LABS - 3D Annotation for Inventor

The 3D Annotation for Inventor Technology Preview allows the Inventor user to apply 3D Annotations: dimensions, geometric tolerances, surface finish symbols, datum symbols, and notes to a part model, which are then displayed in the graphics view.

The technology preview is an emulation intended to provide the Inventor user with a sense of a 3D Annotation capability to solicit feedback and to gauge interest level.

The 3D Annotation for Inventor Technology Preview is licensed for a limited term and for a particular territory as referenced in the End User License Agreement.

LABS - Project Photofly

Project Photofly is a Technology Preview to automatically convert photographs shot around an object or a scene into Photo Scenes using the power of cloud computing. The photographs can be shot with any standard digital camera, as long as you follow some shooting guidelines.

Import & Export Parameters using XML

You can export the Parameter data to an XML file to take a snapshot of the Parameters and their values. This capability is useful if you want to transfer Parameters in one model to another.
During the Export, you choose whether to include All Parameters or just the Key Parameters, see below to learn how this is done:

• Open the Model that contains the Parameters.
• On the Ribbon, go to the Manage TAB > Parameters Panel > Export to XML.

Splitting a Sketch

Sometimes when you have created a complex Sketch within a new part that you then want to Extrude, it may not be possible to select the specific areas that you wish to Extrude. The example below shows a Sketch which has created a shape in the middle that we wish to Extrude, unfortunately because the circles are complete Loops it will not allow us to select the relevant area.

Map File Revision to Vault Professional Document Revision Number

To map a files Revision Number from Inventor to a Vault Document Revision Number, you need to create a temporary User Defined Property (UDP) to write the property from file to a Vault User Defined Property. Then you can choose the User Defined Property to Revise from, see the video below for further information:


This is an extract from the Cracking the Vault, Manufacturing Community Blog

Purging Files

Purging files is a good way to help prevent your Filestore and consequently your Database from containing unnecessary Data and Metadata (this is information about data). Benefits can include reduced back up times, smaller backups and better overall browsing/searching performance.
In Vault it is possible to perform a Purge from either the Vault Client or Vault Server. The Vault Client will only allow a user to Purge Selected File Versions. To do this find the relevant file, right click on an Older Version > Purge as required.

Auto Constrain

The Auto Constrain tool allows you to apply Geometric Constraints to a selection set of Geometry within the specified tolerance set using the AutoConstrain tab in the Constraint Settings dialogue (click the down arrow as shown below to access this).

Check Your AutoCAD Graphics

Every year AutoCAD configurations get more complex. As new features are introduced – such as the new Advance Material Effect and Smooth line display in AutoCAD 2011 – we become more and more dependent on the support of our hardware partners. Prior to AutoCAD 2007 we only had a dependency on the Operating System, but since then we have also become more dependent on Graphics Cards and Drivers. Each new level of dependency brings new potential for interoperability issues. To cut down on the complexity of these dependencies and improve user experience we have created a hardware certification program within the AutoCAD team that is located at this site Graphics Hardware List. To check whether you are running certified drivers for AutoCAD, follow the procedure below.

• Type 3DCONFIG at the command line and hit Enter.
• Click the Check for Updates button.