CAD Blog » CAD Software Updates

View the official Autodesk Inventor Podcast #42 here, which includes tips on leveraging DWG files between AutoCAD and Inventor.

We understand, and have experienced ourselves that 1601 or 1603 Windows Installer errors have been occurring when installing SolidWorks 2010.  If your installation is stopping and failing to continue at around 12-13% then the following should fix this problem:

The error is linked to Microsoft Windows Installer 4.5 and is identified as ‘KB942288-v3′ (32 bit) or ‘KB942288-v4′ (64 bit).  Going into ‘Add/Remove Programs’, ensuring ‘Show Updates’ is ticked, then removing this installer will revert you back to Windows Installer 3.01.  When started again, the installation should run smoothly.  Please note that this only effects Windows XP and Windows Vista users.

Autodesk have today released Service Pack 1 for Inventor 2010, Autocad Mechanical 2010 and also Autocad Electrical 2010.

Both x32 and x64 versions are available for download.

Inventor 2010 – http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=13713884&linkID=9242019

Autocad Mechanical 2010 – http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=13842127&linkID=9240898

Autocad Electrical 2010 – http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=13777929&linkID=9240738

These will be installed at Nova over the next couple of days. I’ll provide feedback as required.

SolidWorks have recently issued a patch (V2009 SP4.1) to fix the major issues encountered by SolidWorks 2009 (especially X64 edition) and Internet Explorer 8 installed on the same workstation.

So far, we’ve found no issues with the service pack and IE8 runs fine.

I’ll provide more feedback as and when if things change.

We are pleased to announce that we have recently upgraded our Autodesk CAD licences of Autocad & Inventor to the latest release of the series. As of 1st June 2009 we will now be running the latest 2010 suite, along with all previous releases. So far the installation and activation has gone on with no news to report, but we will keep you informed of our thoughts in the coming weeks.

Autodesk have now changed their policy regarding their redline / markup ‘Design Review’ software and made it free of charge to download and install. Click here to jump to the download page.

What is Autodesk Design Review?

Autodesk® Design Review software helps save time and money with easy-to-use tools for team members to review, mark up, and revise designs and 3D models. This free tool is tightly integrated with all Autodesk design software products and enables project teams to move to a two-way design review process and gain timesaving functionality in their markup and approval processes. Specific timesaving functionality includes the following:

* Intuitive measure, markup, and annotation tools
* DWG™ file viewing, plotting, and publishing
* Ability to combine project data such as images and specifications in a single file
* Powerful status tracking to manage engineering change orders
* Round-trip markup integration with Autodesk design software products, so designers can overlay changes and comments on the original CAD file.

Autodesk have released Service Pack 1 for the Inventor 2009 series of products.

The above link points to both the X32 (31MB) and X64 (68MB) versions of SP1. Our initial findings internally are that Inventor opens a little quicker and does seem more stable.

We have also received an link via the Autodesk Subscription System to some Productivity Tools only currently available to those on subscription. These are for Part Modelling, Drawing Management and Assembly Design.  Those users on subscription can download the tools now – Unfortunately, those not on subscription will have to wait until the release of Inventor 2010 next year.

It seems Autodesk Mechanical Desktop is being phased out. The latest release of Autocad Inventor Series 2009 does not contain the Autocad based 3D modelling package. If you want to install MDT it can be downloaded in its latest form from www.autodesk.com/mdt or a DVD requested.