Between the Lines

Quadrotor Aerial Robots & Music

Nothing like a good fun diversion for the day. Thanks to the Wired Twitter feed and TED 2012 today I saw this YouTube video of autonomous quadrotor copters that worked together to play the James Bond 007 theme music. I love when engineers use creative, fun, and entertaining methods to demonstrate technology. This is engineering folks! http://youtu.be/_sUeGC-8dyk Flying robot quadrotors perform the James Bond Theme by playing various instruments including the keyboard, drums and maracas, a cymbal, and the debut... Read more →

Autodesk at TED 2012 - IDEAS Cage Matches

Autodesk has an action packed week at TED 2012 and today there is the Social Space with all the great exhibits as well as the much anticipated IDEAS Cage Match tonight where cerebral heavyweights will be pitted against each other for a battle of ideas in four top card topic fights. Read more →

Autodesk at TED 2012 in Pictures

Autodesk is a sponsor at this years TED 2012 event happening this week in Long Beach California. We are posting our photos from the event on Flickr. Read more →

Autodesk PLM 360 Announced

PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) is changing. Autodesk PLM 360 is here. http://autode.sk/AuvOZb Read more →

3D Fossil Exploration in a Virtual Laboratory

Autodesk gave a grant to help world renowned Paleontologist Louise Leakey to help develop one of her goals to bring many of the rare fossil specimens in Kenya to the world by the web, The website http://www.Africanfossils.org by Louise Leakey has been updated with several new features since its launch at Autodesk University 2011. Read more →

TED 2012

One of the most influential events in technology starts tomorrow Tuesday February 28th but there are some social spaces and workshops being held today. The TED 2012 conference founded in 1984 stands for Technology Entertainment and Design and the goal is to spread ideas worth spreading. Autodesk is committed to all three of the focuses of TED and will have several events during TED this year as well as being a TED sponsor. Read more →

National Park Service Records American Engineering History with Autodesk Software

More capturing existing objects with point clouds in the news. Capturing existing objects, places, specimens, and structures in digital 3D models help to preserve our history and cultures for perseveration, restoration, and future study. A 3D model or point cloud is far more valuable and rich in data than a 2D photo or sketch with a descriptive text. Read more →

Delicate Arch in Your Hand as a 3D Print

Last Spring two FARO employees Jeff Squibbs and Matthew Daly and myself took a FARO Focus3D laser on a hike up to Delicate Arch located just outside Moab Utah in Arches National Park. The goal was to capture the world famous natural sandstone landmark in an accurate 3D point cloud using a laser scanner. Read more →

AutoCAD 2013 News

You will now start hearing more about the impending AutoCAD 2013 release. Autodesk PR has given the OK to discuss the release publicly now. Read more →

Check out the Self-Paced Guide “My First Plug-in”

Are you an AutoCAD® power user with an interest in becoming even more productive? Would you like to automate or extend the capabilities of AutoCAD, but are new to computer programming? If so, then this guide is designed for you. “My First Plug-in” is a self-paced tutorial guide for a smooth introduction to the programming world. This is a “one-stop shop” learning path for users who know Autodesk products but are absolutely new to programming and are thinking about taking... Read more →

Maker Startup Weekend at TechShop San Francisco

This is a first ever event held by TechShop in San Francisco March 2nd through the 4th 2012. TechShop is like a gym membership for people who want to design and make their own items (personal fabrication). Read more →

AutoCAD WS Mobile 1.4 What's New Video

New features include 3D viewing, GPS support and remote plotting. Download now for iOS from the App Store here: http://aucad.ws/wDQhps Download now for Android from the Android Market here: http://aucad.ws/wmWbKS Read more →

Project Vasari Webinar - Glazing Deep Dive

Project Vasari is a free Autodesk Labs technology preview for AEC conceptual design and analysis. The Project Vasari team will be holding a live talk tomorrow on thermal zoning and custom glazing. Read more →

AutoCAD WS Mobile 1.4 Available

This weekend many noticed the newest version of AutoCAD WS Mobile went live for both Android and iOS mobile and tablet devices. Read more →

My Big Fat 3D Head

A fun Friday project to share and something you can do as well. I captured my own head in a 3D model using the free Autodesk 123D Catch software which takes a series of photos from a regular camera and generates a 3D mesh. It is quite simple as long as you read the instructions on how to take your photos. Since glasses are thin featured and also have transparent glass they should be removed. The most difficult part is sitting completely still for about 2 minutes as someone takes photos of your head from different angles. Read more →

RefMan A Shy but Powerful AutoCAD Tool

How can you update and re-path AutoCAD drawing reference files such as other drawing files, fonts, or plot configuration files after a path has changed? Reference Manager is the answer. Read more →

New HP Z1 All in One Workstation PC

HP announced their new all-in-one PC desktop computer workstation the HP Z1 and Autodesk was there with HP in Las Vegas for the unveiling of this new workstation and demonstrated it with several Autodesk design and visualization software products. Read more →

Autodesk Design Review Mobile App for Android In the Android Market

View and markup Autodesk DWF files on your mobile Android device for free using the Autodesk Design Review Mobile for Android in the Android Market. Read more →

Valentines Day Geometry

It only takes three lines and two circles to form a heart for a ultra geek heart valentine from geometry. I found these nice examples of constructing hearts through simple geometry. Read more →

Heads Up on Autodesk DevCamps June 2012

Are you interested in customizing, extending or integrating with Autodesk software products such as Autodesk Revit, AutoCAD Civil 3D, Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Vault, new Autodesk web services and mobile technologies, and more? If yes then the Autodesk DevCamps are for you! Read more →

Hair Today Gone Tomorrow

I am once again considering shaving my head. One of the most obvious reasons is because my hairline is rapidly heading that direction anyways. Read more →

Instructables Make it Real Challenge

Autodesk and Instructables has announced a new challenge where you could win a Objet 3D printer or many other great prizes. The Make it Real Challenge involves posting an instructable on how to design something on your computer and making it real using 3D printing, laser cutting or decals. Read more →

Grading Plans with Interactive Terrain Shaping

Autodesk Labs has just released named Interactive Terrain Shaping for AutoCAD Civil 3D 2012. You will be able to interactively create and visually explore new conceptual grading plans. To me it appears the direct modeling paradigm or dynamic model interaction has come to civil design. Read more →

AutoCAD WS Update Coming

AutoCAD WS allows the viewing, markup, and sharing of DWG files among architects, designers and engineers, as well as non-CAD professionals. AutoCAD WS is available for free on the web, on mobile devices with AutoCAD WS mobile, and as a native desktop Mac App in the Mac App Store. Currently the developers are hard at work on the next update of the free AutoCAD WS and AutoCAD WS mobile. The new update will include many new features like new 3D viewing, GPS Integration, and Print to Plot with HP ePrint. Read more →

Import Rhino 3DM File Into AutoCAD

Import Rhino 3DM files and many other formats into AutoCAD. Read more →