Inventor Essentials is a unique learning resource that features concise, straightforward explanations and real-world, hands-on exercises and tutorials to teach new users the software's core features and functions. Each chapter opens with a quick discussion of concepts and learning goals and then briskly moves into an approachable hands-on exercise that readers can follow to gain confidence using the software. Each chapter features compelling full-color screenshots to illustrate tutorial steps, and chapters conclude with a related and more open-ended project to further reinforce the chapter's lessons. Readers can download starting and ending files for the exercises and additional learning tutorials so that they can start anywhere in the book and compare their results with the pro's. Inventor Essentials first introduces users to the software's interface and foundational concepts. Following a workflow-based approach that mirrors how projects progress in the real world, the book then guides readers through creating 2D drawings from 3D data, model parts, combining parts into assemblies, working with standards and styles, annotating drawings, using advanced assembly tools, working with sheet metal, building with the frame generator, using weldments, presenting designs, and working with other file formats. Based on the very real-world task of designing tools and a toolbox to house them, the hands-on exercises in Inventor Essentials will get all users up to speed on the program's core functionality so they can quickly become productive with the software. The full-color book also features dataset downloads so readers can jump in anywhere as well as compare their work to the pro's.

Thom Tremblay is a Subject Matter Expert on the Autodesk Strategic Universities team. He is an Inventor Certified Professional who has been using Autodesk software for 25 years to design everything from cabinets and castings to ships and video monitors. He has close ties to the Inventor community; is a frequent speaker at training centers, colleges, and universities; and presents at Autodesk University every year.

Introduction.

Chapter 1 Connecting to Inventor's Interface.

Chapter 2 Creating 2D Drawings from 3D Data.

Chapter 3 Learning the Essentials of Part Modeling.

Chapter 4 Putting Things in Place with Assemblies.

Chapter 5 Customizing Styles and Templates.

Chapter 6 Creating Advanced Drawings and Detailing.

Chapter 7 Advanced Part Modeling Features.

Chapter 8 Advanced Assembly and Engineering Tools.

Chapter 9 Creating Plastic Parts.

Chapter 10 Working with Sheet Metal Parts.

Chapter 11 Building with the Frame Generator.

Chapter 12 The Weldment Environment.

Chapter 13 Creating Images and Animation from Your Design Data.

Chapter 14 Working with Non-Inventor Data.

Chapter 15 Automating the Design Process and Table-Driven Components.

Appendix Inventor Certification.

Index.