IN-Motion : Motion and Dynamic Simulation Addin for Autodesk® InventorTM


IN-Motion : An Overview

IN-Motion is a Motion and Dynamic Simulation addin / plugin for Autodesk® InventorTM. It gets listed as an internal addin and upon selecting, it seamlessly let the user perform Motion and Dynamic Analysis of the InventorTM assemblies, without actually going out of the application. IN-Motion presently works on Autodesk Inventor 2011, 2010 and 2009 and Autodesk has certified it for Autodesk Inventor 2011, 2010 and 2009 versions. It is available for only 200 US$. Download 30 trial Evaluation version for free with all the features. The main features of IN-Motion, till date are:

  • Automatically converts all InventorTM Constraints to corresponding Mechanical Joints
  • Define Motion to Joints
  • Define Force and Torque at Joints
  • Define Spring and Damper
  • Define Gravity for the Assembly
  • Perform Motion and Dynamic Simulation
  • Record the Simulation as an .AVI file
  • View Graph Plots and Export the Plot Data as .CSV
  • Trace parts during Simulation

We are developing this addin further to include more functionality. We request you to Contact Us if you have any query.




Engine Simulation in IN-Motion
Easy User Interface and Integration with Autodesk Inventor

IN-Motion has been developed as an internal addin for Autodesk® InventorTM. The User Interface of IN-Motion is derived from the Assembly Environment of Inventor. The IN-Motion Panel bar contains generic command buttons. IN-Motion Browser Tree lists the parts/sub-assemblies, joints under them, markers, motions, dynamic inputs such as force, torque, spring and damper. Specific functionalities can be accessed through context menu.

The figures below show the comparision of Assembly Environment and IN-Motion Environment.


Inventor Assembly Environment

IN-Motion Environment
Define Motion to Joints

IN-Motion has capabilities to define Rotation and Translation to Joints. User can define Rotation to an Insert/Cylindrical Joint and Translation to a Cylindrical Joint. The equation of motion can be:

  • Constant Value
  • Simple Harmonic or Oscillatory Value

After defining appropriate Motions, the assembly can be checked by Simulating it. By this way, user can come to know the behavior of the assembly to speficic input motion.



Form to Enter Motion Values
Define Force and Torque at Joints

IN-Motion has capabilities to apply Force and Torque at Joints. User can define Force at a Cylindrical Joint and Torque at an Insert/Cylindrical Joint. After defining appropriate dynamic inputs, the assembly can be checked by Simulating it. By this way, user can come to know the behavior of the assembly to speficic dynamic inputs.



Form for Force
Define Spring and Damper

IN-Motion has capabilities to apply Spring and Damper at Joints and test the realtime behavior of the assembly due to them. The following Springs and Dampers are possible in IN-Motion.

  • Linear Spring at a Cylindrical Joint
  • Linear Damper at a Cylindrical Joint
  • Rotary Spring at an Insert / Cylindrical Joint
  • Rotary Damper at an Insert / Cylindrical Joint

.



Form for Linear Spring
Define Gravity for the Assembly

Gravity can be defined for an assembly which will act on it. Simulations can be carried on under gravity and thus the results obtained can be realistic to actual conditions.



Form for Gravity
Perform Motion and Dynamic Simulation

IN-Motion has the capability to perform Kinematic and Dynamic Simulation for the given input conditions. It has a intuitive and slick user interface dialogs for Simulator and Playback deck. The Simulation settings can be prescribed and upon simulation, user is shown the progress of Simulation through text messages and warns the user if it reaches any error position. Once the simulation is complete, the Playback Deck can be used to show the animation. Various standard controls have been provided on Playback Deck for basic operations.
The Simulator and Playback Decks are very intuitive and slick as shown.


Simulator Deck

Playback Deck
Record Animation as a Video

Using IN-Motion, user can record an animation in the form of an AVI file and send it to others to show the working of the assembly. This can be useful as the animation can be viewed by anyone, without the need of Inventor being installed on their system.





Animation Recorded as Video
Plot Kinematic and Dynamic Analysis Graphs

IN-Motion has the capability to perform Kinematic and Dynamic Simulation for the given input conditions. The analysis performed can be expressed in the form of Graph Plots for various parameters such as Position, Velocity and Acceleration of parts and also Forces and Torques acting at Joints. The Graph can be saved as an image and the data can also be exported as CSV (Coma Separated Values) for further analysis.


Kinematic Analysis Graph

Dynamic Analysis Graph
Trace Parts During Animation

IN-Motion lets the user trace any point during animation. This will help the user to determine the path a particular point takes and thus improves the visualization.



Trace of a Point
IN-Motion Download & Activation

IN-Motion is available for only 200 US$. The license is a one time investment for a particular version of Autodesk® InventorTM. Evaluation version of IN-Motion can be downloaded for free and it includes all the features of a licensed version.

After the installation of IN-Motion, an activation form appears when Inventor is started. By default, IN-Motion comes with 30 free trials which can be used by clicking on "Try". Click on "Buy" to buy a license from us and then click on "Activate" once you have the license key.




IN-Motion Activation Form