Between the Lines

3D Printed Titanium Solid bike in Portland

The SOLID bike is now proudly on display in the city that inspired it, and in the office of the software used in the design, our Autodesk Portland office. SOLID bike: The first connected, 3D printed titanium bike by Ti Cycles Design & engineering software: Autodesk Fusion 360 and Autodesk Alias For most of us, buying a bicycle means picking out a stock model that best fits our size and style. But, that comes with trade-offs, since mass-manufactured bikes can’t... Read more →

How to activate a Start-up or Educational license for Fusion 360

I recently had to provide this information to a friend who is setting up a school with Fusion 360 for the students and felt this would be great to highlight for anyone else looking to get up and licenses running for the free education or start up licensed Fusion 360. Hopefully you were aware that as a student or teacher or even a startup company or enthusiast user you may get many of the Autodesk products free for a term... Read more →

Employee Made Arcade at Autodesk's Portland Office

Our Portland Autodesk office took the Autodesk tagline of “Make Anything” quite literal. We moved into this beautifully restored downtown central eastside Portland office a year ago. So when some of the employees heard we had a game room, they asked about an arcade game. There wasn’t an arcade game or budget – so they decided to make one. It was an organic grassroots volunteer project, but a group of employees decided “hey, lets make our own arcade console.” They... Read more →

Autodesk Fusion 360 and Generative Design

An in-depth review of Autodesk Fusion 360 and generative design was just posted by DEVELOP3D, who are also holding their conference DEVELOP3D Live in Sheffield England today. “As we discussed at the outset, topology optimisation refines a singular form to an optimised state, typically using a singular material. Generative design in Fusion 360 is, by contrast, a platform for experimentation on a much grander scale. All in all, what Autodesk has delivered on here, in its first pass, is pretty... Read more →

Tap Handle Competition and I Want You To Help

In our Autodesk Portland office we are all nearing our 1 year in this beautiful historic and renovated building, and have a internal design contest. Employees are encouraged to design and 3D printed tap handles for our beer taps in the office game room named after the Portland neighborhood of Slabtown. The Slabtown game room is used for events like user groups, receptions, training, and more. I know our customers and my readers are the most skilled and talented designers... Read more →

FIRST FRC PNW Robot Scrimmage

This weekend there was a scrimmage for Pacific Northwest FIRST robotics FRC teams held in Corvallis Oregon . My team 1540 Flaming Chickens of Catlin Gabel were there with their 2019 competition robot named, Phineas. FIRST Robotics FRC Teams started designing, fabricating, and programming for this years challenge just about 6 weeks ago. Team 1540 Flaming Chickens design in 3D using Autodesk Fusion 360. The goal of the scrimmage was to test the robot on a competition field and see... Read more →

Generative Design Field Lab in Chicago – Come Visit

Generative design is here to stay, so we made a place for it: Introducing our new Generative Design Field Lab in Chicago. https://autode.sk/2N56Lil “Every new technology comes with a learning curve, but we don’t want that to keep our customers from exploring what’s possible with our tools. We believe every manufacturer should be able to consider new and better ways to make things, and that’s why we’re opening a new public workshop space—Autodesk’s Generative Design Field Lab—in Chicago to show... Read more →

Free Software and Fusion 360 Training for FIRST FRC Teams

We are just a week away from the big 2019 FIRST FRC Destination Deep Space competition reveal and thousands of teams start to formulate their game strategy and begin design their robots for 6 weeks then the competitions begin between teams in regions with some heading for the world finals. Many winning teams see CAD as key to their strategy and design allowing them to better design and simulate as well as generate their Gcode for CAM cutting of parts.... Read more →

Fusion 360 Meetup in Portland 11.01.18

We are excited to be reintroducing the Fusion 360 Meetup in our new Portland Autodesk office located in the Central Eastside Industrial District. When: Thursday November 1 5:00 PM ‐ 8:00 PM Where: Autodesk Portland 221 SE Ankeny St, Portland, Oregon Agenda: 5:00 pm – 5:30 pm Arrive, socialize, eat and drink, check out the space including the PIE Shop - ask questions 5:30 pm – 6:45 pm Welcome, Meetup going forward, Fusion updates, and Portland Autodesk Space Mike Aubry... Read more →

THE FACTORY Powered by Fusion 360 Back at AU 2018

Do you remember the awesome speakers many made at Autodesk University 2017, and how popular this was? We're bringing the crowd favorite back to AU2018! This year a new project where attendees will have the chance to roll up their sleeves in a unique hands-on factory setting to design and manufacture their own air quality sensing lamp. THE FACTORY powered by Fusion 360 will be front-and-center in the Expo Hall and is open to a limited number of participants on... Read more →

Fusion 360 on the Big Stage

Big shoutout to the Fusion 360 team after Fusion 360 was seen in a cameo role on the big Apple WWDC18 stage today running on a Macbook Pro. Image spotted on Twitter by a proud Fusion 360 Product Manager Keqing Song @keqingsong Read more →

Fusion 360 to Get a Makeover

The Fusion 360 Team is all about transparency and including you in what is going on or going to happen in the future and including Fusion users in that process asking for your feedback. Somethings need updating over time, and that is not limited to wardrobes and kitchens, but also including software. Its not that that the Fusion 360 user interface and user experience (UI and UX) were poor, just that there is always room for improvement as more and... Read more →

Autodesk Generative Design Workshop Portland

The workshop involving Autodesk’s Fusion 360 Ultimate and generative design technology walks through concepts then hands on training for free. Autodesk Generative Design Workshop 2018 – Overview We had yesterday planned in sunny Portland Oregon yesterday but it was so popular that it was held again for another full session of new participants today. Participants not only got free training, free time limited licenses of Fusion 360 Ultimate and generative design technology, but they also to see the new Autodesk... Read more →

Autodesk Generative Design Workshop in Portland

Autodesk Generative Design Workshop - FREE Tuesday, May 22, 2018 10am to 5pm and will include lunch and a closing networking/social hour. Portland, Oregon at Autodesk’s brand new Portland Office Who should attend: Experienced Mechanical Engineers, Industrial Designers, Structural Engineers, and anyone closely tied to the design and manufacturing process interested in adopting generative design into their product development process. What you’ll get: This 1-day workshop will gather a small exclusive group of talented Engineers and Designers for a special... Read more →

Make Anything – Portland Style

When employees moved into the new Autodesk Portland office they had more good surprises than the amazing renovated historic building, our CREFT Facilities team went above and beyond. Autodesk Portland CREFT team member Lynette Keller used our own Portland developed Fusion 360 design software to design a coaster to place on our desks when we arrived. Autodesk employee and Fusion 360 expert Mike Aubry gave Lynnette some lessons in Fusion 360 and she made the design. The Make Anything Coaster... Read more →

The Future of Making at Autodesk University

Normally at Autodesk University you attend to see and learn from great speakers, but in this case you get to make an awesome custom speaker. In the Product Innovation Platform track you will get to go through each step from the beginning electrical design in Autodesk Eagle to the product design and machining in Fusion 360 and at the end of the track you will get to assemble and take your custom CNC machined wood enclosure speaker. Here is a... Read more →

Fusion 360 User Day in Berlin Germany

Am 09. September 2017 findet I'm Betahaus in Berlin der erste Fusion 360 User Day in Deutschland statt. Es erwarten Sie spannende Vorträge über erfolgreiche Fusion 360 Projekte, Tipps & Tricks von Experten sowie ein Ausblick auf kommende Entwicklungen. Parallel können Sie sich den ganzen Tag über als Fusion 360 User zertifizieren lassen. Programm 09:00 Uhr: Anmeldung, Kaffee & Snacks 10:00 Uhr: Begrüßung 10:10 Uhr: The Future of Making Things 10:30 Uhr: Floatility - Urban Mobility Innovation - Alexander Cuhls... Read more →

Fusion 360 Sheet Metal Challenge – One Day Remaining to Enter

You have on more day to enter the Fusion 360 Sheet Metal Contest and win a trip to Autodesk’s Pier 9 in San Francisco and a pass to Autodesk University. It only take a couple hours to create something fun and amazing in Fusion 360s new Sheet Metal feature and then enter it to win. We even provided you with the truck model in Fusion 360 to base your design from. The Autodesk Fusion 360 Sheet Metal Challenge Read more →

Fusion 360 Meetup in Portland Oregon

If you are located in or nearby beautiful Portland Oregon, please join us for the meetup August 23rd, 2017. Mike Prom, a Fusion 360 Product Mgr. and a sheet metal rock star will be presenting and taking questions. There will be beer and pizza. RSVP: Fusion 360 Meetup: Summer Sheetmetal Challenge! “Friends, we’ve got a great reason to get together: SHEETMETAL. Yes, one of the most anticipated enhancements of the summer is finally here and it’s time to dig into... Read more →

Fidget Spinner in Fusion 360

Fidget Spinners are all the rage, whether you love or don't care for them, they are here. A couple weeks ago at the Autodesk Lake Oswego Oregon office we held our annual Kids at Autodesk Day, where employees brought their children to work where we have several activities for them planned. One of those activities was designed and led by Garin Gardiner. Garin developed and led a class to walk the kids through the design of a fidget spinner and... Read more →

Fusion 360 Update 8.8.17 Honk if You Love Sheet Metal

A great update went live today for Autodesk Fusion 360. Holy Fusion 360 Sheet Metal Batman! You should update your Fusion 360, kick the tires and read about the update and awesome contest and prizes including Autodesk University 2017 passes. August 8, 2017 Update – What’s New Fusion 360 Sheet Metal Challenge ”To celebrate the release of sheet metal in Fusion 360, we’re putting on a brand new sheet metal-themed challenge. One of our team members needs a new bumper... Read more →

Fusion 360 in the Web Browser

Now you can edit your Fusion 360 models on your iPad, Chromebook, or Linux machine using only a web browser. Fusion 360 in the browser works on virtually any device with a browser. The Fusion 360 in the browser is only in preview at this time with several features not yet exposed, but they will be in the future. The purpose of the browser preview is to get your feedback. Imagine a future where you can go to any connected... Read more →

Nested Dielectrics - I Will Drink to That Fusion 360 Update!

Nested Dielectrics are literally a beautiful thing! It sounds like a medical condition or power system design, but In simple terms it is the ability to set priority of the object to render much like draw order works. The ability to allow the order of render priority for transparent materials and was part of the recent May 30, 2017 update to Fusion 360. Here is a blog post on how to use it. How to create realistic renderings with transparent... Read more →

Autodesk University 2017 - Design/Make/Use a Custom Speaker That Goes to 11!

There is a new Product Innovation Platform Design/Make/Use Track being planned for Autodesk University by Autodesk’s Garin Gardiner and your votes are critical to making this a loud reality. This track contains 5 classes that will take you through the complete Design/Make/Use process and as a bonus you get a wicked custom portable USB speaker, that you designed and made. You will start in Autodesk Eagle for design of the electronics PCB board, then solder and test the completed circuit board, Using Autodesk Fusion 360 you will design the enclosure including drawings and renderings and then generate the machine toolpaths. At the end of the 5 classes, you will new skills and knowledge and have your custom wood speaker enclosure machined on-site that you can assemble and test. Read more →

Modeling Gig in LA

Last week was spent with some Autodesk Fusion 360 rock stars Mike Aubry and Curtis Chan along with some awesome customers modeling some 3D parts for a special project in the LA area. One of the evenings after a long day we had more part modeling to do so Mike, myself, and a customer met in one of our hotel rooms and I ordered some local Italian food using the Grubhub app and paired with a few cold beers. It... Read more →