convert 2d drawing to 3d model inventor

second + 3D: Get the Best of Both with AutoCAD and Inventor

Past Paul Munford and Luke Mihelcic for Autodesk Academy

Introduction

Is in that location nevertheless a place for second drafting in modern design and manufacturing? Depending on your processes and applied science, the respond may be aye or no, but for many of us, it'south going to be somewhere in betwixt. Yous don't take to cull between 2D and 3D. Nosotros'd like to show you some tips, tricks, and workflows to use 2D drafting in AutoCAD and 3D parametric design in Inventor together.

Perhaps you lot are transitioning from one product to the other? Perhaps yous are coming from AutoCAD to Inventor, and you want to re-use or repurpose some of the piece of work yous did within AutoCAD within Inventor? Or perhaps you are collaborating with colleagues who can simply provide you with second details, and you demand to convert them to 3D? Peradventure information technology'southward the other manner? Maybe you piece of work fully in 3D Inside Inventor, only your clients or customers are request for second Drawings every bit a deliverable? Maybe y'all want to keep your survey drawings and site layouts in 2D, but you desire to coordinate with mechanical designs that take been modeled in 3D? However y'all want to use 2D and 3D design, there is a workflow to help you.

IDW versus DWG

Did you know that yous can open up Inventor drawings in natively in AutoCAD? Autodesk Inventor was created by Autodesk in 1999. When it was first launched, information technology was decided to rewrite the rule book and create a brand-new drawing format for Inventor called .IDW. Of course, information technology was before long realized that customers expected Inventor to be able to open up and work with AutoCAD data, and DWG was added as a cartoon format. So, what's the difference between IDW and DWG?

IDW files are native to Inventor. The file size is a niggling bit smaller and they load a little flake faster. The downside of IDW is that there are very few uniform programs for viewing or exchanging IDW data.

DWG files are native to AutoCAD, the file size will be a piddling bit bigger than IDW and they may take fractionally longer to open than IDW. The advantage of DWG is that the files will open natively in Inventor and AutoCAD, and in that location are many other programs and Viewers that are compatible with DWG data.

How do I cull which file format to use? If y'all never share data with others, utilise IDW. If you ever demand to share data with colleagues using AutoCAD or many other CAD systems, you lot'll observe DWG is acceptable nearly anywhere.

So, how exercise we create DWG files with Inventor? Inventor comes past default with both IDW and DWG templates. To create a DWG file in Inventor, you lot just demand to select the DWG template.

Setting DWG equally the Default Drawing Type in Inventor

If you want to permanently select DWG as your format y'all just demand to select information technology in the awarding options:

Tools (Tab) > Options (Panel) > Application Options (Push)

In the awarding options dialog, look under the Drawings tab from the Default Drawing Blazon drop-down. Annotation that you tin also set the DWG file version you want to use here.

Creating drawings in Inventor using the AutoCAD DWG file format follows the exact same process as IDW. There is no loss of functionality and zilch is missing.

To open the drawing in AutoCAD, you only demand to close it In Inventor and open it in AutoCAD. Information technology's that unproblematic.

So, what can nosotros do with our Inventor DWG now that we have it in AutoCAD? You'll notice that you can't change the Inventor model while you are in AutoCAD. That'due south considering the Inventor blueprint model isn't in AutoCAD; simply the drawing is. So what else tin can we practise?

Well, nosotros can plot the cartoon, take measurements, and add items such revision clouds and notes. This makes AutoCAD a bully tool for anyone who wants to review our blueprint electronically, but who doesn't desire the overhead of installing or learning how to use Inventor just to await at drawings.

But what if yous need 2d AutoCAD geometry? That'southward too possible, and nosotros'll get to it soon.

Insert Inventor Views into AutoCAD Drawings

We tin can't edit the geometry in an Inventor DWG straight, but nosotros can re-apply 2nd views. To do this, open an Inventor DWG file in AutoCAD and then switch to model space.

Gasp. There's nothing there. And that's okay. Unlike AutoCAD, Inventor has a modeling environs that is separate to its drawing environment. It references the model into the drawing a bit like AutoCAD uses ten-references.

Merely if we open up the AutoCAD block palette, nosotros tin can see that all the model views that where created in Inventor are saved in AutoCAD as AutoCAD blocks. In fact, this is why an Inventor DWG is bigger than an Inventor IDW file: it contains two sets of information, Inventor data and AutoCAD data.

We tin now insert the Inventor view into AutoCAD model space every bit a block. An instance of when this could be useful is in facility or job-site layout. We can add an AutoCAD block that represents the footprint of our 3D model into our 2D layout. If we modify the Inventor model, we only need to open the DWG file in Inventor to update the drawing, so we tin can open it in AutoCAD again to update the view block.

Just be aware that if y'all copy and paste the view block into another drawing, the link volition exist lost and the block volition no longer update. If you need this workflow, we encourage you lot to take a look at Autodesk Factory design utilities.

Effort It

1. In Inventor, first the open up command and navigate to '00 Inventor Drawing.dwg' from the dataset (download the Material zip file to admission).
2. Select the file with a left click and select the Options
button in the open dialog.
3. Select Defer updates, and so click OK to open up the
drawing. (This saves us having to share the total Inventor assembly.)
iv. Accept a look at the drawing in Inventor, then close the file in Inventor without saving.
five. From the dataset, open up '00 Inventor Drawing.dwg' in AutoCAD.
half dozen. Navigate to paper space.
7. Take some measurements, add some annotations, or plot the drawing. What can you practise with an Inventor DWG drawing in AutoCAD? What tin can't you lot practice?
viii. Close the file without saving it.

Extra Credit

9. Double click over a viewport to enter it. What do yous notice?
x. Exit the viewport and switch to model space. What do y'all see?
11. Start the Insert control (or open up the block palette). Notice that the Inventor views are available to you in AutoCAD as blocks. Insert a view/cake into model infinite.
12. Close the file without saving information technology.

Catechumen an Inventor DWG into an AutoCAD DWG (with Inventor)

Then, we've learned that nosotros tin create drawings in DWG format in Inventor and open up them directly in AutoCAD, simply what nosotros tin can do with that drawing is limited.

Allow'southward imagine that nosotros've been asked to evangelize a native, editable, 2D AutoCAD drawing as a deliverable. How do we do that? To create an editable DWG file, we'll need to consign the drawing.

To export an Inventor DWG to AutoCAD, Go to the Application card (the orange tab with 'File' written on it).

Navigate to Export, and so select Consign to DWG. In the dialog, note that you can save your configuration and use it once again. Click Next.

Look for Export options > Information scaling. Your Inventor drawing is drawn to scale on a virtual sheet of paper. The data scaling option allows you lot to choose how you desire your drawing to come into AutoCAD.

You can cull whether the geometry volition come into AutoCAD at the aforementioned scale as information technology was in Inventor or at 1:i scale. You can also cull if you want the cartoon to appear in AutoCAD'south model or paper space.

When y'all are ready, click Finish. When you open the file in AutoCAD, all geometry will now exist in an editable 2d format.

For details of all the export to DWG options bachelor to y'all, check out this resource.

Convert an Inventor DWG into an AutoCAD DWG (with AutoCAD)

If you only take AutoCAD, or you lot are only more familiar with the AutoCAD Interface, yous tin as well convert drawings from Inventor DWG to AutoCAD DWG from within AutoCAD. Nosotros will practise this with the 'EXPORTLAYOUT' Control.

In AutoCAD, open an Inventor DWG file. Navigate to paper space. Right click over your layout tab and choose the pick Consign Layout to Model. Follow the prompts to create your editable 2D version of the Inventor drawing.

Find that yous don't get any option to calibration the Inventor drawing or remove the title block. You may need to scale the geometry if you want information technology to be a 1:1 and do a little clean up.

Try Information technology

one. In Inventor, start the open control and navigate to '00 Inventor Drawing.dwg' from the dataset (download the Material zip file to access).
ii. Select the file with a left click and select the 'options'
button in the open dialog.
three. Select Defer updates, then click OK to open the
cartoon. (This saves u.s.a. having to share the full Inventor assembly.)
4. Go to: Awarding menu (File) > Export > Export to DWG
five. Click Next
half dozen. Under Export options > Data scaling, select Full scale (1:ane) Model infinite.
vii. Click finish and salvage your file. Close '00 Inventor Drawing.dwg' without saving.
8. Open up your exported file in AutoCAD to see what yous got.

Actress Credit

1. From the dataset, open '00 Inventor Cartoon.dwg' In AutoCAD.
2. Navigate to paper space.
three. Right click over the newspaper infinite layout tab and selection 'Export Layout to Model'.
iv. Name and save your file.
5. Close '00 Inventor Cartoon.dwg' without saving.
6. Open your exported file in AutoCAD to encounter what you got.

Tip: In that location are example export files in the '05 Examples of Exported files' folder. Compare the export from Inventor to the consign from AutoCAD. Compare the location of 0,0,0, the scale of the geometry, the layers used etc. Which method suits your workflow best?

Create Drawings of Inventor Models in AutoCAD

There'southward 1 more method of using AutoCAD and Inventor together that tin give united states of america the best of both worlds. At some companies, the tasks of 3D modeling a design and the creation of 2d drawings are done past different people.

This is an example where each user can apply each program for what it's all-time at, Inventor for 3D parametric modeling and AutoCAD for 2D drafting.

To exercise this we utilize a command in AutoCAD phone call Base View.

To create a cartoon in AutoCAD from an Inventor model, we'll employ a control chosen Base View. Get to an AutoCAD drawing layout and start the base view command. You'll find that you can chose an AutoCAD model, or y'all tin can choose a model from Inventor.

If you've used the drawing environment in Inventor, the base of operations view commands will look pretty like. If you've used the drawing environs in Fusion 360, information technology will expect even more familiar, considering the Fusion cartoon environment comes from AutoCAD.

We can add views, sections and details of the model, and add together dimensions and notes. We can't edit the model from here; we'll need to do that in Inventor.

For more data on the base view command in AutoCAD, check out this resource.

We tin likewise recommend J.C. Malitzke'southward Autodesk University form:
Create Compelling 2D Sections, Details, and Auxiliary Views from AutoCAD 3D Models.

Want more? Download the full class handout to read on.

Paul Munford is a laugher, dreamer, bon vivant, CAD geek, and technical marketing manager for Autodesk in the Uk. Paul'southward background in manufacturing items for the construction industry gives him a foot in digital prototyping and a foot in Edifice Information Modeling (BIM). Paul was a speaker at Autodesk University for the first fourth dimension in 2012, and he says information technology's the virtually fun anyone can have with 250 other people in the room.

Luke Mihelcic has been involved with design, engineering, and analysis since 1995. His career started in telecommunication designing mobile product equipment for Idiot box and radio. He has taught blueprint and applied science at Pittsburgh Technical Institute and has spent over 10 years every bit an awarding engineer for an Autodesk reseller and Blue Ridge Numerics. His various roles as educator, end-user, and provider give him a unique perspective on identifying, understanding, and helping solve design and engineering science challenges. As the technical marketing manager for the core manufacturing solutions at Autodesk, he is responsible for the development, creation, and implementation of relevant content and tools that help users sympathize and utilize the Autodesk Design and Manufacturing Portfolio.

barberboying.blogspot.com

Source: https://medium.com/autodesk-university/2d-3d-get-the-best-of-both-with-autocad-and-inventor-695dfcc47885

Share this post