Autodesk’s Inventor 5 ramps up large assembly performance and aids transition from 2D to 3D

Mechanical CAD/CAM giant Autodesk is now shipping Autodesk Inventor 5, the latest version of its 3D design software and cornerstone of the firm’s manufacturing suite. With Autodesk’s collaboration services, business partners and consulting services, it’s a formidable combination. It’s a considerable achievement. Inventor 5 is compatible with existing AutoCAD and Autodesk Mechanical Desktop data, and the firm says it thus offers manufacturers “the easiest path from 2D to 3D”. Also, with more than 200 enhancements, you’ll find enhanced drawing annotation, new adaptive technology, excellent large assembly performance, improved external collaboration facilities – and altogether better productivity. As for moving from 2D to 3D, Inventor 5 provides DWG format compatibility from source. The AutoCAD DWG import/export wizard helps users manage AutoCAD-compatible files to and from Autodesk Inventor, and provides interactive previews, and provides tools to help convert data to title blocks, borders, symbols, or new 3D designs. Users moving from Autodesk Mechanical Desktop can migrate their 3D feature-based designs and drawings into Autodesk Inventor and keep their 2D drawings. Testimony is already in. Bill Hasbrook, acoustics engineer at Phoenix Gold, a car audio electronics developer in the US, says: “Autodesk Inventor has completely changed the design process: before I began using Autodesk Inventor, I was making 15—20 different prototypes for each speaker [for internal company feedback]. [Now] I’m able to model all of the parts both cosmetically and mechanically before ever spending a penny on tooling.” “This new release establishes Autodesk Inventor as the leading mid-range 3D design system,” says Robert Kross, vice president of the Manufacturing Division at Autodesk. “Coupled with our partner solutions and Autodesk Streamline, this is hands down the most complete manufacturing solution on the market today.” The software is available now for Microsoft Windows 98, Windows 2000, and Windows NT at £4,590. The Inventor 5 upgrade pack for AutoCAD users costs £2595. l Autodesk is also now shipping its Volo View 2, a web-enabled application for quickly and accurately reviewing 2D and 3D digital designs. It features a simple user interface that enables extended design teams to review, mark up, measure and plot files created with AutoCAD, AutoCAD-based software, and Autodesk Inventor 5. It’s all part of Autodesk’s vision of expanding the design process to include non-technical users and those without access to design creation software. “For every digital designer, there are many more people who need to review the design information,” says Kim Davis, director of marketing at Autodesk. “However, very few of those people actually have a need for or access to the complete design creation software. “Volo View 2 has all the necessary visualisation, markup and hardcopy capabilities built-in. In addition, it delivers a familiar Windows environment. This adds up to significant time and cost savings as well as extends the use of digital design data to the entire design team.”