Swift Prints allows you to create templates for common printer configurations that you can quickly access later for one click printing of Inventor drawings.
Current version: 3.2
Single User License: $6.99/USD
Required: Inventor 2016+
* By downloading this add-in you are automatically accepting this license agreement.
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Thank you
Tried printing an 11×17 ANSI B/tabloid ledger etc…it’s not printing it 1:1, for some reason it’s shrinking down the print slightly like there’s some margin issues?
I have experimented with this some more. It seems that it’s defaulting to best fit on every plotter/printer here.
My paper sizes are correct, the orientations are coming out fine, it’s just that nothing is to scale. If something is 3″ @ a 3″ =1′-0″ scale, it’s coming in one dimension tick shy of the 3″ mark on the scale.
I can plot any drawing straight from Inventor, 8.5×11, 11×17, 36×24 etc, at “model 1:1”, and it comes out exactly to scale. So clearly it’s not the plotter/printers.
However, if I plot straight from Inventor and set it at “best fit” (instead of “model 1:1”) it comes out exactly the same amount off as using Swift Prints.
Starting to think I wasted $5..it’s really strange that no one here has brought up this issue other than one person and that was August 2012…
Author
I’ve added 1:1 as a future enhancement but to tell you the truth, most people don’t care what scale it plots and so it has been low on the priority list. I’ve issued you a partial refund, I hope this will suffice. This will still allow you to receive the future version for free.
Fair enough, thanks. I have to admit I’m kind of stunned by
people not caring if their drawings are to scale. I work in the
Nuclear industry and any dimensions we don’t provide for
production, have to be cleared with engineering evaluation
forms…so having as many dimensions as needed so that no one HAS
to use a scale is very important. However, if someone wanted to
scale, to check an overall dimension for whatever reason…that
should just be a given. One of our submittal drawings may have
several dimensions left of for proprietary reasons or because we
don’t want to be locked in to something that may change slightly
down the road…but if a customer wanted to scale something to
check a clearance or any other dimension not required, telling them
they cant scale our drawings would go over like a lead balloon.
Does everyone leave the scale turned off on their views then? Why
have sheet sizes or worry about setting up borders etc if you’re
just going to scale to fit? Why scale views using any kind of
standardized scale at all at that point? Even if you produce
drawings that you never want a scale being laid on I’d think you
would want some kind of standard/constant, not just arbitrarily
size your drawings to fit random paper sizes. I’d really be
surprised if any type of tube and pipe application using company
didn’t care about scale…if they’re laying out a large piping skid
and they’re producing a general layout type drawing (not a detailed
spool), there could be a multitude of dimensions someone would want
to scale…
Author
Just finished the latest update to “Swift Prints” and I squeezed the print 1:1 option as you requested in. The app is going to be submitted to Autodesk for re-certification in the next few days.
Thomas; First: In principle a great idea. Thank you.
Second: Can you put a scale factor a config so that a half size
check print is really half size (A0 to A2, ANSI D to B) Third: Any
odds on plot preview? Finally; (this is the big one) How do you
turn the window off when you are done. As I write this, I keep
clicking x in corner and it WILL NOT shut down, and thus my
inventor is stuck. I am completely willing to assume this either a
bug directly linked to my setup or me just missing something
obvious, but needless to say this is way frustrating. Any help
hugely appreciated. Cheers, M
Author
You are welcome. The scale factor (1:1) option is a feature of the next update of Swift Prints currently in final testing and certification with Autodesk. Plot preview, doubtful ever only because the focus of Swift Prints is 1 click printing. Any extra clutter is just that, clutter. If you need to, you can always use the default print dialog with Inventor for extra steps such as previewing first.
I’m not sure about the window not closing, this is the first time I’ve heard this with hundreds of users. I suspect you have a printer config or printer issue of some sort. Can you send me a screen shot and detailed information as to your printer config here: http://cadtoolbox.com/about/
Thomas; Funny you should mention that. Right after posting,
I task managered out of inventor and restarted to try and do
exactly that and I could not reproduce the hang. What ever it was,
it seems to have sorted itself for the moment and is working. Maybe
just a first run thing where it hung up as it did whatever its
initial config stuff is, beats me. Anyway, seems to be alright now.
If it does show up again, I will let you know. Other than that one
weirdness it is a way useful plug-in. Go you. Cheers, M
Can Swift Prints be made to only look at single network location for Configurations by default rather than have to have a user locate them themselves?
Author
Not currently, but I’ve considered that as a future feature.
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