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(continued...) A sheet metal environment is now available using a consistent sketching interface but with dedicated tools for flanges, corner seams and bends.
Material thickness, default bend radius, and other sheet metal-specific settings can be specified and a feature library offers standard dimple, keyhole and D connector features.
Although the part can be modelled in its true 3D form, a flat pattern is continuously updated as features are created.
Fortunately a number of improvements have been made to the detailing environment.
A wide range of drawing standards are supported and complex multi-segment sections can be created to illustrate complex geometry.
Model parameters can be placed anywhere on a drawing sheet rather than being tied to dimension placement in specific views.
Parts list and balloon callouts are also improved.
Assembly modelling is enhanced with the ability to use faces on other components to terminate features to achieve true in context relationships.
Components can also be patterned to speed up the modelling of equally spaced standard components.
Existing Mechanical Desktop parts can be linked into Inventor assemblies.