A product usually consists of a number of component parts. Using computer as a tool to design and manufacture products, you construct computer models to represent each individual component of the product and put the computer models together to form a virtual assembly to explore and evaluate the integrity of the design.

The prime function of Autodesk Inventor is to construct computer models in the form of 3D parametric solid parts and 3D sheet metal parts that represent a component part in the computer. Figure 1â 1 shows a solid part for the model of a component of a radio controlled toy car.


The third function of Autodesk Inventor is to construct an exploded presentation of assemblies. To illustrate how various parts of an assembly are put together, you construct a presentation of an assembly. In the presentation, you explode or tweak the components apart.

Source: acad-atc.ic.polyu.edu.hk