Mod the Machine

2013 Inventor API Survey

It’s time again for the annual API survey. Please help us help you by taking a few minutes and filling out the survey. Everyone is welcome to respond. Your answers help us to determine what to work on in upcoming releases of Inventor and help us to justify resources to work on API enhancements. The more responses we get the more we know people care about the API and the more accurate the results will be so we can work on the areas that will best benefit the majority of those using the API.

In question 5 you have a virtual $100 to spend on different API enhancements. Here’s the link to the survey and thank you for taking the time to respond.

Click here to take survey

Note: The survey is ending on the 16th of June.

See this post to see the results from the 2012 survey.

-Wayne

Inventor and Inventor View Service Packs now available

Service packs for Inventor 2013 and the standalone version of Autodesk® Inventor® View 2013 have recently been released. If you have an application that uses Apprentice on systems without having Inventor installed be sure to have your users get the service pack for the standalone version of Inventor View. Several issues have been addressed that effected Apprentice.

Here is the link to the page where Service Pack 1.1 for the standalone version of Autodesk® Inventor® View 2013 can be downloaded:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/item?siteID=123112&id=20462274

Here is the link to the page where you can download the Inventor 2013 Service Pack 1.1:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=20442029&linkID=9242019

-Wayne

Announcing “ADN Open”

There is a new place for anyone who needs to find information about customizing Autodesk products. This new level of free support is called ADN Open and will be a great resource for people who can get by without the benefits of a full ADN membership.

You may have already experienced part of ADN Open by visiting one of the DevBlogs, such as this DevBlog that focuses on customizing manufacturing products. Part of the work my team has been doing lately is migrating DevNotes to the DevBlogs. These DevNotes make up a knowledge base of API examples that used to only be available to ADN members. Also all new technical articles that we create will be posted on the DevBlog.

The post by Stephen Preston has more details about ADN Open. 

- Wayne

My First Inventor Plug-in Training C#

Due to popular demand, we have added C# code downloads for each lesson in My First Inventor Plug-in Training Content, the explanations are still for VB.NET, but now if someone prefers C# they can now follow along with the NEW C# labs!

www.autodesk.com/myfirstinventorplugin

This guide is designed for those of you that are new to programming and doesn’t assume any previous programming experience.  Most of the content discusses basic programming concepts and then lets you put them into practice utilizing Inventor’s API (Application Programming Interface) to create a simple program to control the display of occurrences within an assembly.

-Wayne

MFG DevCamp 2012 Material

The Manufacturing DevCamp 2012 material is now publicly available. The top-level node provides access to the overviews and the six main tracks:

• Autodesk Inventor App Development for Beginners
• Autodesk Inventor App Development for Experts
• Autodesk PLM
• Cloud and Mobile Technologies
• Business Development
• Autodesk Engineer To Order (ETO)

 

Mancakes Prevail:

One of the things I enjoy about DevCamp is the chance to get together with colleagues. Friday evening after the DevLab, several Autodesk MFG colleagues had dinner at a small restaurant in Portland called Stepping Stone café. Here you see Gary giving a go at eating the mancakes. He gave a gallant performance but in the end, the cakes won out.

From left to right: Philippe Leefsma, Gary Wassell, Wayne Brill, Adam Nagy, Brian Ekins.

Just a few more bites to go.

-Wayne

Inventor API Virtual Training Videos

We recently finished presenting the first set of API virtual training sessions.  It seems they were a success since those attending want us to continue with the rest of the material.  The sessions were presented by myself and members of the Autodesk DevTech team.  They’re the guys that support the members of the Autodesk Developer Network (ADN).  If you want to get serious about developing with Inventor, or any Autodesk product, it’s worth investigating if a membership makes sense for you. 

Here are links to the material from the classes presented so far. 

Module 01 – Basic concepts

Module 02 – Common Document Functionality

Module 03 – Part Documents

Module 04 – BREP

Module 05 – Sheet Metal

Module 06 – Assembly Documents

Module 07 – Drawing Documents

Module 08 – .Net Add-Ins

Module 09 – User Interface

Module 10 – Events

If you’re interested in this series continuing contact Gary Wassell (DevTech manager) and let him know.

API Wishlist Survey

It’s time again for the latest API wishlist survey.  This survey provides an opportunity for us to get some information about who’s using Inventor’s API and what issues you’re having.  This information is very important in helping us to determine what to spend resources on for the upcoming releases.

Please take the time to think about any issues you’re having with the API; what functionality that you need is missing or what tools or documentation would make your life much easier.  This years survey is more open than it has been in the past to allow you to describe your specific issues rather than feel limited to choosing from a predefined list.

You can access the survey here: Autodesk Inventor® Survey. 

The survey will remain open until May 30th, 2010.  Thanks in advance for your input.

If you use other Autodesk products and their API’s, there are also API surveys for them.  You can find more info about all the surveys at Kean Walmsley’s Through the Interface blog.

Autodesk University Class Proposals (Last Call)

You have one more week to submit your proposals for this years Autodesk University.  They’re due May 14th.  I’ve been dragging my feet and just submitted mine this morning.  More information is available at the Call for Proposals site.  Hopefully I’ll see you in Las Vegas this November, either as a speaker or an attendee.

Learning About New Functionality in Inventor 2011

For those of you in the US and Canada there’s a free virtual event for you to learn more about the new features in the latest release of products.  Here’s the brief description I was given.

It’s here — your chance to preview all the new ways that Autodesk 2011 software can help you transform your business challenges into new opportunities.  Attend Autodesk’s free Seize the Opportunity Virtual Event.

Monday, April 19, 2010
7:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. PT

Get access to exclusive sessions and live demonstrations, including:

• How to achieve greater speed, power and flexibility using AutoCAD 2011 software
• Going beyond 3D to Digital Prototyping with Autodesk® Inventor® software
• Delivering building projects more economically and with minimal environmental impact using Autodesk® Revit® software for building information modeling (BIM).
• Delivering transportation and environmental engineering projects faster with AutoCAD® Civil 3D® software.
• How Autodesk Digital Entertainment Creation software can open new opportunities for creativity and give you a competitive edge.

Explore all the new opportunities that Autodesk 2011 software can offer you. Register for the free Seize the Opportunity Virtual Event today at www.autodesk.com/seizetheopportunity

Sorry to those of you in other countries.  I assume there will be similar events for you.

Manufacturing DevCamp 2010 and DevLab

Registration is now open for the Manufacturing DevCamp on June 2-4, 2010 in Portland, Oregon.  You can register here and get more information here. DevCamp is a three-day conference for both beginners and experts interested in learning more about extending the capabilities of Autodesk Inventor through its API. The day before the conference begins and throughout the rest of the week, we’ll also be hosting a DevLab.  A DevLab This is a great opportunity to bring your project in and get advice on any issues you might be having.  (Here’s a more detailed description of what a DevLab is.)

DevCamp – June 2-4, 2010, Portland, Oregon
DevLab – June 1, 2010, Lake Oswego, Oregon

During the three days, we will have several keynote talks, (including Manufacturing Senior Vice President Buzz Kross), and will be holding more than 20 sessions on the various manufacturing related products, most of which are targeted at Inventor.  The classes will be taught by DevTech engineers (those that support ADN developers) and also some of us from the Inventor engineering team.  Here’s an overview of the classes (with a full agenda here):

Beginner

• Introduction to .NET programming for non-programmers
• Introduction to the Inventor API – parts 1, 2, 3 and 4
• Introduction to Vault programming
• AutoCAD Mechanical customization
• Working with large machines and factories?  An introduction to the Navisworks API

Expert

• Working with solids through the Inventor API
• Creating custom commands in Inventor
• The Vault client and job processor API’s
• Advanced Vault programming
• Inventor API customization case studies
• In-depth review of the Inventor 2011 API’s – Part 1 and 2

Sharing

• The Doctor is in: bring your challenges and problems and get expert advice/help
• Talk to the Inventor product managers
• Talk to the Inventor API designer and developers

Business

• Teaming with the Autodesk sales team and Autodesk Authorized Resellers
• Leveraging your relationship with Autodesk to grow your business
• Understanding Autodesk mergers and acquisitions

A large portion of the Inventor development team works from an office in Lake Oswego, Oregon, (about 10 miles southwest of Portland).  This makes it possible for senior management and the Inventor engineering team to participate in the event and provides a great opportunity for you to meet them and discuss your trials and triumphs with Autodesk software.

If you haven’t been to Portland before there’s a lot to see in the area so hopefully you can spare a little more time outside the conference and do some site-seeing.

If any of you are cyclists, the Pioneer Century ride is on June 5th (the Saturday following the conference) and will let you experience some of Oregon at a more relaxed pace than a car. I’ll be riding the 100 mile option if anyone wants to join in.

Here are some links for some more things to see and do in the Portland area:

General Portland Info

Multnomah Falls and the Columbia River Gorge

Portland's Saturday Market

Mt. Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument

Mt. Hood

Oregon Coast