Similar to my previous post on sketching, where I suggested some basic tips for working with an Inventor Sketch, I wanted to do the same for modeling in the Autodesk Inventor software.
#1 Opening Files
Over the last few releases of Inventor, there have been some nice changes to the Open dialog box that have made it easier and more efficient to open new files. The following image highlights some of these key changes.
#2 Creating New Files
There are a number of different ways that you can create new files in Inventor, and which one you choose is more likely driven by user preference, but there are some slight nuances that are nice to know about.
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To use the Create New File dialog box to select the type of file you are creating AND the template that is to be used:
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On the Home page, select New.
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In the Quick Access Toolbar, select
(New).
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In the File menu, select New>New.
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To create a new file using the default template that is assigned in the software (avoiding the Create New File dialog box):
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On the Home page, expand New and select the file type in the drop-down list.
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In the Quick Access Toolbar, expand
(New) and select the file type in the drop-down list.
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In the File menu, select New>New.
NOTE: The list of file types on the Home page is different than the other two methods.
#3 Configuring the Default Template Being Used for New Files
With the use of the Create New File dialog box, you can review and ensure that the correct template is being used to create all your new part files. While this approach is recommended until you are comfortable with template selection, you can assign a template using an Application Option, helping to make the process of creating a new file faster and easier. To set the default template for new files:
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In the Tools tab>Options panel, click
(Application Options).
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Select the File tab and click Configure Default Template. The Configure Default Template dialog box opens, showing you the current units and standard for the currently assigned default template.
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Select the required measurement units and drawing standards that should be used as default.
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Click OK.
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Click Confirm to overwrite the default template. This sets the default template that is presented when you create a new part file; however, it does not prevent you from creating a model in inches by selecting New on the Home page, as was shown previously.
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Click OK to close the Application Options dialog box.
#4 Setting an Origin Plane as Default for the First Sketch in a New Part
When you consistently create base features on the same origin plane (e.g., XY), you can set an option so that when a new part is created, you are immediately placed in the Sketch environment, ready to sketch on a specified origin plane. To set the default origin plane for the first sketch:
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In the Tools tab>Options panel, click
(Application Options).
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On the Part tab, select a sketch plane in the Sketch on new part creation area.
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Click OK.
With a plane selected, all new part files will be created and the sketch environment will be immediately active. For any additional sketches, you will be able to select the sketch plane as you have previously done.
I hope that these tips help you!
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