Ellipsis

Get Your Sketch On

Hey AutoCAD users, want to get your sketch on?  Now available on Autodesk Labs http://bit.ly/6pbEaFis the Alias Sketch for AutoCAD technology Preview.  What is this technology preview?

Alias Sketch for AutoCAD adds fully integrated painting, illustration, and image manipulation capabilities known from SketchBook and Alias directly into the AutoCAD design workflow. This will provide AutoCAD users in all industries the ability to create effective and pervasive communication using digital imagery

·         Leverage freehand drawing techniques

·         Create artwork or import images to graphically express the context of designs, something previously requiring multiple applications to achieve

·         Manipulate and composite images to quickly create variations for design exploration

·         Free-hand markup (annotate) directly on top of AutoCAD  geometry

Get your very own  Alias Sketch for AutoCAD Technology Preview with a 30 day-license and let us know what you think on the labs forum page.

SO what should you do?  Go download this great technology preview extending the power and capabilities of AutoCAD as a broader creative tool. Where’s that 30-day trial?  http://bit.ly/6pbEaF

Autodesk Assistance Program

We recently extended the Autodesk Assistance Program to March 31, 2010 so I thought it would be good to share some of the benfits to being part of this program.

If you were working for years and never had the opportunity to learn something new this is definitely a answer to that.  If you want a new career in one of the many Industries we create software for this is also an answer to that.

When you sign up for the program here are some of the awesome things you get access to: 

• Free* Software License: Student licenses of 18 Autodesk® products including AutoCAD® software and other industry focused products supporting Building Information Modeling and Digital Prototyping technology.
• Free Online Training: On-demand training available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  (requires internet access)
• Reduced Cost Classroom Training:  Many Autodesk Authorized Value Added Resellers and Autodesk Training Center (ATC®) partners are offering classroom  training at their facilities for free or for a significantly reduced fee.  (Offerings will vary, please check with your local ATC or Reseller to get details)
• Certification: Certification preparation and exams available at discounted rates through Autodesk Authorized Certification Centers (Offerings will vary, please check with your local Certification Center to get details)

Products eligible for a free* software license include:

General Design
AutoCAD®

Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC)
Autodesk® Revit® Architecture
AutoCAD® Civil 3D®
Autodesk® Revit® Structure
Autodesk® Revit® MEP Suite
AutoCAD® Architecture
Autodesk® Ecotect® Analysis
Autodesk® Navisworks® Manage
AutoCAD® P&ID

Manufacturing 
Autodesk® Inventor® Professional
Autodesk® Alias® Surface
Autodesk® Alias® Design
AutoCAD® Electrical
AutoCAD® Mechanical

Media & Entertainment
Autodesk® 3ds Max® 
Autodesk® Maya®

Geospatial
AutoCAD® Map 3D

"Seize the opportunity now. Don’t just survive, thrive!"

 * Free products are subject to the terms and conditions of the end-user license agreement that accompanies the software. The license term varies by product from 90 days to 13 months.

We Talkin' About Practice...?

What's the difference between a sketched based feature, a work feature, and a placed feature? Which feature is a hybrid of a placed and sketched based? Knowing the tools of your trade is as important as knowing your trade, the better you know how to make the tool work for you the more efficiently you are able to work. Now that you've had your daily dose of Rob "Confucius" Cohee, let’s get down to cases shall we...

My latest video dubbed Autodesk Inventor Tutorial Series: 3D Basics covers just that - the fundamentals. The blocking and tackling, free throw, running ladders, and up downs of CAD. New users, watch, learn take notes. Veteran Inventor users watch, critique, pass along any advice in the comments for the new users. Point out things I do that you would never do, or things that I do that you hadn't thought of. Remember Coffee Talk with Linda Richman? That SNL bit... where she gets all choked up and gives you a topic to discuss whilst she gathers herself....? Well this is your topic - fundamentals of 3D, now discuss.

 -Rob
www.twitter.com/robcohee
www.youtube.com/robcohee

Road Trip Anyone?

I posed a question last week on Twitter (www.twitter.com/robcohee) Do you use technology to solve design problems, or do you use technology to document your design after you’ve solve the problem by other means? I was surprised at the results. Many people said that CAD is a documentation tool for them and it helps them solve design challenges in some situations….? I think this helped me in thinking about Inventor and other CAD related tools out there and how I go about describing Inventor to designers.

It’s very topical because I’ve been asked a lot lately about my take on what is the difference between Inventor and SolidWorks, or Pro/E, etc. And I think it boils down to how you look at and use technology. If you use CAD as a 3D modeler then sure, I’ll contend that it’s hard to distinguish between Inventor, Works, or E. They all have the same buttons, located in different places (or different menus for you Pro users…) but all in all in one form or another I’m sure we can each model up each other’s designs with varying numbers of features, and oh yeah, clicks.

(Funny side note: I had to do a couple of demos where the company assigned a guy to count my clicks and another guy was timing me. Seriously. BTW, I won and we got the deal - but I never understood that way of evaluating software, you weren't buying me...)

And save your “I bet you can’t model up this part” stump the chump bit – trust me I’ve heard it, seen it, done it and rarely am I stumped. That isn’t the point of this discussion. I’m genuinely interested in learning if designers use the technology tools at their disposal to actually solve design challenges. This is where I think the biggest difference between Inventor and Works, E, etc. lies – in Inventor’s ability to solve a design challenge and create the geometry based upon the input given. So I want to see your designs that you could not have done without technology. The designs that made your product stronger, lighter, more environmentally responsible, unique, and helped you differentiate your product from your competition.

Jay Tedeschi (www.twitter.com/ProphetPVD) has a great analogy about blogging; he says it’s like talking in your car to yourself, not sure if anyone is really listening or not. SO, I want to find out who is listening and who is willing to give us a little show and tell. I want to come out to see what you are doing, bring my camera along and lets show off your mad skills that are helping your company survive this downturn, or that are distinguishing your product over your competition.

(Golf) Bags are packed. Who’s first?

-Rob