IMAGINiT Technologies Industry News

Autodesk Unveils New Design Suites and Cloud Services for Manufacturers

Autodesk unveiled its new 3D design and engineering software portfolio for manufacturers, offering a complete set of integrated and interoperable suites and cloud services to simplify design, visualization and simulation workflows from product development through delivery.

The new Autodesk design suites are geared especially for manufacturers and include Autodesk Product Design Suite and Autodesk Factory Design Suite. The new suites provide a broad range of cloud services to help manufacturers more efficiently design, build and deliver better products faster and at reduced costs. The new Autodesk Simulation family of products delivers a faster, more accurate and flexible approach to predicting, optimizing and validating designs earlier in the design process.

“Autodesk’s 2013 portfolio provides our customers with a faster path to ROI for product development and delivery,” said Robert “Buzz” Kross, senior vice president, Design, Lifecycle and Simulation at Autodesk. “Our 2013 suites and scalable cloud services help manufacturers improve productivity and minimize upfront investment.”

Autodesk Design Suites Enhance Interoperability, Collaboration

Autodesk suites provide comprehensive workflows to connect desktops to mobile devices and to the cloud. These workflows enable manufacturing customers to develop complete definitions of product designs; integrate electrical and mechanical design to increase productivity; predict product performance; and visualize designs or complete factory layouts in 3D.

Autodesk’s 2013 design suites integrate with Autodesk 360 cloud offerings to better enable collaboration. Cloud-based assets promote design sharing and reuse. The suites also offer interoperability with the new 2013 version of Autodesk Vault product data management software and the company’s next generation, cloud-based alternative Autodesk PLM 360. Autodesk Vault software enables workgroups to organize, manage and track their engineering CAD data, manufacturing bills-of-material and change processes from a centralized location.

The 2013 Autodesk Product Design and Factory Design suites are available in three cost-effective, convenient editions: Standard, Premium and Ultimate.

Autodesk Product Design Suite Completes the Entire Engineering Process

Delivering a comprehensive software solution, the Autodesk Product Design Suite enables design, visualization and simulation capabilities, helping to drive innovation with integrated, discipline-specific tools and workflows built for Digital Prototyping.

New for Autodesk Product Design Suite 2013 are the addition of one-click workflows created to help customers seamlessly move through the engineering design process, advanced cloud-based services for simulation and the inclusion of additional software allowing customers to realize their end-to-end design process. Autodesk Product Design Suite 2013 updates include:

• Autodesk Inventor software in the Standard edition, establishing 3D parametric design as the foundation to the engineering design process and providing a solution that delivers powerful 3D design and drafting capabilities.
• AutoCAD Electrical software and Autodesk Inventor Routed Systems in the Premium and Ultimate editions, delivering a complete integrated electromechanical system capable of producing an entire product definition, including fully defined tubing, piping and hydraulic systems.
• Autodesk Navisworks Simulate in Premium and Ultimate editions, providing integrated electromechanical, markup and visualization workflows capability.

Autodesk Factory Design Suite Brings Digital Prototyping to the Factory Floor

The suite enhances AutoCAD and Autodesk Inventor software with exclusive access to interoperable, layout-specific workflows, new cloud-based factory asset resources and powerful visualization and analysis tools that help increase design accuracy, efficiency and communication.

Specifically, the one-to-one synchronization between 2D AutoCAD drawings and the 3D Inventor assembly within the suite means changes made in the AutoCAD drawing will propagate to the Inventor 3D layout, and changes in the 3D layout will propagate back to the original 2D drawing. The bidirectional associative workflow of the suite provides veteran AutoCAD users with a familiar, easy to learn process for generating compelling 2D and 3D factory layouts while improving efficiency and accuracy.

Autodesk Inventor Publisher: Accurate and Compelling Product Documentation

Autodesk Inventor Publisher 2013 extends the value of Autodesk Design Suites by leveraging the same 3D digital model used in the design process for developing highly visual and interactive 2D and 3D technical documentation that helps explain and differentiate products and processes. Inventor Publisher 2013 features faster performance, new video output formats that can be published directly to YouTube and Facebook, and many new interoperability additions, such as new file import formats, automatic update with new assembly formats and integration with Sketchbook Designer.

Autodesk Simulation: Fast, Accurate and Flexible

The Autodesk Simulation family of products delivers a fast, accurate and flexible approach to predict, optimize and validate designs earlier in the design process. The new family includes 2013 versions of Autodesk Simulation Mechanical, Autodesk Simulation CFD, Autodesk Simulation Moldflow and serves as a comprehensive set of simulation software tools that are easy to integrate into each phase of the product development process. Enhancements to the 2013 simulation portfolio include:

• Autodesk Simulation Mechanical – Interoperability with Autodesk Showcase 2013 allows for results to be imported into Autodesk Showcase to create high-quality photo realistic renderings and presentations.
• Autodesk Simulation CFD – Up to a 34 times improvement in overall solve time, while Autodesk Inventor Fusion enhancements include the ability to create associative internal and external fluid volumes, the ability to detect interferences, and automatic model simplification.
• Autodesk Simulation Moldflow and Autodesk Moldflow Insight WS – Allows designers and manufacturers involved in injection molding simulation to address the trend towards lightweight designs. The cloud-enabled tools provide access to computation power and enable the user to solve multiple scenarios in parallel, thereby reducing previous limitations and increasing productivity.

 

Autodesk Introduces 2013 Building and Civil Infrastructure Software

Autodesk announced its 2013 software and services for building design and construction, civil infrastructure, and plant design professionals. Enhancements for Autodesk Building Design Suite 2013, Autodesk Infrastructure Design Suite 2013 and Autodesk Plant Design Suite 2013, together with expanded cloud services and improved collaboration and data management tools, are aimed at helping design, engineering and construction professionals address today’s business challenges with enhanced Building Information Modeling (BIM) workflows.

“Our design suites and cloud services help meet the demand for BIM by providing access to a broad set of tools that support projects from conception to construction,” said Amar Hanspal, senior vice president, Information Modeling and Platform Products Group, Autodesk. “The 2013 software portfolio offers significant additions to the design suites, as well as expanded web services that allow our customers to collaborate more effectively and access information from anywhere at any time.”

Meeting Project Workflow and Business Needs

For design, engineering and construction professionals, a combination of Autodesk Building Design Suite 2013, Autodesk Infrastructure Design Suite 2013 or Autodesk Plant Design Suite 2013 with Autodesk Subscription, Autodesk 360, Autodesk Vault Collaboration AEC 2013 software and Autodesk Buzzsaw 2013 software-as-a-service, can help solve a wide range of today’s business challenges. These challenges include delivering projects with intelligent model-based design to meet increasing BIM mandates from government organizations and project owners, conducting energy analysis and construction simulation early and often to make more informed design and construction decisions, improving team collaboration by accessing cloud-based services and mobile applications, and winning new business by producing compelling visualizations.

Expanded Cloud Services

The 2013 software and services portfolio includes access to Autodesk 360, a cloud computing platform that helps users dramatically improve the way project teams design, visualize, simulate, and share work. Autodesk 360 offers secure access to project data anytime, anywhere, while taking advantage of virtually infinite computing power through a broad range of cloud-based services. Autodesk 360 is now available to all Autodesk design suite customers, with additional capabilities available to design suite customers who purchase an Autodesk Subscription.

Advanced BIM for Building Industry

Autodesk Building Design Suite 2013 is the foundation of the 2013 software portfolio for architects, MEP and structural engineers, and construction professionals. It provides a comprehensive set of tools to help users address a variety of workflow needs, from design, visualization and simulation to documentation and construction. Available in three editions, Standard, Premium and Ultimate, Autodesk Building Design Suite 2013 updates include the addition of Autodesk Revit 2013 software to the Premium and Ultimate editions; Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2013 software for the Premium edition; and Autodesk Infrastructure Modeler 2013 and Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis Professional 2013 software for the Ultimate edition. Autodesk Revit 2013 is a new application exclusively available in the Premium and Ultimate editions that combines the capabilities in Autodesk Revit Architecture 2013, Autodesk Revit Structure 2013 and Autodesk Revit MEP 2013 software in a single, comprehensive application to help users support multidiscipline workflows.

Enhanced BIM for Civil Infrastructure

Autodesk Infrastructure Design Suite 2013 provides civil engineering, GIS, planning and utility design professionals with a comprehensive BIM for infrastructure solution for planning, designing, building and managing civil infrastructure and utility infrastructure projects. Available in three editions, Standard, Premium and Ultimate, Autodesk Infrastructure Design Suite 2013 adds AutoCAD Raster Design 2013 software to all three editions. Autodesk Infrastructure Modeler 2013 software is now included in the Premium and Ultimate editions. AutoCAD Utility Design 2013 and Autodesk Revit Structure 2013 software have been added to the Ultimate edition. With these new tools for conceptual design, utility network design, structural engineering and working with raster imagery, professionals working on transportation, utility, land, and water infrastructure projects can more efficiently explore design options, better analyze project performance, and use visualization to help communicate with project stakeholders.

Improved Intelligent 3D Modeling for Plant Design

Autodesk Plant Design Suite 2013 is available in three editions, Standard, Premium and Ultimate. The Premium and Ultimate editions provide a comprehensive intelligent 3D modeling and review software package for plant design, from small to large-scale projects, such as oil and gas facilities. The Premium and Ultimate editions offer enhancements to help simplify cross-department coordination among process plant design stakeholders. Other key enhancements for the Premium and Ultimate editions include improved AutoCAD isometrics and customizable report creation for AutoCAD Plant 3D 2013 software, and drafting productivity enhancements for AutoCAD P&ID 2013 software (all editions).

Enhanced Collaboration and Data Management Applications

The 2013 software portfolio also includes collaboration and data management applications to help provide access to information across the project lifecycle from the office, the web, or the field. Autodesk Vault Collaboration AEC 2013 software provides improved integration with Autodesk design tools, including Autodesk Navisworks Manage 2013, Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2013 and all Autodesk Revit 2013 software. Autodesk Buzzsaw 2013 expands cloud-based collaboration with multi-browser web access for both PC and Mac users. Buzzsaw users can now view Revit and Navisworks models in a browser or on an iPad or iPhone. An Autodesk Buzzsaw mobile app with 2D and 3D DWF viewing capability for Android devices is also now available. The integration between Autodesk Vault Collaboration AEC 2013 and Autodesk Buzzsaw 2013 has been enhanced with options for scheduled and on-demand synchronizations. 

 

Autodesk Connects Desktop to Mobile and Cloud with Design and Creation Suites 2013

Autodesk launched the company’s 2013 portfolio of design, engineering and entertainment software, including the latest design and creation suites. The suites provide expanded toolsets and new automated suites workflows for building, entertainment, engineering, construction, infrastructure, product, plant and factory design. The 2013 design suites connect the desktop to Autodesk 360, a cloud computing platform that enables customers to dramatically improve the way they work by providing the ability to store, edit and share their designs and access virtually infinite computing power anytime, anywhere.

“Last year, we introduced Autodesk design and creation suites and cloud services, and have seen a tremendous response from our customers. The 2013 suites are a major step forward to a cohesive and interconnected product family,” said Andrew Anagnost, Autodesk senior vice president of Industry Strategy and Marketing. “The tools in the suites now work more seamlessly with each other and with the cloud, offering tremendous value by opening new ways for our customers to solve their most complex design and engineering challenges.”

The new Autodesk 2013 design and creation suites feature in-product, customizable one-click workflows and improved interoperability, making it much easier to connect design and visualization tasks. This gives users the ability to better communicate their design intent visually. In addition, the 2013 suites offer a consistent user experience across the software in the suite and in Autodesk 360 -- making it easier to learn new tools and services, and adopt them in the design workflow.

Autodesk 360 (formerly known as Autodesk Cloud) now provides even more cloud benefits to Autodesk Subscription customers, including additional cloud storage and the ability to access cloud services for rendering, simulation, design optimization and energy analysis. Subscription customers now have up to 25 MB of storage and between 100 and 500 Autodesk Cloud Units per user, based on the suite edition they purchased. Combining the power and capability of Autodesk 360 with the enhanced workflows of Autodesk design suites give customers a competitive edge to respond to changing business requirements.

Autodesk 2013 Design and Creation Suites

Autodesk design and creation suites offer an economical way for users to access their primary design and creation software, including AutoCAD, Autodesk Revit, Autodesk Inventor, AutoCAD Civil 3D, Autodesk 3ds Max and Autodesk Maya software, plus an expanded toolset of complementary software and cloud services.

The 2013 family of Autodesk design suites includes:

• AutoCAD Design Suite
• Autodesk Building Design Suite
• Autodesk Entertainment Creation Suites
• Autodesk Factory Design Suite
• Autodesk Infrastructure Design Suite
• Autodesk Plant Design Suite
• Autodesk Product Design Suite

 

Autodesk Completes Acquisition of Horizontal Systems, Inc.

Autodesk announced last week that it has completed the acquisition of Horizontal Systems, a provider of innovative cloud-based Building Information Modeling (BIM) collaboration solutions for the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry. Autodesk announced its intent to purchase Horizontal Systems on Nov. 30, 2011.

Horizontal Systems technology will be an important contributor to the Autodesk 360 for BIM solution for collaboration, data and lifecycle management. By providing diverse, distributed teams with more secure, easy-to-use and fast-to-deploy solutions, Autodesk 360 for BIM makes project data available across the project lifecycle, wherever and whenever it is needed.

 

Autodesk Cloud Enables Access to Design Capability from Anywhere, at Anytime

Autodesk has introduced Autodesk Cloud, a collection of more than a dozen web-based capabilities, products and services that enable customers to extend their desktops with greater mobility, new viewing and sharing capabilities, and more computing power, helping them better design, visualize and simulate their ideas. In addition, Autodesk Subscription customers will now have exclusive access to cloud-based, high-performance rendering and design optimization, and enhanced collaboration capabilities. Autodesk Subscription now provides 3 GB of online storage for each seat of software on Subscription for greater access to design and engineering documents, anywhere, anytime.

Autodesk has been a pioneer in cloud-based applications for the design industry — starting more than a decade ago with Autodesk Buzzsaw — and more than a dozen cloud-based offerings currently available to customers are now encompassed as part of Autodesk Cloud. Autodesk Cloud provides a powerful foundation to enable all Autodesk customers to begin using the cloud to access and store their work from anywhere; to view their work through web browsers or mobile devices; and to share their work with other users, even users without Autodesk software. Cloud applications such Autodesk Cloud documents, AutoCAD WS and the Autodesk Design Review mobile app provide users with the freedom to work where they can be most effective, and to view, edit and share designs anywhere and with almost anyone.

Additional cloud services exclusive to Autodesk Subscription customers give designers, engineers and digital artists sophisticated new capabilities, such as high-performance 3D visual communication, simulation and collaboration that were once limited to organizations with privileged access to expensive, high-end supercomputing centers.

These exclusive services include:

Autodesk Cloud rendering ― Customers with an Autodesk Subscription to the Premium or Ultimate editions of Autodesk Design Suite or Autodesk Building Design Suite will have access to powerful rendering capabilities, helping them better visualize designs, increase the number of renderings they can create and reduce hardware investments.

Autodesk Inventor optimization ― Customers with Subscription to the Premium or Ultimate editions of Autodesk Product Design Suites will gain an intuitive cloud-based simulation tool, enabling them to test multiple design options in the cloud, and to create more sustainable designs and higher-quality products while reducing material, transportation and energy costs.

Autodesk Revit Conceptual Energy Analysis ― Customers with Subscription to Autodesk Revit Architecture or Autodesk Revit MEP software, or select suites containing these products, can extend design beyond the desktop with powerful cloud-based energy analysis capabilities, helping them to quickly gain insight into the energy consumption and building energy costs of early design concepts from within the design application.

Autodesk Green Building Studio web-based energy analysis software ― Customers with Subscription to Autodesk Building Design Suite and other select products have access to this cloud-based service that can help designers, architects, engineers and building energy analysts perform faster, more accurate energy analysis of multiple building design iterations, optimize energy efficiency and work toward carbon neutrality earlier in the design process.

Autodesk Buzzsaw software as a service (SaaS) ― Customers with Subscription to Autodesk Vault Collaboration AEC software now have access to cloud-based document, data and design management solutions for architecture, engineering and construction firms and owner-operators, helping them centralize and securely exchange project information and enhance team collaboration.

Autodesk works with multiple partners, including Amazon and Citrix, to provide a scalable cloud computing infrastructure to meet customer needs. Autodesk has been working with Amazon Web Services for more than three years in order to securely host high-demand, scalable applications such as Autodesk Homestyler software and Autodesk Seek web service. Amazon Web Services provides Autodesk with the flexibility to scale computing around the world with Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) and resilient storage capacity with Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) and Elastic Block Store (EBS), as well as the ability to more efficiently deliver applications and content to customers. Autodesk also teams with Citrix to provide customers with greater efficiency in their use of Autodesk applications. Delivering solutions to end users with Citrix XenApp can help customers reduce workstation costs while still providing the software performance they need.

In addition to the new Autodesk Cloud services, Autodesk Subscription continues to provide the most up-to-date software, online technical support and flexible licensing privileges for customers looking to maximize their competitive advantage.