General Modeling Improvements IN INVENTOR 2015

Performance Improvement in Wrap to Surface/Face

Dramatic performance improvements are made inWrap to surface of Project Curve to Surface, andWrap to Face of Emboss. In the following example of a custom spring, the sweep operation in Inventor 2015 is 50 times faster than in Inventor 2014 since Wrap to surface creates the custom helix curve as a lightweight, and yet more precise, curve. In this example, the file size is seven times smaller.

Modeling Robustness

The robustness of Shelling and Tapered Extrusions is improved. They now handle more complicated geometries. For example, in Inventor 2014, you can extrude the following profile with proper tangent constraints with a taper angle of up to only 27 degrees. In Inventor 2015, the taper angle can be anywhere from 0 through 90 degrees.

Part

Model with Freeform

The 14 new Freeform tools provide an alternate modeling approach to explore and create freeform shaped models using direct manipulation. Start with a freeform shape (Box, Sphere, Cylinder, Torus, or Quad ball) that best represents the desired geometry. Then use the freeform edit tools to change and adjust the shape. Use freeform along with parametric modeling to create a more visually compelling design.

Direct Edit

Edit parts quickly with Direct Edit. You can adjust size, shape, and/or location of model features by directly manipulating the geometry. Use Direct Edit when you want to:

• Quickly modify a complex model that you did not create originally.
• Modify imported base parts.
• Easily modify only what you choose while avoiding unintended changes due to complex relationships.
• Rapidly explore design alternatives.

Sheet Metal

Use a window to select points to place punch

A window cross select is available to select multiple points when placing a punch in a sheet metal part. The previous single select functionality is still available.

• To include in a selection all items that touch any part of the area selection box, window(cross) select right to left.
• To include in a selection only items contained within an area selection box, window select left to right.
• To remove some points in a selection set, or remove some points and add others, make subsequent selections either left to right or right to left.

Selection in Punch Tool behaves as though you are holding down the CTRL key. If you select something in the set, you can remove it without holding down CTRL. 

Apply sheet metal punch features across bends

You can cut simple or complex hole shapes in a face of your part, including across a bend, using sheet metal punch tools. When you create or edit an instance of a placed sheet metal punch iFeature, you can specify whether to apply a punch feature across a bend.

Use Cut Normal in the Cut dialog box

In the Cut dialog box, the option Cut Normal is added. It projects a selected profile (sketch, and so on) onto the surface, and then cuts perpendicular to the faces that the projection intersects.

Enhanced orientation control in flat pattern

In the Cut dialog box, the option Cut Normal is added. It projects a selected profile (sketch, and so on) onto the surface, and then cuts perpendicular to the faces that the projection intersects.

Select the A-side for flat pattern and punch tool

The A-Side of a sheet metal part indicates the face that is Up in the flat pattern (punch machine). A new command, A-Side Definition , is added to the ribbon in the flat pattern group. With it, you can select the A side of a sheet metal part to indicate the punch direction. If you do not select an A side, when you create the flat pattern, the software creates the A side for you, and adds a browser node entry. You can still change the A-side by flipping the Base Face when you edit the Flat Pattern definition in the browser.

You can delete the current A side as long as no flat pattern exists. You can change the orientation of the flat pattern, which reflects on the A side that highlights when you select the browser node. If a change causes the compute of the A side to fail, you can right-click the A-side browser node and pick a new A side, which results in a new A-side browser node.
When you start the placement of a punch tool, the A-side designation of the flat pattern highlights in the graphics area. Use options on the right-click menu to highlight the A side, and adjust the orientation, punch representation, and bend angle measuring. If you click the command Show A-Side, you place all A-side faces into the preselection set of the document

Sketch

New constraint tools and settings - Last one wins with the new Relax Mode

You can use the new Relax Mode to modify geometries and apply new constraints to geometries that are already constrained.

With Relax Mode turned ON, when you add new constraints or dimensions, conflicting constraints are removed. You can modify constraints of an existing model by dragging the selected sketch geometry freely, even when they are already constrained. 

You can remove all conflicting constraints except Coincident, Smooth, Tangent, Symmetry, Pattern, and Project by adding new dimensions or constraints. When you cannot add new constraints successfully, remove conflicting constraints manually.

Improved access to 2D sketch constraints settings

All 2D sketch constraints-related settings are reorganized into one new command called Constraint Settings. The new setting Display constraints on creation provides clear feedback on the constraint as you create it. The new setting Show constraints for selected objectshighlights constraints for geometry that you select in the graphics window. When displayed, you can select any constraint to delete it.

Delete Constraints and Delete Coincident Constraint

When geometry is selected, you can access the new Delete Constraints option from the context menu to remove all constraints. Delete Constraints does not remove Coincident constraints . You can remove coincident constraints with the Delete Coincident Constraint command.

Sketch Behavior Improvements

While creating sketch geometry, endpoints are created on the mouse down/click action instead of mouse up/release. Now it is easier to connect endpoints and close sketch loops.

Sketch Offset improvements

When you create sketch geometry with the Sketch tab >Modify panel > Offset command, line, arc, or ellipse segments of the offset geometry are automatically removed as soon as they reach zero length. As a result, no flipped or degenerated geometry segments are created, and you can use wider intervals of offset distances.

Create point at virtual intersection of two sketch elements

You can now capture the virtual intersection between two elements in 2D sketch, and autocapture the virtual On Curve inference in a 2D sketch. The existing constraint inference for real intersect elements can be applied to virtual intersections as well.

Look at behavior enhancements

Two new settings are added to the Application Options - Display tab:

• Perform Minimum Rotation Rotates the sketch at a minimum angle to make the sketch plane parallel with the screen and make the X axis of the sketch coordinate system horizontal or vertical.
• Align with Local Coordinate System orients the X axis of the sketch coordinate system horizontally/right positive, and the Y axis vertically/up positive

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