Inventor 3D Annotation Feedback Results

When you download a technology preview, we have you log into the Autodesk Labs community first. This way we can get a list of who has downloaded what. We don't use the download lists very often, but every once in a while we reach out to users and get their feedback. Recently Product Designer, Joseph Burkel, asked to be added to the [email protected] email distribution list, so he could read the feedback that comes in. I was happy to add him. Our email lists for each technology preview include Product Managers, Product Designers, Software Developers, QA Testers, Technical Writers, and Labs staff (Shaan Hurley, and me).

Given Joseph's request, I decided to take the opportunity to reach out to users using the download list. I asked them to confirm previous feedback that we had received and add any new wish list items for 3D annotation with Inventor. My email elicited 57 responses. Here is a sampling of requested features:

Additional Capabilities

• Support for annotation of Assemblies
• Provide additional flexibility for text position, changing leader lines, changing which part/face is indicated, etc
• Ability to project all information on draft views for drawing creations
• Check of consistency, like a wizard that indicates what is correct and what is not from a tolerancing point of view
• Add dialog-box to overwrite the measurement-text with an own paraphrase
• Ability to set the extension lines to the intersection of 2 faces
• Make the undo command behave as expected
• 3D annotations to be mapped to the proper locations on 2D views (like weld symbols)
• Dimension text only shows the Value, also show the parameter name e.g., ‘Length’ for a table of values
• Circular edge to linear edge does not work / cannot select this combination
• Datum features cannot be repositioned, or positioned in a user-defined manner
• Datum identifier for holes should be able to show above hole on centerline or on extension line from face
• Feature Tolerance frame crashes when selecting a datum letter with "Unhandled Exception... Input string was not in a correct format"
• Dimension objects do not display very well and cannot be configured as aligned; dimension line does not break for text
• Cannot configure dimensions to display trailing zeros
• User must have possibility hide/show 3D annotations, selected group hide/show 3D annotations and hide/show all 3D annotations
• 3D annotations must work in part, sheet metal part, weld assembly, and assembly
• In 3DA must be all annotation functional from Drawing manager annotations: dimensions, surface textures, feature contril frame, datum, fits, weld annotations are present from early versions of Inventor
• Enable Snap points for dimension annotations
• Remove the requirement to activate 3D annotation and make it available at all times
• Ability to change the font style and colour, together with witness line colours as desired whilst applying the 3-D annotation
• GD and T support / tolerancing support
• Make it possible to do only a dimension without Tolerance
• Dimensions should be associative when model changes (refresh of dimensions when model changes)
• 3DA automatically extract information about features, O/A size, and depths of features
• Allow 3DA/PMI data be used to define base which face is down for manufacturing

Interoperability and Consistency with other Applications

• Interoperate with the electronic review process of Autodesk Design Review, NavisWorks (DMU Review process), and Inventor Publisher
• Ability to migrate 3DA dimensions to Inventor drawing ISO views
• Retrieve the annotation information into the drawing Environment (IDW)
• 3D annotations (Dimensions and other) must save own values as variables (like dimension in sketches d0, d1, etc.)
• 3D annotations must have own folder in browser (like sketched symbols in drawing)
• User must have possibility retrieve 3D annotations in View in drawing manager (like Weld annotations in 3D can retrieve as annotation in drawing view)
• Dimensions must have tolerance, limits (like dimension in drawing manager)
• Ability to export an image complete with 3D annotation
• Ability to render a model/assembly and have the text visible in the rendered image
• Allow label placement for possible 3D annotation in an add-on to AutoCAD

Adherence to Industry Standards

• Support Product & Manufacturing Information that is specified in ASME Y14.41 and ISO standards
• 3D annotations survive the translation to CATIA file format (particularly V5 R18 and up)
• Export to a 3D PDF
• Exchange data via STEP and JT

Thanks to everyone who has downloaded the technology, and specifically those who have provided feedback. This is why we conduct technology previews in the first place. This will come in handy in the event the Inventor team wishes to revise the technology preview or graduate it to another form. If you would like to get in on the 3D annotation action:

// Learn more about 3D Annotation for Autodesk Inventor on Autodesk Labs

Enumeration is alive in the lab.