Project Dragonfly is a free web hosted application which provides you the ability to easily design floor plans.
Yes Dragonfly is a free Do It Yourself “DIY” web based application unlike any other, give it a try.
See Scott’s post on the new Autodesk Labs offering.
Project Dragonfly now available on Autodesk Labs
Being from a mechanical background before coming to Autodesk, and having been an Autodesk Inventor user since before release 1, this was one of the coolest technologies I saw at Autodesk University 2008. It was the Inventor Fusion technology from our Manufacturing division at Autodesk.
I was wandering the AU exhibit hall and saw Autodesk’s Kevin Schneider in an Autodesk Labs booth demoing something I had not seen before, so I stopped and watched. It had everyone’s eyes at the booth and in some cases jaws were dropped. It was very cool technology, exciting, and innovative. It permits the parametric modeling (history based) modeling available with Autodesk Inventor to work with the direct editing (history free) of Inventor Fusion. You are not locked into one methodology of parametric or direct editing for a project and can use either based on the tasks at hand and combine the design data, the proverbial best of both worlds.
The User Interface “UI” is new and showcases many new concepts based on customer research. The technology appeared to be presenting options based on the task and there appeared to be some predictive choices based on contextual next step/options for the selected feature. You could work all without using dialogs or the ribbon menu.
The demo of Inventor Fusion was very powerful and it will be exciting to see the industry and peoples reaction when a technology preview is available for download.
Check out the videos and details http://www.inventorfusion.com/
Cheers,
Shaan
Have you seen the AutoCAD Drawing Cleanup Tool from Autodesk Labs? There are some very handy tools drawing cleanup tools in there.
I was walking through the Autodesk San Rafael offices last week and passed Brian Pene’s office. What caught my attention was he was playing with something wireless and his screen with a 3D building model was updating. I had to stop and ask what it was. It was the Tangible ViewCube (yes View+Cube are joined and trademarked as one word).
Think of it as the Autodesk ViewCube in real life and much better for manipulating a view than a Nintendo wii besides you look more professional than telling your boss why a gaming system is needed in your office. I saw other cool and practical things in Brian’s office, but I cant talk about those just yet.
Read Scott’s blog post on the Autodesk Tangible ViewCube device including a link to a video. Autodesk Tangible ViewCube
Cheers,
Shaan
Randy Kintzley of AutoCAD Bonus Tool and Express Tool fame and in recent years a developer in core AutoCAD has released a nugget to Autodesk Labs.
Navigation Bonus Tool for AutoCAD
This Navigation Bonus Tool provides backward and forward display navigation within AutoCAD 2008 and 2009. This is similar to the forward and backward option in your web browser. This is not UNDO and REDO. It is tracking everything that is being done so it can roll back or forward. I am testing the Bonus Tool myself but have not seen an impact to performance, but if you see a problem please make sure to email us the feedback at the email: labs.acad.navbonus@autodesk.com
The following items are tracked and added to the history while you work:
Ways of accessing this functionality:
It takes a little getting used to but can be very handy.
Navigation Tool Link: http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/acad_navigation_bonus/
Autodesk Labs Link: http://labs.autodesk.com/
Give it a try and let us know your feedback labs.acad.navbonus@autodesk.com
Thank you Randy & Autodesk Labs!Cheers,
Shaan
In addition to using AutoCAD, Impression, 3ds max, and many other Autodesk products I have been a longtime user of Autodesk Inventor from the pre Inventor 1.0 days. My background is mechanical design so Autodesk Inventor has always been a tool I use in my arsenal of design applications. Being one of the founders of Autodesk Labs,
Now the Autodesk Inventor Team is soon to be releasing a new Autodesk Labs Technology Preview named: Inventor Plastic Features Technology Preview
This Technology Preview will be related to the creation of thin-walled plastic parts and features such as grills, rests, bosses, snaps, lips, grooves and fillets.
More details when it is made available on Autodesk Labs.
There is a current YouTube video message from Kevin Schneider, Product Manager with the Autodesk Manufacturing team
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DW0FiZV1lQU
The formal announcement will be on Autodesk Labs http://labs.autodesk.com
Also keep an eye on the Autodesk Manufacturing blogs including the Autodesk Inventor specific blogs.
Project Showroom demonstrates an SaaSy idea we have been developing on to allow people customize a visualization based on materials and parts you can change. In other words you can do a remodel and see the different items you selected all nice and rendered immediately. It is pretty cool and gives a glimpse at house a company in the future may allow simple drag drop or changes to be reflected without having to know 3D design and using a rendering/visualization product as it is so simple even a caveman can do it. In the new version you can customize a kitchen and bathroom even change models of kitchen appliances, the floor, cabinet, or counter top materials
Personally I would like to see an open API as well as the ability to import my own 3D DWG file as the model or perhaps even a garden and change decks or exteriors.
Two technologies Autodesk Mudbox and Perceptive Pixel Multi-touch Wall demonstrated by two great people in the Autodesk Labs.
Check out Scott's blog posting and the videos on YouTube
Exploring Mudbox on a Multi-touch device
The updated and very very popular Google Earth Extension for AutoCAD has been updated for AutoCAD 2009 so that it now runs on three AutoCAD versions. There have also been a few updates by the developer Thomas Inzinga:
The Google Earth Extension is a great way to get your designs into Google Earth or reference Google Earth in AutoCAD.
"Using the simple wizard-driven interface, you can publish your 3D models from AutoCAD or select AutoCAD-based products directly into Google Earth™. The technology preview is available for 2007, 2008, and 2009 versions."
http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/google_earth_extension_beta/
In AutoCAD 2009 I created a 3D model of the Autodesk Civic Center Offices and published them to Google Earth using this extension.
View in Google Earth 
View in Google Maps
Google Map view showing the real-world location buildings in a satellite photo map.
PS: Happy Earthday!
This is not a guilt motivated post by me just because I ran my chainsaw for 2 hours last night trimming my trees and roses after watching a new reality show Axe Men and just had to use my chainsaw. I guess it is a guy thing...
Cheers,
Shaan
The Autodesk Labs project Content Search has made its transition from lab project to a graduate as of April 4th 2008 and more exciting details and updates will follow shortly.
What is Autodesk Seek (http://seek.autodesk.com/)?
Autodesk Seek delivers the design files or product specifications that you need regardless of format. You can download everything from Revit product family files and DWG files to DGN and SKP files to Microsoft Word documents and PDFs.
This free utility from Autodesk Labs allows you to one click publish to the free hosted Project Freewheel from your AutoCAD based products as well as Autodesk Revit and Autodesk Inventor Autodesk Freewheel is for quick and easy sharing of designs online in the DWF format.
Scott provides a detailed list of the update on his Its Alive Autodesk Labs blog.
Here is the new floating toolbar after I installed the latest ShareNow on AutoCAD 2009 as I gave it a run through.
Figure 2 is my design published to Project Freewheel which is a hosted zero client viewing site meaning nothing is required to be installed to view 2D or 3D designs. No need to be clogging up emails with attached files or someone having to install something to view a design or be on a certain version of a viewing application.
You can use the Wheel to Zoom and Pan within the design.
There is the option to save your session and share your design with others using your free Autodesk Labs login and password protect your session sharing. Those with whom you share the session with do not have to install anything at all just use their browser. You can even share a drawing set or email others of the link to the design session.
When you invited guest views the link to your design shared in Project Freewheel they can markup and even view the markup list.
Download ShareNow
Documentation: http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/ShareNow/documentation/
Feedback email: Labs.Freewheel@autodesk.com.
Project Freewheel: http://freewheel.labs.autodesk.com/index.aspx
Cheers,
Shaan
I have been swamped with the Autodesk 2009 product line launches, the beta projects wrapping up on many of the products, took a week off and went hiking and shutterbugging in Southern Utah, and then I got sick. No time for any of that now that I have hit the big time with my blog being on the main page of Autodesk.com.
I have a few blog posts in draft I will finish up and get them online like the updated ShareNow utility from the Autodesk Labs. As you may have noticed I have been adding some guest articles and tips from fellow AutoCAD users to add more perspective and knowledge like the Layer Isolate tip from Michael Beall and I have a few more guest authors. If anyone else has tips and tricks to share with Between the Lines all you have to do is email me at shaan@autodesk.com.
Cheers,
Shaan
The DWFx format has been added to AutoCAD 2009. DWFx is based on the XML Paper Specification (XPS) format from Microsoft. You can view and print DWFx files using Internet Explorer 7 on Windows Vista and Windows XP (with latest updates for .NET).
In AutoCAD 2009 You can plot or publish to DWFx, attach DWFx files as Underlays, and read DWFx files using Markup Set Manager. You can still and will continue to be able to plot the older DWF format as well.
The soon to be released FREE Autodesk DWG TrueView 2009 will provide the ability to open and view DWG or convert to DWF or DWFx as well as much more including the much requested measuring/inquiry capability. See the Beyond the Paper posting DWG TrueView 2009 is cool.
The soon to be released and FREE Autodesk Design Review 2009 supports viewing, some editing, and markup for both the DWF and DWFx formats.
The free web service for viewing your 2D and 3D files from any operating system through a browser Project Freewheel (http://freewheel.labs.autodesk.com) now supports DWFx and the official Autodesk Freewheel (http://freewheel.autodesk.com/) perhaps in the future.
It is always pretty cool to watch the evolution of a idea or software. The Autodesk Labs Team has now released an updated Project Draw which allows the web based application to run in the offline mode and synch files later when you re-connect. It is like having a web 2.0 and a desktop application rolled into one. That has always been my concern is getting used to an application that is web based then not being able to use it when on a long flight or when my Internet connection is unavailable but Google Gears solves this concern for now. Now you can use Project draw on the plane to do simple diagrams and synch back up with the web app when you reconnect and imagine the possibilities with other web based apps in the future with no reliance on a specific machines operating system.
A new version of this tool to clean up drawings has been updated for the timeout and is now available. I would post screen shots but unfortunately it only works on Windows XP and I am happily on Windows Vista with most of my machines.
http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/drawingcleanup/
Regards,
Shaan
Scott Sheppard of Its Alive in the Lab is a Scrooge ;-)
http://www.scroogeyourself.com/?id=1592991911
Just noticed in my RSS feed reader the following post on the Autodesk Labs blog...
"Shaan Hurley will make sure this comes back to haunt me, but here goes:
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1574997118
It takes a while to load, but it's worth it. Happy Holidays."
Well it is elves dancing and it has the faces of Lynn Allen, myself, and Heidi Hewett on them. Scott, as the old saying goes revenge is a dish best served cold. Bwahahahaha.
OK I did have a hard laugh over this. :-)
-Shaan
I cant believe Scott was brave enough to blog a photo of himself from the eighties but he was motivated to do so after photos of Lynn Allen were posted from AU 2007. He asked what I was like in the eighties, "uhhh rock on dewd, where's my hair brush".
Scott from the in the rockin 80s
Umm not sure who this guy below is...
I am now just getting ready to leave Las Vegas and head North where it is currently slowing which will slow my drive from around 6 hours to perhaps as long as 10 hours but I have a good co-pilot the Matt Murphy Clay Head Sculpture to navigate the weather.
Cheers,
Shaan
Thursday Night AU 80s themed party was HUGE and a blast. There were so many people, food , beverages, old 80s video games, pool tables, activities, 2 comedians, 1 chain saw juggler, and the band Tainted Love. After the party I went out with coworkers and customers to Tao upper floor which was a really cool place then for breakfast for the annual chicken and waffles with maple syrup at the Grand Lux located in the Venetian.
Autodesk University 2007 came to a final end today after the largest attendance of around and it could be a coincidence but when AU ended it got very cold, clouds covered the sky, and rain started here in Las Vegas.
Nice BLAUGI Blog post of AU 2007 related blog postings.:
What bloggers have had to say about AU 2007 so far
What bloggers have had to say about AU 2007 so far, Part II
Other AU 2007 blog post highlights:
A few of my highlight moments:
I head back to Utah tomorrow morning then to Brazil on Monday for CAD Camp and then onto Peru for some Amazon jungle trekking and photos. I need to also get my voice back and caught up on email, pack, and process and backup photos.
I want to say thank you for all who attended Autodesk University as well as those vital to its success, fun, great social networking, conversation, laughing, and the great classes like AU ringleader Lynn Allen, Carl Bass, Joseph Wurcher, Cheryl Romero, Lura Flynn, Leslie Coggan, Patricia Lundberg, Matt Murphy, The Matt Murphy Clay Head Sculpture, Martyn, Steve, Donnia, Chris, AUGI, Autodesk, exhibitors, Press, Mike and Melanie Perry, Owen, Darren, Devon, Mike, Robin, AC, Karen, RK, Rob, Dave, Luciana, Assis, Eric, Shawn, Evie, Gary, Mark, Jim, Don, Elise, Next Engine, Crystal, Ellen, Sunith, Helge, Brian, Volker, Celeste (nice costume entry and also congrats on winning the iTouch), Jeff, Jay, Robert, Peter, Kate, Rusty, Don, Emmanuel, Christine, Bob, Hans, John, Jon, Nate, Roopinder, Doug, Douggie, Alex, Steven, Jamie (nice outfit for the party), Tommy, Beth, Jim, Shawn, Matt, Richard, Mike, Rich, Shari, Shawn, Bud, Yoshi, Pete, Jerry, Heidi, Denise, David, Denise, Jonathan, Fenton, Katy, David, Bill, Kim, Candy, Grand Lux, La Scena, Dell, Donnie, HP, TechSmith, Thomas, Tom, Betsy, Kal, Jo, Borracca, Anthony, Stan, Larry, Kat, MyFeedback Members, AUGI Top DAUG participants, Red Bull, The Valley of Fire, Red Rock Canyon, The Venetian, and many many more people, groups, and companies that make AU the best show on earth and an event worthy of people traveling from all around the world to attend and participate. I hope to see all of you and more back in Las Vegas for Autodesk University 2008.
See the AU 2007 Flickr Photo Group and my Flickr Gallery
http://www.flickr.com/groups/au2007/pool/ ( it is free to share your AU 2007 photos there)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/btl//sets/72157603222810607
http://www.flickr.com/photos/btl/
Cheers,
Shaan
Autodesk Labs has posted a new utility for Autodesk Inventor 2008.
http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/framegenerator/
"The Frame Generator customization tool functionality allows you to quickly and easily add your own custom structural profiles to the Frame Generator in Autodesk Inventor 2008"
It's Alive in the Lab Blog Announcement Frame Generator Customization Tool for Inventor Now Available
white paper
Feedback Email: Labs.IVFrameGenerator@autodesk.com
SaaS stands for Software as a Service or perhaps you have heard the term Web 2.0. This is basically an application that needs no installation and runs on the web through your browser. Give this early preview example a run through of what can be done through your browser thus bypassing limitations of what operating system you are using. You can draw shapes ala basic Actrix or Visio with grips and snaps.
http://labs.autodesk.com/technologies/draw/
URL: http://draw.labs.autodesk.com
Feedback Email: Labs.Draw@autodesk.com
Supported Browsers
It's SaaSy!
The text based Content Search Alpha and geometry searching Autodesk Visual Search are two technologies in the Autodesk Labs now available to use and get customer feedback to help shape their directions.
Autodesk Visual Search allows you to simply sketch and search based on the sketch geometry, 2D or 3D drawing or even based on a raster image for some pre-indexed content results that are the closest geometry match. This is a pretty interesting web based app.
Content Search is a engine that aggregates content like standard blocks and details from major suppliers and Autodesk products.
Go give them a try then provide some feedback to the team email listed on the Autodesk Labs page.
Happy Searching!
-Shaan
We have updated the Autodesk Labs hosted tool "Google Earth Extension for AutoCAD" which included fixes for reported issues and support of other products like AutoCAD Map. The credit and kudos goes to the developer Thomas Inzinga. With this updated tool you can import images or a mesh from Google Earth, assign time span, and also publish your models to Google Earth.
http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/google_earth_extension_beta/
(not really a beta but a Autodesk Labs Technology Preview)
Changes:
Added support for AutoCAD® Map 3D 2008. Added support for map projections when using the extension with AutoCAD® Civil 3D 2008 or AutoCAD® Map 3D 2008. Added tool tips for displaying time span data attached to AutoCAD entities. AutoCAD® block references are now published without the need to explode them. Included a number of minor defect corrections.
Email feedback to: labs.acad-google@autodesk.com
Thomas will also have a class on this tool at Autodesk University "Publishing DWG Data to Google Earth (GD405-1)".
Come join us at Autodesk University while this year we are celebrating 25 years of proven industry excellence by Autodesk.
We just posted a new preview of a utility named the Drawing Cleanup Utility "DCU" to the Autodesk Labs. This Drawing Cleanup Utility will assist you in cleaning up a drawing to meet your specification or standards by organizing, re-mapping, or manipulate entities to a target standard. You can move layers, blocks, geometry, linetypes, color, explode blocks and attributes all while selecting in a visual selection method. It can also record and play macros to automate tasks. It is for AutoCAD 2007 and AutoCAD 2008 and based vertical products like AutoCAD for Architecture 2008.
Check DCU out HERE
From the documentation:
What is the DCU?
The Drawing Cleanup Center (DCU) is a productivity tool that provides users the ability to
quickly clean-up and structure DWG files to meet a specific standard. DCU can be used
with all Autodesk products that run on AutoCAD 2007 or 2008 – e.g. Map 3D, ADT, Civil
3D, etc.
It is a user interactive tool that provides visual feedback of user actions and assists users
in selecting the right tools with visual cues such as tool tips. It is designed for individuals
who are familiar with CAD but who aren’t CAD experts.Who needs DCU?
DCU is valuable tool for CAD drafters and designers in several important, and often time
consuming, business scenarios that require modifying drawings to conform to a standard
as follows:
- Cleanup CAD Drawings to a standard driven format which makes it easier to migrate to any AutoCAD application.
- Automating the migration of drawings into a database-based system (e.g. migrating maps into a GIS, migrating floor plans into a facilities management system, etc.)
- Ensuring that drawings from subcontractors conform to a company standard
- Decluttering (removing data) drawings to make them more usable for different business users (e.g., taking architectural floor plan drawings and simplifying them to fit the needs of first responders, etc.)
What are the high-level DCU features and functions?
Several key features that DCU provides are:
- Increasing productivity over standard AutoCAD-based tools (e.g. Map 3D, ACA, Civil 3D, etc.)
- Simplifying AutoCAD for non expert AutoCAD users
- Graphic interaction (select by example)
- Immediate graphic feedback
- Managing and distributing the DCU CAD standards throughout an organization
- Automating work through macros which record and playback repeatable
operations
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