Autodesk Product Design Suite Launchpad

Autodesk Labs has recently posted a tool to optimize your product design workflow.  It's called the "Autodesk Product Design Suite LaunchPad".

The LaunchPad Technology Preview accelerates design efforts by providing a single portal into Product Design Suite applications, project data, and workflows. The LaunchPad’s one-click workflows prepare your design data in the Suite environment that is most appropriate to your task so you can quickly start designing, engineering, simulating, and visualizing your design. The LaunchPad is intended for users who already have Product Design Suite installed.

This new LaunchPad contains tools to help automate the following workflows:

• Reuse 2D Data
• Modify 3D Geometry
• 3D Parametric Design
• Stress Analysis
• Dynamic Simulation
• Technical Drawings
• Interactive Design Review
• Photorealistic Rendering

The LaunchPad also has the ability to set default Inventor templates as well as project file support for better control over how the Inventor-related workflows are started.  The desktop icons are also scalable to accommodate different screen configurations.

With the latest updates, the LaunchPad offers two sets of one-click workflows, each supporting different industry design tasks.

• Machine Design: For users who typically work with a variety of 2D and 3D data to design, engineer, analyze, and simulate machines.
• Plastic Part Design: For users who need to transform concept designs and styled surface models of molded plastic parts into engineered, manufacture-ready solid models.

The following NEW Plastic Part Design workflows are available in this technology preview update:

• Concept Sketching
• Styling
• Design Engineering
• Materials Selection Analysis
• Stress Analysis
• Technical Drawings
• Explore Design Alternatives
• Photorealistic Rendering

Keep in mind that this is a Technical Preview and will be available until May 30, 2012.  To download a copy of the "Autodesk Product Design Suite LaunchPad" goto:

http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/launchpad/

Authoring Inventor Content for Plant 3D

If you are you asking the question “how can I use my Inventor data inside of AutoCAD Plant 3D” then look no further. If you have content that already exists inside of Inventor and you would like to use that content inside of Plant 3D then simply read below. Autodesk has taken the steps with this utility to easily export data out of Inventor and import that same data into your plant design.

Using a Pump design from Autodesk Inventor 2011

1

• Ensure the units for the Inventor model match the units of the Plant 3D project
• This can be set in Inventor under Tools > Document Settings

2

• Ensure the orientation of the Inventor model is aligned with the Z-axis pointing up
• TIP:  If the orientation of an existing design isn’t aligned, you can insert the model into a new assembly and apply the necessary constraints in Inventor to orient it properly

3

• Start the AEC Exchange environment in Inventor from Environments > AEC Exchange

4

• Author important connection points for Plant 3D to re-use
• Plant 3D understands Nominal Diameter Size, Connection Type, and Direction
• Ensure Nominal Diameter = standard library size (e.g. 4.0in)
• Ensure the connector direction arrow is pointed away from the model. This gives Plant 3D the required orientation for starting and ending routes. You can still define the flow direction as required in the properties.

5

• OPTIONAL:  You can reduce the “heaviness” of the Inventor model by creating a Shrinkwrap Substitute. This can improve performance in Plant 3D if this component is used frequently.
• Shrinkwrap Substitute can be found in Inventor under the AEC Exchange environment

6

• Select Export Building Components to package up the Inventor model and relevant component item data
• You can assign the component to an OMNI class application type, and include important data like Description, Manufacturer, Model No., Cost, etc.
• Select OK to browse to a location to save the .ADSK file output

7

• After saving the .ADSK result, a summary report is generated letting you review the success of the output. The file is now ready to be used in Plant 3D.