Inventor requirements

• You do not need an Autodesk DirectConnect license to import Inventor files, but ensure that you have Inventor 2009, Inventor 2010 or Inventor View 2010 (free from http://www.autodesk.com/inventorview) installed and licensed on the same machine.
• An Alias product.

Importing Inventor files into Alias

Autodesk DirectConnect lets you import Autodesk Inventor part (*.ipt) and assembly files (*.iam) files into Alias, provided you have Inventor 2010 or the free Inventor View installed and licensed on your machine.

DirectConnect support these formats for Windows 32-bit operating systems.

Notes

• Though Inventor data cannot be imported into a 64-bit version of DirectConnect on a 64-bit OS, you can use the 32-bit version of DirectConnect on a 64-bit OS to import Inventor files via DirectConnect.
• To enable this translator on systems where no licensed Autodesk Inventor 2009 product is available, download and install the free Inventor View 2009 product from http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?id=10535296&siteID=123112.
• Once the DirectConnect Inventor translator is installed, run it and select File > Open before using DirectConnect to translate your data.

  However, if working on Windows Vista and using the DirectConnect Inventor translator, you must run the Inventor View as “administrator”, before the data can be translated.

  From the Start menu, select Autodesk >Autodesk Inventor 2009 > Inventor View, then right-click to open a list and select Run as administrator.

To import Autodesk Inventor files

1. Select File > Open or File > Import > File .
2. Browse to and select an Autodesk Inventor part or assembly file (*.ipt or *.iam).
3. Click OK.

   The translator automatically launches and imports the file.

   NoteTo maintain the original positioning and orientation of part files in your scene, import assembly the assembly file. Importing part files before the assembly file positions all of them at the origin (0,0,0) and removes the original positioning.

Types of data imported

NURBS are imported for this file format. The following additional information is maintained on import:

• BREP Bodies
• Data organization
• Tolerances and units
• Material colors and simple transparencey

Where to find imported data

• Data Organization

  Parts and assembly information is displayed in the Windows > Information > Layer Categories window.

• Tolerances and Units

  Unit settings are visible from Preferences > Construction Options .

• Colors (Shaders)

  Colors are visible from the Render > Multi-lister > Shaders window.

Limitations

• WorkSurfaces, Display Meshes and 2D/3D Sketches are automatically excluded when an Autodesk Inventor^® file is imported.
• Some cylindrical surfaces (pipes) may not be trimmed properly.

Exporting files to Inventor

Save models in DWG, IGES, or STEP file formats to transfer Alias models to Inventor.

Model preparation

Units

When working in Alias set the Units to be the same (mm or inches) as what is used in the Inventor model.

Geometry/Topology

When using Alias, two types of model information can be sent to and read by Inventor: geometry information and topology information.

The Alias-created IGES file includes only the description of the geometry information. The Alias-created STEP and DWG file supports both the geometry information as well as the topology information.

The geometric data describes the basic shape of the object and in both Alias and Inventor, geometric data is represented using NURBS.

Topological data describes how the geometric components are connected together to form a solid. The Alias STEP file format has advantages over IGES when transferring Alias models to Inventor because there is more information describing the model that is being transferred. THe preferred method is DWG.

Tolerances

• Set Preferences > Construction Options - Construction Presets to Inventor.

Information specific to DWG

TipDWG Export heals the model and makes it ready for use in Inventor.

Information specific to Granite

TipCurve Fit Distance is the key to translation quality. The recommended tolerance in the Preferences > Construction Options - Construction Presets > Tolerances > Fitting section is based on testing done translating models between Alias and Inventor.

TipMaximum Gap Distance is the value that is used to check if the adjacent boundaries are built closely enough to each other. They should never be smaller than the Curve Fit Distance.

Get the geometry right

To achieve the tolerance required by solid modeling it's important to manage the modeling units and tolerances when creating your model. Most engineering organizations use the millimeter or inches units as the base linear unit and have developed standards for tolerances that they apply to their CAD systems.

If you are not clear as to which standards your companies or clients use, seek out your CAD system manager. Set up your units and tolerances at the beginning of your modeling session and save them in your usr_options file.

Whether you are creating a model, verifying a model, or debugging a translation, there are some tools within Alias to check the quality of the geometry you have created. The most useful tools are the Deviation tools in the Locators menu. Use these tools to check the maximum distance between any two surface boundaries.