Archive notice: This article was originally published on November 17, 2009. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
According to Autodesk, the second release of the Inventor Fusion Technology Preview is available as a free download from Autodesk Labs. Inventor Fusion combines the strengths of parametric, history-based modelling with the flexibility of direct modelling, allowing users to choose the method best suited to the task at hand. The technology preview is the first step along this path, Autodesk says. Feedback from users who tested the first version was incorporated into development of the second release and produced new functions, the company explains.
“Parametric modelling is needed in mechanical design because it is ideal for capturing and reusing expertise, iteratively optimising a design, and creating product variants and configurations,” says Wolfgang Lynen, EMEA Marketing Campaign Manager Manufacturing Solutions at Autodesk. “Direct modelling, however, offers decisive advantages when, for example, data from another CAD system needs to be edited. It also allows ‘what-if’ scenarios to be explored quickly and simple one-off changes to be made. We want to offer our customers both in a single system so that they can use every possibility.”
The highlight of this release is Change Manager. It allows a parametric model from Autodesk Inventor to be edited very quickly and easily using Inventor Fusion’s “direct modelling”, without the designer having to consider features, history or dependencies. Geometry can be added, deleted or edited, for example. Change Manager then activates in Autodesk Inventor. It shows the designer which changes were made and allows them to accept or reject those changes; if rejected, the original geometry is retained. If the changes are adopted, Autodesk Inventor incorporates the feature into the history and adjusts the sketch geometry where necessary.
The user interface has also been simplified and made even more intuitive. The preview includes a Wiki Help Site where users can find numerous tips and tricks, videos and suggestions. Questions, problem solutions and feedback are also communicated through the website.
Inventor Fusion is available as a free download at http://www.inventorfusion.com. Demonstration videos are also available there.
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