In this article we step through the steps required to install and configure Autodesk Inventor.

NOTE #1: "Inventor HSM" is now known as "Inventor CAM"

NOTE #2: Alternative link for software downloads: https://www.autodesk.com/education/competitions/first

Once set up you may want to take a look at the following articles:

• Creating a part in Autodesk Inventor
• Creating an assembly of parts in Autodesk Inventor to generate g-code for your CNC router
• Using a CNC router to cut parts from sheet materials

We also describe the steps required to set up some optional software:

• Autodesk Inventor HSM (see note#1) to generate g-code files for use on a CNC router
• GrabCAD to enable sharing Inventor models within the team

Software required on your PC

• Autodesk Inventor Professional 2022
• Autodesk Inventor HSM Ultimate 2022 (see note#1)
• GrabCAD Workbench

Checking installed software versions

1: Select Control Panel > Programs and Features

2: Scroll down to "Autodesk", you should see something like this ...

Creating an Autodesk account

1: Browse to https://accounts.autodesk.com/register

2: Complete the new account fields and select "Create Account"

3: Record your Autodesk username and password in your favourite place for secret stuff ;)

Installing Autodesk Inventor Professional 2022

NOTE: it can take several hours to complete this installation

NOTE: we have found that Google Chrome is the most reliable browser to use for installing Autodesk Product

1: Use Google Chrome to browse to https://www.autodesk.com/education/free-software (problems have been encountered with Microsoft IE/Edge and Mozilla FireFox)

2: Select "All Products" on the left then scroll down and select the link in the "Inventor Professional" section

3: If you are prompted to "Sign in" then provide your Autodesk username and password (see section above if you do not have one yet)

4: In the "Inventor Professional" section set the  version to "Windows" "2022" "English"

5: Select "Install"

6: Select "Accept"

7: This will download a file called "Inventor_2022_English_Win_64bit_wi_en-us_Setup_webinstall.exe"

8: If the downloaded file does not automatically install then open it from within the browser (problems have been encountered when running directly from download folder and/or the command line)

9: It is recommended to keep the browser open and on top until the install completes

10: If prompted for username/password you will need to provide an account that has local admin rights on the PC

11: You will need to enter a serial number and product key - these will have been emailed to you during the install

Setup Autodesk Inventor Defaults

1: Launch inventor

2: Select "Tools" > "Application Options"

3: Select "File" tab

4: Select "Configure Default Template" button

5: In the "Configure Default Template" window . . .

Set "Measurement Units - Default" to "mm"

Set "Drawing Standard - Default" to "ISO"

6: Select "OK" then "Overwrite"

7: Select "Apply" then "Close"

8: Select "File" > "Exit Autodesk Inventor Professional" to commit the changes

Installing Autodesk Inventor HSM (see note#1) Ultimate 2019

NOTE: it can take half an hour to complete this installation

NOTE: we have found that Google Chrome is the most reliable browser to use for installing Autodesk Product

1: Use Google Chrome to browse to https://www.autodesk.com/education/free-software (problems have been encountered with Microsoft IE/Edge and Mozilla FireFox)

2: Select "All Products" on the left then scroll down and select the link in the "Inventor HSM Ultimate" section (see note#1)

3: If you are prompted to "Sign in" then provide your Autodesk username and password (see section above if you do not have one yet)

4: In the "Inventor Professional" section set the  version to "Windows" "2019" "English"

5: Select "Install"

6: Select "Accept"

7: This will download a file called "INV_HSM_2019_6_1_0_15056_Win_64Bit_wi_en-US_Setup_webinstall.exe"

8: If the downloaded file does not automatically install then open it from within the browser (problems have been encountered when running directly from download folder and/or the command line)

9: It is recommended to keep the browser open and on top until the install completes

10: If prompted for username/password you will need to provide an account that has local admin rights on the PC

Installing Custom Inventor Template files

1: Download the relevant CAM templates file (e.g. cam.templates.omio.4mm.1f.20210113.zip)

2: Check folder exists at "%LOCALAPPDATA%\Inventor HSM\templates" (see note#1)

3: The downloaded zip file contains one or more invhsm-template files

4: Expand or copy the invhsm-template files into the "%LOCALAPPDATA%\Inventor HSM\templates" folder (see note#1)

NOTE: the location is user specific so if you use different account then you will need to repeat the above 5 steps 

Installing Custom Inventor Post Processing files

1: Download the relevant CAM posts (e.g. cam.posts.omio.20200714.zip)

2: Check folder exists at "C:\Users\Public\Documents\Autodesk\Inventor HSM\Posts" (see note #1)

3: The downloaded zip file contains one or more cps files

4: Expand or copy the cps files into the "C:\Users\Public\Documents\Autodesk\Inventor HSM\Posts" folder (see note #1)

NOTE: the location is not user specific so you will only need to perform these steps once on your PC 

Installing GrabCAD Workbench

1: Click this link to downloads page: here

2: Run installer

3: Tick "agree" immediately before reading the conditions and press "install" and then "Launch"

4: Under "Login" bottom right, click "Sign Up" and proceed to create an account

5: Now, login on the client

6: Choose a sensible location for your GrabCAD folder (folder with all projects), I use Desktop so its quick to access

7: Ask Ben for access to ICRobotics projects, you will receive an email granting you access

8: Download "ICR_COTS" and "ICR_2018_Robot" projects

9: There should be a green tick indicating "Up to date" on both projects

Configuring Inventor to work with GrabCAD

1: Open Inventor

2: Go to Tools > Application Options

3: Locate and click on the "file" tab

4: Under "Default Content Center files" click on the magnifying glass

5: Browse for the GrabCAD folder from earlier, select "ICR_COTS" as the location

6: Press apply and restart Inventor

Troubleshooting

PROBLEM: When starting Inventor you are prompted that the license has expired for the Inventor HSM (see note#1) Ultimate component.

SOLUTION: this was resolved by reinstalling the Inventor HSM (see note#1) Ultimate component:

1: Login to https://www.autodesk.com/education

2: Download a new copy of the Inventor HSM (see note#1) Ultimate package

3: Exit from autodesk tools.

4: Uninstall Inventor HSM (see note#1) Ultimate from your PC via Control Panel > Programs and Features

5: Install the recently downloaded Inventor HSM (see note#1) Ultimate package by selecting and run as administrator

6: Launch Inventor Professional

7: If prompted for single/multi-user license select single

8: NOTE: this time you should not be prompted with the license expiry message for Inventor HSM (see note#1) Ultimate

9:Check that you have a "CAM" menu item in Inventor.

10: NOTE: you should not need to re-install the custom inventor template or post processing files