Note: You can import AutoCAD blocks as Inventor Sketch blocks in a.ipt file or as blocks in a.dwg file.Paper Space and Model SpaceModel space displays data exactly as it displays in AutoCAD. Model space is a read-only environment in Inventor and is accessed in the browser.
You can change the background color and perform all viewing functions, including rotate. You can select objects in model space for use with copy/paste and the measuring commands.Paper space layouts are displayed as sheets in Inventor. AutoCAD data can be viewed, plotted, and measured, and is selectable for delete and copy/paste. All Inventor drawing commands are available in sheets/layouts.
You can place views and create annotations on a layout created in AutoCAD and the Inventor data coexists with the AutoCAD data.Shared ObjectsWhile Inventor drawing data and AutoCAD data can coexist in the same file, some data is shared between both applications. Blocks, layers, and sheets/layouts are editable by both AutoCAD and Inventor. Dimension and text styles, while not equal, are synchronized such that supported changes made in one application are duplicated in the other application. Why Open/Save DWG in Inventor?DWG interoperability is flexible and can be used in many different ways. The following are examples of a few workflows:. Copy 2D AutoCAD data directly into an Inventor sketch without opening AutoCAD. Note: Creating a DWG template in Inventor streamlines the translation workflow.
Reuse Inventor data in AutoCAD:. Create associative drawing views in architectural drawings for plant layouts, and so on. Deliver views of finished 3D design created in Inventor for reuse in architectural drawings (AutoCAD).For example, place views of equipment designed in Inventor into an architectural drawing for plant layouts. In Inventor, create associative drawing views of redesigned subassemblies and place them in large, legacy 2D assembly drawings.For example, if you have legacy AutoCAD files that require updating with 3D models, you can open the file in Inventor. Create the 3D solid, and then create a drawing of the 3D model. Open the file in AutoCAD, and create an instance of the block definition of the view. Your legacy drawing is updated with the new content.
What happens to my AutoCAD data in an Inventor Drawings (.dwg) file?AutoCAD and Inventor create their own objects in the same.dwg file. For example, open an Inventor Drawing (.dwg) in AutoCAD. Create some AutoCAD geometry (such as lines, arcs, and circles) on one of the sheets and save the file. Open the file with Inventor and the geometry appears just as it did in AutoCAD.Certain objects, including layers, blocks, styles, line types, sheet names, and sheet sizes can be edited in both applications. For example, you can edit a layer and change the line type from an Inventor line type to an AutoCAD line type. When reopened in Inventor, the Inventor layer still uses the AutoCAD line type.AutoCAD blocks are the same in AutoCAD and Inventor. The blocks display in Inventor exactly as they do in AutoCAD.
You can place blocks in both AutoCAD and Inventor, but you cannot create or edit block definitions in an Autodesk Inventor drawing file. What happens to my Inventor data in AutoCAD?When you create Inventor data in a DWG file the data is saved as Inventor data. The Inventor data looks the same in AutoCAD and Inventor. Inventor data supports view, plot, and measure and can be exploded or deleted in AutoCAD.To support reusing Inventor drawing data, Inventor creates a block definition for each drawing view and sketch in the file. When drawing views and sketches change in Inventor, these block definitions are updated. Place these blocks using standard AutoCAD commands like INSERT and DesignCenter.
For example, you can copy these blocks into other drawings using AutoCAD DesignCenter or insert a block in model space so that it can be referenced (XREF) into another drawing. What happens to my Inventor data in an Inventor Drawings (.dwg) file?When you place a base or projected view of a part (or assembly in Inventor) file into an Autodesk Inventor drawings (.DWG) file, and then save the file, a view block is created. The view blocks display in the browser in the AutoCAD blocks folder under Drawing Resources.The default insertion point of a view block is controlled by the View Point Insertion Point setting on the Drawing tab in the Application Options dialog box. If the view block has not been instanced, the insertion point can be changed after creating the view block.You can change the insertion point of a view block after creation. AutoCAD users, who are consumers of the file, can manage view blocks in AutoCAD without having to open Autodesk Inventor.
What happens to my AutoCAD data in a DWG template for Inventor?When you create a drawing from a DWG template, all graphical AutoCAD data is removed except for block instances. All block instances remain on any sheet (excluding model space) in a template.
You can place AutoCAD title blocks or borders on a sheet and use them in Inventor. If you want to place other AutoCAD data in a template, put the data in a block. All non-graphical AutoCAD data in a template, such as layers, dimension, and text styles, and block definitions, is left unchanged. Supported workflowsThe following are examples of a few workflows made available by DWG Interoperability. Standard AutoCAD and Inventor commands and are not described in this section. See the AutoCAD and Inventor Help for additional information on view, plot, and measure workflows. Create a.dwg file in Inventor from a.dwg template.
Create a.dwg file in Inventor from an.idw template. Open a.dwg file in Inventor. Saving an existing Inventor drawing as a.dwg file. Saving an existing Inventor model as a 3D.dwg file. Using Inventor view blocks in AutoCAD drawings.
Importing AutoCAD blocks into Inventor. Importing 3D.dwg files into Inventor.
Autodesk Inventor Title Block Insertion Point Definition
Create a.dwg template in Inventor from an.idw template. Create a.dwg template in Inventor from an AutoCAD.dwg template.
Create a.dwg file in Autodesk Inventor LT from an.idw template. In Autodesk Inventor LT, click New. Select Standard.idw for your template and click OK. Click Save.
Click Save As. Select the File Type drop-down menu, and select Autodesk Inventor LT drawing (.dwg). The drawing is saved as an Autodesk Inventor LT drawing (.dwg).When creating a drawing using the New Drawing command on the Quick Access toolbar, use the following option setting to specify.idw or.dwg as the default:. Click Tools tab Options panel Application Options Drawing Tab. Select the Files of Type down arrow and make a selection. Note that.dwg displays as an available file type. Using Autodesk Inventor LT view blocks in Inventor drawingsView blocks are created for each base view and projected view in a DWG drawing sheet when the DWG drawing is saved.
Using Autodesk Inventor LT view blocks in AutoCAD drawingsAutodesk Inventor LT creates named AutoCAD blocks for placed drawing views, sketches, and draft views. You can reuse these blocks in AutoCAD using the typical AutoCAD block commands.The view blocks are viewable in and accessed from the DesignCenter of AutoCAD and the block Insert dialog box. Open an existing.idw file that has views or sketches. Select Save Copy as. Select the File Type drop-down arrow and select Autodesk Inventor LT drawing (.dwg), and select Save. Open the.dwg file in AutoCAD and access DesignCenter.
Autodesk Title Blocks
Click in the open drawing and click Blocks in the browser. All Autodesk Inventor LT views and sketches are listed as block definitions, and are available for reuse in AutoCAD.