Neil again proved, that Inventor is the best !!! Because of you, I chose Inventor as a primary soft for my huge project. I asked myself so many times if my choice was the right one, but... always remember you. I agree- there are plenty of options, but the way you explain things - that's easy and clear. I couldn't find anyone online who could do better then you. Thank you again. You change professional lives. All the best.
This is so useful; I remember when I did all this thing about 7 years ago. My advice is to save the modifications you do right after you do it, and save an updated version, so you keep a backup just in case you reinstall or move to another PC/Laptop. Also, you can use the control button plus right click and in some context you'll have an alternate menu that can be customizable as well. For example, I have all the restrictions I use frequently in the ctrl+right click menu in the sketch context, so I can draw and restrict faster, and I don't move to the top menu to look for commands as everything is there. Next step from here, is to do the same with the 3DConnexion radials menus, end results, you'll be like 5 to 20 times faster, and if you use the software daily, it's not hard to memorize where things are.
Thank you so much for the tip on how to customize the right click context menu. I have been trying to do that for some time now and some Autodesk person on the Inventor discussion group even told me I could not do that. Since Orbit is my most used command I wanted to get it on the right click context menu and now it is. Thanks again!
First Comment! Good one Neil. I work in a high school teaching Inventor. Trying to get a student to understand that you need to be quick if you want to get paid is a struggle. Very difficult to convey any sense of urgency. Just trying to get them to keep one hand near the escape key instead of in their lap... I am going to add this into my workflow, and theirs. I should show them some of the speed modeling videos as well.
One of the biggest speed boosts I achieved with Inventor was something as simple as using a mouse with two side buttons, set one to enter and one to escape and it makes almost every single action so much quicker, confirm, cancel as you'd expect, but being able to quickly repeat the last command too.
I remember when Kevin demoed this at AU and essentially did the first speed modeling I'd ever seen. It was a bookshelf speaker with swept curves and blended fillets (before the nurbs feature IIRC). He explained a bit about the contextual feature and "tracer line", then did the rest silent. It was like being at Benihanas, everyone clapped when the model was finished so quickly. I could take our leave the marking menu, but I'll never model without a spacemouse again. I was spoiled in my first job when my colleague gave me his because he was too used to his dial box (yes, that was a real thing). The IBM model with eight function keys was like magic (after reducing the roll sensitivity). It took years at my next job to convince my boss to spring for one though. He was still sore about having to scrap all the Autocad digitizers...
Thanks for this tutorial.... but can you tell me how to turn this feature off. I like to right click for a quick menu but I don't like the marking menu stuff being separate at the top it means that everything is in a different position for every option and it drives me mad.
OK, I am going to just ask. I like to draw over pictures at times. Like I am tracing some shape. However on the options>Sketch tab, autoproject is very confusing. Is it possible to turn ALL of these off? I have tried more than once without any luck. as my lines and arcs get crowded, I can no longer click where I want without it snapping off to the side.
Don't forget, that you can populate the ctrl-rightclick menu, too. Double the awesomeness! Select ctrl-rightclick under sub-environment in the customise window. For example in the sketch environment, it would default to your dependencies using ctrl+rightclick
I use SW at home but have Inventor at work that I am lost as I am so used to the right mouse short cut that I have extra short cut to extra short cuts and then have S key also with other short cuts. Our Drafting guy I don't think knows this or just didn't tell me about how to change them. Thanks for this video.
If I remember right didn't they drop this into Fusion first when it came with Inventor back in 2012/13 .... awhile back anyway....big fan of circle menu
What is the advantage of using the wheel over keyboard shortcuts? Such as "S" for sketch and just click on the face you want to start a sketch on, "E" for extrude etc. ?
I rather see the wheel as complimentary to my shortcuts, with customised functions that is. But a big advantage would be not constantly having to switch between keyboard and space mouse, if you use one.
I cant use the marking menu because of RSI i just bind keys to the rmb menu. The fastest way to use inventor is to have a robust understanding of the api, and build your own add ins for your workflow that you can bind to events.
Multikey shortcuts, thats the way to go (atleast for me)- i know its not for everyone, but thats the only way my brain is like "rainman". I got my own multikey shortcuts, they beat all 3d space mouses, and context menus (yes i also have a space mouse pro- in my drawer). I use mk shortcuts for everything. It kind of depends of what kind of projects you are doing, but in my current job situation, i just find it annoying to fiddle around with contect menus and SpaceMouses. Examples "TT=tangent constraint", "SA=save as", "R=rectuangular square with center point", "REC=rectangular quare", "EQ=equal constrinat" and so on. I guess if you work on big projects and dont use Inventor every day, this kind of stuff is not so important. I just find MK shortcuts makes my day less annoying :) And as a perk you dont get "MouseArm™"
Marking menu is for sure the way to go. You just force yourself to use it at first it's slower, then you get to be screaming fast. I took the time to customize the marking menu for every environment that exists for what I do. After that, it is the only way to go.
Hi Neil, which other CAD programs do you use? It would be awesome if we see videos from you for NX or Catia.... You've stated that you don't use Inventor daily, which one do you use?
None, I don't use CAD for a living and never have. My job is to know how it works, how to use it, implement, it advise, maintain and support it. And for the most part I specialise in Vault, more recently visualisation production with Vred.
If memory serves me well, you were the man, who showed that marking menus are slow. Nevertheless, marking menus can be fast, but in Inventor there are too few slots for commands, so you'll have to use hotkeys and ribbon. So most of the times it's better to just use hotkeys (if only they were more intuitive and convenient, without constantly conflicting with command aliases in different modes). In Alias marking menus are a must, because the controls are too archaic, and there are too many repetitive actions.
I don't recall ever saying marking menus were slow, but since I've been doing this 9 years now I can't possibly remember everything I've said and things can change or get improved. I'm personally not a fan of keyboard shortcuts but if they work for someone then that's fine, no right or wrong way, someone could be faster with those if they can make them work. But the point of the marking menu isnt to have everything there, it is just the most common/frequently used functions. Same with keyboard shortcuts, there's more scope for quantity but I'd argue that few people could possibly remember 36+ shortcuts across multiple variations, so 36+ for part mode. 36+ for sketch mode, 36+ for assembly, drawing etc etc
Neil the representation and level of detail video is now outdated. We just upgrade to inventor ‘23 and there are model states and primary states and I’m all confused again. Are they just renamed?
Train muscle memory, memorize, achieve the apm of a StarCraft-Pro... and you'll be heading home before lunch 😋 Question: I'm still relatively new to Inventor (around 1 1/2 years now) but at least I know that the idw is used incorrectly at my job. We always pack all production drawings of all required ipt in one idw in order to create a pdf, which is then stored in the ERP system. However, this is a disaster for maintenance and updating, since you have to manually update all idws (where this changed component occurs) again and again. I did learn during the course that there should only ever be one component in the idw (production drawing), but how do you automate this so that all ipt (or their idw) that are installed are automatically spit out as a pdf? A single pdf with multiple pages would be ideal. Is that possible without additional programs? Inventor pro and Vault pro
Just customise to the commands you use the most, then make a point of remembering to use it. Admittedly I never use it as I keep forgetting the thing is there, but in the 30 mins before making the video I had remembered where most of the big useful ones are like finish sketch and ok etc
I've been using Inventor daily for over a decade. I can typically score in the top few of the Speed Test times. But for the life of me, I can't remember where any of those fcking marking menu items are. Inevitably I right click, and the command I want isn't there. So it's a wasted click and time looking. Maybe I'm just too old.
Yea its muscle memory in the end, just repeat practice. Tbh I'm in the same boat, I never use the macro buttons on the 3dconnexion stuff cos I dont use Inventor enough to spend the time memorising and building up that muscle memory
Neil again proved, that Inventor is the best !!! Because of you, I chose Inventor as a primary soft for my huge project. I asked myself so many times if my choice was the right one, but... always remember you. I agree- there are plenty of options, but the way you explain things - that's easy and clear. I couldn't find anyone online who could do better then you.
Thank you again. You change professional lives. All the best.
This is so useful; I remember when I did all this thing about 7 years ago. My advice is to save the modifications you do right after you do it, and save an updated version, so you keep a backup just in case you reinstall or move to another PC/Laptop. Also, you can use the control button plus right click and in some context you'll have an alternate menu that can be customizable as well. For example, I have all the restrictions I use frequently in the ctrl+right click menu in the sketch context, so I can draw and restrict faster, and I don't move to the top menu to look for commands as everything is there. Next step from here, is to do the same with the 3DConnexion radials menus, end results, you'll be like 5 to 20 times faster, and if you use the software daily, it's not hard to memorize where things are.
Love the drag and use, fast in all environments
Cheers
Thank you so much for the tip on how to customize the right click context menu. I have been trying to do that for some time now and some Autodesk person on the Inventor discussion group even told me I could not do that. Since Orbit is my most used command I wanted to get it on the right click context menu and now it is. Thanks again!
Nice. I was always aware of the functionality but never bothered to use it. I think I'll start drilling this workflow.
I will be adding this heads up to my workflow. Thanks!
First Comment! Good one Neil. I work in a high school teaching Inventor. Trying to get a student to understand that you need to be quick if you want to get paid is a struggle. Very difficult to convey any sense of urgency. Just trying to get them to keep one hand near the escape key instead of in their lap... I am going to add this into my workflow, and theirs. I should show them some of the speed modeling videos as well.
tbh for me the slowest bit of designing is the thinking bit, not the actual modelling.
Excellent tips for saving time! Thanks Neil! I love the comment about "exceptionally complacent" - made me lol
One of the biggest speed boosts I achieved with Inventor was something as simple as using a mouse with two side buttons, set one to enter and one to escape and it makes almost every single action so much quicker, confirm, cancel as you'd expect, but being able to quickly repeat the last command too.
How did you do this? I can't seem to bind it
@@ducksducks2962 you need to do it in your mouse software, Logitech G hub, steel series engine etc. not all mice have rebindable buttons
@@ducksducks2962 microsoft powertoys?
Great share
I remember when Kevin demoed this at AU and essentially did the first speed modeling I'd ever seen. It was a bookshelf speaker with swept curves and blended fillets (before the nurbs feature IIRC). He explained a bit about the contextual feature and "tracer line", then did the rest silent. It was like being at Benihanas, everyone clapped when the model was finished so quickly.
I could take our leave the marking menu, but I'll never model without a spacemouse again. I was spoiled in my first job when my colleague gave me his because he was too used to his dial box (yes, that was a real thing). The IBM model with eight function keys was like magic (after reducing the roll sensitivity). It took years at my next job to convince my boss to spring for one though. He was still sore about having to scrap all the Autocad digitizers...
Thanks for this tutorial.... but can you tell me how to turn this feature off. I like to right click for a quick menu but I don't like the marking menu stuff being separate at the top it means that everything is in a different position for every option and it drives me mad.
MATE you just changed my life! THANK YOU!
Thank you for this and other videos. Could you recomend a desktop workstaiton for autodesk product (fusion360)
Thank you Greetings from LT. Keep doing your videos
OK, I am going to just ask. I like to draw over pictures at times. Like I am tracing some shape. However on the options>Sketch tab, autoproject is very confusing. Is it possible to turn ALL of these off? I have tried more than once without any luck. as my lines and arcs get crowded, I can no longer click where I want without it snapping off to the side.
Don't forget, that you can populate the ctrl-rightclick menu, too. Double the awesomeness!
Select ctrl-rightclick under sub-environment in the customise window.
For example in the sketch environment, it would default to your dependencies using ctrl+rightclick
Ew, a mac user
Great tip! I actually created a video on that very topic here: ruclips.net/video/2CALe7JQIp8/видео.htmlsi=kcboinU9wyDld_MD
Thanks Neil 👍
I definitely should be using these shortcuts more than I do…cheers
Thanks Neil, personally I prefer shortcuts... but you can turn inventor into a speedrun game I guess
I use SW at home but have Inventor at work that I am lost as I am so used to the right mouse short cut that I have extra short cut to extra short cuts and then have S key also with other short cuts.
Our Drafting guy I don't think knows this or just didn't tell me about how to change them.
Thanks for this video.
I suspect the latter with your drafting guy. After a long time working with designers I find they love to keep the good stuff to themselves ;)
If I remember right didn't they drop this into Fusion first when it came with Inventor back in 2012/13 .... awhile back anyway....big fan of circle menu
What is the advantage of using the wheel over keyboard shortcuts? Such as "S" for sketch and just click on the face you want to start a sketch on, "E" for extrude etc. ?
I rather see the wheel as complimentary to my shortcuts, with customised functions that is.
But a big advantage would be not constantly having to switch between keyboard and space mouse, if you use one.
Thank you very much.
I cant use the marking menu because of RSI i just bind keys to the rmb menu. The fastest way to use inventor is to have a robust understanding of the api, and build your own add ins for your workflow that you can bind to events.
I have “Save” on left swipe in all environments. Can’t recommend it enough! Feeling unstoppable, lightning fast -and Inventor can crash all it wants 😂
Multikey shortcuts, thats the way to go (atleast for me)- i know its not for everyone, but thats the only way my brain is like "rainman". I got my own multikey shortcuts, they beat all 3d space mouses, and context menus (yes i also have a space mouse pro- in my drawer). I use mk shortcuts for everything. It kind of depends of what kind of projects you are doing, but in my current job situation, i just find it annoying to fiddle around with contect menus and SpaceMouses. Examples "TT=tangent constraint", "SA=save as", "R=rectuangular square with center point", "REC=rectangular quare", "EQ=equal constrinat" and so on. I guess if you work on big projects and dont use Inventor every day, this kind of stuff is not so important. I just find MK shortcuts makes my day less annoying :) And as a perk you dont get "MouseArm™"
When they released the marking menu i turned into the fastest modeler, coupled with shortcut keys you are correct, you will become lightning.
Marking menu is for sure the way to go. You just force yourself to use it at first it's slower, then you get to be screaming fast. I took the time to customize the marking menu for every environment that exists for what I do. After that, it is the only way to go.
Hi, is there a marking menu option for rotate view when in the drawing?
If not is there a way to create a macro for it? Thanks
Hi Neil, which other CAD programs do you use? It would be awesome if we see videos from you for NX or Catia....
You've stated that you don't use Inventor daily, which one do you use?
None, I don't use CAD for a living and never have. My job is to know how it works, how to use it, implement, it advise, maintain and support it. And for the most part I specialise in Vault, more recently visualisation production with Vred.
Watch Wolfgang Walden on youtube, he models the same part in all the top used CAD packages, he usually answers questions on his videos
Fusion has the marking menu but doesn’t allow for customization, that I can find. I definitely would use it more if I could customize.
If memory serves me well, you were the man, who showed that marking menus are slow.
Nevertheless, marking menus can be fast, but in Inventor there are too few slots for commands, so you'll have to use hotkeys and ribbon. So most of the times it's better to just use hotkeys (if only they were more intuitive and convenient, without constantly conflicting with command aliases in different modes).
In Alias marking menus are a must, because the controls are too archaic, and there are too many repetitive actions.
I don't recall ever saying marking menus were slow, but since I've been doing this 9 years now I can't possibly remember everything I've said and things can change or get improved. I'm personally not a fan of keyboard shortcuts but if they work for someone then that's fine, no right or wrong way, someone could be faster with those if they can make them work. But the point of the marking menu isnt to have everything there, it is just the most common/frequently used functions. Same with keyboard shortcuts, there's more scope for quantity but I'd argue that few people could possibly remember 36+ shortcuts across multiple variations, so 36+ for part mode. 36+ for sketch mode, 36+ for assembly, drawing etc etc
Neil the representation and level of detail video is now outdated. We just upgrade to inventor ‘23 and there are model states and primary states and I’m all confused again. Are they just renamed?
Train muscle memory, memorize, achieve the apm of a StarCraft-Pro... and you'll be heading home before lunch 😋
Question:
I'm still relatively new to Inventor (around 1 1/2 years now) but at least I know that the idw is used incorrectly at my job. We always pack all production drawings of all required ipt in one idw in order to create a pdf, which is then stored in the ERP system.
However, this is a disaster for maintenance and updating, since you have to manually update all idws (where this changed component occurs) again and again.
I did learn during the course that there should only ever be one component in the idw (production drawing), but how do you automate this so that all ipt (or their idw) that are installed are automatically spit out as a pdf? A single pdf with multiple pages would be ideal.
Is that possible without additional programs?
Inventor pro and Vault pro
Oh that is really bad, what if that .idw gets corrupt? You lose not just one drawing, but many.
There should be some kind of preview in ribbon bar. It is hard to remember all of those locations for every comand.
Just customise to the commands you use the most, then make a point of remembering to use it. Admittedly I never use it as I keep forgetting the thing is there, but in the 30 mins before making the video I had remembered where most of the big useful ones are like finish sketch and ok etc
i added a usb foot pedal for enter key
I've been using Inventor daily for over a decade. I can typically score in the top few of the Speed Test times. But for the life of me, I can't remember where any of those fcking marking menu items are. Inevitably I right click, and the command I want isn't there. So it's a wasted click and time looking. Maybe I'm just too old.
Yea its muscle memory in the end, just repeat practice. Tbh I'm in the same boat, I never use the macro buttons on the 3dconnexion stuff cos I dont use Inventor enough to spend the time memorising and building up that muscle memory
Не использую эту функцию, неудобно. Гораздо удобнее нажать иконку на панели 👌
And so much fun when you inadvertently choose "undo".
Time for "redo" to save the day. :)
Step one: get inventor
Step two: throw fusion 360 in the trash