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February 15, 2013

Autodesk and Lego Partner Up to Provide 3D Building Instructions for Mindstorms EV3

Autodesk has partnered with The LEGO Group to provide 3D interactive building instructions for LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3, a new platform designed to introduce a younger generation to the excitement of building and programming robots. The LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 set, as well as the 3D building instruction mobile apps and web instructions, will be available in the second half of 2013.

Accessible through a mobile app for iOS and Android devices, or over the web at MINDSTORMS Website, the interactive building instructions, based on Autodesk Inventor Publisher technology, provide an alternative to traditional instructions, bringing the building experience to life. The 3D building instructions allow LEGO MINDSTORMS builders to digitally view how the LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 components fit together, making it easier to build even the most sophisticated robot.

Autodesk Inventor Publisher software, which provides an alternative to traditional instructions by generating 3D interactive instructions that run on iPad, Android devices and on the web, powers the building instructions. With the app, LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 builders can digitally view and interact with the LEGO bricks at each step of the building process. At any time, LEGO MINDSTORMS builders can stop the animation, zoom in on a part or rotate it to see exactly how parts need to be fitted together, putting builders in control of the experience and allowing them to see how it’s built in the way that makes the most sense to each individual. Additional features geared towards providing a fun play experience for LEGO builders include double-tapping a part for component information, and a Map feature that allows users to see exactly which part of the model is being worked on.

In addition to LEGO’s famous bricks, the LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 set contains a multitude of parts, including motors, infrared sensors and a programmable microcomputer, that allow children to create robots that walk, move or take whatever action they’re programmed to do. LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 will include the 3D interactive building instructions for five different robots, such as “EV3RSTORM,” a Mohawk-sporting humanoid that shoots mini-spheres as it walks, “SPIK3R,” a scorpion-like robot that searches for an IR beacon bug, or “R3PTAR,” a robotic snake that slithers, shakes and strikes.

Here is a YouTube video showing the capabilities.

February 14, 2013

Inventor 2013 SP1.1 Update 2 Released

Autodesk has just released Update 2 for Inventor 2013 SP 1.1.

This Update is cumulative, Update 1 is not a prerequisite. Here are the issues addressed by Update 1, Click Here...

This Update 2 addresses multiple issues for Inventor 2013 SP1.1.

Here is what is addressed in Update 2:
  • iLogic Design Copy not working after installing .NET Framework 4.5
  • API queries not working for some surface types
  • Error message when saving result in Extract iFeature dialog
  • Reduced performance when working in presentation with duplicate browser entries
  • Unsupported options listed in Make component dialog
  • CER: Unexpected exit when editing a material library
  • CER: Unexpected exit when editing pipe components
  • CER: Stability enhancements
Here is a link to download Update 2 for Inventor 2013 SP 1.1- Click Here...
Both the 32-bit and 64-bit are included in the download.
Here is a link for the Readme File - Click Here...

This update covers the following products:

  • Autodesk Inventor Professional 2013
  • Autodesk Inventor 2013
  • Autodesk Factory Design Suite Premium 2013
  • Autodesk Factory Design Suite Ultimate 2013
  • Autodesk Product Design Suite Premium 2013
  • Autodesk Product Design Suite Ultimate 2013

February 5, 2013

Vote Now for 2012 Inventor of the Year

Every month Autodesk gives out an Inventor of the Month award, now is the time to choose from those winners and decide who the 2012 Inventor of the Year award goes to, and you get to help make that decision.

The Autodesk Inventor of the Month program recognizes the most innovative design and engineering advancements made among the hundreds of thousands of advancements users make using Autodesk Inventor software

If you want to vote for the 2012 Inventor of the Year go to the following link: Vote Here Now

Voting is under way and closes March 1 at 5 p.m. Pacific time.

You can learn about each of the nominees by following the link for each month.

January 2011: Valiant Corporation, a global provider of manufacturing solutions, uses the advanced dynamic simulation functionality in Autodesk Inventor to increase load capacity while reducing costs, and to minimize design weight while meeting customer performance requirements. In a recent project for The Boeing Company, Valiant designed and engineered a portable cargo loader 30 percent more efficiently.

February 2011: Nitto Sangyo, a Japanese playground equipment manufacturer, uses Autodesk Inventor to develop Link Mini rocking toys. The toys are designed to be safer and more durable than standard commercial playground equipment. Eliminating reliance on physical prototyping shortened Link Mini development time by almost two months, reducing overall costs by nearly US$6,000 (500,000 yen) per product.

March 2011: Weatherhaven, provides portable shelters, camps and systems for remote sites around the world. Using Digital Prototyping in Autodesk Inventor, Weatherhaven has significantly shortened product development time from concept to manufacturing, while reduced the number of more expensive physical prototypes typically necessary to explore and validate designs.

April 2011: Federal Equipment Company, a supplier of specialized military replacement parts,used Autodesk Inventor to design an advanced elevator system for the U.S. Navy. The new system enables efficient transport of munitions on board new aircraft carriers. Testing is costly, but with the help of Autodesk software, FEC can simulate the elevator’s shock response in just one $400,000 test, enabling the company to quickly identify and fix potential problems and avoid often costly retesting.

May 2011: Hawkes Ocean Technologies, (HOT) designs and builds manned and remote vehicles for deep-ocean exploration. Autodesk Inventor enables HOT to create entirely new ideas and change the way submersibles operate, transforming them from “underwater balloons” to underwater crafts capable of flight.

June 2011: Carousel Works, is the world’s largest manufacturer of custom wooden carousels for zoos, parks and the world’s largest cruise ships, including Royal Caribbean’s “Oasis of the Seas” and “Allure of the Seas.” With Autodesk Inventor, Carousel Works marries old-world craftsmanship with 3D design, and creates its custom wooden carousels up to 50 percent faster.

July 2011: Pankl Aerospace Systems, uses Autodesk Inventor LT software to more effectively manufacture helicopter rotary systems, increasing the performance and reliability of critical components, while significantly improving pilot and passenger safety. Autodesk software helps Pankl save time, reduce manufacturing costs and increase customer quality, all while operating at optimal performance.

August 2011: Illini Prosthetic Technologies, a nonprofit organization, uses Autodesk Inventor to develop more affordable and more easily fitted prosthetic arms for below-elbow amputees in developing nations. Digitally exploring and refining its ideas, IPT provides access to affordable prosthetic care, helping amputees around the world regain use of their limbs, return to work and better care for themselves and their families.

September 2011: PMB Façade, a Malaysia-based company, uses Autodesk Inventor to develop architectural façades for some of the world’s most astonishing buildings, including Qatar’s 43-story Al-Bidda Tower, also known as Tornado Tower. The ability to digitally simulate and predict real-world performance before construction has helped PMB Façade reduce material cost and waste by as much as 15 percent, and deliver projects up to 30 percent faster.

October 2011: Kelly Racing, an Australia-based racing team, uses Autodesk Inventor to precisely design and validate new car components that give the team a racing edge. After a race weekend, designers modify existing car parts with Inventor, increasing traction and grip by as much as 8 percent, which leads to faster lap times and increased performance.

November 2011: A-dec, a leading manufacturer of dental chairs and equipment, uses Autodesk Inventor to more effectively design and develop products, cutting time to market. A-dec also uses Autodesk software to generate user manuals and service guides for its popular dentistry products, enhancing usability and reducing translation costs.

December 2011: Green Structures, a UK-based clean technology company, uses Autodesk Inventor and a range of other Autodesk Digital Prototyping technology to create award-winning energy-efficiency systems. The firm’s latest innovation, a heat recovery ventilation system called Ventive, provides a faster and less expensive alternative for retrofitting buildings with the latest green technologies.

February 1, 2013

Inventor of the Month - January 2013

Autodesk has named Combat Group as the Autodesk Inventor of the Month for January 2013. Combat Group, a Malaysian-based manufacturer of automotive and industrial paint systems, has improved its accuracy of design and delivered products to market quicker as a result of using Autodesk Product Design Suite and other Autodesk digital prototyping tools.

Combat Group supplies painting line systems to a variety of major automotive, two-wheeler and industrial companies with assembly plants in developing nations. Using Autodesk software, Combat Group has increased design accuracy to close to 95 percent, reduced development time by two months and increased customer satisfaction by more than 45 percent.

Building off its 35-year foundation leveraging 2D CAD solutions for drafting to AutoCAD, AutoCAD Mechanical and AutoCAD LT, Combat Group saw incorporating 3D design into its processes via Autodesk Inventor software featured in Autodesk Product Design Suite as a way to increase its competitiveness.

Since the company frequently deals with automotive and industrial factories, it has to take into consideration how to incorporate a variety of machines and equipment within each facility. Space is a critical factor, and having 3D rendering allows Combat Group to seamlessly integrate the complete paint system with precision equipment placement and manage complex process piping and cable routing in the overall building layout.

When designing for the fabrication stage, Autodesk Inventor software reduces a lot of the missteps that can occur later on in the work process if the initial design has some flaws. Combat Group has found that with more detailed and accurate 3D models, it spends significantly less time engaged in back and forth with the customer trying to get the fabrication right.

Partly due to this increased workflow efficiency, Combat Group has seen customer satisfaction rise from 45 percent to 78 percent since adopting Autodesk Product Design Suite and 3D design processes.

 Image Credits: Autodesk, In The Fold