Between the Lines

AutoCAD Automation Beta on the Forge Platform

Access many of the AutoCAD objects in an API on the Forge platform as a Design Automation Beta. Automate repetitive and time intensive tasks and save time. Design Automation API (Beta)v3 https://forge.autodesk.com/en/docs/design-automation/v3/developers_guide/overview/ “Imagine you have thousands of DWG files stored in the cloud, and you need them all converted to PDF files. Ordinarily, you would have to download all the files, run a script on them in the AutoCAD desktop software, and then potentially upload them all back to the... Read more →

Inventor Design Automation on Forge Beta

The Inventor Design Automation API for Forge is in public beta. This can allow you to harness the power of the cloud for repetitive tasks. Design Automation API (Beta)v3 autode.sk/2LXv6FX “The Design Automation API (V3 Beta) provides the ability to use the core API’s of your favorite CAD engines, in the cloud, leveraging the scale of the Forge Platform to run automated jobs. These jobs could be highly repetitive or frequent, or could be larger problems that need large-scale processing... Read more →

Forge DevCon Keynote 2018

The Forge DevCon was held on the first day of Autodesk University. The keynote was great and you can now watch it on YouTube. It was apparent from the Forge DevCon they will need to expand the are as it was packed with Forge developers,partners, customers, and employees this year and many amazing 3rd party solutions built upon Forge being shown. Forge DevCon Keynote 2018 “Watch the full Forge DevCon keynote from November 12, 2018. Featuring Jim Quanci, Brian Roepke,... Read more →

Thank You Seattle Startup Week

Last Thursday I spoke on a panel How Technology is changing the $10 trillion construction industry at Seattle Startup Week with: Greg Howes - Cofounder, CutMyTimber, AEC Hackathon, Seattle Proptech Amy Hutchins - Founder, Chief Product & Technology Officer, Unearth Technologies Salla Palos - Director of Emerging Technology & Innovation, Sellen Construction Greg Howes opened the panel discussion with a quote on a slide from Autodesk CEO Andrew Anagnost about AEC and Manufacturing are merging. He then asked the panel... Read more →

Generative Design Workshop in Portland October 4th

What: Join us at Autodesk Portland office to explore what is possible through generative design. This 1-day Workshop will gather engineers and designers for an exclusive hands-on look at Autodesk's generative design technology. This in person event is FREE so register soon as available seats go fast. When: Thursday, October 04, 2018 from 10 AM to 4 PM. Lunch is included. Where: Autodesk Portland at 2212 SE Ankeny By the end of the session, attendees will: Understand how to save... Read more →

Moore or Less

I was thinking last night about how technology has changed over the years, and how Moore’s Law has apparently been broken as computer CPUs are not doubling computational power each 18 months. We have not seen the transistor density and computing power doubling for a couple years now. I understand it is a feat of engineering and physics to do this and I'm not certain of the reason chips have slowed their advancements in recent years, but does it matter... Read more →

10 million friends, with over 100 million things designed in Tinkercad

Tinkercad hits 10 million users!!!!! Imagine all the people of all ages that have gained an understanding of 3D and making things in a few short years. Nothing short of amazing. Congratulations to the Tinkercad team and the 10 million users aka friends! Here is a great letter from Guillermo Melantoni and Sarah O'Rourke marking this major milestone. Hello Everyone, Almost five years ago Autodesk acquired Tinkercad. We definitely saw its potential. A very well polished user experience with easy... Read more →

Jumpstart Your Cloud solutions with the Forge Team

Join the Forge team for deep dive assistance at a Forge Accelerator this year, for free. “Attending a Forge Accelerator is a great opportunity for your software development team to learn and work intensively on a Forge-based project with one-on-one support and advice from Autodesk Forge API experts. If you have an idea for a new web or mobile application based on Autodesk Forge APIs, or you need help getting an existing application working, then come along to the event... Read more →

Autodesk Forge - What is it?

Have you heard people talking about Autodesk Forge? Perhaps you wondered what it really was and why it will be a big deal. Jim Quanci Senior Director, Autodesk Developer Network recorded a recent YouTube video that might help you better understand What is Forge and show you some live examples for customers and developers. 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 →

Glen Canyon Dam 3D Model Created by Autodesk ReCap and ReMake

In August of 2016, a team of Autodesk employees including myself Shaan Hurley and led by Autodesk’s Pete Kelsey along with Autodeskers David Dreffs, and Carlos Orona and a team from the US Bureau of Reclamation took on a very large infrastructure project to capture the second largest US dam Glen Canyon Dam located on the border of Utah and Arizona in the beautiful American Southwest. The Glen Canyon Dam is just 16 feet shorter than the Hoover dam and... Read more →

Create Flowcharts using Autodesk’s Praxis

Praxis is a great (and free) way to document and diagram a workflow and then share the interactive workflow on the cloud. Autodesk Knowledge Network the team responsible for Autodesk Screencast and more, has developed and released this free preview technology. The goal is to collect your feedback to improve and decide the future of Praxis. “Do you need an easy way to draw workflow diagrams and share them with colleagues and customers? We can help. We designed PRAXIS, now... Read more →

More Languages in Tinkercad

14 new languages plus English we now support 15 languages in Tinkercad to help more kids around the world make things in 3D! There is not much that sparks the imagination of a child more than their very own design being 3D printed into something real and physical. Tinkercad is not really just for kids as it can be fun for adults as well. Nothing to install as it is cloud based and it is free. https://blog.tinkercad.com/2017/01/17/tinkercad-update-now-available-in-15-languages/ Chinese (Simplified) Chinese... Read more →

What's Up with the Autodesk Cloud

If you use an Autodesk cloud based or connected service like AutoCAD 360, BIM 360 or Fusion 360 and want to know when planned maintenance is scheduled or if a problem you are experiencing is related to an outage, how do you check the status? There is a page to see the current status and maintenance scheduled for the services. https://health.autodesk.com/ Read more →

Using Generative Design to Design a Bike Stem

There is an article published by SolidSmack explaining Autodesk’s Generative Design technology named Dreamcatcher developed by Autodesk Research. The article discusses Autodesk Pier 9 Artist in Residence Che-Wei Wang using Dreamcatcher to design an optimized 3D printed metal bike stem. In Dreamcatcher the user is not just a modeler or CAD designer but sets the design constraints such as initial geometry, loads, and material properties and then the designer selects the best output design from a series of results that... Read more →

What is Generative Design

I was surprised when the computer using Autodesk’s generative design technology Dreamcatcher mimicked nature’s optimal designs. When we were researching the next evolution in design, we found that computers could iterate design options for strength, material usage, and cost for an engineer and designer faster than the the engineer or designer alone. We ran a design on a quad rotor UAV and generative design software returned what was almost identical in form to that of a flying squirrel. To me... Read more →

Autodesk Forge Developer Conference Keynote

If you were unable to attend the Autodesk Forge Conference this week, you can still watch the keynote on YouTube. Forge is powerful set of cloud services, APIs, and resources for developers to quickly create the data-centric apps, experiences, and services that power the future of making things. Read more →