Between the Lines

Industrialized Construction Is Growing and Needed

Yesterday I attended the 2019 Industrialized Construction Forum held by Stanford University Center for Integrated Facility Engineering. This was a packed event attended by by not only academia, but industry. The presentations, panel discussions, and conversations with attendees were very good and thought provoking on the impact and changes to construction and our built world in the near term and long term future. Some of the technologies and considerations involved society, AI/ML, robotics, offside prefab, modular construction, skyrocketing costs from labor and materials, and sustainability. My big takeaway is that Industrialized Construction “IC” may be the best solution to solving the limited resources, reducing carbon footprint, addressing the global housing shortage, and overcoming the labor shortage in the construction industry. We at Autodesk couldn’t agree more in doing More, Better, with Less. 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 →

Do You Want to Know What is Coming in Future Revit?

Here are some great ways to find out what the future of Revit has planned, and how you can help shape it. One is to check out the Public Roadmap which a new one was just published on the official Revit Blog. Revit Public Roadmap – January 2019 Submit your ideas to the Revit Ideas Revit Ideas http://www.autodesk.com/RevitIdeas Another option is more of a heavy lift, you can get involved and actively participating in the beta program for Revit at... Read more →

Thank You pdxRUG for Visiting Autodesk Portland

Thank you pdxRUG (Portland Revit Users Group) members and BilT team Bob Bell and Phil Read for visiting Tuesday night to see the new Autodesk Portland office, some good local pizza, networking, and learning about the upcoming BiLT conference in Seattle this summer. It was nice to host the meeting and hope we can do it again, soon. Some Autodesk employees were there to meet you as well some came with questions on how you used our products together. If... Read more →

See Generative Design Technology at IDS Trade Day Toronto

Join Autodesk Jan 17th in Toronto to learn about Project Refinery and the Autodesk Technology Centers. The Future Is At IDS https://youtu.be/znG1w8RB6Iw Read more →

Autodesk Design Night in Dublin Ireland

Making Dreams Happen. The future of designing + making is here. If you are in Dublin Ireland, please join us at the first ever Autodesk Design Night in Dublin Ireland We are bringing our global event Design Night series to Ireland for the first time on 16 January, 2018. Making Dreams Happen Design Night by Autodesk is a regular, sold-out event at the Autodesk Gallery in San Francisco. Design Night has travelled to major design capitals of the world including... Read more →

Arcade by Autodesk Portland Employees

I'm in the final edit stage of a video of interviews of some fellow Autodesk Portland office employees for something fun and unique. When we say Make Anything as a tagline of Autodesk, we embody that with our employees. We moved into this renovated Portland building downtown last April, and some employees realized we needed something fun and unique in our game room area. It was an organic grassroots volunteer project, but a group of employees decided “hey, lets make... Read more →

FIRST FRC Mentor Day

Today is mentor day celebrating volunteer mentors for FIRST Robotics teams. I can speak as having been mentoring a FIRST FRC Team 1540 Flaming Chickens of Catlin Gabel in Portland Oregon for the past few years on why YOU should also get involved. The high school students tell me I help, but I'm not sure they are getting the better end of this volunteering deal as I get so much from being continually inspired by these students I could never... Read more →

Smart Reuse of Olympic Infrastructure Could Bring Home the Gold for Host Cities

There is great article just published on possible ways LA could lead the way in hosting the 2028 Olympics and provide the model for future host cities to have less negative impact short and long term. “So what if LA could solve its existing infrastructure issues and become a test case for post-Olympic civic success?” https://www.autodesk.com/redshift/olympic-infrastructure/ 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 →

Generative Design for Industrial Machinery

Have you heard all the news about generative design, but not certain how it might be a benefit to you and the industrial equipment you design? Here is a great opportunity to learn more in a free live webinar. Generative design leverages artificial intelligence and cloud computing to enable engineers to simultaneously generate and explore multiple CAD-ready solutions based on real-world manufacturing constraints and product performance requirements. Unlike topology optimization, the software explores all the possible permutations of a solution,... Read more →

New Version of Netfabb & 3D Printed Awards

There has been a new update of Netfabb released and some may not be aware of what Netfabb is, or the amazing things it can do for 3D printing. The sweet spots in the update are the changes to latticing, update to latticing, the new interface, new machine integrations, and some updates to Netfabb simulation to speed up your process and improve the accuracy of your results. What’s New in Autodesk Netfabb 2019.1 We used Netfabb for the process to... Read more →

LEAP Design Competition in Portland

This weekend the final judging of the Linking Engineering and Philanthropy (LEAP) design contest for local FIRST Robotic FRC Teams was held at Mercy Corp in Portland Oregon. The high school FRC Team 1540 Flaming Chickens from Catlin Gabel that I have worked with for a few years founded LEAP and run it. Autodesk was again a proud sponsor with the prize money and Mercy Corp was the non profit recipient, awesome host, and defined the challenge and need for... Read more →

Autodesk Generative Design Beta for AEC – Project Refinery

At Autodesk have used our generative design for architecture and layout to design our MaRS office in Toronto and an intelligent flow and layout for Autodesk University, now we are making it available as a beta publicly for you to try it and provide your requests and feedback. “Project Refinery is an Autodesk generative design beta for the architecture, engineering and construction industry that gives users the power to quickly explore and optimize their Dynamo designs. Project Refinery not only... Read more →

Apply to the Residency Program at Autodesk Toronto

Spotted this from my Toronto Research colleague Hali Larsen @HaliLarsen this morning: Have an innovative project in mind that you are trying to get off the ground? In need of support for hardware, software, or fabrication? Apply to the Residency Program at Autodesk Toronto! https://startupheretoronto.com/type/startup-news/autodesk-technology-centre-in-toronto-accepting-residency-applications/ “The Toronto centre – one of four Autodesk Technology Centres in the world – supports a range of activities related to machine learning, generative design, robotics, artificial intelligence, and more. The centre provides facilities, technology,... Read more →

Reimagining the Future of Making

Automation Helps People Live and Work Better “Humanity inevitably needs, desires, and demands more. At the same time, it must also confront the reality of less—fewer natural resources, less space, and fewer skilled construction and manufacturing workers than the world needs.” “Automation also helps companies stay ahead of their competitors, but more important, it encourages and supports the imagination that moves humanity forward. Better cities, better buildings, better things, better work: Reimagining the model for automation can balance the inevitability... 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 →

Fast Company Recognizes Autodesk with Four 2018 ‘Innovation by Design’ Honors

More than 398 companies, projects and products were submitted to Fast Company’s 2018 “Innovation by Design” awards honoring creative work at the intersection of design, business and innovation across many industries, including fashion, architecture, graphic design and data visualization, social good and user experience. Autodesk snagged finalist or honorable mention status in four categories: “Design Company of the Year” Honoree “User Experience” (Finalist) – AutoCAD web app “Web Design” Honoree – AutoCAD web app And my current Autodesk office location.... 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 →

Linking Engineering and Philanthropy (LEAP) 2018

The LEAP 2018 competition challenges FIRST FRC teams to develop new technologies to engage and assist resource-poor youth in farming and agriculture, while working alongside Mercy Corps. Autodesk has proudly partnered with Mercy Corps and Team 1540 to support FIRST Robotics Teams designing a solution to a global challenge. LEAP was started by students of Catlin Gabel here in Portland as FIRST FRC Team 1540 Flaming Chickens. It is such a good way to connect engineering design and philanthropy and... Read more →

Calling All Portland 3D Creatives

Are you located in or near Portland Oregon and work with 3D such as animation, design visualization, and vfx using 3ds max and Maya? We are holding a great event with awesome local Portland talent, Autodesk employees, along with some beverages and snack foods. This event is free and being held in our new sweet Autodesk Portland office. The Autodesk M&E Showcase is an event for folks in the 3D creative industry to network and learn, hosted at Autodesks' new... 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 →

Autodesk Accelerate 2018 is a Wrap

What a truly amazing event Autodesk’s Accelerate 2018 was, and I will be attending again next year for sure. The attendees in attendance, the presentations, the deep quality conversations, the networking, the Autodesk Toronto office in MaRS District were all top notch. Amazing Location. Thank you Autodesk Canada and all the Autodesk employees that made this a reality and great event like Jamie Eckmier, Denese Gordon, Stephen Hooper, Paul Sohi and many others including staff that provided great tours like... Read more →

See You this Week in MaRS Toronto

The Accelerate with Autodesk event is this week in beautiful Toronto for those interested in the future of design and manufacturing. The location is the MaRS Discovery District which is the world’s largest urban innovation hub and also where the new Autodesk Technology Center is located. We can say with all honestly that we are going to MaRS this week. Explore the future of design and manufacturing This year's event will focus on the convergence of design and manufacturing technology,... Read more →

Are You a Portland Startup? Last Day to Apply to PIE Shop

PIE and Uncorked Studios are seeking Internet of Things and connected device startups to join us for our inaugural PIE Shop, a manufacturing focused startup accelerator. Selected startups will join us in Portland, Oregon, to work with Autodesk, PIE, Uncorked Studios and other PIE alums, and the world-class PIE mentor network. We'll provide you with advice, connections, office space, and other benefits. For this initial version of PIE Shop, there will neither be capital allocated to startups nor equity taken... Read more →