Technical What’s New
Autodesk Inventor 2011
4
Dynamic Input in the Sketch Environment
Inventor 2011 now offers dynamic input for the most
commonly used sketch commands� Dynamic input in
the Sketch environment provides a heads-up display
(HUD) to help you keep your focus
in the sketching area� When
dynamic input is on, value
input fields near the
cursor display
information that
is dynamically
updated as
the cursor
moves� The
heads-up display
allows you to
create dimensioned
geometry as you
sketch—eliminating a
whole separate dimensioning step from
the sketch workflow� Dynamic Input in the
Sketch Environment helps engineers to sketch
more freely and directly, without interruptions
to the creative process�
Assemble Tool
Create assemblies in a snap! Extending the paradigm of
Osnap pioneered in AutoCAD, Inventor 2011 introduces
a dramatically simpler method of assembling
components into a design� Inventor users can now
easily ‘snap’ components together using the new
Assemble tool� Simply select a geometric element on
an incoming part, and drag the component around the
screen� Inventor will automatically seek a compatible
geometric element in the on-screen assembly and
‘snap’ the two pieces together�
Inventor 2011 also makes it easy to reposition
components without having to manage assembly
constraints, enabling you to quickly evaluate alternative
assembly arrangements� If a user wishes to reposition
components, the new assembly diagnostic
tool automatically identifies the changes to
Inventor constraints that will be required
to allow the repositioning to succeed
with the desired design intent� This new
diagnostic tool provides guidance
and assurance that the intended
design dependencies will be
maintained while different
design concepts are explored�
New Design Methodologies
Inventor 2011 introduces radically superior ways to
design in 3D� Breakthroughs in both assembly design
and part modeling usher in a new era of dramatically
easier to use, easier to learn design tools�
Direct Manipulation Part Modeling
Inventor 2011 employs the principles of direct
manipulation to make fundamental improvements to
the mechanical design process� Direct manipulation
offers an uninterrupted workflow that not only helps to
accelerate design, but also fosters greater creativity�
With direct manipulation, all of the input needed for
a command (radius, angle, dimensions, and so on) can
be controlled right at the point where you are directly
affecting geometry� By optimizing the command
interaction, direct manipulation allows you to focus
on your design, rather than the software� With fewer
distracting dialog boxes and less mouse travel, you can
enjoy a faster, more intuitive design experience�
Direct manipulation also features dynamic previewing
to help you to make better design decisions� When
a command is invoked, the display of the model
automatically updates to preview the outcome of
the design modification� By providing an easy way to
explore design alternatives through more accurate and
interactive previewing, direct manipulation helps you
understand clearly how the available command options
can enhance your designs�
