Between the Lines

Create 3D Models in Autodesk 123D Catch

When using the free Autodesk 123D Catch to convert photos taken with your digital camera and create a 3D textured mesh there are some tips to getting the best resulting model. Read more →

Autodesk University 2012 - Submit Class Proposals

Autodesk University 2012 is now only 214 days away but if you want to be considered as a Autodesk University 2012 presenter/speaker you better get busy as there are only 25 days remaining until the deadline to have submitted your class proposals. Being a speaker/presenter at Autodesk University is an amazing experience and opportunity to show and share your knowledge and get recognition from your peers at the largest Autodesk event in the world. Being a speaker at Autodesk University is also an excellent way to get to AU when budgets are tight as you can receive speaker honoraria that can reduce or even pay for your Autodesk University attendance and travel depending on how many classes you get selected. Read more →

Happy Birthday Autodesk

It was on April 26th 1982 when a group of founders formally incorporated as Autodesk, Inc. Here's to the next 30 years! Read more →

Google Drive Features Autodesk’s AutoCAD WS & Pixlr as Native Apps

It was only recently that the impending and anxiously awaited product Sketchbook Ink was shown on the Apple main stage launch for the iPad 3. Now Both Pixlr and AutoCAD WS are basking in the limelight glow of the Google Drive launch. Read more →

Visit the Autodesk Gallery at One Market in San Francisco

With the summer travel season rapidly approaching for those in the Northern hemisphere I wanted to point out a free and great place to visit if your travel plans bring you to San Francisco California. The Autodesk Gallery is open to the public every Wednesday from 12-5 p.m, with a guided tour from 12:30-1:30 p.m. There are a wide variety of exhibits in the gallery as well as an amazing view out the windows looking towards the San Francisco Ferry Terminal Building and San Francisco Bay Bridge. Read more →

Autodesk DWG TrueView 2013 Available for Free Download

Autodesk DWG TrueView 2013, the 100% Autodesk DWG viewer build on the same codebase as AutoCAD is now ready for download. Read DWG files from AutoCAD version 2.1 in the early 1980’s to the recent AutoCAD 2013 DWG format, plot drawings, measure, and more. Read more →

Autodesk Inventor Fusion for Mac Released on Autodesk Labs

Many have been waiting to get their hands on a Mac version of Autodesk Inventor Fusion since the news started circulating with MacRumors publishing an article from Macworld 2012 in January where Autodesk’s Inventor Fusion maestro Kevin Schneider discussed and showed that Autodesk Inventor Fusion was indeed coming to the Mac platform. Macworld 2012: Autodesk Inventor Fusion for Mac Coming Autodesk Inventor Fusion is a 3D direct modeling solution that provides a full design modeling environment from 2D sketching with geometric constraints up to the creation and modifying of 3D solids. You can easily import many file formats such as SAT, STEP, as well as Autodesk Inventor parts and assembly files and modify the solids with simple press pull operations to explore different design options fast and easy. The Windows version of Autodesk Inventor Fusion is now included with several shipping Autodesk products including AutoCAD 2013 and several Autodesk Suites after going from technology preview and several iterations on Autodesk Labs and now the Inventor Fusion for Mac version starts the journey. The time has come and you can now download your free technology preview of Inventor Fusion for Mac. Read more →

Simplify Your Inventor Models for use in Revit

Keep Inventor Solids Simple (KISS) when exporting. This new technology preview for Autodesk Inventor 2013 named Inventor Simplification has just been posted on Autodesk Labs allowing you to reduce models, include or exclude parts and remove IP before exporting for use in a Revit BIM model using the .adsk file format. Read more →

Free Autodesk App To Simulate Design –The New Napkin to Explore Mechanical Design Concepts

Autodesk® ForceEffect Motion was just released free to the Apple App store. This is a great mobile tool for anyone exploring early design concepts from students to professionals. Bring in a picture and then use that as the design concept to explore the mechanical design. It is a also really fun to explore how things work, yes I said engineering can be fun. This is the new napkin in early concept design. Read more →

Autodesk University 2012 – In 229 Days

Autodesk University 2012 is now only 229 days away but if you want to be considered as a Autodesk University 2012 presenter/speaker you better get busy. Read more →

Developers - Join us at Camp this Summer!

Announcement from our Autodesk Developer Network (ADN) Team for those that develop for the Autodesk platforms, products, and technologies whether you are an ADN member or not. Announcing Autodesk AEC DevCamp (June 6-7) and Manufacturing DevCamp (June 13-14)! Register by April 30th to get the $100 early bird discount! DevCamps are held every other year where software developers like you can learn to get the most from your time and effort working with Autodesk platform technologies. The two industry specific Developer Camps include several tracks catering to the learning needs of beginner and expert software developers – as well as a business track for start-ups looking to develop and leverage their relationship with Autodesk. Come to Camp and get two days of face to face learning and help from Autodesk software engineers – the same Autodesk software engineers developing and supporting the Autodesk technology you work with every day. Read more →

Customization Sync in AutoCAD 2013

I wanted to share a link to a nice blog post by Kate Morrical on the benefits of Autodesk 360 to customization with AutoCAD 2013. Your customization can follow you to different machines and locations. Read more →

Free Autodesk Software Assistance for Displaced Professionals

If you or someone you know is currently a veteran or unemployed there is an option to keep your design skills sharp or even learn new skills using over 30 Autodesk products like AutoCAD, Revit, or Inventor for free. Read more →

Try AutoCAD LT 2013 without Downloading or Installing!

Some great news (as usual) was found in the April Edition of Autodesk Labs Innovation Edge newsletter. http://labs.blogs.com/apr2012/innovation_edge.htm You can try the brand spanking new AutoCAD LT 2013 Online Trial without having to download or install anything. Read more →

Flight Training This Week

This week I spent the beginning in San Francisco getting some formal training to be a safe and skilled Octo-Copter pilot. I am a designated tandem pilot for the Octo-Copter for some research projects and need to have my skills and training near levels of our veteran pilot Gonzalo Martinez. The Octo-Copter is a large 8 rotor unmanned aerial drone from which we can mount a 2kg payload of cameras to capture video and photos to create 3D terrain using... Read more →

Autodesk Inventor Team Needs Your Feedback

The Autodesk Inventor Team is looking for feedback on Ease of Assembly. We’ll leave this survey open for response until Sunday, April 15th. Read more →

Tips and Trick for AutoCAD 2013 - Content Explorer and Autodesk 360

In this “Tips and Tricks” write-up, I’m going to show the self-professed ‘Hackers and Tinkerers’ out there, the benefits of the newly released Autodesk 360 Sync service in AutoCAD 2013, when used in conjunction with the ‘Content Explorer’. Although the ‘Content Explorer’ was released last year, some people may not have taken a serious look at it. Well, after reading this tip, you may want to leverage these two features for your workflow. Read more →

3D Print Your Autodesk Products as a DVD

Last week while working in the San Francisco Autodesk offices I ran across an interesting research project that is being conducted by a special team of combined operations and a 3D printing team. In the past Autodesk had physical media for delivery of software like floppy disk, CD-ROM, DVD, and USB media. Then we had the instantly gratifying electronic downloads of the software, but that was electronic and nothing you could place on your shelf unless you waiting a week or more to receive the physical shipment from your friendly delivery man. Many wanted instant software in a physical form and that customer request is at the core of this research. Read more →