CAD Software Questions & Answers

To add OnSave actions you can use various methods:

• You can create macros to perform simple tasks; this does not require registering an add-in.
• You can create a custom add-in; it provides more flexibility and power.
• You can use applications that support OnSave actions, as they provide built-in features and APIs (e.g., AutoCAD and Revit).

To get the axis and radius of a cylindrical face in Inventor using VBA or VB.NET, you’ll want to use the Cylinder.GetCylinderData method — it’s the most direct and reliable way to extract that geometric information.

To create a workpoint in an assembly document, you should:

• Activate the assembly.
• Enable work features.
• Select two or more references.
• Place and use the work point.

Check Legacy Inventor SDKs

• If you have access to an older Inventor installation (for example, Inventor 5–10), look for:
• C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Inventor [version]\SDK\AddInWizard\VC6
• This folder usually contains .awx files and setup scripts for the wizard

Yes, you can control the view of a 3D model using ClientView in Visual Basic 6 - though it depends on the rendering engine or API you're interfacing with (e.g., Inventor's API, DirectX, or a custom controlZ).

If Thicken fails, here’s a reliable alternative:

Offset Surface + Boundary Patch

• Offset the surface by 5mm using the Offset Surface tool.
• Use Boundary Patch or Loft to connect the original and offset surfaces.
• Stitch them together into a solid.

Use Surface + Extrude

• Create a sketch that matches the surface boundary.
• Use Project Geometry or Intersection Curve to trace the surface.
• Extrude the sketch outward by 5mm.

Autodesk Inventor 8 did not include built-in stress analysis tools like later versions do. However, there were add-ins and external tools available at the time that could perform basic FEA (Finite Element Analysis) including beam deflection, stress, and strain calculations.

• You can access the Balloon objects in a drawing via the Sheet.Balloons collection.
• You can read and override balloon values using the BalloonValueSets collection.

Example (VBA):

Dim oBalloon As Balloon
Set oBalloon = oSheet.Balloons.Item(1)

' Override the item number
oBalloon.BalloonValueSets(1).OverrideValue = "8"

This works only if the balloon is already placed and you know which component it references.

To move a single dimension:

• Right-click the dimension you want to move
• Select “Move Dimension” from the context menu
• Click on the target view where you want the dimension to go
• The dimension will transfer, retaining its properties as long as the geometry exists in the target view and the orientation is compatible

Step-by-Step: Apply New Layers to Existing Objects

Update Object Defaults

• Go to Manage > Styles and Standards > Style Editor
• Under your new standard, open Object Defaults
• Assign each object type (for example, dimensions, centerlines, hatching) to the appropriate layer
• Save and set this standard as active

This only affects newly created objects, not existing ones

To Apply Layers to Existing Objects

Manual Reassignment

• Use the Format > Edit Layers panel
• Select objects (for example, dimensions, symbols, sketch geometry)
• Change their layer from the dropdown