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Posted July 25, 2007
How long have you been using Inventor?
I started using Inventor selectively with the initial release. I began to use the program full-time at release 5.3, and I have not looked back since. Prior to that, I used Mechanical Desktop (from version 1.1) and, of course, AutoCAD (from Release 9).
What has been your most difficult design challenge, and how did you overcome it?
Every day seems to bring a new challenge, but my favorite was a recent job that was fabricated in Russia. I had a large structural steel casing (approximately 70 meters x 10 meters x 12 meters) to design and detail in a short period of time. We were told up front to design using British standard structural shapes but, depending on the final fabrication point, this could possibly change to ANSI, DIN, GOST (Russian), or some other locally available standard.
With a little upfront planning, we linked all the dimensions of the structural members, including the corner and intermediate joint cutouts, to a master parameter file. This allowed us to quickly update the design model and shop detail drawings should the design standard change. In the end, this saved us hundreds of hours, as the design standard changed twice during the fabrication phase! Even better was the fact that we were not billed for any back charges due to drawing errors.
If you could change one feature about Inventor, what would it be?
Being a Master Sketch/Parameter file fanatic, I would like to see parameters empowered to do more. Built-in control of Assembly visibility/instancing (outside of iAssemblies) and Parameter control of Pattern suppression are just a few possibilities.
Which Inventor feature do you consider a must-have?
The Derive framework of Inventor is far and away my favorite part of the program and something I could not live without. I also like the flexible linking and Parameter functionality.
What design advice would you offer to your peers?
Always listen to your peers in the CAD field and make sure you open your mind to the comments of everyone on your design team, from the executive level to the shop floor. No matter how smart you think you are, there is always someone smarter!
As an active member of Autodesk's Manufacturing Community, which areas of the site are most helpful?
Tips and tricks and other user-created content. There is no greater source of information than from those using the program in the trenches. I also get quite a bit of useful information from the discussion groups and blogs.
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I am very proud of the fact that I have been with my current employer, ALSTOM Power Energy Recovery, for almost 30 years. In this time, I have embraced change and learning, starting as a board drafter in 1977. I currently lead my company's Design, CAD, and IT development. In my "spare" time, I do programming and other development work under the name LeaCar LLC. The LeaCar Web site was one of the first sites (May 1998) to offer tips and tricks to the Mechanical Desktop community. The Web site currently features several popular and free Inventor add-in programs. I also am an active member of the Western PA Inventor User Group and have presented at every meeting of that group.
Outside of work, I am a fanatic skier and participant in other winter sports. In the summer, I spend my time hiking the same Laurel Highland hills we carom down in the winter. I have been happily married for 24 years and have two daughters.
View Robert Williams's Manufacturing Community Profile
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