Autodesk Inventor 2D to 3D Tool Updated

If you have 2D drawings that you would like to convert to 3D parts then the tool for you is available on Autodesk Labs!

The 2D to 3D tool has been available for Autodesk Inventor for a few releases now and provides a great way of taking existing 2D geometry and quickly and easily re-using that geometry (along with the intelligent dimensions etc) to create a 3D part.

Here's an example of the 2D to 3D tool in action in Inventor 2010:

Good news for those using Autodesk Inventor 2011 is that the 2D to 3D tool has recently been updated to work with Inventor 2011 and is now available for download of the Autodesk Labs website:

http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/2d_to_3d_tool/

The 2D to 3D tool is available for Autodesk Inventor 2009, 2010, 2011 in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. There is also a version for R11 to 2008 and Inventor LT.

Automating your design with iCopy in Autodesk Inventor 2011

Did you ever use iCopy for Autodesk Inventor that was available on labs.autodesk.com? If you did (or even if you didn't) you'll be pleased to know that the iCopy tool graduated from Autodesk Labs into Autodesk Inventor 2011.

The iCopy tool allows you to take an assembly and add intelligence to it so that it can be used and re-used within an assembly to update the size, shape, number of components etc. It's a great way to help save you time and effort when wanting to use components that are similar but differ in size, shape and included components.

Here's an example of something that I have been working on this afternoon. This staircase was put together by our distributor Man & Machine here in the UK, and shows just how iCopy can help automate the design process:


There is just one stair tread assembly and one balustrade assembly, we don't need to create an assembly for every different size\shape configuration, we're going to let iCopy do that for us.

All we need to do is author the assembly as an iCopy assembly which tells Autodesk Inventor how to change\configure it during the process (I'll cover this iCopy author in more depth in a later post). Once the assemblies are authored they can then be inserted into another assembly, set the datum points & pattern direction, sit back and let Autodesk Inventor do the work for you.

It's also worth noting that the drawing for each of the newly created iCopy assemblies is automatically created and updated too!

Have a watch of iCopy in action:

Here's some other videos of iCopy in action that you might find interesting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INBSFhiwV1k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4qgZPv0O_Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKP5WueATvg

Happy Automating!

Autodesk Factory Design Suite 2011

Autodesk has been launching a new set of product suites last week. One of them is Autodesk Factory Design Suite.

Autodesk Factory Design Suite is a 2D/3D factory layout solution purpose-built to help you make better layout decisions by enabling you to create a Digital Prototype of your factory. It provides tools for integrating 2D layout data with 3D models of factory equipment, creating accurate factory models and 3D visual walkthroughs that help teams collaborate effectively and make more informed decisions before any equipment is installed and commissioned on the factory floor.
Core products in the Suite include AutoCAD Architecture, Autodesk Navisworks, Autodesk Vault, and Autodesk Inventor enhanced with the Autodesk Factory Design Utility that gives users a factory-specific parametric work environment to better design, optimize, and visualize factory layouts.

Do you want to see Autodesk Factory Suite in action?

http://www.youtube.com/user/ADSKFactory

Autodesk Visualisation Goodies

You might remember in a previous post I introduced you to the new Autodesk Showcase & Visualisation blog that has been started and regularly updated. The blog is regularly being updated by two of Autodesks visualisation specialists based in Northern Europe.

Robin Oldroyd is our Design Solutions Consultant and has many years of experience and a huge amount of knowledge on the Alias products including Alias Design, Alias Surface, Alias Automotive and of course Autodesk Showcase.

Graham Bell has 15 years industry experience using tools like Autodesk Maya to create file, TV and game material material.

Both of these guys are at the top of their game and are sharing examples of work, tips, tricks, workflows etc via the Autodesk Showase\Visualisation blog.

They are showing how manufacturers can take some of the coolest visualisation tools to quickly and easily create stunning visuals of their Digital Prototypes that can be used to sell their products and solutions.

Here's just one example of how Hyphen Design are using Autodesk Showcase to help sell their designs to their customers:

If you want to learn more about Autodesk Showcase and visualisation tools from Autodesk, get yourself over to the Robin and Grahams blog to see how you can bring your 3D Digital Prototypes to life - http://www.autodeskshowcase.co.uk

Happy Visualising!

Autodesk Moldflow User Event

When is it?
Thursday 17 June 2010

Where is it?
International Automotive Research Centre at the University of Warwick

Who Should Attend?

- Existing Autodesk Moldflow Adviser and Insight users
- Engineering managers, designers and toolmakers not yet exploiting Moldflow technology to optimise the design and manufacture of plastic components

You will learn about the latest ideas on best engineering practice associated with injection moulding plastics, as well as the capabilities within the brand new Autodesk Moldflow 2011 release. It will also be a chance to find out about future developments of the world's leading software for plastic injection moulding processes. Presentations will be made by Moldflow users and the software developers including Dr Franco Costa, Autodesk Senior Solver Development Manager, and Hanno van Raalte, Autodesk Manufacturing Industry Group Product Manager.

This meeting is an excellent opportunity to network with existing Moldflow users, meet Wilde as the new value added reseller for Autodesk Moldflow, and share your own ideas, experiences and challenges with the Autodesk Technical Team.

Venue
The prestigious International Automotive Research Centre at the University of Warwick. A facilities tour of the Measurement and Visualisation Centre of Excellence is included in the meeting.

When does it start & finish?
The event starts at 9.30am and aims to finsih at 4pm

Cost
There is no charge to attend this event.

How to Register
Please contact Jane Jones from Wilde (Tel: 0161 474 7479) or email: jjones@wildefea.co.uk to reserve your place and receive your joining information. Places are limited, so we recommend you book asap to avoid disappointment.