Let’s AutoPlot

In this Blog post I thought it was time we took a look at some tips around the drawing environment of Woodwork for Inventor.

Anyone who has used Autodesk Inventor will know that you can save a drawing to DXF. However, this only works when using .DWG templates and we use .IDW which we want to automate on save.

What is DXF? Autodesk wrote the standard. way back in December 1982 when they launched AutoCAD and needed data interoperability between other systems including AutoCAD and called it Drawing eXchange Format otherwise know as DXF. It’s a vector based output used by many 2D CAD systems today and the original plan was to allow for Import as well. In the last decade we have seen the availability of 3D DXF.

So let’s take the scenario:

You have a built 3D model and you require a set of DXF files to be created.

1. Scale = 1:1
2. One panel = One DXF file
3. Annotation such as dimensions, edge banding annotation removed
4. Profile has to be the workpiece size and part size
5. Holes & cut-cuts must be included

Select AutoPlot from the Woodwork Ribbon.

Choose the template required as the basis for the AutoPlot. We are going to choose Each Component to separate File.idw.

At any point you can save your changes which will be written to your template. I would recommend saving with a suffix of DXF to the file name so you can keep your original template file.

Set the views tab to have scale 1:1, plan view for part. As we really want the DXF file in this instance the Inventor drawings won’t be used so it won’t matter if you leave the view set to rendered.

On the Labels & Sheet templates I’ve set all symbols to Do Not Plot. The template tabs are also blank because the title blocks and borders have been deleted. It’s optional if you want to leave the title block which would have material info contained.

Uncheck place table automatically and place hole notes among all views.

Select the Export To tab and DXF options. You can preselect where to save your DXF files if required.

For the Range Box & Covers tab make sure both part size and work piece size are set. Un-select place veneer, edge band and paint curves.

Delete the title blocks and borders

Save your template by giving it another name. Now simply execute the Auto Plot and you will get multi file Inventor Drawings with a DXF.

You can verify using AutoCAD if required.

 

 

 

 

What’s New Woodwork for Inventor v6

Today it was announced that the next version of Woodwork for Inventor will be available which now includes the new CAM functionality and new enhancements. A summary are outlined below.

HOME USE LICENCE

Each commercial license with annual subscription can now receive an additional license for home usage during the duration of the subscription.

THE MATERIAL & APPEARANCE ASSETS WIZARD

Now the user can centralise the Autodesk Inventor material and appearance assets library to a new location on the network drive or their own computer drive without breaking the links in the material and appearance library and in appearance assets definition, which are written into the Autodesk Inventor components.

SKELETON DRESS UP

This new tool allows us to speed up a skeleton design process significantly. The user can create quickly  by using the dress up tool to create furniture volumes with panels, make a parallel panel and to trim these panels.

Main furniture volume

Main volume dressed in panels and trimming according to construction requirements

This is how the construction of the furniture looks without main furniture volume

Bodies – panels of the part are converted in a separate combination of dressed and the final product design made assigning materials and furniture.

DRAWING EXPORT TO NEW FORMATS

Capability to export Drawings into new additional formats – PDF, DWG, DXF and DWF.

USER FRIENDLINESS

Easier and faster software update procedure. Once installed there is no longer the need to uninstall Woodwork for Inventor software before installing a newer version. We can simply apply the update which does not overwrite your custom files. Also, the automatic regeneration of  the Home licenses in a case of Subscription extension of Commercial license.

NEW CAM FUNCTIONALITY

• Operation status review and direct switching to CAM environment from the Assembly level.
• Slant manufacturing options on 5x axis machines.
• Improved operation Set up and Geometry recognition algorithms.
• Expanded technology edit options from technology browser.
• Spline contour support.
• 2D sketch processing as work path.
• New post-processors.
• Improved tool landing, lead in / lead out controls and description.