1800 490 514 [email protected]

Connected PCB Design with Autodesk Product Design & Manufacturing Collection

Smartphone exploded view showing the pcb Moving at the Speed of Business
Design Consulting Product Design Manufacturing Collection Moving at the Speed of Business

Connected PCB Design with Autodesk Product Design & Manufacturing Collection

Revolutionising Electronics Design: How Autodesk Inventor's PCB Interoperability Tools are Changing the Game

Autodesk Inventor is a powerful CAD software that offers a range of advanced features for mechanical and electrical design. One of the most valuable features for electronic designers is the ability to work with printed circuit boards (PCBs) directly in the software. With Autodesk Inventor’s PCB interoperability tools, users can streamline their design process and create more accurate designs

How to Achieve Connected Design with Autodesk Inventor and Eagle (Fusion 360)

Are you looking to streamline your printed circuit board (PCB) design workflow? Look no further than Autodesk’s connected design solution between Inventor and Eagle. This powerful combination allows for seamless collaboration between mechanical and electrical design teams. Autodesk Eagle, now a part of Fusion 360, is a popular PCB design tool that offers a range of powerful features to create schematics, layout designs, and manufacturing outputs. By integrating Eagle with Inventor, designers can easily incorporate PCBs into their mechanical assemblies and optimize the fit and function of their designs. 

One key advantage of using Inventor and Eagle together is the ability to maintain a “single source of truth” for your design data. With the integration, design changes in one tool can be automatically propagated to the other, reducing the risk of errors and ensuring consistency across the design process. 

Another benefit of this connected design approach is the ability to visualize the PCB and its components in a 3D mechanical assembly context. This allows designers to check for potential interferences, optimize the placement of the PCB and its components, and ultimately achieve a more efficient and cost-effective design.

To get started with connected design between Inventor and Eagle, simply import your Eagle board file into Inventor. From there, you can place the PCB into your assembly and start working on the integration with your mechanical components. Changes made to the PCB in Eagle will be reflected in Inventor, and vice versa.

Picture2 Moving at the Speed of Business

Inventor's PCB Interoperability Tools

Inventor offers a suite of tools for working with PCBs, including:

ECAD-MCAD Collaboration

This tool allows electrical and mechanical designers to work together seamlessly by importing 3D models of the PCB into Inventor. This tool eliminates the need for physical prototypes and enables designers to test the fit of the PCB in the mechanical assembly.

PCB layout import

Inventor can import and view PCB layouts from other software tools such as Eagle, Altium, and OrCAD. This feature allows designers to view their designs in a 3D environment and make any necessary changes before finalizing the design.

Design rule checking

Inventor offers a comprehensive design rule checking tool that allows designers to check their PCB designs against a set of predefined rules. This feature ensures that the design meets industry standards and helps identify any potential errors before the manufacturing process.

Export to Manufacturing

Once the design is complete, Inventor can export the PCB design to the manufacturing process. This feature ensures that the design is accurate and ready for production.

Picture1 Moving at the Speed of Business

Ready to Get Connected?

Save up to 20% on Autodesk Software and Services

Streamlining Design Workflows: Importing and Exporting Data Between Autodesk Inventor and Eagle (Fusion 360)

Importing and exporting data between Autodesk Inventor and Eagle is a critical function for any engineer working on a connected design project. Fortunately, the process is straightforward, thanks to the seamless integration between the two applications.

To import an Eagle board into Inventor, the first step is to create a new board assembly in Inventor. Next, click on the Eagle PCB Import command and select the .brd file. Inventor will then import all the PCB data, including the component placement and board outline.

Exporting data from Inventor to Eagle is equally easy. Simply open the board assembly in Inventor and select the Eagle PCB Export command. This will generate a .brd file that can be imported into Eagle, complete with all the board data and component placement.

One critical aspect of importing and exporting data between these two applications is ensuring that the design rules and constraints are consistent. Any discrepancies in the design rules can cause significant issues, including board failures or electrical shorts.

Fortunately, Autodesk has developed a comprehensive set of tools to ensure that data is accurately exchanged between Inventor and Eagle. For example, the Eagle board data is automatically translated into the Inventor format, ensuring that all dimensions and placement data are consistent.

Seamless Integration: How Autodesk Inventor and Fusion 360 Work Together for Streamlined PCB Design

Autodesk Inventor and Fusion 360 are both powerful design tools that can be used for a wide range of applications. While Inventor is known for its advanced 3D design capabilities, Fusion 360 is a comprehensive product development platform that allows designers and engineers to work together in a collaborative environment.

One of the ways that Inventor and Fusion 360 work together is through their interoperability with PCB design software. In particular, Fusion 360 includes an integrated PCB design tool called Eagle that can be used to create schematics and layouts for printed circuit boards. By leveraging the power of Eagle and the design capabilities of Inventor and Fusion 360, designers can create complex PCB designs with ease.

One of the key benefits of using Inventor and Fusion 360 for PCB design is the ability to work in a connected design environment. This means that designers can collaborate in real-time with other members of their team, including electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, and other stakeholders. This collaborative approach can help to streamline the design process and reduce errors, ensuring that the final product is of the highest quality.

Another advantage of using Inventor and Fusion 360 for PCB design is the ability to import and export data between the two platforms. This means that designers can easily move between the two tools, leveraging the strengths of each platform as needed. For example, designers can create a 3D model of a PCB in Inventor, then import the data into Fusion 360 to add electrical components and wiring.

To get started with using Inventor and Fusion 360 for PCB design, users should first become familiar with the basic workflows and tools of each platform. They should also explore the various integration points between the two tools, including the ability to import and export data, collaborate in a connected design environment, and use the integrated Eagle PCB design tool within Fusion 360.

Why Use Autodesk Inventor for PCB Design?

Autodesk Inventor’s PCB interoperability tools make it an ideal choice for electronic designers. The ability to work with both mechanical and electrical designs in the same software environment streamlines the design process and eliminates the need for multiple software tools. This feature also enables designers to test the fit of the PCB in the mechanical assembly, reducing the risk of errors and rework.

Additionally, Inventor’s ability to import and view PCB layouts from other software tools enables designers to work with existing designs and make any necessary changes in a 3D environment. This feature saves time and improves accuracy.

Finally, Inventor’s comprehensive design rule checking tool ensures that the design meets industry standards and identifies any potential errors before the manufacturing process. This feature reduces the risk of costly errors and ensures that the design is accurate and ready for production.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the interoperability between Autodesk Inventor and Fusion 360, along with the integrated Eagle PCB design tool, makes these tools an excellent choice for designers and engineers looking to create complex PCB designs. By working together in a connected design environment and leveraging the strengths of each platform, designers can create high-quality PCB designs in a fraction of the time it would take with other tools.

Ready to get your PCB Design Connected?

Discover how Autodesk Product Design & Manufacturing Collection can streamline your workflow, increase productivity, and optimise your design process. 

Get up to 20% Off Software or Services!

Contact us to find out how much money you can save on software, training or other services. Fill out the form below, by live chat, phone or email.

P: 1800 490 514 |  E: [email protected]

Connected Design

Smartphone exploded view showing the pcb Moving at the Speed of Business

Connected Design with Product Design & Manufacturing Collection

Click a link below to learn more about Connected Design using the Autodesk Product Design & Manufacturing Collection 

VIEW MORE

Connected Electrical Design with Autodesk Product Design & Manufacturing Collection

Connected Electrical Design Moving at the Speed of Business
Design Consulting Product Design Manufacturing Collection Moving at the Speed of Business

Connected Electrical Design with Autodesk Product Design & Manufacturing Collection

Autodesk Inventor and AutoCAD Electrical are two of the most popular software applications used in engineering design, particularly in electrical and electronic design automation. While each has its own strengths, combining these two powerful tools can lead to even greater design efficiency and productivity. In this article, we will explore how Autodesk Inventor and AutoCAD Electrical work together, focusing on the EMX project, syncing files, and how they can be combined with Fusion 360 for advanced PCB design.

Autodesk Inventor and AutoCAD Electrical: Combining Forces for Better Schematic Design

Introduction to Autodesk Inventor and AutoCAD Electrical

Autodesk Inventor is a 3D modeling software used primarily for mechanical engineering design. It allows users to create precise 3D models of mechanical parts, assemblies, and even entire machines. On the other hand, AutoCAD Electrical is a specialized software used for electrical engineering design. It provides a comprehensive set of tools for creating and modifying electrical control systems, wiring diagrams, and other related documentation.

The EMX Project: Enhancing Design Efficiency and Productivity

The EMX Project is an add-on for AutoCAD Electrical that enables users to create 3D representations of their electrical schematics in Autodesk Inventor. This makes it possible to visualize the electrical components in 3D space, making it easier to detect potential design issues before fabrication. The EMX project also allows users to import Inventor models into AutoCAD Electrical, giving them a more realistic representation of the actual components used in their designs.

Syncing Files Between Inventor and AutoCAD Electrical

Another advantage of using Autodesk Inventor and AutoCAD Electrical together is the ability to sync files between the two applications. This allows users to transfer 3D electrical harness models from Inventor to Electrical or vice versa, as well as easily update changes made in one application to the other. This seamless integration not only saves time but also ensures accuracy and consistency in design documentation.

Combining with Fusion 360: Taking PCB Design to the Next Level

Fusion 360 is a cloud-based CAD/CAM platform that allows users to collaborate on projects in real-time. It integrates with both Autodesk Inventor and AutoCAD Electrical, enabling users to bring their schematic designs into the 3D modeling environment of Fusion 360 for more advanced PCB design. This integration streamlines the design process and helps eliminate errors by providing a seamless workflow from schematic design to PCB layout and manufacturing.

How to Get Started with Autodesk Inventor and AutoCAD Electrical

To get started with Autodesk Inventor and AutoCAD Electrical, users need to have a basic understanding of electrical engineering principles and practices. They also need to have access to both software applications, as well as the EMX Project add-on for AutoCAD Electrical. Additionally, users can benefit from online training resources, tutorials, and forums provided by Autodesk to help them master the software.

Connected Electrical Design AutoCAD Electrical Schematics - Connected Electrical Design

Revolutionizing Electronics Design: How Autodesk Inventor's PCB Interoperability Tools are Changing the Game

Autodesk Inventor is a powerful CAD software that offers a range of advanced features for mechanical and electrical design. One of the most valuable features for electronic designers is the ability to work with printed circuit boards (PCBs) directly in the software. With Autodesk Inventor’s PCB interoperability tools, users can streamline their design process and create more accurate designs.

Picture2 Moving at the Speed of Business

Ready to Get Connected?

Save up to 20% on Autodesk Software and Services

How to Achieve Connected Design with Autodesk Inventor and Eagle (Fusion 360)

Look no further than Autodesk’s connected design solution between Inventor and Eagle. This powerful combination allows for seamless collaboration between mechanical and electrical design teams. Autodesk Eagle, now a part of Fusion 360, is a popular PCB design tool that offers a range of powerful features to create schematics, layout designs, and manufacturing outputs. By integrating Eagle with Inventor, designers can easily incorporate PCBs into their mechanical assemblies and optimize the fit and function of their designs. 

One key advantage of using Inventor and Eagle together is the ability to maintain a “single source of truth” for your design data. With the integration, design changes in one tool can be automatically propagated to the other, reducing the risk of errors and ensuring consistency across the design process. Another benefit of this connected design approach is the ability to visualize the PCB and its components in a 3D mechanical assembly context.

This allows designers to check for potential interferences, optimize the placement of the PCB and its components, and ultimately achieve a more efficient and cost-effective design. To get started with connected design between Inventor and Eagle, simply import your Eagle board file into Inventor.

From there, you can place the PCB into your assembly and start working on the integration with your mechanical components. Changes made to the PCB in Eagle will be reflected in Inventor, and vice versa.

Inventor’s PCB Interoperability Tools

Inventor offers a suite of tools for working with PCBs, including:

ECAD-MCAD Collaboration

This tool allows electrical and mechanical designers to work together seamlessly by importing 3D models of the PCB into Inventor. This tool eliminates the need for physical prototypes and enables designers to test the fit of the PCB in the mechanical assembly.

PCB layout import

Inventor can import and view PCB layouts from other software tools such as Eagle, Altium, and OrCAD. This feature allows designers to view their designs in a 3D environment and make any necessary changes before finalizing the design.

 Design rule checking

Inventor offers a comprehensive design rule checking tool that allows designers to check their PCB designs against a set of predefined rules. This feature ensures that the design meets industry standards and helps identify any potential errors before the manufacturing process.

Export to Manufacturing

Once the design is complete, Inventor can export the PCB design to the manufacturing process. This feature ensures that the design is accurate and ready for production.

Seamless Integration: How Autodesk Inventor and Fusion 360 Work Together for Streamlined PCB Design

https://www.autodesk.com/redshift/pcb-design-with-fusion-360/Autodesk Inventor and Fusion 360 are both powerful design tools that can be used for a wide range of applications. While Inventor is known for its advanced 3D design capabilities, Fusion 360 is a comprehensive product development platform that allows designers and engineers to work together in a collaborative environment.

One of the ways that Inventor and Fusion 360 work together is through their interoperability with PCB design software. In particular, Fusion 360 includes an integrated PCB design tool called Eagle that can be used to create schematics and layouts for printed circuit boards. By leveraging the power of Eagle and the design capabilities of Inventor and Fusion 360, designers can create complex PCB designs with ease.

One of the key benefits of using Inventor and Fusion 360 for PCB design is the ability to work in a connected design environment. This means that designers can collaborate in real-time with other members of their team, including electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, and other stakeholders. This collaborative approach can help to streamline the design process and reduce errors, ensuring that the final product is of the highest quality.

Another advantage of using Inventor and Fusion 360 for PCB design is the ability to import and export data between the two platforms. This means that designers can easily move between the two tools, leveraging the strengths of each platform as needed. For example, designers can create a 3D model of a PCB in Inventor, then import the data into Fusion 360 to add electrical components and wiring.

To get started with using Inventor and Fusion 360 for PCB design, users should first become familiar with the basic workflows and tools of each platform. They should also explore the various integration points between the two tools, including the ability to import and export data, collaborate in a connected design environment, and use the integrated Eagle PCB design tool within Fusion 360.

Why Use Autodesk Inventor for PCB Design?

Autodesk Inventor’s PCB interoperability tools make it an ideal choice for electronic designers. The ability to work with both mechanical and electrical designs in the same software environment streamlines the design process and eliminates the need for multiple software tools. This feature also enables designers to test the fit of the PCB in the mechanical assembly, reducing the risk of errors and rework.

Additionally, Inventor’s ability to import and view PCB layouts from other software tools enables designers to work with existing designs and make any necessary changes in a 3D environment. This feature saves time and improves accuracy.

Finally, Inventor’s comprehensive design rule checking tool ensures that the design meets industry standards and identifies any potential errors before the manufacturing process. This feature reduces the risk of costly errors and ensures that the design is accurate and ready for production.

In conclusion, the interoperability between Autodesk Inventor and Fusion 360, along with the integrated Eagle PCB design tool, makes these tools an excellent choice for designers and engineers looking to create complex PCB designs. By working together in a connected design environment and leveraging the strengths of each platform, designers can create high-quality PCB designs in a fraction of the time it would take with other tools.

Connected Design with Product Design & Manufacturing Collection

Click a link below to learn more about Connected Design using the Autodesk Product Design & Manufacturing Collection 

Ready to get your Electrical Design Connected?

Discover how Autodesk Product Design & Manufacturing Collection can streamline your workflow, increase productivity, and optimise your design process. 

Get up to 20% Off Software or Services!

Contact us to find out how much money you can save on software, training or other services. Fill out the form below, by live chat, phone or email.

P: 1800 490 514 |  E: [email protected]

Connected Design

Connected Electrical Design Moving at the Speed of Business

VIEW MORE

What’s New in Inventor 2022

Inventor 2020 Whats New 2 Moving at the Speed of Business

What's New in Inventor 2022

Inventor 2022’s focus has been on managing parts and assemblies through model states, further enhancements to Inventor/Revit interoperability, Fusion 360 interoperability, productivity and performance.

Inventor 2022 Overview Moving at the Speed of Business
  • Model States – Parts: Manage manufacturing operations, dimensional variations, and simplified representations all on one part file.
  • Model States – Assemblies: Create multiple representations of an assembly within a single document to manage various assembly configurations and model simplification.
  • Revit Interoperability: Collaborate on BIM projects with improved tools to simplify and save native Revit project files in Inventor.
  • Productivity and Performance: See increased performance when editing large assemblies and improved productivity in features you use often.
  • Installation and Deployment: Get everyone on your team onto the latest release with a new installation and deployment experience.
  • Drawings: Use the camera views, manufacturing information, and lighting style from your 3D model in your 2D drawing views.
  • Installation and Deployment: Get everyone on your team onto the latest release with a new installation and deployment experience.

Model States - Parts and Assemblies

The new model states workflow enables users to create multiple presentations of a part or assembly within a single document, producing model state variations with different parameters, components, properties or simplification.

Model states are particularly useful for manufacturing processes, families of parts or sheet metal fold operations.

Model states can be used for the following:

  • Machining operations from the casted model to the final part
  • Sheet metal stages for multiple bend operations
  • Weldments for weld preparation and other machining operations
  • Product families that have different values for dimensions or features that are shown or suppressed
  • Alternative assembly positions to quickly switch between them visually or used for drawing views
  • Level of completion for each stage as your design gets assembled
  • Simplification levels for removing intellectual property or high levels of detail before export
  • iProperty information

Model states in assemblies can be used for configurations, weldment preparation or alternate positions.

Part Model States Moving at the Speed of Business

Model States - Parts and Assemblies

The new model states workflow enables users to create multiple presentations of a part or assembly within a single document, producing model state variations with different parameters, components, properties or simplification.

Model states are particularly useful for manufacturing processes, families of parts or sheet metal fold operations.

Model states can be used for the following:

  • Machining operations from the casted model to the final part
  • Sheet metal stages for multiple bend operations
  • Weldments for weld preparation and other machining operations
  • Product families that have different values for dimensions or features that are shown or suppressed
  • Alternative assembly positions to quickly switch between them visually or used for drawing views
  • Level of completion for each stage as your design gets assembled
  • Simplification levels for removing intellectual property or high levels of detail before export
  • iProperty information

Model states in assemblies can be used for configurations, weldment preparation or alternate positions.

Part Model States Moving at the Speed of Business
inventor 2022 screen capture robot 02 Moving at the Speed of Business
inventor 2022 screen capture robot 03 Moving at the Speed of Business
inventor 2022 screen capture robot 03 Moving at the Speed of Business

Assemblies - Instance Properties

Instance properties enables you to assign properties to individual component instances.

Assigned properties are stored in the parent assembly. 

Unlike iProperties, Instance Properties don’t affect the referenced component files. Instance Properties are assigned to individual component instances only and can override custom iProperties.

Instance Properties are available in annotations such as balloons, leader notes and parts lists.

Simplification Improvements

The new simplification command provides:

  • IP removal prior to export
  • All settings are moved to the property panel
  • Built-in presets
  • Integrated Inventor to Revit workflow

This new command replaces both the shrinkwrap and shrinkwrap substitute commands.

Interoperability - Inventor + Revit

2022 allow users for the first time to export Inventor models to the Revit rvt project file format.

The simplification tool gives users the ability to select only the components and features that are required for export into Revit.

A Revit Exports browser folder is placed in the Inventor model browser. It is populated with a node for the exported model.  As long as the model is maintained in the specified path, you can edit, preview, open in Revit or an associated application, or update the RVT model.

Interoperability - Inventor + Fusion 360

In addition to Revit interoperability, the new Inventor 2022 release includes a ‘Send to Fusion’ button making it easier to send data to Fusion 360 and Fusion Team.

Upon selection of the Send to Fusion 360 command, files will automatically get uploaded to your Fusion Team account.

In Fusion, you can make edits to your model geometry without changing the part in Inventor, this ideal when you need to prepare a part for CNC machining, 3D printing, or generative design.

 

Interoperability - Additional Workflows

Autodesk has also added QIF 3.0 support for PMI data and via the TAsk Scheduler, JT Export.

Productivity and Performance

The Autodesk Inventor team has continued to focus or Model, Drawing and Graphic Performance.

Parts, assemblies, drawings have all been enhanced year after year to deliver an efficient experience for everyone who works on complex parts and very large assemblies.

For those who enjoy editing parts while working in the assembly environment, you will find several performance improvements while editing sketches and visibility improvements.  GPU’s are now better utilised for visual styles like displaying wireframe and silhouette edges and opening and closing documents is faster than ever.

Productivity - User Interface

Fillets and Property Palette

The fillet command has been moved to the property panel and these panels can be docked anywhere on your screen.

Assembly Constraints

New options allow users to visualise what is under constrained.

There’s a status filter which you can select to show the constraint state in the browser.

Measure Command

The new installer and online deployment builder, making it simpler to configure and launch.

Tube and Pipe

Angle attribute is now exported when saving one or multiple runs to ISOGEN .pcf files .

iLogic support for Model State

iLogic is expanded to support the following Model State workflows:

  • ThisDoc.Document support for Model State In a component occurrence of a model state document, the existing ThisDoc.Document property returns the member document.
    • The ThisDoc.Document property is expanded to support returning the member document when running in a component occurrence of a model state document.
    • The new ThisDoc.FactoryDocument property returns the factory document when running either in a top-level document or in an assembly component. In a component occurrence document, this returns the associated factory document. In a top-level document, this returns the same object as ThisDoc.Document.
    • In a drawing, the new ThisDrawing.ModelFactoryDocument property returns the factory document for the first model view (or nothing if there is no model view).
    • In a drawing view, the new ICadDrawingView.ModelFactoryDocument property returns the factory document for that view (or nothing if it is not a model view).
  • There is a new event called Model State Activated now available in the Event Triggers dialog box. This trigger occurs when a model state is activated. Use this trigger to run a rule in the document in which the event occurred.
  • New function lets you add a component in a specified model state

    A new function called AddWithModelState is now available on the Components object (IManagedComponents interface). This function adds a managed occurrence of a part or subassembly.

    Note: Capture Current State on an existing component that includes a model state, in turn creates code that includes AddWithModelState.
  • iLogic edit-in-place and model states

    There are some restrictions on what you can do with iLogic rules when you are editing a model state component in place. In a model state, when a component member file is being in-place edited within an assembly:

    • You can edit, run, and suppress rules.
    • You can’t add or delete rules.

    There is no change to edit-in-place support for components that aren’t model state components: You can add an iLogic rule:

    • From the top level document.
    • At the sub-component level in the in-place-edit environment.
  • Instructions to Modify an Occurrence Parameter with a Model State

    Access the steps here: To Modify an Occurrence Parameter with a Model State.

  • Use the new Instance property snippets to read and create Instance Properties.
  • There is a new event named Any User Parameter Change in the Event Triggers dialog box. This event is triggered when you change the value of a User parameter.

Dark Theme

The Dark Theme that was introduced in the 2021 release has been fully implemented in 2022, including in the iLogic Rule Editor

Drawings

You can now change the look of shaded views in Drawings by changing  the lighting style.

There are new drawing view options available to repurpose the camera views and 3D annotations created in the 3D model.Centerlines and center marks with extended lines now break when intersecting with dimensions, making it easier to read the dimension value.

Installation and Deployment

The measure command is updated to use a property panel style and has Done and Retry buttons to improve workflow and productivity. Measure in an assembly has a tool palette for quick access to selection filtering and a loop modifier.

You can now create a deployment that includes your customized settings in the iLogic Configuration dialog box.

Contact Us

If you would learn more about Autodesk software, please contact us by calling on 1800 490 514, by filling out the form or clicking the live chat in the bottom right-hand corner.

VIEW MORE