Category Design

Don’t have a 3D Printer, No Problem

I hear it frequently when I speak about 3D Printing “Shaan I don’t have a 3D printer”, but they were not aware there are many printing services available locally and on the web. I think that is the business model 3D printing will be for awhile where the design shops and ultra hobbyists may have a 3D printer, but others designing in 3D can still pay for someone else to create the 3D print for them. I don’t think in the near future every home will have a 3D printer, but I believe they will all have access to one. We are starting to see companies like Staples dabbling in a local 3D print services but I want to see a day where the manufacturers of consumer goods provide free or a for a small fee replacement parts or custom modifications that you can purchase online and then pickup at your local FedEx Kinkos which are located about everywhere. That would save time, energy, warehousing, transportation costs and be better for the environment.

Bloomberg Businessweek Design Conference – Visually Recorded by Tom Wujec

Visual Recording of Bloomberg Businessweek Design Conference by Autodesk's own Tom Wujec http://buswk.co/VjqSYZ

You might think to yourself “hey I can draw”, but can you really draw real-time as the presenters are speaking or a conversation of fast speaking colleagues like my team to capture the essence of the topic and key takeaways as that is the hard and even more rare talent. Some may have seen Tom visually record at Autodesk University during a community meeting event and he literally had paper around the room and he just kept drawing non-stop. At the end a complete visual recording of the event was complete and easy for anyone to understand as a picture tells and conveys an idea much better and faster than just semantic text.

More about Tom

Tom regularly meets with teams from companies around the world and facilitates discussions to flesh out ideas, problems, and strategies by leading the discussion. Many times see having a led discussion and documented visually on paper, sticky notes, and whiteboards can help get you to the right strategy, idea, or solution compared to just talking and taking notes in a group meeting amongst themselves without a ring master or herder of innovative cats.

Tom is a member of the team I am on in the Office of the CTO and a great fellow, no really Tom’s title is “Autodesk Fellow”. He is one of the instrumental people in the history of the popular Sketchbook Pro and Maya products.Tom is also well known not only for being a nice, thoughtful, stylish, and funny guy, but he is key at TED including the referee of the fun cage match events also at Autodesk University and the Innovation Forums and so much more as I honestly could keep going.

Mother Nature Celebrity Designer

While Mother Nature has been busy piling up snow and today shutting down Salt Lake City including the major airport with freezing rain and causing my power to go out, she is also a very talented designer. Just look around you at what Mother Nature has designed from terrain, plants, animals and more. We can use biomimicry for radical designs inspired by nature.

Autodesk Formit 2.0, then Revit

Autodesk Formit is a free iPad app launched on iTunes as a version 1.0 during Autodesk University 2012 in December 2012 and updated this past weekend to version 2.0.

Autodesk Formit 2.0 on iPad with Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino Model

Autodesk FormIt Version 2.0 has just been launched on iTunes, and it is completely free. This latest update includes some great improvements including metric units, automatic Revit file creation (with Autodesk 360), grid and snap settings adapt to zoom level, and some great user experience enhancements.
Download or update today: http://autode.sk/TjO5Hj

Autodesk 123D Design Arrives

3D Modeling for the Masses Debuts with Autodesk 123D Design on Windows, Mac, cloud hosted version that runs in your browser, and an iPad version.

NO COMPLEX CAD SKILLS REQUIRED

“For the first time ever, users can create sophisticated, precise 3D models of real objects on their iPad, Mac, PC or via their web browser. People said this couldn’t be done on iPad, and we’re happy to prove them wrong,” said Samir Hanna, vice president of Consumer Products, Autodesk. “We believe that everyone is creative, and we intend to put easy to use design software in the hands of millions of people so they can create real objects, have fun doing it and then fabricate the things they want and need, just the way they want them.”

The brand new Autodesk 123D Design is a 3D software package for everyone especially the Maker market or the young children and students interested in design and technology to those Makers and their parents and grandparents. Did I mention this is FREE**

Amazing Experience and Amazing Example of Engineering

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending a rocket motor test here in Utah. The test was conducted by ATK and ULA United Launch Alliance. It was amazing event to see the motor prior to firing then the actual ignition from less than a mile away from the ignition site. The first sensation is the bright light from the flame, then the loud sound shaking your body, and about 3 seconds later then some heat. The solid fuel rocket engine burned about 90 seconds.

As-Built Drawings vs. Shop Drawings

If you’re reading this blog, then you probably work in the AEC industry. And because of the industry you work in, you’ve probably heard the terms “as-built drawings” and “shop drawings”.

Do you think you could you explain the difference between these drawings, if someone asked you? If you’re not sure you could, don’t worry because you’ll be able to do so in about one minute!