Each chapter within the text contains an introduction as it relates to parametric modeling, tutorials, and additional problems. Parametric modelers like Autodesk Inventor focus on creating virtual assemblies of parts (i.e., products) rather than standalone parts. Leakes text, therefore, is built around product assemblies, as evidenced in the tutorials at the end of each chapter. These tutorials take the user through part and assembly modeling, drawing, documentation, and finally, the simulation, analysis, and presentation of these products.

Autodesk Inventor also emphasizes the importance of build strategy. Before each end-of-chapter tutorial, the user will find clearly summarized steps of how to complete it. Taken together, these summary steps amount to a strategy for building each model and allow both new and experienced users to learn to think in terms of features, and to plan out a feature-based build strategy before starting to model.

On the accompanying CD to Autodesk Inventor, users can view 30 video tutorials, each with a corresponding learning objective, to model Inventor features and processes. In addition, the CD contains numerous Inventor and associated files (including demos) that enable users to electronically assemble the objects built in the text, such as the ball valve and a garlic press.

More video tutorials are available on the Autodesk Inventor website (www.mhhe.com/leake), where users will also find end-of-chapter questions and over 25 downloadable PowerPoint lectures covering topics in engineering graphics, geometric modeling, and parametric modeling.

1 Getting Started

2 Sketching and the Base Feature

3 Feature Creation

4 Part Editing

5 Advanced Part Modeling

6 Assembly Modeling

7 Part Documentation

8 Advanced Assembly Modeling

9 Presentation Files and Working Drawings

10 Hybrid Modeling