recover that design time, but without the shackles of holding you back when your processes evolve.

Watch our video where Symetri consultant, Graham Harrison, walks through Sovelia Vault and how it can really benefit you with this task with no coder skills needed to automate and configure your Autodesk Vault.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdHZLoM_aAU&feature=emb_imp_woyt

To learn more about Sovelia Vault and the other ways it can help you work smarter, visit our website and get in touch: https://www.symetri.co.uk/products/sovelia-vault