Leading-edge adaptive technology is transforming 3D mechanical design, releasing engineers from artificial design methodologies and allowing them to design the way they think.
Most engineers seek to solve function before form, probably using sketches in an attempt to solve complex design problems before building 3D models. While computer-aided design (CAD) has revolutionised mechanical design, it has forced designers to adopt unnatural design processes and create form before they`ve solved function.
The recently launched new-generation 3D mechanical design software from Autodesk, Autodesk Inventor, on the other hand, allows designers to work with simple, intelligent 2D sketches and layouts that can later become the foundation for 3D assemblies. By getting function right first, rather than iterating form or solid models, engineers and designers can focus all their energies on design intent, rather than getting bogged down by detail. Critical time savings achieved with this design approach contribute to shrinking cycle times.
The mid-priced mechanical design solution from mainstream design software specialist, Autodesk, is the first mechanical design software to support leading-edge adaptive design technology.
Parts are not built in isolation - they are virtually always designed to operate in the context of an assembly. The features of one part define the shape and size of another. Until now, however, designers have been inhibited by parametric design, which required them to implement complicated equations and constraints to define the relationship between one part and another.
Autodesk Inventor offers the flexibility of Autodesk`s new adaptive assemblies technology, in addition to offering powerful parametric design tools. This differentiates Autodesk Inventor from any other 3D mechanical design software on the market.
Autodesk Inventor goes beyond parametrics featuring an assembly-centric paradigm that frees designers from the constraints of parameters associated with parametric relationships. Designers simply specify how parts fit together. If the size of one part changes, the assembly-based `fit` definition automatically determines the revised sizes and positions of adjacent parts, speeding up initial design as well as any changes which need to be made. With traditional parametric modelling systems, making changes to an assembly can imply virtually starting over from scratch. However, Autodesk Inventor`s adaptive technology enables the engineer to change only the parts that need changing, and the rest of the assembly adapts to fit.
Inventor overcomes a long-time electronic design frustration Autodesk Inventor dramatically speeds up electronic design of large assemblies, a long-time frustration for designers. The software eliminates the need to break a large assembly design into chunks small enough for traditional CAD systems to digest. By employing an innovative, segmented database, the new software increases the speed and accuracy with which very large assembly designs may be created.
The new database technology enables users to quickly open and work with unusually large assembly models. It optimises system performance by automatically loading only those segments that are required for the current operation and loading remaining segments on demand.
"Our new 3D mechanical design software marks another turning point in the evolution of CAD," says Errol Ashwell, managing director of Autodesk Africa. "We believe it has the potential to make the same kind of impact on engineers that AutoCAD software made in moving people from the drawing board to the computer.
"Inventor isn`t only about improved functionality, but rather about creating a design environment in which engineers can bring innovative design ideas to life and so boost their competitiveness and realise their business objectives."
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