Manually creating a ball corner surface can be a time consuming task. Alias offers users an automated tool to create these type of surfaces. To see a quick video on the use of this tool click on the link below.
Click HERE to watch the video
Created by Aaron... your Alias CAD Geek
In Black Friday like style the INCAT CAD Geeks are offering a "Buy One Get One Free on iCHECK" to any Autodesk University Attendees and or those whom download iCHECK for Inventor within the next 7 days. Download it here
Offer is good Until January 30th 2009 on iCHECK Floating seats.
Also we just created a new "Getting Started with iCHECK" video.
Watch the video below, and for more info about Autodesk Inventor iCHECK check out our site at: www.incat.com/icheckinventor
Today we'll take a look at creating a CAM follower utilizing the powers of Dynamic Simulation. By creating a simulation, it is easy to output the results that can be used as sketches to create components. Let's take a look at how easy it is....
John with the INCAT CAD Geeks
The Canvas Symmetry Tool in AliasStudio is a very useful tool for quickly getting you ideas and designs down on "paper". The Canvas Symmetry Tool has two modes, Radial and Bilateral both of which can be modified to suit your particular needs. Click the link below to see a video of the Canvas Symmetry Tool in action.
Click Here for Video
Created by Aaron... Your Alias CAD Geek
Whenever a user needs to trim out a wire remember about the Trim Wire command, or as I refer to it as the Wire Cutters. The icon looks like wire cutters and is located on the ACE:Main Electrical toolbar. Basically this command when activated allows the user to select the "Wire" to be cut, and then it will "look" in both directions for connection dots or the end of the wire. Once this is found it will remove the connection dots and cut the wire.
Cut Wire Benefits:
- Less Clicks than AutoCAD Trim
- Automatically Removes Connection Dots
A common question is "With the AutoCAD Trim command I can trim multiple lines at once. Can I do that with the Trim Wire command?" The answer is yes; look at your command prompt for options.
Trim Wire command options:
- Fence = Draw a "Fence" to trim multiple wires.
- Crossing = Draw a crossing window to trim multiple wires.
- Zext = Zoom Extents while staying in the command.
Let's take a look
http://www.screencast.com/t/3ghZaucZ1yE
Created by Dave one of the Cad Geeks
One of the rarely used features of the AutoCAD Mechanical tools is the ability to quickly organize and reuse your custom blocks.
AutoCAD Mechanical contains a very nice block library manager. You can create folders, set options and quickly add blocks for reuse.
This tool will save you a lot of time in the future for reuse of the blocks that you have today.
Enjoy this tool,
Jim
In another segment of Tube & Pipe design, today we'll look at copying an existing pipe run. There are a couple of options after you make a copy, keep it associate to the original, or make it a seperate instance. In the video we'll take a look at both. Either way, it is quite easy to re-use existing Tube & Pipe runs in your designs.
John With the INCAT CAD Geeks
One of the most time consuming task when working with controls design is adding descriptions for our devices and the task of checking these descriptions for proper spelling and consistency throughout a project. This problem becomes a greater challenge when multiple people may be working on a given project. Once again AutoCAD Electrical can save us time applying descriptions and also greatly reduce time spent checking descriptions when everyone is sharing a library that host all descriptions we may use as a company. One of my favorite lines "type it once, never have to type it again". 
Let's take a look
http://www.screencast.com/t/hfseAWKKW
Created by Dave one of the Cad Geeks
Well today I thought I'd share some functionality that can help everyone using AutoCAD Mechanical today.
Wew have all had a design that the more you worked on the assembly the deeper it got and before you knew it you could not tell one object from another.
Every Object line was on OBJ, every Hidden Line on HID.... You get my point.
Well in AutoCAD Mechanical there is a great tool set for layer management. Layer Groups!
This aloows you to name Groups of the same layers by things like part name.
I think you will like this one a lot!
Jim......Another INCAT CAD Geek
Today we'll look at a few tricks for placing fittings utilizing Inventor's Tube & Pipe capabilities. You can easily add fittings either in "sketch" display or after the route has been populated. This can make it easy to see what you are doing in complicated runs. We'll also take a look at how you can easily swap out fittings without having to delete and re-insert them.
Let's take a look.....
John with the INCAT CAD Geeks
Since the 2009 release of Vault and ProductStream, the properties available for Vault searching now need to be explicitly designated for use in a "Basic" search. This is done in the Property Definition area of the Administration dialog box. This is also used to turn off properties that are not needed and may be cluttering search results with a bunch of unwanted files.
Contributed by Ben of the INCAT CAD Geeks
Today I'll address a question that we had posted on "Ask the CAD Geek". We had a question asked on how to create Inventor title blocks from AutoCAD title blocks. This can be accomplished in a few ways, but this is probably the simplest way...
Remember to keep your questions coming in on ask the CAD Geek!
John with the INCAT CAD Geeks
As with any drawings in AutoCAD you end up with many unused block definitions in your drawings, AutoCAD Electrical isn't much different in that aspect, the only main difference is that you could have many drawings you are working with. I have one customer that has about 200 sheets on average in their projects, that is quite a few drawings to go through and purge the blocks out before shipping or archiving the job. In AutoCAD Electrical a user can purge blocks project wide along with many other project wide utilities.
Project-Wide Utilities
Make sure that the active is saved or a drawing from the project. From the Projects pull down menu select Project Wide Utilities.
Click Ok
Select Project from the next dialog box.
Click Ok
Select the drawings to process.
Click Ok
As you can see from the Project-Wide Utilities dialog box there are many tasks that can be done project wide.
Let's take a look
http://www.screencast.com/t/Ng4cmUMIWQ
Created by Dave one of the Cad Geeks
AutoCAD Mechanical has tons of features for the machine designers. One of the nice ones is the ability to create Chain and Sprocket drives for equipment.
This can be a very tedius task in plain AutoCAD. The catalogs of standard components makes the a snap to design today.
Check out this video on how to create a quick 2:1 drive.
Enjoy,
Jim........Another INCAT CAD Geek!
Real-Time Visualization Event
Featuring Autodesk AliasStudio 2009 and Showcase 2009
Nov 18, 2008 @ College for Creative StudiesCome hear about what’s new in Autodesk AliasStudio 2009 and learn some new tips and tricks. By making it easy for designers to create more themes and concepts, iterate designs faster, visually collaborate, and convey their vision, Autodesk AliasStudio helps you develop innovative new product designs in less time—and at a lower cost for design and manufacturing workgroups of any size.
Also, witness the new Autodesk Showcase creating accurate, realistic imagery from 3D digital design data, so you can clearly communicate form and brand character for your products. Interactively present and review designs within the Autodesk Showcase environment, enabling efficient and economical decision-making.
Stay for the iPod Touch Giveaway!
PRESENTERS:
• Ted Balderree, Alias Industry Marketing Manager
• Paul Schmucker, Alias Solutions Engineer
• Chris Turco, Alias Industry Account Manager
• Aaron Berendt, INCAT Alias Applications Engineer
• Dan Saperstein, INCAT Director of Sales, Emcee
When: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Where: College for Creative Studies 201 E. Kirby Detroit, MI 48202 Free Parking
Registration link:
http://www.incat.com/global/EventRegisration.aspx?Ev entID=3 17&Event-LocationId=981&nMenuCode=497
AGENDA
• Welcome, Introductions, Overview: Hors d’oeuvres and drinks served
• Autodesk AliasStudio 2009: “What’s New?” Presentation
• Autodesk Showcase 2009: Introduction to real-time visualization and product demo
• Open Q&A, Networking
With Inventor we use the "Check-in" option from drawings or assemblies, and all of the subsequent child files are automatically checked into Vault. With AutoCAD Electrical the same concept can be accomplished through the Project Browser that is integrated with Vault. Just right click on any AutoCAD Electrical project file and you can Check-in or check-out the entire contents. Don't even worry about the individual files. Take a look at this video for a quick peek:
Watch Video Here
Contributed by Ben of the INCAT CAD Geeks
Watch Video Here
Contributed by Ben of the INCAT CAD Geeks
The Transformer rig is a great way to explore different shapes very quickly during the concept design process. The Transformer Rig allows you to set up Modifier tools to manipulate you surfaces by Translating, Scaling, and Rotating the Rig. All of your surfaces maintain positional continuity throughout the process. Click on the link below to watch a short tutorial.
Click Here to watch tutorial
Created by Aaron... your Alias CAD Geek
