Manufacturing simulation also got its due with Inventor Tooling and Moldflow Advisor and InSight that lets users take manufacturing into account during the design process. Also demonstrated were the coupling of simulation and visualization (Autodesk Showcase). The example used was to show sink marks in plastic parts and how they can affect the aesthetics of a product. This example also showed that what happens in simulation (Moldflow Advisor) can be displayed visualization (Showcase) and corrected in design (Inventor).
It was obvious during the simulation demonstrations that Autodesk is striving for and succeeding in making the UI similar across product lines with regard to look, feel, and behavior - a good thing. Love 'em or hate 'em, ribbons are increasingly replacing dialog boxes across the product lines, opening up more real estate in the graphics window.
More than any previous release, Inventor 2011 is being promoted as the keystone to Autodesk's digital prototyping philosophy and methodology. There are some interesting new 2D sketching capabilities this time around that have their origins in AutoCAD, and drawings created in SketchBook Pro can be imported and used as reference sketches in Inventor.
Although Inventor is a parametric, history-based modeler, Inventor Fusion (currently offered as a free Technology Preview) is non-history based. Inventor can be used for parametric editing, while Inventor Fusion can be used for direct editing - each has its place and advantages. Inventor iLogic promotes design automation rules and rules-based design, analogous to Mail rules in Outlook. The new Alias Design for Inventor add-in lets you a freeform design tool with a parametric modeler. The new features and capabilities pointed to the fact that with Inventor, Autodesk's intent is to allow users to interact more with a design and less with the tools through better integration and interoperability. Good thought and direction.
Conceptual design, above and beyond the new capabilities in AutoCAD, were covered with Sketchbook Pro for iPad, Alias Sketch 2011 (that runs on Windows and Mac computers) and can save files as .dwg, and the heavy hitters - Alias Design, Surface, and Automotive. Also covered in this session was Inventor Publisher for creating product documentation from 3D CAD data for non-CAD users with a simple workflow - importàauthoràpublish.
Buzz Kross and his team assembled at the end of the day to wrap up and answer any remaining questions. Buzz was candid with his answers and summed things up by saying, “Autodesk is not out to necessarily change customers' processes; just help them to design better products.” Fair enough, sticking to what Autodesk knows they do best, staying out of the PLM quagmire.
All in all, a lot of information to take in, but worth the trip. Since I could just touch on the highlights of the products and technologies shown on Tech Day, I'm anxious to check out several of the new technologies with the software we were provided. Over the next few months, as I get better acquainted with the new products and technologies, I'll pass my experiences along to our readers.
Compensation Disclosure: Autodesk provided airfare, accommodations, some meals, and Inventor Professional Suite 2011 NFR software for evaluation/review purposes.
The Week's Top 5
At MCADCafé we track many things, including the stories that have attracted the most interest from our subscribers. Below are the five news items that were the most viewed during last week.
CAD Society Announces Roopinder Tara of Tenlinks as the winner of the 2010 CAD Society Community Award
The CAD Society announced that Roopinder Tara is the winner of the 2010 CAD Society Joe Greco Community Award, for his achievements as a pioneer of online CAD resources and communities and his philanthropic work for the entire CAD industry across the last 11 years. The CAD Society Awards acknowledge the contributions made by individuals who have affected and developed the CAD, engineering, manufacturing and architecture software industries. The Joe Greco Community award recognizes outstanding work in improving communication and developing community within the CAD industry, and is awarded in memory of the late Joe Greco, a past CAD Society president. The awards will be presented at COFES (Congress On the Future of Engineering Software). Past winners of this award include Richard Doyle, Evan Yares, Sean Dotson, Chris Yessios, Lynn Allen, Randall Rath, CJ Shirk, Kristine Fallon, and Ralph Grabowski.
CAD Society Announces Michael Payne as the winner of the 2010 CAD Society Lifetime Achievement Award
The CAD Society announced that Michael Payne is the winner of this year's CAD Society's Lifetime Achievement Award. The CAD Society Awards acknowledge the contributions made by individuals who have affected and developed the CAD, engineering, manufacturing and architecture software industries. The Lifetime Achievement award recognizes a lifetime of outstanding technical and business contributions to the CAD industry. Mike joins an illustrious list of recipients of this award including Dick Sowar, Mike Riddle, Dean Kamen, Russell F. Henke, Ken Versprille, L. Stephen Wolfe, Carl Machover, Dr. Joel Orr, and Patrick Hanratty.
CAD Society Announces Ping Fu of Geomagic as Winner of the 2010 CAD Society Leadership Award
The CAD Society announced that Ping Fu, CEO and president of Geomagic, is winner of its 2009 Leadership Award. The CAD Society Awards acknowledge the contributions made by individuals who have affected and developed the CAD, engineering, manufacturing and architecture software industries. The Leadership award is presented for outstanding technical and business leadership in the CAD industry, and focus and dedication to the needs of CAD users. The award will be presented at COFES (Congress On the Future of Engineering Software). Past winners of this award include Bill McClure and Dan Staples, Carl Bass, Jay Sunyogh, Dana K. "Deke" Smith, Robert McNeel, Tony Affuso, Tom Butta, Jon Hirschtick, and Bernard Charles.
Dassault Systemes and IBM Announce Completed Transaction and Integration of IBM PLM Sales Operation into DS
Dassault Systèmes and IBM announced the completion of the transaction for IBM PLM's sales and client support operations, encompassing DS's PLM software application portfolio. The $600 million transaction includes customer contracts and related assets. This transaction helps fuel IBM's focus on PLM integration through middleware, business transformation and application services and dynamic infrastructure, and Dassault Systèmes PLM clients will benefit from a strong, unified go-to-market model encompassing the entire DS portfolio and providing a complete PLM value proposition under one umbrella. Fully integrated R&D, sales and support teams will bring DS closer to its customers. This move will streamline customer engagement, improving their overall experience.
Autodesk Releases the SketchBook Pro App for iPad on the App Store
Autodesk announced the availability of the Autodesk SketchBook Pro App for iPad, a new professional-grade paint and drawing application designed exclusively for the iPad. The app is available on the App Store at www.itunes.com/appstore. The Autodesk SketchBook Pro App for iPad combines high-quality digital pencils, pens, markers and airbrushes with a Multi-Touch gesture-based user interface, enabling users to create everything from quick sketches to high-quality artwork. Geared for both occasional doodlers and professional illustrators, SketchBook Pro transforms the iPad into the ultimate digital sketchbook. Using the same paint engine as its desktop and mobile counterparts, the new SketchBook Pro App for iPad delivers a complete set of sketching and painting tools through a streamlined and intuitive user interface. Key new features in the Autodesk SketchBook Pro App for iPad include:
- Full-screen 1024 x 768 work space with support for any device orientation
- An innovative Multi-Touch interface that delivers an immersive and streamlined experience
- 75 brushes with customizable settings, including synthetic pressure sensitivity and brush modes for free sketching and creating straight lines, ellipses and rectangles
- Six full-resolution layers per sketch with complete control over layer order, visibility and opacity
- A built-in, live news page that alerts artists to upcoming events and highlights featured artists and their SketchBook creations.
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-- Jeff Rowe, MCADCafe.com Contributing Editor.
