Integrated 3D Design

This course introduces delegates to 3D design using AutoCAD, Mechanical Desktop and Inventor software packages. The programme examines each package's strengths and weaknesses, and shows how they can be integrated to produce 3D designs. Delegates who attend the course must be capable of using 2D AutoCAD to draw simple shapes, add text and dimensions. Delegates do not require a knowledge of Mechanical Desktop or Inventor.

Course Content

Using AutoCAD 3D
- Strengths and weaknesses
- An overview of paper space
- The 3D environment
- Using the user co-ordinate system
- Mview and Vport commands
- Scaling viewports
- Construction of 3D objects
- Using VPOINT, PLAN, and DVIEW commands
- Applying different types of lights
- Applying materials
- Using HIDE, SHADE and RENDER commands.

Using Mechanical Desktop
- The MDT user interface
- Strengths and weaknesses
- Basic parametric design principles
- Creating and using sketches
- Building 3D models
- Creating dimension driven parts
- Automated 2D drawings from 3D model

Using Inventor
- The Inventor user interface
- Part modelling
- Working with sketches
- Using work features
- Building parts
- Automated 2D drawings from 3D model
- Managing the model data

Integrating AutoCAD, Mechanical Desktop and Inventor
- When to use each package
- Future directions in 3D modelling