Need for Speed: 102

Productivity Hacks for Inventor

Clint Brown
Senior Technical Services Manager
@ClintBrown3D

Join the conversation #AULondon #AU2018

About the speaker

Clint Brown
A background in Automotive Engineering, Plastics, Machining,
and Rotating Machinery. Clint has worked as a mechanical
design engineer for the last 19 years. He’s an Autodesk Inventor
Certified Professional, having used most traditional CAD and
analysis tools including AutoCAD (since R13), SolidWorks,
SolidEdge, and Ansys. He has designed many products,
machines, and systems including plastic fuel tanks (Nissan,
Ford); several mobile vending units (Coca-Cola, SAB Miller);
and the design and stress analysis of castings (Daikin,
McQuay). He is also a patent holder.
 Some Stats

5 10 21 10
AU CLASSES AU’S ATTENDED YEARS USING YEARS OF
AUTODESK PRODUCTS INVENTOR & VAULT
PRESENTED

Presented at:
First AU in 2010 First used AutoCAD First used Inventor
AU Las Vegas 2013 x2 R10 in 1997 R12 in 2008

AU London 2017 x1

AU London 2018 x2
Need for Speed: 102 Productivity Hacks for
Inventor
@ClintBrown3D

Image Credit
 Selection Filters

Each Inventor environment has a default Selection priority

Part: Faces and Edges

Assemblies: Components

Drawings: Edge

Changing the selection priority will give users faster access to specific geometry

https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/204914222-Autodesk-Inventor-2017-Selection-Priority
Selection Filters

Access “Selection Filters”:

Shift + RMB
 Ctrl to De-select objects

Holding Ctrl when selecting practically

anything in Inventor, will allow you to de-
select objects that have been selected
 Assemblies: Isolate

Isolate is often overlooked. In assemblies,

use it to show and hide components, this is
especially useful when working on large
assemblies, or when you need to hide a
specific part, or if you just want to look at a
specific set of parts

https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/201768142-Inventor-1-minute-tip-Isolate
 Box Select

Left to Right
Everything fully inside the box

Right to Left
Everything touching the box
 Assemblies: Invert Selection

Use “Invert Selection” to select

everything other than your current
selection

https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/202017531
 Object Visibility Filters
Toggle visibility of Workfeatures,
sketches etc.
 Speed: Use the quick access toolbar

Add commonly used tools to the “Quick Access Toolbar”

 Templates

Overwriting the Standard.ipt/dwg/iam/ipn

templates with your customised templates
will make new file creation quicker
 Speed: Smart Templates

• Save pre-selected Material parts (i.e.

Steel, PP etc.)
• Pre-populate iProperties + Parameters
• Re-use common shapes/start points
• Create sheet Metal templates too
(Material and Thickness)

Assemblies
• Place virtual components in your
template file
• Setup your BoM rows in the template file
 Use Pack ‘n go to Share files
Pack and Go packages an Autodesk Inventor file and all of
its referenced files in a single location. All files that
reference the selected Autodesk Inventor file from a
selected project or folder can also be included in the
package.

Use Pack and Go to archive a file structure, copy a

complete set of files while retaining links to referenced files,
or isolate a group of files for design experimentation.

https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/201774382-Inventor-Quick-Tip-Pack-and-Go
 Speed: Manage Add-ins

Modern versions of Inventor no longer load all of the add-ins at

start-up.

They are loaded when the first document is opened or created

Unload everything you do not need, including Add-ins you only

use occasionally, they can always be added back in.

Note that Translators are loaded on demand

 Speed: Manage Add-ins

The Add-in Manager can also be loaded as a “Standalone”

application.

This is useful is a specific add-in is causing stability issues.

 Speed: View – Shadows Reflections & Visual Style

By default visual styles are set in the Inventor File

You can override this in your application options.

Benefits are that models appear as you prefer, and speed

Shadows and reflections slow you down

 Speed: F-Key Shortcuts
The Function, or "F" keys on your
keyboard provide shortcuts for model
navigation inside of Autodesk
Inventor, below is a list of these
shortcuts;
F2 – Pan
F3 – Zoom
F4 – Orbit
F5 – Zoom Previous
F6 – Home View

Bonus UI navigation tools:

The middle mouse button. Holding
down the middle mouse button
activates the "Pan" command (as per
F2). Scrolling the middle mouse
button will zoom the model in and out.
Holding Shift and the middle mouse
button will activate the "Orbit"
command (as per F4).

https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/115005983389-Inventor-2018-Quick-Tip-F-Key-Shortcuts
 Speed: Keyboard Shortcuts
Hover your mouse over any
command in Inventor, you will see
the shortcut shown in brackets
after the description. Example -
Fillet (F).

The link below is to a PDF

containing all Inventor shortcuts

Right Clicking on your Ribbon,

and selecting “Customise User
Commands” will allow you to
modify shortcuts and set up
shortcuts for commands that are
not set.

Share your settings using Export

an import options

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 Speed: Customise the Marking (use Gestures)
Right Clicking on your Ribbon, and selecting
“Customise User Commands” will allow you to
modify your marking menu settings.

Share your settings using Import and Export

options

https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/201902751-Adding-an-Extra-Marking-Menu-in-Inventor-2013
 Speed: Disable the Marking Menu (if it's not your thing!)
Right Clicking on your Ribbon, and selecting
“Customise User Commands” will allow you to
modify your marking menu settings.

Share your settings using Export an import

options
Next 3 Tips need your IT department

Image Credit
 Speed: Anti-Virus Exceptions
Your Company Anti-virus
software is probably slowing you
down.

Real time scanning, slows

access to files

DLL & EXE blocking make parts

of Inventor inoperable

Note
It is strongly recommended that
you do not lower the security on
any computer without good
reason. Changes to the default
configuration of your antivirus
software are made completely at
the risk of the administrator and
should only be undertaken if the
implications of lowering the
security are completely
understood
https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/inventor-products/learn-explore/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Working-with-Inventor-and-antivirus-software.html
https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/202381031-Managing-your-Anti-virus-software-with-Vault-Inventor-2015
 Speed: Run as Administrator

You may come across instances where Inventor will not load an add-
in or a DLL, this is sometimes manifested in an error message, or a
function just not working.

When installing Inventor, it should always be done with the UAC

turned right down, with the user logged on as an Administrator, and
with the anti-virus disabled. While logged on as Administrator, it is
advised that Inventor is fired up, as this registers all of the relevant
DLL's with the Windows operating system.

As a user, If you are still having issues, a nice workaround, is to run

Inventor as Administrator, this can be achieved by right clicking on
your Inventor icon and choosing "Run as Administrator"

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 Speed: Drivers: Graphics & 3D Mouse

1. Ensure that your system EXCEEDS the minimum specs for

running Inventor

2. Use the latest Graphics driver FROM AUTODESK, ask your IT

department to adjust your windows updates

3. Ensure that your 3D Mouse driver is up to date, if you start

having unexplained performance issues, unplug and uninstall
it, see if this remedies the problem.

https://www.3dconnexion.co.uk/index.php?id=76&redirect2=www.3dconnexion.co.uk

Link to Inventor Certified Graphics Cards

Back Over to you

Image Credit
Speed: Graphics

1. If you are experiencing issues, try a lower hardware setting (In

Application Options)
Speed: Graphics

If you are still experiencing issues, try a lower frame rate, it’s worth
experimenting with a setting that will suit your system (In
Application Options)
Speed: Zoom Direction

Tools > Application Options > Display > Zoom Behavior

Rendering – Ray Trace still images

Save images of your ray trace while it’s

rendering

Can help with initial views while a large /

time consuming render completes
Environments

You can turn off an environment, but still

use it’s lighting and reflections
 Do you design Plastic parts? Use the Tooling environment
After some basic setup

Setting material
Selecting Default processing parameters
Estimated Gate location

You can report on Cycle time and Clamping

pressure, which should help with costings

https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/202413922-Autodesk-Inventor-2015-Tooling-The-process-of-designing-a-simple-injection-mould
 Do you design Plastic parts? Use the Tooling environment

Use Part Fill analysis to look for potential

moulding issues like weld lines

Quality Prediction is useful for sink mark

areas

Confidence of fill is also very useful

https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/202413922-Autodesk-Inventor-2015-Tooling-The-process-of-designing-a-simple-injection-mould
 Do you design Plastic parts? Use the Tooling environment

Inventor can suggest the best Gate

location for the moulding

This may help inform design decisions

https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/202413922-Autodesk-Inventor-2015-Tooling-The-process-of-designing-a-simple-injection-mould
Application Options 20

Share your Application Options (remember

to change your user name!)
Migrate Application Options + UI (2019)

Migrate your “Application Options” and UI

customisations from previous version of
Inventor
 Team Web
In Application Options:

Set team web to something useful, like Cadline Community, or your intranet

Default URL is:

%PUBLICDOCUMENTS%\Autodesk\Inventor %RELEASE%\Web\en-US\CustomHelpSample.htm
 Sketches: Arcs from the Line Command

After drawing your line, move your mouse pointer to the start point of your
new line (the end point of your last line). You can then click and drag away
from that point and create a number of different arcs. Perpendicular or
Tangent ones in multiple directions depending on the direction of your drag.

https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/201908651-Inventor-Basics-Quick-Tip-Lines-Arcs
 Sketches: Inferred Constraints

Hold the CTRL key when drawing in a model sketch to prevent Inventor
creating inferred constraints. This ignores your constraint settings

https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/201889052-Inventor-2013-Two-Useful-Sketching-Shortcuts
 Sketches: Trim and Extend

When in Sketch mode, you can switch

between the trim and extend command,
by simply holding down the Shift key on
your keyboard.

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Sketches: Region Properties
 Sketches: Dimension Visibility

Toggle visibility of dimensions on a sketch

 Sketches: Export Sketch to DXF

Any Sketch in Inventor can be

exported out to DXF
 Sketches: Change Display Colour + Linetype

Adjust the appearance of

sketches from ”Properties” on the
right-click menu
 Sketches: Equal Spacing

Use a driven dimension as a

reference to space geometry
evenly
 Parts/Sketches: Parameter naming on the fly

Save time by naming your parameters as you create them

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Parts: EOP – Delete Features below the EOP

All features below the EOP can be deleted by simply

right clicking on the EOP and selecting “Delete All
Features Below EOP”
 Parts: EOP – File Size & Emails

Rolling up your end of part makes Inventor files smaller

iLogic rule in the link below automates rolling up EOP and

attaching to email

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 Parts: Flat Faces to DXF

Any Flat face in an Inventor part file

can be exported to DXF with a
simple right click

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 Parts: Mirror Solids

Mirror Solids instead of features generally compute faster,

also have less errors

Sometimes with bigger file size

 Parts: Slice Graphics - Sketches

Use Slice Graphics to see a temporary section

through your model whist sketching

Keyboard shortcut is F7

Inventor now has a neat toggle in the sketch

environment

Bonus Tip: use “Project Cut Edges” to project

edges into your sketch

https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/201909131-Inventor-2015-Quick-Tip-Import-Step-Assembly
 Parts: Split Command – Split faces

Use Split faces for FEA, define specific

load/boundary conditions, use parametric
sketches to adjust them

Use Split faces for demarcating different colours

on a face.
 Parts: Split Command – Trim Solid

Use “Trim Solid” to cut parts to size

Bonus Tip: Use work planes as the Split Tool

 Parts: Split Command – Split Solid

Use “Split Solid” to split your model in separate

solids.
 Parts: Multi-body solids & Make Components

Convert Multi-Body Solids to Assemblies using

the Make Components command

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 Parts: Parameter Filters

Use the Parameter filter to see all

“key” and all renamed parameters

2018.1 bought in the “By Feature”

filter which allows a user to see
which parameters were used to
create a feature
 Parts: All Fillets + All Rounds

Useful for cast/plastic components

that have a specified minimum
radius.

The feature will continue to

calculate the fillets, even after the
geometry changes
Parts: Creating a Hole Pre-set (2019)

• Specify the hole

• Click +

• Give the new pre-set a logical

name
 Parts: Edit Hole Pre-sets (2019)

Pre-sets can be saved, renamed or

deleted via settings

There is no “Edit” for pre-sets Edit a Pre-set:

• Choose it from the drop down

• Modify the settings to suite
• Save the current setting

• Choose the old pre-set form the menu

• Delete the old pre-set
 Parts: Sharing Hole Pre-sets (2019)

By default Hole Pre-sets are stored locally, this

location could be set to a network location
 Parts: Select Tangencies

“Select Tangencies” selects all

faces or edges tangent to the
current selection
 Parts: Custom Sheet Metal Flanges

Specify specific flange widths

and offsets in the expanded
menu.
 Get some Perspective

Right Click on the view cube > Click Perspective

Use “Perspective” views for renders and images

Tip: it’s faster to work in Orthographic mode

 Get some Perspective 40

Perspective (Ctrl + Shift + F3)

To adjust the level of perspective

Ctrl + Shift + F3 and scroll up and down.

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Fast Client image
 Assemblies: Assembly Folders
• Use Assembly Folders to organise complex assembly data

• Folders can be used to Isolate or Supress sets of

components

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 Assemblies: Virtual Components

Use Virtual Components to add parts to your

Inventor BoM that you might not normally
model

Bonus Tip: Use iLogic to add these parts on

the fly, see link below

Bonus Tip 2: Save commonly used Virtual

Components in your Assembly file

https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/212726349-Inventor-2017-iLogic-Create-Virtual-Parts-on-the-Fly
 Assemblies: Display Mass on a BoM
Use a Virtual Components to calculate the Mass of the
Assembly, and display this on a BoM

iProperties.Value("VIRTUAL PART","Custom","Assembly Mass") = iProperties.Mass

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 Assemblies: BOM – Check properties & Mass Manipulation

The BoM environment is a good place to check

materials and assign properties to many files at
once.

Copy/Paste between columns

CAPITALISE
Create Expressions
Change Materials

Bonus tip: (Inventor 2018.1 onwards), right click

on a BoM row entry to open it.

Note: For Vaulted Assemblies, the children (Sub

assemblies & parts) will need to be checked out if
their properties are to be edited.

https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/211622485-Inventor-2017-R2-BOM-tips
 Assemblies: BOM – Customise Default Template

Set up your BoM template.

Choose the Rows to include, enable

the BoM views that you use by
default.

Export out an XML file

Open your default template, import

the XML, “Save as Template”

Done!

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 Assemblies: Alt + Drag Constraints

Alt + Drag

If you hold down ALT and then drag (hold

down your left mouse button) geometry it
will create a constraint, based on the
geometry that you select, the animation
below shows how I have placed an insert
constraint.

Note: The Alt + Drag workflow will create

the following Constraints, Mate, Tangent
and Insert

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 Assemblies: Save Favourite Bolted Connections

Save and re-use your favourite Bolted

Connections
 Assemblies: Frame Member Info

Use “Frame Member Info” to see

detailed properties of individual frame
members, including:

Type
Insertion Position
Mass
 Assemblies: Browser Search
Introduced with Inventor 2018.

Search for parts in an assembly (at any level) based on name, part
number, or iProperty (including custom iProperty values)

https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/115002126305-Inventor-2018-What-s-new-Browser-Enhancements
 Assemblies: Surface Area
The Surface area shown in an assembly is the total Surface area of all parts in the assembly.

For Painting or Coating create shrinkwrap for a more accurate result

Assembly = 2882.411mm^2 Shrinkwrap = 2505.420mm^2

https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/201768952
 Assemblies: Shrink Substitute LoD’s via iLogic

Reduce model
complexity with LoD’s

Use Shripkwrap
substitute LoD iLogic
Rule to quickly create
simplified LoD’s

https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/214383385-Inventor-2017-iLogic-
Create-Shrink-wrap-Substitute-Level-of-Details?page=3
 Collaborate with Shared views (new in 2019)
Shared Views last 30 days (unless
renewed)

Allows collaboration over the web

Great for collaborators who do not have

CAD tools!

Works with parts, assemblies and

drawings
 Lost in Translation: ANYCAD v STEP v IGES

Always try get hold of the native CAD files, Inventor works with practically every mainstream CAD vendor, AnyCAD workflow is
better than a file translation

The IGES standard was last updated in 1996

STEP has been available for over 20 years with continual development and wide adoption between CAD vendors
https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/115000846485-STEP-Files-vs-IGES-Files
 Backward Compatibility

Starting with Inventor

2017.4, you can reference
future (newer) versions of
Inventor part and assembly
files.

For example, you can now

reference an Inventor 2018
part file in Inventor 2017

Inventor 2017.4 Inventor 2018

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 Get some Perspective - Drawings

Since Inventor 2016, we can now use the "View Cube"

to orientate our views, and as such, we can place
Perspective views as opposed to Isometric views on
our drawings, giving more realistic appearance to a
"pictorial" view.

https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/203899721-Inventor-2016-Quick-Tip-Perspective-on-Drawings
 Drawings: use AutoCAD for dimensions
Did you know that you can
dimension your Inventor DWG
files in AutoCAD?

AutoCAD uses the same

dimension style as your
Inventor drawing
 Drawings: Annotating Punch tools

On “Flat” sheet metal parts, you need to create a Flat Pattern, in order to use the annotation tools for punches

https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/201768212-Inventor-Annotating-Punch-Tools
Drawings: Replace Reference
Introduced in Inventor 2011

Allows you to re-use your existing

drawings

Works when the geometry is the same

i.e. “File” > “Save As”
 Drawings: Sketchy lines

Revit & AutoCAD 2015 introduced

“Sketchy Lines”

Open your Inventor DWG in

AutoCAD, change the view to
“Sketchy Lines”

Export to PDF or Image – “Sketchy

Lines” will not show in Inventor

https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/201901301-Inventor-Quick-Tip-Sketchy-lines
 Drawings: Change your sheet colour

Tools > Document Settings

Note that this setting is file specific

 Drawings: Precision & Copy Properties
Set Precision from a right click

Similar to “MATCHPROP” in AutoCAD

“Copy Properties” of one dimension to others

http://www.inventortales.com/2007/10/copying-properties-copy-if-you-can.html
 Simulation: Symmetry
Inventor does not have a
Symmetry Command in the
Simulation Environment

Instead use a Frictionless

Constraint

Remember to check your

loads! In this example, the load
is divided by 4, as the model is
split into 4

See the full video here:

Frictionless Constraints on
the faces highlighted in blue
https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/inventor-products/getting-started/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2016/ENU/Inventor-EssentialVideo/files/GUID-F09B5F27-E11A-4154-8185-6895C2511987-htm.html
 Simulation: Component Visibility

Toggling visibility of
Components:

Does not remove them from

analysis

Hides them in the results,

making it easier to interpret your
results
 Simulation: Share your results via DWF
Export out a DWF with your
results showing

Note: this is not a supported

workflow, and does not work
with very large or complex
models
 Parts: Direct Edits
Use Direct Edits to modify “Dumb
Geometry”, or event o make tweaks
to existing designs

Remember all changes are

parametric

https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/201784032-Direct-Edits-in-Autodesk-Inventor-2015
 Customise the Navigation Bar

Add the navigation tools that you use most

commonly to the Navigation toolbar
 Drawings: Set Transparency

Inventor 2016 introduced

“Component
Transparency” in the
drawing environment.

https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/203037872-Inventor-Drawing-Transparency-tips
 Assemblies: Degrees of Freedom Analysis

This tool is located under the Productivity Panel of

the Assemble Tab.

When you click on ”Degree of Freedom

Analysis” a table will appear, showing all of the
parts in the assembly.

If you tick the Animate Freedom box, animations of

the available movement of the part will be shown on
screen

https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/201784022-Inventor-Quick-Tip-Assembly-Constraint-Analysis
 Code Free iLogic

Forms:

Perhaps one of the most

overlooked areas of iLogic is
the forms interface. Forms
allow you to easily interact
with iProperties and
Parameters in your models
and drawings. If you still use
prompted entries to enter
critical design information,
you may want to consider
changing to a more modern
looking form based interface.

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 iLogic: Some Best Practice
Keep things simple:
Don’t try to do everything in one rule.

Comment your code:

• ‘Adding comments to you code, will help your colleagues, or
your memory when reviewing code later

Use External Rules where possible:

• Far easier to update if things change. Embedded rules are
difficult to “Fix”

2 disadvantages – 1: The rules don’t run on parameter changes

2: The rules are not embedded in the files if sharing
externally

Use forms to link external rules

• Add rules to your forms, these can be pushed like buttons

Event Triggers:
• Running rules “After Save” - ensure that these do not change
the file (Ok for file exports (STEP etc.) not good for changing
iProperties or parameters, as the file will need to be updated
 Drawings: Fixing Overridden Dimensions

Choose “Select All Overridden

Dimensions” tool from the selection set
dropdown

Right Click and choose “Edit” this will

bring up the Edit dimension dialogue.

Delete the overridden value and then un-

tick the “Hide Dimension Value” box.

To cycle through all of the dimensions,

Right Click and select “Repeat Select All
Overridden Dimensions” then Right
Click and choose “Edit”

Repeat the process until all of the

offending dimensions have been
corrected.

https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/202284791-Autodesk-Inventor-Fixing-overridden-dimensions
 Drawings: View Scales

Set the scale of the views on the

drawing by simply dragging the
corner of the Base view.
(introduced in 2016)

https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/204249431-Inventor-2016-17-Quick-Tip-Drawing-View-Scale
 Open from Vault Tips

• Use the “Browse Vault” Button on the “file> Open”

dialogue
• Add “Open from Vault” to the quick Access
toolbar
• Add “User Commands” to “Log In” and to “Open”
from Vault
Questions ?
@ClintBrown3D

Image Credit
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