Santa is coming - CAD Studio's tools for Christmas

Grab new CAD applications that are given out by CAD Studio as a traditional Christmas present - this year for the twelfth time already. This year's CAD presents are available especially for AutoCAD users.

Dimension length of any 2D or 3D curve, trace points on a curve in the specified distance (stationing), open a custom palette with a converter for hundreds of common and less-common international and historical physical units, log all changes performed in a DWG drawing, automatically switch layers for texts, dimensions, hatches, etc. - pick one of our free productivity tools for your everyday work.

Read more at Twelfth Christmas CAD utilities given out by CAD Studio.

Another update in Autodesk Memento - comparing 3D models

One of the fastest growing Autodesk application is the tool for processing large 3D mesh models - Autodesk Memento. It is an important tool for 3D reality-capture from photos, 3D point-cloud scanning or handheld scanners - converting the acquired data into 3D models for CAD and BIM software. Today released version of Memento (V1.0.12.1; expires March 31,2015) brings a couple of important new features. You can export AVI videos with presentations of the model in multiple resolutions. 3D navigation in the model was simplified by using the spherical orbit gizmo and by assigning coordinate systems to the processed model. You can export OBJ files without textures or with re-baked textures. There is an enhanced support for Artec 3D scanners.

But probably the most interesting new feature is the difference analysis between two 3D meshes. You can easily perform a comparison of differences between two mesh models. The results are presented as a colored hypsometry enhancing positive and negative changes of the model geometry - comparing two different files or an old and a new version of the same model. So you can easily compare e.g. photographed and generated 3D models of the same scene after some time (e.g. plant growing, terrain erosion), compare the theoretical (CAD-based) and the real shape of a manufactured and scanned 3D part, find changes in geometry between two versions of a 3D assembly from a CAD software (outer shape only, a mesh).

In the sample below, a doggie-toy model (generated in Memento from a photographed scene) was modified to a new version by using the "push" and "pull" smoothing tool on the dog's neck and back leg. Subsequently, the function Analyze > Analyze the difference was used to compare the loaded model with its original untouched version (.RCM file on disk). The dialog "Difference analysis" allows to set the display scale for the difference sizes, plus the "neutral area", where small differences are ignored. The result then clearly indicates areas where the model shape was changed using the "3D brush" (by adding and subtracting mass).

The original model:

Edit by smoothing:

Result of the comparison:

See Project Memento on Autodesk Labs.

KORADO heating bodies as BIM objects for Revit MEP

CAD Studio cooperates with the Technical University in Ceske Budejovice (VSTE) and as a part of this cooperation, VSTE students prepared a large library of BIM objects of real MEP products for Revit. Our CAD/BIM library at CADforum.cz Blocks now e.g. contains an extended choice of 3D models of KORADO heating panels.

The KORADO BIM library contain steel radiators (wall heating panels) - the product lines RADIK - RADIK KLASIK, RADIK KLASIK - R (steel panel radiators for reconstructions) and VENTIL KOMPAKT (RADIK VK). This adds to the existing BIM models RADIK VKU, RADIK VKL, RADIK VKM  , RADIK COMBI VK and PLAN (RADIK PLAN KLASIK, RADIK PLAN VK, RADIK PLAN VKL, RADIK PLAN VKM).

The Revit family files (RFA) contain fully parametric 3D models and 2D symbols and other technical data as specified by the manufacturer.

The 46 newly published RFA files also contain a vast number of family types (with thousands of variants), so you can find a type catalog (TXT) with every RFA file. Type catalogs contain all types in a given family and you can choose the types you need for your current project when you load the RFA file (making the project file smaller). The type catalog text files must have the same name as the respective RFA file and must be stored in the same folder - so do not forget to download also the TXT attachment with the RFA file from our online library.

You can use these library elements in the BIM software Autodesk Revit versions 2014 and 2015.

The author of the families is Bc. Michal Marek.

Fixed Bing Live Maps in AutoCAD 2015/2014

Six days ago, we started to receive customer support tickets related to problems accessing online maps Microsoft Bing LiveMaps from the function GEOGRAPHICLOCATION in AutoCAD 2015 and 2014 (all verticals). The source of this problem was a change in the communication protocol (API) performed on Microsoft servers, triggered by a security problem identified in the SSLv3 encryption protocol.

Autodesk reworked the communication method used for the Bing mapping service and after a testing phase released a fix for the related program files (specifically AcGeoLocationUI.arx) for the AutoCAD 2014 and 2015 product family. The respective files and instructions for performing the can be downloaded from knowledge.autodesk.com.


using LiveMaps in the add-on CADstudio GeoCode
This incident has shown pitfalls of internet communication and dependencies of connected applications. On the other hand, it illustrates also the possibilities of a quick "global" fix for a newly discovered security problem.

AutoCAD for Mac 2015 and LT 2015 for Mac released

Apple is different. Also the release dates for the Mac version of AutoCAD have always been different from the usual spring release dates for new Autodesk product families. The FCS dates for Mac are driven by new releases of the Apple Mac OS. So this year's "AutoCAD for Mac 2015" and "AutoCAD LT for Mac 2015" had to wait until today while other Autodesk "2015" family products are already available for a long time.

AutoCAD for Mac 2015 (codename "Lightsaber") is compatible with Mac computers with the latest Mac OS X 10.10.0 Yosemite. Same as previous versions for Mac, it is fully compatible with DWG files from the better known Windows version of AutoCAD. Function set of the Mac version was substantially enhanced. Older Mac versions were missing some functions compared to Windows. AutoCAD for Mac now contains extended tools for 2D and 3D design, including dynamic block editor, quick selection of drawing objects by their properties, layer states and data links to Excel.

Besides other new features of the version 2015, AutoCAD for Mac 2015 allows to:

• create intelligent and flexible dynamic blocks and libraries
• embed live links to Excel spreadsheets in drawings
• create and manage layer states (Layer State Manager)
• locate and select drawing objects by properties with Quick Select
• preview commands and automatically fix typos or synonyms
• benefit from increased performance of the application

Videos - DataLink and Quick Select:





Price of the version 2015 remains unchanged, English and French localizations are available. AutoCAD LT for Mac can be obtained also as Desktop Subscription (time-limited rental).

Autodesk ReCap family updated

Autodesk's point cloud processing software - Autodesk ReCap, ReCap Pro and ReCap 360 was updated to new versions. The latest Windows version is 1.4.0.132. You can update to the latest version via the Application Manager or by downloading and installing the "trial" version of ReCap Pro 2015. The "Pro" functionality (e.g. targetless scan-to-scan registration, survey points) reverts automatically to the standard version after your trial period or Pro license expires. The standard version of ReCap is a free application. ReCap is available in 14 languages (switchable inside the application).

Autodesk ReCap is a popular and easy to use tool allowing to effectively process very large point clouds (billions of points) from laser scanning (LiDAR) in all major point cloud formats. Indexed point clouds can be then directly read into AutoCAD, Autodesk Revit, Inventor, Navisworks or 3ds Max or published through the ReCap 360 cloud service on the internet.

Some of the new functions in version 1.4:

• Create accuracy reports based on checkerboard or sphere targets (for problem detection and quality-information)
• Target-based registration refinement (improves the registration of low feature environments, automatically extracts target center points)
• Registration rollback (deleting scans without the need to re-register)

The intro image is a ReCap scan of the historical city hall and Old square in Prague - done by Turn 10 Studios for the Forza Motorsport 5 game for Xbox One.


More information on recap.autodesk.com.

(via Between the lines)

123D Catch - turn your mobile phone into a 3D scanner

The mobile application Autodesk 123D Catch employs cloud technology for easy to use 3D scanning. It converts a series of photographs of any object taken from different angles to a realistic textured 3D model - directly on your smartphone or tablet. 123D Catch was available only for iPhone, iPad or Google Chrome web browsers. Now it is newly released as an Android application so you can 3D-scan also on the most widely used phones and tablets based on the Google operating system (requires Android 4.0.3 and higher).

This "modeling" application, originally known as "Photofly" has also a professional version - "Autodesk ReCap Photo". But the 123D Catch app is free. You can easily create and then share, interactively display and print 3D models of people, artefacts, buildings, plants - anything, what you can capture from all directions and angles so that the application can reconstruct a 3D model from the photographs. 123D Catch also offers functions for model healing, 3D printing and exporting to different 3D formats (also for CAD applications).




You can download Autodesk 123D Catch from Google Play and from iTunes.

See also:

• Autodesk mobile apps (CZ)

Autodesk A360 mobile app - view any CAD file in the cloud

With the recently released (or rather "re-released", see below) mobile application Autodesk 360 you can interactively view and discuss virtually any 2D and 3D CAD format file on the screen of your iPad or iPhone.

The "Autodesk 360" cloud service offers many useful CAD functions and cloud tools, and much more new enhancements are planned for coming months (see our blog post). Functions of the new, project-based Autodesk 360, including the interactive viewer of any of the 60 different CAD formats, are available through a web browser. But there were performance limits imposed by mobile web browsers like Safari or Chrome - especially WebGL limits. The new mobile application Autodesk A360 circumvents these limits by accessing the cloud data and functions directly, not through a mobile web browser. Autodesk A360 Mobile is currently available for iOS only - i.e. for iPads and iPhones (Android version is planned).

Autodesk A360 on an iPad:


And Autodesk 360 in a desktop web browser:


Autodesk A360 allows to view even huge 3D and 2D designs and tracks what's happening on your projects. Through the app, you will be able to connect and collaborate with your teams, from wherever your work takes you. All the data is accessible and easily viewable in a wide variety of formats. Autodesk 360 enables both online and offline workflows - it will help you become more productive by dramatically improving the way you design, visualize, simulate, and share your work.

Some of the CAD formats supported in Autodesk A360: AutoCAD, Inventor, Fusion 360, Revit, Navisworks, SolidWorks, CATIA or generic file formats like PDF, DWF/DWFX, STL, STEP, IGES, OBJ, SAT and much more.

You can download the new Autodesk A360 (free) from iTunes and since Oct also from Google Play.

PS:
Although the name "Autodesk 360" is appropriate for such tool, there already was an application called "Autodesk 360" (aka "Design Review Mobile"). This app is still available for Android. So don't be confused by the version numbering - in fact "Autodesk 360 V1.0 for iOS" is a brand new tool with much more functions than the "previous" version 3.x of the older app named "Autodesk 360". Update: the application is now named "A360 Mobile".

Nastran enhancement for Autodesk Simulation Mechanical 2015

Very shortly after the announcement of the NEi NASTRAN acquisition, Autodesk has added this newly acquired technology to its standard product offering. Subscription customers of Autodesk Simulation Mechanical 2015 can now download a "product enhancement" from their Subscription Center account.

This download adds the Autodesk Nastran industry proven solver to Simulation Mechanical 2015, improving the accuracy and robustness of the simulation process.

What's new in the enhanced Simulation Mechanical:

• Integrated Autodesk Nastran Solver
• Autodesk Nastran Editor for expanded workflows and results
• New meshing and selection options
• Surface force distribution enhancement for loads
• Browser usability improvements

The four Nastran-supported analysis types are:

• Static Stress with Linear Material Models
• Natural Frequency (Modal)
• Critical Buckling Load
• Steady-state Heat Transfer and Thermal Stress

Product enhancement functionality in a Sim TV video:

The Autodesk 360 cloud - what's next?

Designers and engineers increasingly collaborate in extended teams on complex projects involving different disciplines - so they need to access current project data anytime, anywhere, on any device. A key aspect is the need to keep track of all changes and activities around the project, in one place. One of important requirements is also the availability of CAD data for non-technical users, or transfer of performance-intensive tasks to the cloud. All these benefits are offered in the cloud service Autodesk 360. What is the nearest future of Autodesk 360? This web application becomes a broad platform integrating various web services by Autodesk, enabling feature-rich online collaboration, creation and management of CAD data.

Within teams, you will probably encounter different types of CAD applications. Therefore, it is important to support multiple types of the most common CAD ​​formats. The existing version of Autodesk 360 supports the formats DWG, DXF, Inventor, Fusion, ATF, Navisworks, Revit, SIM360, but soon also other "foreign" CAD formats will be added, such as CATIA, Pro/E or Solidworks (already fully supported in Autodesk Fusion 360). You can then view this data interactively in your web browser, display the structure of the model, its exploded views, etc.

Especially for large projects, the search function is very important - Autodesk 360 supports "deep search", detailed search through projects or contexts, including the ability to search the contents of supported CAD files (components, texts). The forthcoming semantic search function then creates searchable links and relations between project data - what project is it? who designed it? who commented on it? what is it linked to and where is it used? who and when made any changes?:

The project management functionality allows you to create and organize tasks and milestones for workflows in the current project and team. You can also follow progress of the project, including notifications of critical situations.

Autodesk 360 will support (like other Autodesk web services) federated data - your CAD data can be physically stored in another cloud according your preferences - technical, enterprise or legal - e.g. in Dropbox, Box, Google, Sharepoint etc.

You are not limited to your desktop, you can also use any mobile device in the field or on the site to access project data from Autodesk 360, display supported types of CAD data, team members can comment on the designs, search project data, use project schedules, tasks and milestones. You can e.g. shoot photos with your mobile phone, place them directly into a project and use the ReCap 360 module to generate 3D models.

The nearest future

The new Autodesk 360 is already available in a form of a technological preview for invited users (since May 22nd for anyone on www.autodesk360.com, log-in on the bottom), and it is also integrated in the current version of the 3D editor Autodesk Fusion 360. The existing (old) features of Autodesk 360 (internally called "Nitrous") will continue to be available for free. The new, enhanced Autodesk 360 will be available as a commercial service (starting end of June/beginning of July).

The existing Autodesk 360 cloud service supports individual files - can share them, view them. In contrast, the new, upcoming version offers online collaboration not only for documents, but for entire projects. It identifies relevant associated documents (xrefs, assembly components), offers the aforementioned team functions, time-scheduling functions, team user management, supports various types of CAD data formats, integrates other Autodesk's cloud services (render 360, Fusion 360, Sim 360, CAM 360, ReCap 360, PLM 360, Infraworks 360), plus there is a mobile version.

Roadmap of new releases of Autodesk 360:

• May 2014 - integration of Rendering and Showcase 360
• June 2014 - launch of the commercial version
• July 2014 - integration of ReCap 360 and the cloud-based Revit Server
• August 2014 - integration of PLM 360
• December 2014 - new version for AU2014

The above mentioned planned new features include a unified universal viewer for large 3D CAD data (LMV - large model viewer); the "deep search" function - search through projects and through the contents of CAD data; project management (milestones, tasks); integration with Design Feed available in desktop applications; cloud API. So in the coming weeks and months we can look forward to exciting new tools that open interesting possibilities for easy collaboration on CAD ​​projects.

Autodesk - the NASTRAN acquisition

Autodesk announced its own 3D printer yesterday and today comes with new surprise - acquires certain assets of NEi Software (formerly Noran Engineering), including its main product, the well known NEi NASTRAN solver. NASTRAN (NAsa STructural ANalysis) is a highly acclaimed tool for analysis of 3D models based on the finite element method (FEA). This solver is also used in other CAE applications (e.g. Femap). The roots of NASTRAN date back the 60s when it was developed for space agency NASA. There are several offshoots of this software (FTC-induced clones in 2002). Calculations from NASTRAN are used today not only in the space program (e.g. for SpaceShipOne), but also for demanding "mundane" behavioral analysis of 3D models - linear and nonlinear analysis, dynamic simulations.

It can be expected that NASTRAN will complement the existing Autodesk simulation products. The desktop- and cloud-based CAE tools by Autodesk are being developed on the technologies derived primarily from acquisitions completed in recent years - such as Algor, Moldflow, CFdesign (Blue Ridge Numerics) or Firehole Composites.

The latest NASTRAN acquisition confirms that Autodesk is very serious in the simulation business.

(via schnitgercorp.com)

Autodesk Memento copes with very large mesh models

Autodesk just launched a new update of Project Memento, a technology preview Windows application with tools for converting photos and scans into high quality 3D mesh, plus powerful tools for mesh clean up, fixing and optimizing mesh models for further use - e.g. CAD or 3D print. See the announcement on Shaan Hurley's blog.

We have tested the new version of Memento 1.0.8.0 on a large model of "baby alien" from our last year's design contest Hedgehog in cage. The winner, the "Alien" model (with its cage/nest) was designed in 3ds Max and this organic shape is very detailed. Its source .max file has about 700MB, the exported .obj file is a hefty 1.6GB giant. Full detailed STL print file is also over 1GB, and thus many 3D print engines had problems handling it. It was also not easy to view or simplify this large mesh in any 3D software.

Loading this OBJ or STL model into Memento was very fast, about 2:20 min. on a plain home PC with just an integrated graphics card. The model then rotated and zoomed in real time. Individual faces could be easily selected. The native .rcm file has 700MB and it loads instantaneously(!) in Memento. Subsequent OBJ re-export of this model with 50% decimation (simplification) took about 4 minutes (there was not any visible degradation on this 50%-smaller model). You can 3D print on different 3D printers directly from Memento.

Alien OBJ (1.6GB) loaded in Memento

see the details of the model
So if you need to heal, process or 3D print a large mesh model (scanned or modelled), Memento is definitely worth trying.

See Project Memento on Autodesk Beta site.

Stereoscopic viewing of 3D models in Autodesk 360 cloud

If you use a graphics card nVidia Quadro (or other graphics card supporting stereoscopic display) in your computer, you can three-dimensionally view your 3D CAD models stored in the Autodesk 360 cloud. There is no need to pre-process the CAD models nor to install any special viewing software, a standard web viewing functionality of the cloud is used. The models are displayed stereoscopically, with any 3D viewing technology supported by your graphics card.

You need to first setup the stereoscopic mode on your graphics card. Install the latest version of the graphics card driver (full install). On nVidia cards then run the "NVIDIA Control Panel" and in it the task "Set up stereoscopic 3D".

The initial setup will launch the "Setup wizard" where you can choose the required display technology for 3D viewing. If you have no special 3D hardware (glasses), you can use plain paper red-cyan stereoscopic glasses - then use the option "Discover Glasses".

After this initial setup check the option "Enable stereoscopic 3D". This will enable 3D display in games but also in the Google Chrome web browser. Now if you login to your Autodesk 360 account with this browser and if you start a standard full preview of a 3D model from the uploaded documents, the interactive viewer will offer an anaglyph (or other selected) stereo view:

You can rotate/orbit your 3D model and enjoy the 3D experience. Please note the quality of 3D viewing can be sometimes less than ideal - this is not a functionality of the cloud itself but rather a local functionality of Google Chrome and the nVidia driver. Not all cloud-supported (viewable) 3D formats seem to invoke this 3D display mode.

See also other options for stereoscopic 3D display of CAD data - Anaglyph app and www.cadstudio.cz/anaglyf

Fibers - a small technical change in AutoCAD 2015

You have probably NOT noticed a small technical change in the latest AutoCAD 2015. This change is more important for programmers but it has also some consequences for normal AutoCAD users.

AutoCAD (at least its Windows versions) has traditionally used so called "fibers", an old Windows multitasking technology for switching contexts and threads. This allowed AutoCAD to switch drawings (documents in Windows terms) transparently in a middle of a command, without interrupting it. You could start a polyline in one drawing, switch to a different drawing opened in the same AutoCAD session, draw something there, and then return back to the original drawing to continue with the original polyline.

This is maybe a nice feature but it was not used much. And first of all it created major technical obstacles in debugging add-on applications, especially modern .NET and ObjectARX plugins, as Windows do not fully support this fibers technology anymore. See programming details on ADN DevBlog. Our programmers do like this change.

So since AutoCAD 2015, switching MDI context (switching to another opened drawing tab) now effectively means interrupting the active command - like pressing ESC. Do not confuse this with switching viewports in layouts - you can still use this type of "in-DWG" context switching in AutoCAD 2015.

There won't be many mourners at this funeral...

Most products of the Autodesk-2015 family already released

Since the FCS date of the new AutoCAD 2015 (March, 18th), most other products of the "2015" product family have been already released - at least in the original English versions and in main localizations. All new products are available for download on the Subscription Center (ELD, electronic license delivery) and as 30-day Trials on Autodesk.com. The latest releases as of today are the Product Design and Factory Design Suites, Building Design Suites, 3ds Max and Revit 2015. The list of already released products in English and Czech is maintained on the page Release dates - Autodesk 2015.

There was also a couple of surprises in this year's release process. Starting with premature publishing of AutoCAD 2015 product videos, through a "zero-day" update release (UR1) for Revit 2015 up to the Showcase 2015 first removed and then added back to the Autodesk Product Design Suites. Kudos to Autodesk for listening to users' complaints and quickly adding quite popular Showcase and Alias Design back to the standard set of Product Design Suite tools.

And more Kudos to the Autodesk localization team for releasing localized (in our case Czech) versions of most products so early after the original release. It took weeks less then usual.

AutoCAD 2015 - hot off the press

I was lucky to attend the AutoCAD Blogger Day event in San Francisco where the new AutoCAD 2015 was released. The group of 10 bloggers from the US, UK, Brasil, Poland and Czechia was invited by Autodesk to presentations and interesting discusssion with Lynn Allen, Shaan Hurley, Heidi Hewett, and with one of the customers who participated in the development of AutoCAD 2015.

The version 2015 seems to be much influenced by users. In addition to inviting beta users, Autodesk developers got hard hats and were sent into the field - they participated in real work with CAD drawings in construction and manufacturing. Beta testers of AutoCAD 2015 were from 70 countries, some of them were using AutoCAD 2015 for six months(!). Autodesk also uses A/B testing inside betas of AutoCAD 360 - so do not be alarmed if suddenly some features in your beta version looks differently - you are probably undergoing an A/B test.

AutoCAD 2015 is a "shade of grey" release. The change the default color scheme in AutoCAD 2015 came just from the users. The aim of this modernization was to reduce eye strain by reducing contrast transitions, offer more pleasant work and put emphasis on the actual CAD content. Also other new featuers in version 2015 relate to graphics - AutoCAD 2015 uses better the GPU/hardware features of modern graphics cards - this brings higher performance and provides smoother and softer lines (anti-aliasing). Also the preview/selection hightlighting was accelerated significantly. And you can also select objects in a new way - with a free drawing boundary - "lasso".

Another theme of the new version is Connectivty. Today, CAD data is typically used on multiple devices, including tablets and mobile phones, with data stored in different locations (disk, USB, Dropbox, FTP, ...) and with new types of data describing the real world - maps, photographs, old drawings, point clouds, ...), users are working in geographically dispersed teams. Mobile version of AutoCAD - AutoCAD 360 - makes it easier to share and communicate CAD data. AutoCAD 360 has already 15 million downloads. There is over 10 million users of the desktop AutoCAD. Online comments in DWG drawings (Design Feed) in AutoCAD 2015 can now also be used for locally stored DWG drawings (not necessarily just DWGs in the cloud).

An important new feature for civil engineers and architects is the option to include map data (Bing) inside the DWG drawings. You can determine the precision of the map section stored inside a DWG. It is printed with DWG drawing. Also the support for 3D point clouds was significantly improved. You can now easily trim, crop, filter, classify and present the pint cloud data. Max. number of points in the cloud has been increased to 25 million.

A number of minor features improves productivity of everyday steps and workflows. There are for example several new contextual ribbons, the style previews (text, dimensions, ...), the picture menu for block inserts, previews when changing the properties of objects, easier adding layouts, natural sorting of numbered levels, the initial screen pad, direct links from the command Help into the ribbon, badge-icons at the cursor according to the perfomed function, easier editing of model space viewports, a number of improvements to the text formatting (bullets, fractions, indices, AutoCAPS). A greater influence of users to the product development can be seen from minor adjustments which address annoying inconveniences, such as the automatic exclusion of existing extension lines when adding new dimensions to the drawing, or simplifying isometric drawings, or targeting in 3DORBIT. Version 2015 also removes the EDU stamp from DWG drawings.

The related AutoCAD 360 has new functions for learining and sharing data.

The blogger team (foto: Przemek Marczynski)

---

Visiting Autodesk Gallery and Autodesk Workshops at Pier 9 was an interesting part of the Blogger Day.

Autodesk Gallery

Autodesk Gallery - 3D photo booth

Autodesk Gallery - if you are an Inventor user, you have probably already seen this model somewhere...

The elevator in the Autodesk's office

The Autodesk Workshops at Pier 9 are very intersting. Interns and employees can here realize their real projects using Autodesk software and the local high-end machine equipment (CNC machines, milling machines, water jet cutting, batteries of 3D printers, woodworking machines, laser engraving, sewing and cooking equipment). This is a dream of every maker and designer. The themes of the projects done in the Workshops extend from printed 3D models of buildings, over a kart built by the Autodesk CEO and his son, to somehow unexpected cooking recipes (for Instructables) and outfits.

"Galactic" touch-search for projects completed in Autodesk Workshops (each star represents a project)

A wide scale of equipment with CNC machines

A part of the 3D printer "battery"

... technologically advanced 3D printer using plain paper sheets

... and one of the results from this printer

One of finished projects - a swinging conference table

AutoCAD 2015 and AutoCAD LT 2015 are available for download (so far in English, German, French, Spanish, Japanese, Korean and Chinese) on your Subscription Center. It goes to sell on 28.3.2014. AutoCAD 2015 supports the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1.


See also AutoCAD 2015 - hot from the kitchen (in Czech)

Bunny masquerade in new Autodesk Meshmixer

Meshmixer is the newest member of the Autodesk 123D family. Meshmixer is a powerful software tool for 3D mashups and remixes. You can mash, mix, sculpt, stamp or paint your own 3D designs. The mesh models can be exported to OBJ, DAE or STL file formats or directly printed on a 3D printer.

The latest version Meshmixer 2.2 adds a.o. an interesting 3D patterning function. Here you can see its results on the sample 3D mesh model "Bunny":

Autodesk Meshmixer can be downloaded and used for free from
www.123dapp.com/meshmixer

Top 10 - the most popular CAD tips on CADforum.cz in 2013

Here are the 10 most popular tips and tricks of the year 2013 from the English tips section on our CAD Forum portal www.cadforum.cz:

1. Tip #9097:
   How to convert 3D polylines to 3D surfaces?
2. Tip #9512:
   How to convert a point cloud to an editable 3D CAD model (mesh)?
3. Tip #9197:
   Export of 3D CAD models to Google Earth.
4. Tip #9133:
   Drawing not created by a product from Autodesk Education Suite.
5. Tip #9200:
   Launching Autodesk 3ds Max 2014 in another language.
6. Tip #9398:
   CAD formats supported in Inventor 2014 (import/export).
7. Tip #9461:
   Cannot start my Inventor 2014 in OS Windows 8.1.
8. Tip #9206:
   Free viewer for Autodesk Inventor files.
9. Tip #9139:
   How to place GeoTIFF images automatically to right positions?
10. Tip #9520:
    My Inventor 2013, 2012 or 2011 does not work after upgrade to Windows 8.1

See thousands of other CAD tips, CAD blocks and utilities for download and more goodies for users of AutoCAD, Inventor, Revit and other Autodesk's software on www.cadforum.cz.

New mobile application Autodesk Instant

Autodesk has released a new mobile application that seemingly targets outside of the conventional fields dominated by Autodesk. The application Autodesk Instant for Android and iOS is an "instant messaging" tool designed for team communication, with similar features as the popular application WhatsApp. But don't forget that Autodesk has already a long record of activities also in this "consumer" area of social networking applications - see e.g. his applications Socialcam, Pixlr or Instructables.

Team communication is an important part of the design process. Users now communicate primarily electronically, mostly on mobile devices that allow immediate response, anytime, anywhere. They are using a variety of methods - e-mails, SMS, Skype, Facebook, ICQ, WhatsApp... the range of communication tools is very broad. Autodesk Instant seeks to ensure that the enterpise communication between teams happens in an environment that enterprises can control and that can be easily integrated with existing and future data sharing platforms.

Autodesk Instant is very easy to use, the user is identified by his/her e-mail address, and you can immediately send or receive text messages, images, videos, or location data. If you use company e-mail addresses, users can be automatically organized into groups. If the recipient does not have the Instant application installed, the message is automatically delivered via a regular SMS.

A platform for instant communication can be an important addition to the Autodesk 360 services for online workflows and can facilitate project collaboration in distributed teams. An integration with other Autodesk tools is planned. Autodesk Instant for mobile devices based on Android and iOS is currently available only for North American users. A later release will be available worldwide.

More on www.autodeskinstant.com