Overview

The LaunchPad Technology Preview accelerates design efforts by providing a single portal into Product Design Suite applications, project data, and workflows. The LaunchPad’s one-click workflows prepare your design data in the Suite environment that is most appropriate to your task so you can quickly start designing, engineering, simulating, and visualizing your design. The LaunchPad is intended for users who already have Product Design Suite installed.

Automated Workflows

The following workflows are available in this free* technology preview:

Reuse 2D Data	Use 2D AutoCAD DWG data to start an Inventor 3D model. Select the DWG file to import and the layers to include. The 2D data is imported into a sketch in a new Inventor part file. The 2D data is now ready to be extruded, revolved or otherwise turned into a 3D model.
Modify 3D Geometry	Open and edit a 3D model from any CAD application in Inventor Fusion. The selected model is loaded in Inventor Fusion for fast and easy geometry modification. Fusion supports many native CAD formats and neutral file formats such as STEP, IGES, and SAT.
3D Parametric Design	Use Inventor to open and modify an existing 3D model or create a new 3D model. You can create a single part or an assembly.
Stress Analysis	The Inventor Stress Analysis environment simulates the structural behavior of your 3D model under specified loads and conditions. The selected Inventor part or assembly is loaded into the Stress Analysis environment where you can add loads and conditions to define the simulation.
Dynamic Simulation	Use the Inventor Dynamic Simulation environment to study the kinematic properties of your Inventor assembly. The selected assembly is loaded into the Dynamic Simulation environment and is ready to have loads and conditions applied.
Technical Drawings	Create 2D documentation of your 3D models in Inventor. The selected part, assembly, or presentation file is used to automatically create the first view of the drawing. You can customize the scale, orientation, line options, or other settings before committing the view.
Interactive Design Review	Transform your 3D model into highly realistic imagery or perform an interactive presentation using Showcase. The selected part or assembly is loaded into Showcase. You can create design alternatives, configure lights and materials, then render the environment or use Showcase as a presentation environment.
Photorealistic Rendering	Create a photorealistic rendering or animation of your 3D model in 3ds Max Design. The selected Inventor part or assembly is loaded into 3ds Max Design. You can then configure lights, materials, cameras, and other environment settings for your rendering or animation.

Latest Update

Inventor Template Options: Users can set the default part, assembly, and drawing templates that are used for Inventor-related workflows.

Inventor Project Support: Users can set the Inventor Project file when they start an Inventor-related workflow.

Scalable Desktop Icon: The LaunchPad desktop icon is now scalable to accommodate different screen configurations.

New One-click Workflows: With this update, the LaunchPad offers two sets of one-click workflows, each supporting different industry design tasks.

• Machine Design: For users who typically work with a variety of 2D and 3D data to design, engineer, analyze, and simulate machines.
• Plastic Part Design: For users who need to transform concept designs and styled surface models of molded plastic parts into engineered, manufacture-ready solid models.

The following NEW Plastic Part Design workflows are available in this technology preview update:

Concept Sketching	Capture your product and graphic concepts using Sketchbook Designer. Sketchbook combines vector and raster workflows to provide an effective way to communicate design ideas. Start a blank sketch or import raster or AutoCAD DWG data.
Styling	Import an Inventor model or other 3D model into Alias Design to use as reference data for technical surfaces. The selected model is loaded into Alias Design where you can use it to build your surface data.
Design Engineering	Import Alias wire data into Inventor to transform your technical surface data into manufacture-ready solid models. Associativity is maintained so that changes to the Alias .wire file are consumed by Inventor.
Materials Selection Analysis	The selected 3D model is loaded into Inventor with the ECO Materials Adviser active. The ECO Materials Adviser evaluates environmental impact of you material selections allowing you to make informed decisions.
Stress Analysis	The Inventor Stress Analysis environment simulates the structural behavior of your 3D model under specified loads and conditions. The selected Inventor part or assembly is loaded into the Stress Analysis environment where you can add loads and conditions to define the simulation.
Technical Drawings	Create 2D documentation of your 3D models in Inventor. The selected part, assembly, or presentation file is used to automatically create the first view of the drawing. You can customize the scale, orientation, line options, or other settings before committing the view.
Explore Design Alternatives	Transform your 3D model into highly realistic imagery or perform an interactive presentation using Showcase. The selected part or assembly is loaded into Showcase. You can create design alternatives, configure lights and materials, then render the environment or use Showcase as a presentation environment.
Photorealistic Rendering	Create a photorealistic rendering or animation of your 3D model in 3ds Max Design. The selected Inventor part or assembly is loaded into 3ds Max Design. You can then configure lights, materials, cameras, and other environment settings for your rendering or animation.

Availability

The technology preview will operate until May 30, 2012.