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Autodesk News

Racing team relies on suite of software products

November 2, 2011 By Laura Carrabine Leave a Comment

Australia-based racing team, Kelly Racing, has been using Autodesk products for a range of uses – from precision design to validating new car components — all without hitting the track for physical testing. Given that the period between races is often a window of less than three weeks, Autodesk Inventor Professional, Autodesk Simulation CFD, Autodesk Simulation Multiphysics, and Autodesk Vault Professional software are crucial to enabling Kelly Racing to turn around new components in a timely manner and secure wins in half the time of most racing teams. “It is critical for us to be fast and efficient in every facet of our business,” said Rick Kelly, team racer and co-owner.

“Autodesk provides the technology and expertise to streamline our entire design process, so we can beat our competition on the track and in the marketplace. Now that we have incorporated Autodesk Product Design Suite, it has enabled us to further enhance our workflow.”

Following a race weekend, the drivers brief Kelly Racing’s in-house design and engineering team on what precisely went right and wrong during the race. The designers then set to work with Inventor Professional software to make modifications to the existing car parts that can enhance performance and save the team time. For example, improvements to the front end of the car, in particular the suspension assembly, has increased traction and grip by 8%, leading to faster lap times or shaving 1% of total car weight through design and material optimization.

Even the most minor modifications play a vital role in a sport where a fraction of a second can be the difference between first and 21st place. Engineers then test revised designs with Autodesk Simulation CFD to optimize aerodynamic performance and ensure the components are able to perform at speeds of up to 300 kilometers (188 miles) per hour. Autodesk Simulation Multiphysics software is also used to predict and validate the mechanical performance of the new components. Autodesk Vault Professional data management software helps manage the design process from initial concept to final release, providing the engineering team with greater control over the design process right up until the component or part is manufactured, released to the race department and put on the car.

Embracing Digital Prototyping has been a winning strategy for Kelly Racing. A new racing team typically takes six or more years to register its first win, but just barely into its third season, Kelly Racing has already scored two victories along with nine podium finishes.

Autodesk, Inc.

www.autodesk.com

Filed Under: 3D CAD Package Tips, Autocad Blogs, Autodesk, Autodesk News, CAD Package, Inventor, Simulation Software Tagged With: Autodesk, CFD, digital prototyping, Inventor, Kelly Racing, Multiphysics, vault

Colossal 400-ft truck completely designed in CAD

October 17, 2011 By Laura Carrabine Leave a Comment

Perkins Specialized Transportation Contracting (Perkins) provides highway transportation services for long, heavy, and oversized objects. Its engineers recently used Autodesk Simulation software for the custom design of a 400-ft long truck specifically created to transport nuclear generators.

The truck took almost three years to design and gives a safe and efficient way to transport enormous and often radioactive components that were once considered immovable. The truck successfully carried four steam generators from the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in southern California to a disposal site in Clive, Utah.

The vehicle is longer than a football field, has 192 wheels and 48 axles, each of which can be turned independently. The truck can effectively navigate sharp turns and different road grades. Autodesk Digital Prototyping software helped Perkins engineers use a 100% digital approach to create a truck capable of carrying a 400-ton payload over 750 miles.

The engineering team started with 2D sketches of the transporter created in AutoCAD. Then, they imported the files into Inventor to model them in 3D. The software helped Perkins engineers perform motion analysis and check for interferences throughout a full range of motion as the various axles turned and rotated.

The team also used Autodesk Simulation software to optimize its designs, ensuring that the transporter had only the support beams necessary to successfully distribute weight among the various axles. The stress analysis ensured that no axles were overloaded and that the truck was as strong and light as possible.

Autodesk, Inc.

www.autodesk.com

Filed Under: Autocad Blogs, Autodesk, Autodesk News, Inventor Tagged With: 3D CAD, AutoCAD, Autodesk, Inventor, nuclear, Perkins, simulation

New, free CadFaster 3D CAD iPAD app

August 23, 2011 By Laura Carrabine Leave a Comment

CadFaster, Inc. released its newest CadFaster application for the Apple iPAD available in the Apple iTunes App Store. (http://bit.ly/pTzM43) The application is ideally-suited for engineering, architecture, construction, mechanical, and plant design firms seeking the fast reading and smooth handling of complex and large CAD data files. CadFaster Collaborate lets you distribute, annotate, and co-view 3D designs in real-time using the fast and efficient 3D visualization technology.

The new product allows anyone to collaborate with 3D models exported to the CadFaster cloud service from Autodesk Revit, Bentley MicroStation, or SolidWorks. An ArchiCAD plug-in will be available in September, 2011. 3D models are highly compressed before they are exported and stored in a cloud database and the application includes a number of demo models to work with.

CadFaster

www.cadfaster.com

Filed Under: 3D CAD Package Tips, Autocad Blogs, Autodesk, Autodesk News, CAD Package, SolidWorks, SolidWorks Blogs, SolidWorks News & Events Tagged With: 3D CAD, Apple, ArchiCAD, Bentley MicroStation, CadFaster, cloud, iPad, Revit, SolidWorks

Autodesk launches AutoCAD products for the Mac OS X Lion

August 16, 2011 By Laura Carrabine Leave a Comment

Autodesk debuted three products for the Mac operating environment: AutoCAD 2012, AutoCAD LT 2012, and AutoCAD WS.

AutoCAD 2012 for Mac includes 2D and 3D tools, 3D free-form modeling, 3D visualization and rendering, network licensing, advanced customization of menus, and support for LISP, ObjectARX, and ObjectDBX.

AutoCAD LT for Mac follows common Mac application UI guidelines with an Apple menu bar with workflow-based palettes. The software supports native Mac OS X behavior including Cover Flow navigation and Multi-Touch gestures.

AutoCAD WS for Mac is a free app that provides basic tools for viewing, editing,a nd sharing designs. Through its synchronous coediting feature, uou can collaborate on designs across multiple platforms —  desktop, mobile, and web.

AutoCAD for Mac 2012 is free to students and educators through the Autodesk Education Community where more than 25 Autodesk software products are available for download.

AutoCAD for Mac 2012 and AutoCAD WS for Mac will be available worldwide August 19, 2011. AutoCAD LT for Mac will only be available in the U.S. and Canada on August 16, 2011. AutoCAD LT for Mac and AutoCAD WS for Mac will be delivered exclusively as apps on the Mac App Store.

Autodesk

www.autodesk.com

Filed Under: 3D CAD Package Tips, Autocad Blogs, Autodesk, Autodesk News, CAD Package Tagged With: 2D, 3D, Apple, AutoCAD, AutoCAD 2012, AutoCAD LT, AutoCAD WS, Autodesk, Mac

Hawkes Ocean Technologies makes underwater airplanes with Inventor software

June 1, 2011 By Laura Carrabine Leave a Comment

Graham Hawkes, founder and chief engineer at Hawkes Ocean Technologies, used Autodesk Digital Prototyping software to design Deep Flight Super Falcon, a 4th generation, 2-man winged submersible. Other stats:

Winges deployed: 3.0 m

Wings folded: 1.4 m

Height: 1.6 m

Length: 6.7 m

Cruise Speed: 2-6 knots

Max. thrust: 508 lbs/2331 kg

Max. descent rate: 200 ft/min

Max ascent rate: 400 ft/min

Operating depth: 1,000 fsw (feet of salt water)

Autodesk, Inc.

www.autodesk.com

Hawkes Ocean Technologies

www.deepflight.com

Filed Under: 3D CAD Package Tips, Autodesk, Autodesk News, CAD Industry News Tagged With: Autodesk, cad, Deep Flight, digital prototyping, Hawkes Ocean Technologiies, Inventor, Super Falcon

Autodesk Brings AutoCAD WS Mobile App to Android

April 12, 2011 By Laura Carrabine 1 Comment

AutoCAD WS for Android enables an expanded group of users to enjoy the benefits of collaboration with architects, designers, and engineers from anywhere in the world and experience the freedom of taking designs with them.

Product users will experience a simplified, intuitive set of viewing, editing, and markup tools to work on designs while on the go. You can open drawings from email attachments, sync files from the web, or upload drawings directly from AutoCAD software through the integrated online tab. Drawings can also be saved locally for use in the field when an Internet connection is unavailable.

One feature is the text annotation tool that supports integrated voice commands available on devices running Android 2.2 (Froyo) or above. Now Android users can insert comments and notations on a drawing simply by speaking rather than typing them into the text edit box.

Additional feature enhancements that are available with this release include: 

  • Plot to PDF (web app only): Users can publish their DWG drawing to PDF using the free AutoCAD WS web application just as they would with AutoCAD software.
  • Anywhere Storage (web and mobile apps): In addition to the AutoCAD WS cloud, customers can now connect directly to alternate storage folders from their Android, iPad and iPhone devices, as well as through the AutoCAD WS web application. This currently includes: the Autodesk Buzzsaw service, Dropbox (through DropDAV), Microsoft SharePoint, Windows Server 2008, Box.net, MobileMe, and Egnyte, and other cloud storage providers who support the WebDAV protocol.

 

Availability: AutoCAD WS for Android will be available for download on the Android Market beginning April 20, 2011. Register and find out as soon as the download is available.

 

Autodesk

www.autodesk.com

Filed Under: 3D CAD Package Tips, Autocad Blogs, Autodesk, Autodesk News, CAD Hardware Tagged With: Android, AutoCAD, Autodesk, Buzzsaw

Autodesk unveils 2012 Manufacturing software portfolio

March 23, 2011 By Laura Carrabine Leave a Comment

Autodesk, Inc. introduced its new 3D design and engineering software portfolio for manufacturers, including the new Autodesk Product Design Suite that makes design, visualization, and simulation software easier to adopt, use, and maintain. The complete Autodesk Digital Prototyping software portfolio helps manufacturers to design and build better, more sustainable products, reduce development costs and get to market faster.

Autodesk offers three editions of the Product Design Suite:

Product Design Suite Standard ¾ Foundational product design tools for conceptual design,  intuitive 3D surface and solid modeling, drafting and presentations, featuring AutoCAD Mechanical with Inventor Fusion, Autodesk Showcase, Autodesk SketchBook Designer, Autodesk Vault and Autodesk Mudbox software.

Product Design Suite Premium ¾ Optimized Digital Prototyping and visualization tools for maximum performance that features Standard edition tools along with Autodesk Inventor and Autodesk 3ds Max Designsoftware.

Product Design Suite Ultimate ¾ Advanced surfacing, simulation and tooling for unbeatable design quality, featuring the same tools as the Premium edition along with Autodesk Inventor Professional and Autodesk Alias Design software.

Launched in 2010 and updated this year, Autodesk Factory Design Suite 2012 is a factory layout and optimization solution that helps manufacturers make better layout decisions through the creation of a digital factory model, helping save time and money. It offers factory specific functionality in both AutoCAD Architecture and Autodesk Inventor, combined with Autodesk Navisworks’ visualization and analysis and Autodesk Vault to improve collaboration. New additions to the suite in 2012 include AutoCAD Mechanical for automating mechanical CAD tasks and 3ds Max Design and Showcase for enhancing communication and bids.

 

As a result of the strategic partnership announced in Oct. 2010, Autodesk and Granta Design Ltd. have built new design methods into Autodesk Inventor 2012 software that help designers estimate a product’s environmental impact and make more sustainable design decisions. The new Eco Materials Adviser in Inventor 2012 addresses sustainable design requirements early in the design process — when it matters most — enabling manufacturers to choose materials that minimize environmental impact without compromising on cost and performance. Powered by Granta’s expert materials database and proven sustainable design methodology, Eco Materials Adviser helps guide material selection and generates eco-impact reports so engineers can record and communicate the benefits of their sustainable design decisions.

Autodesk Inventor Fusion makes its commercial debut following its popular technology preview on Autodesk Labs. It is now included at no extra cost as a companion application to Autodesk Alias Design and Alias Automotive, Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Moldflow, Autodesk Simulation and AutoCAD products. Inventor Fusion provide robust 3D modeling ease-of-use and direct modeling for rapid design changes. It also unites direct and parametric workflows within a single digital model created in Autodesk Inventor.

Along with the Autodesk Product Design Suite, each product in the Autodesk Manufacturing portfolio offers  new capabilities, spanning conceptual design, engineering, manufacturing, and technical documentation.

AutoCAD Electrical 2012 software expands its support for international standards and     now allows electrical controls designers to view, edit and share their DWG files on web browsers or mobile devices through AutoCAD WS .

AutoCAD Mechanical 2012 software now enables editing 3D models from any source with   Inventor Fusion and intelligent drawing view creation with a new model documentation feature. Also new is mobile and web viewing and editing through AutoCAD WS, so mechanical engineers can spend more time innovating.

 

Autodesk 3ds Max Design 2012 visualization software enables you to demonstrate the operation of designs in real-world settings, providing seamless aggregation of CAD data and transforming digital prototypes into high-quality visuals with “push-button” rendering, cinematic-quality animation and effects and an extensive material and texture library.

Autodesk Alias 2012 products ― Alias Design, Alias Surface and Alias Automotive software ― make it easier to create accurate 3D models with Class-A surfaces and feature improvements to the technical surfacing process with modeling tools that are dramatically easier to use.

Autodesk Inventor 2012 software provides easier ways to interact with 3D mechanical design data; new opportunities for sharing, accepting and updating CAD data regardless of source and complexity; and high-impact performance and productivity improvements for both users and IT departments.

Autodesk Inventor Publisher 2012 software makes it easy to create highly visual and interactive assembly instructions, operating procedures and technical documentation from 2D and 3D CAD data. Users can publish interactive, 3D instructions in multiple formats directly to iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch mobile devices.

Autodesk Moldflow 2012 software introduces new real-time injection-molding simulation functionality, enabling dynamic evaluation of a range of plastic part design alternatives in a fraction of the time it takes to perform a standard simulation, helping to pinpoint the best design more quickly.

 

Autodesk Showcase 2012 visualization software is a key element of the Product Design Suite, transforming CAD data into compelling imagery, movies, and interactive presentations to improve the design review process, secure internal buy-in and win competitive bids.

Autodesk Simulation 2012 software, previously known as Autodesk Algor Simulation, offers an all-new user interface as well as Autodesk Vault integration, introducing new revision management capabilities for easier management of design and engineering information.

Autodesk SketchBook Designer 2012 software provides digital sketching and illustration to enhance the creative process. Design professionals can export vector artwork from SketchBook Designer and bring it into Alias as curve data, transforming 2D concept sketches directly into 3D product designs.

Autodesk Vault 2012 product data management software gives workgroups across multiple locations more control over engineering data and documents from design through manufacturing, expanding its integration to additional Autodesk applications, including Navisworks, Inventor Publisher and Autodesk Simulation.

Autodesk, Inc.

www.autodesk.com

Filed Under: 3D CAD Package Tips, Autocad Blogs, Autodesk, Autodesk News, CAD Industry News, CAD Package, Featured, Inventor Tagged With: Alias, AutoCAD, Autodesk, digital prototyping, Inventor, Mechanical, Moldflow, Product Design

3Dconnexion launches 3D mouse support for Autodesk Revit 2012 software

March 23, 2011 By Laura Carrabine Leave a Comment

3Dconnexion announced Autodesk added native 3D mouse support in Autodesk Revit Architecture 2012, Autodesk Revit Structure 2012, and Autodesk MEP 2012 software applications. 3Dconnexion 3D mice complement the intuitive interface and modeling and documentation tools in Revit software, helping to enhance every design workflow stage with increased productivity and comfort.

3Dconnexion also announced 3D mouse support in Autodesk Navisworks 2012 software applications, bringing 3D mouse navigation benefits to model integration, review, and analysis. Offering a level of design interaction unattainable with a traditional mouse and keyboard, 3D mice allow Revit and Navisworks users to pan, zoom and rotate simultaneously to deliver navigation and more intuitive control, helping to boost productivity and efficiency while aiding user comfort.

Revit offers a comprehensive level of support for 3Dconnexion’s 3D mice, with an enhanced workflow at every step of the design process, including:

3D Modeling: Leveraging a two-handed workflow with a 3D mouse and traditional mouse results in intuitive and precise 3D navigation and a more fluid, productive design process

Conceptual Design and Review: Leveraging the superior navigation features of 3D mice, architects are able to easily visualize a building or model at the beginning of a project for a more tangible connection to a design, and as an aid in the earlier detection of design flaws

 

Client Presentation: 3D mice help clients visualize a project with cinematic-like motions and smooth transitions from one perspective to another, giving the viewer a sense of being in the actual space

User Interface: An intuitive navigation bar features options for controlling the view, including navigation modes, keeping the scene upright, center tool, and 3Dconnexion driver control panel

2D and 3D Navigation: When working in 3D, users can quickly switch between object and walk/fly camera modes within the conceptual design, 3D model or client presentation; in 2D, designers can continue editing while working in detail sheets and section views with easy pan and zoom functionality

Button Mapping: 3Dconnexion’s Professional Series products feature programmable function keys for instant access to commonly used application commands, and QuickView Navigation keys for one-touch access to specific views

3Dconnexion

www.connexion.com

Filed Under: 3D CAD Package Tips, Autodesk, Autodesk News, CAD Industry News Tagged With: 3Dconnexion, AEC, Autodesk, Revit

Autodesk acquires Blue Ridge Numerics

February 17, 2011 By Laura Carrabine Leave a Comment

Autodesk signed a definitive agreement to acquire Blue Ridge Numerics for approximately $39 million. Blue Ridge’s CF design software will be an important additon to Autodesk’s simulation suite that includes Inventor, Algor Simulation, and Moldflow. The CFdesign addition will broaden Autodesk’s solution for digital prototyping.

Its customers will have a spectrum of CFD capabilities to help automate fluid flow and thermal simulation.

Autodesk

www.autodesk.com

Filed Under: 3D CAD Package Tips, Autodesk, Autodesk News, CAD Blogs, CAD Industry News Tagged With: Autodesk, Blue Rdige Numerics, CFD, CFdesign

Firm uses 2D and 3D CAD to create innovative recreational facilities

May 17, 2010 By Laura Carrabine Leave a Comment

OpenAire designs indoor water parks including pool enclosures, retractable and operable roofs, and skylights. The firm uses AutoCAD as their primary drafting software program to quickly address changes both internally and externally with project partners.  OpenAire worked with the architectural firm Black River Design on the Jay Peak project and AutoCAD helped them collaborate by sharing files and being able to modify each other’s files. As a universal software program, AutoCAD, provides OpenAire with the flexibility to work with various project partners on the same platform, and to quickly and easily retrieve and modify project files. 

In the case of the Jay Peak water park in Jay, Vermont, there are a myriad of features and components that play a role in the design and build of a retractable roof and operable skylight system such as waterslides. With all of these moving parts, OpenAire is able to work with project partners to manage and ensure alignment. The company develops their 3D drawings which are then combined with the water park designer’s 3D drawings to ensure points at which their elements are aligned. The program allows both parties to review the combined file, assess any changes/modifications, and make informed and calculated decisions to correct the issues.  

As a result of using this system, the margin of error is reduced as opposed to pre-CAD days that relied on manual labor. OpenAire estimates that its number of errors is reduced by 10%. In addition, the DWG files allow designers to share files, make them available for download, and integrate them as required with other software programs.

OpenAire also uses S-Frame, a powerful 2D/3D/4D structural analysis software. The product helps OpenAire’s engineering staff model the aluminum structure, apply different load criteria, and analyze the results. It is the primary tool for generating job estimates and eventually to design and engineer its projects such as Jay Peak.

Using the software, OpenAire designers develop a library of extrusion profiles. They add profiles to the library as new aluminum extrusions are designed to meet load requirements of current projects. They can quickly select an extrusion as they are working on a project and to save a newly designed extrusion and later recall it as needed.

OpenAire is able to import their AutoCAD files which allow them to essentially trace their AutoCAD file in S-Frame and call up aluminum extrusions from their library. While designing Jay Peak’s retractable roof, snow load was a significant challenge. By tracing an AutoCAD file in S-Frame, the program can identify parts that may be overstressed due to snow load changes as a result of wind, the way the snow falls, etc.  Using S-Frame, OpenAire designers were able to account for and address every potential snow load situation by inputting criteria and variables specific to Jay Peak. If areas are determined to be overstressed, for example, snow load could be an issue. Designers can then assess how to best solve that situation such as thickening the aluminum. S-Frame allows OpenAire to track, assess, and address specific compliance challenges for each project.

By using S-Frame, OpenAire drastically reduced the time and staff involved in analyzing a drawing, calculating extrusions, and correcting snow load and other building code requirements. 

 Autodesk
www.autodesk.com

OpenAire
www.openaire.com

Filed Under: 3D CAD Package Tips, Autodesk, Autodesk News Tagged With: 3D, AutoCAD, DWG, OpenAire, S-Frame

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