Inventor 2014 Update 1

Inventor 2014 Update 1 can be downloaded here

You need SP1 installed first - download it here

Autocad 2014 SP1

Service pack 1 for Autocad 2014 can be downloaded here
Service pack 1 for Autocad LT 2014 can be downloaded here
Service pack 1 for Autocad Mechanical 2014 can be downloaded here
Service pack 1 for Autocad Architectural 2014 can be downloaded here

Product keys for Autodesk software

Here is the latest list of 2014 product keys.

Inventor 2014 SP1 has been released

You can download SP1 for Inventor 2014 here.

Autodesk Simulation CFD not solving

You get an error message: "The (basic) solver license could not be checked out from the license server".

However the CFD interface works fine.

We found that by adding a licpath.lic file pointing to the license server, we managed to clear this error and the solver then worked fine.

Take a look at this useful link for advise in setting up the licapath.lic file.

Setting up a license server on Windows (NLM)

Everything you need is on this really useful Autodesk blog.

Inventor 2014 & Office 365

 

 

Installing Office 365 will remove VBA 7 modules and prevent Inventor 2014 from working properly

Issue

Installing Office 365 will remove VBA 7 modules from your computer, leading to the following:

Error messages are shown during Inventor 2014 launch

Unable open any document from Inventor 2014

Error messages are shown when executing VBA commands from AutoCAD

Solution

Standalone:

Close Inventor session and manually install VBA7 from Inventor source media:

64-bit

Install VBA7 from "3rdParty\x64\VBA\Vba7.MSI" .
32-bit
Install VBA7 from "3rdParty\x86\VBA\Vba7.MSI" .

FREE 3D PDF from Inventor STL using U3D-2-PDF

The two step process is:

1. Export STL file from Inventor
2. Use U3D-2-PDF to turn the STL into a 3D PDF (a one click process).

You will need to setup your environment first. Here is what you need: 

 

Get U3D-2-PDF at:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/u3d2pdf/?source=recommended

It requires MeshLab and MiKTeX (see here). 

You can get them from:

3) Meshlab software:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/meshlab/?source=recommended
and
4) MiKTeX download at:
http://miktex.org/download

(yes to automatic package installs)

Once you have installed all items, then:
Extract and Run U3D-2-PDF.exe. You will need to specify some paths like:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\MiKTeX 2.9\miktex\bin\pdflatex.exe"
"C:\Program Files\VCG\MeshLab\meshlabserver.exe"

Select the STL file, then an output PDF filename and click Start. Once finished, click Open PDF.

Inventor - Functions

I use these a lot & can never find them when I need to use these quickly. So here they are!

Functions

The following table lists the supported functions.

Syntax	Returns Unit Type	Expected Unit Type
cos(expr)	unitless	angle
sin(expr)	unitless	angle
tan(expr)	unitless	angle
acos(expr)	angle	unitless
asin(expr)	angle	unitless
atan(expr)	angle	unitless
cosh(expr)	unitless	angle
tanh(expr)	unitless	angle
acosh(expr)	angle	unitless
asinh(expr)	angle	unitless
sqrt(expr)	unit^1/2	any
sign(expr)	unitless	any (Return 0 if negative, 1 if positive.)
exp(expr)	unitless	any (Return exponential power of expression: for example, return 2 for 100, 3 for 1000, and so on.)
floor(expr)	unitless	unitless (Next lowest whole number.)
ceil(expr)	unitless	unitless (Next highest whole number.)
round(expr)	unitless	unitless (Closest whole number.)
abs(expr)	any	any
max(expr1;expr2)	any	any
min(expr1;expr2)	any	any
ln(expr)	unitless	unitless
log(expr)	unitless	unitless
pow(expr1;expr2)	unit^expr2	any and unitless, respectively
random(expr)	unitless	unitless
isolate(expr;unit;unit)	any	any

Missing fasteners in Autodesk Showcase when importing from Inventor

Q. You notice that fasteners are missing when importing an Inventor assembly into Showcase.

A. Ensure that the content center location in the project settings is set to a sub-folder of the     workspace. Fasteners should then come through to the Showcase model.

Inventor 2014 Update 2 has been released

Inventor 2014 Update 2 has been released and can be downloaded here.

Autodesk Vault 2014 SP1 is announced

 Autodesk Vault 2014 SP1 can be downloaded here.

Please note that this service pack updates both the client and the server.

Review the readme before you apply the update.

Inventor 2014 Update 1 has been released

Inventor 2014 Update 1 has been released and can be downloaded here

Another FREE App from Envisage - iNumber for Inventor 2014

Envisage have just finished another Inventor App.

iNumber for Inventor 2014 uses a shared database to enable Inventor users to save files using pre-defined numbering schemes. Support for frame generator numbering is also provided.

Take a look at the video

iNumber is being rolled out now, FREE to Envisage customers.
Please contact dave@envisageuk.com if you wish to trial the software.

Autodesk 2014 products are now available - how to order your media

The default delivery method for Autodesk products is now electronic download. If you wish to have media sent to you, then please take a look at this.

If you are on Subscription:-

Autodesk will send a notification email when you have upgrades or products available for download. Please keep this email for your records, it will contain:

1. Serial Number(s)
2. Links to access the Software Media

Visit the Subscription Center

If you cannot login to your subscription site, please click on the links “forgot user id” or “forgot password” in order to retrieve your login information.

Select the yellow "get your upgrade box"

(If your 2014 product is not listed, then it is not yet released by Autodesk)

• To download your 2014 products just select the product you require from the available list and follow the instructions.

• To request the physical media, select ‘Request Media for’

            Select your language and quantity (normally 1) and save each line.
            Select continue and follow the instructions.

           This is FREE for subscription customers.


If you have been sent a "new product" electronic licence by e-mail and you are NOT on subscription:-

You WILL NOT be sent media, instead you will receive an e-mail containing your licence information and download details. (see below).

Autodesk will send a notification email when you have upgrades or products available for download. Please keep this email for your records, it will contain:

1. Serial Number(s)
2. Links to access the Software Media
3. A consolidated license certificate as a PDF attachment

You can still receive physical media (delivered via a default method of USB, CD or DVD), however you will need to order a media kit from your reseller. There is a nominal charge from Autodesk for this.

 

FREE Inventor Apps from Envisage

Envisage have had a great deal of success with a number of free apps for Inventor. These can be found on the Autodesk Exchange App Store.

Here is a short description of these apps, their location & associated youtube videos.

3DPIPE - Create pipe runs from tabulated data (Video)

STLIMPORT - Import STL files into Inventor (Video)

IVIEWS - Auto-scaling drwing viewports (Video)

There are more apps to come from Envisage. Bookmark this Blog for future news.

Hacking the registry to change the license from Standalone to Network

AutoCAD Family 2013: Hacking the registry to change the license from Standalone to Network

The registry location to change quickly change the installation from Standalone to Network for AutoCAD 2013 is here:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Autodesk\AutoCAD\R19.0\ACAD-B000\AdLM

NOTE: The value ACAD-B00 may change depending on your AutoCAD vertical. The example above is for AutoCAD Civil 3D 2013.

In that directory change the type for the installation that you require to edit Type:

1 – Network

2 – Standalone

3 – Multiseat Standalone

Inventor 2013 Update 2 for SP1.1

Autodesk have recently released Update 2 for SP1.1
This does fix some instability issues.

RAL Colours

I have a RAL appearance table for Inventor 2013 onwards, if anyone is interested.

Please e-mail for a copy: dave@envisageuk.com

Inventor thread table

I have a revised Inventor thread table if anyone is interested.

It defaults to the ISO Metric threads and also includes BA, BSF, BSW & PG threads.

E-mail me for a copy:  dave@envisageuk.com

Vault 2013 SP1 & Purge

The readme for Vault 2013 SP1 reveals a long list of issues that are addressed with this service pack, most importantly it sees the return of the `Purge’ feature which had been temporarily suspended by Autodesk up until now.

 

However, please read on if you are intending to use Purge after applying the service pack. Note that a new function is made available by installing the service pack, the `Reference Repair Utility’ is provided to managed files considered as `orphaned’. This should be considered and applied before turning on Purge (See link below).

 

Please note that for existing Vaults migrated when SP1 is installed, the Purge feature first has to be enabled via ADMS. (Purge will automatically be turned on for Vaults created after SP1 is applied). To turn on Purge, follow the following steps:

1. Log onto ADMS 2013 on the Vault Server.
2. Right-click over the existing Vault and select Purge from the context menu.
3. Consider the options presented:

The Vault 2013 SP1 download is available via the following link:
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=21017345&linkID=9261341
For the step-by-step information on using the new `Reference Repair Utility’, please refer to the following link:
http://wikihelp.autodesk.com/enu?adskContextId=ID_PURGEUTILITY_MAIN&language=enu&product=Vault&release=Help