- Oh no! An error has occurred!
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
- You need to be logged in to do that.
-
Ellipsis is the official blog of Autodesk's Technical Evangelist Team. We will discuss all things design and manufacturing related with a focus on industries such as automotive and transportation, consumer products, industrial machinery and building product manufacturing and fabrication. We also have resident experts who will blog about specific product developments in CAD, Simulation, Industrial Design and Data Management.
We look forward to providing you, our user community, with the most relevant and up to date developments in our industry, and hopefully with information that will assist you in doing your job better, faster, and more precisely.
-
A Moo'ving Experience...
June 12, 2008 02:36 AMby Jay TedeschiWell, here I sit, United flight 1194, Vancouver to San Francisco. We left almost an hour and a half late, but at least we are on our way… someone is going to have to explain to me sometime how Bay Area “low lying cloud cover” or “marine layer” (aka “fog”) can cause such massive delays. I mean, maybe in the days before IFR I can see how that would be a problem, but the lack of visual on final just does not seem like it should add all that much additional time for spacing between flights. In any case…
I am on my way home from attending the ShipConstructor Super User Group meeting in Victoria, BC. As I am not sure of the total number of SC users worldwide in totality, I am not sure what kind of cross section this represents, but the 40 or so who attended most definitely seemed to be the cream of the crop. Hence the prefix of “Super” I suppose…
In any case, as ShipConstructor is an AutoCAD based product, all of these users are familiar with it, so we wanted to show them something really flashy. Fortunately we have just the right products on hand to both support and show a compelling Industrial Design story, that is also quite visually appealing. While a large portion of the SC community do in fact design larger utilitarian vessels, e.g. Ice-Breakers, Ferries, tankers, support vessels, etc. etc., there is a good sized group that does large luxury yachts. This is our sweet spot…
The workflow which was demonstrated centered around the use of AliasStudio/Sketchbook Pro as the conceptual design tool best suited to perform the type of design they require. Reference Manager, new to 2009, was used to show the integration of previously created hull, deck and superstructure model data. A rendering of this data was used as a sketch environment, and background for the proposed new cabin interior. Technical surfaces were then created on the sketches and trimmed to existing cabin geometry.
Next up, we showed how Inventor/Inventor Pro can be used by all ShipConstructor users as a component creation tool. A pump assembly was opened with Inventor, but the motor for the pump was imported from a vendor’s site via STEP. Once imported, Feature Recognition was used to convert some of the base geometry into sketch based parametric features that could be leveraged by the designer.
Justin Pacquin of SSI then gave an excellent presentation showing how Autodesk Vault can be best used by ShipConstructor customers for managing the output sheet sets created to document the design in ShipConstructor. I followed things up with a brief but compelling look at Showcase, and it’s value for both design validation and presentation graphics.
All in all, a very enjoyable presentation, and the users on hand were certainly enthusiastic. A quick drive up to the airport where my fanbase was on hand to see me off… aren’t they cute? There was not a dry eye in the place.
-
Russ Wicks Breaks the World Fastest Stock Car Record
July 5, 2006 02:52 PMby Kevin SchneiderRuss Wicks Breaks the World Fastest Stock Car Record Going 222 Miles Per Hour
Entering the Bonneville Speedway off I-80, just over an hour outside of Salt Lake City is like leaving the earth and heading to the moon. The landscape is surreal - barren and white with mountain peaks in the distance. The crunch of the salt as you drive over the flats is feels like driving in snow. It sounded the same, felt the same and looked the same. As we headed the 3 miles to the security checkpoint we weren't sure there was anything out there but then glimmering in the distance was a small group of vehicles.
As we got closer we could pick out the transfer trailer truck that hauls the car and the assorted trucks you need on site for an event of this size. A pit area was set up along side the trucks - equipment and tools, tarps to provide shade and of course - the Autodesk stock car.
The car itself is a Taurus V8 with 800 horsepower and a 4 speed transmission.
When my colleagues arrived on July 3rd the engineers and crew pit were really busy all day, prepping the car - working on the engine and strategizing with Russ. After each run, in which the goal was to edge closer to the record, the crew cleaned the piles of salt out of the engine block, from the wheel wells and the tires.
You can't believe the heat out there on the course. It's blazing and coming down on the white salt it's blinding. As Russ preps for the car he puts on his fire suit which protects him if the car were to catch on fire, fire shoes and wraps fire protection around his neck before putting his helmet on. With 110 degree heat on the Salt Flats it's got to be 130 in the car with all his gear on. Inside the car there are four cameras that are capturing all the action inside and outside as he hurtles down the track. The track itself is nine miles long and marked in one mile segments to make it easy for the timers to verify the record. Mike Cook is the official time keeper on site - he's the Chairman of Bonneville Nationals Inc.
Before daylight on the crew gathered to start prep for the day. The engineers were on site along with crew pit and the camera crew was getting into position for all the shots. News station camera crews started gathering around 9am along with media who had been on site for two days watching the activities. Leslie Gordon from Machine Design was there as was a freelance journalist from Popular Mechanics and daily print media. Leslie was blogging about her experience on site with the American Challenge and Autodesk team.
The lead up to the record run was intense. Tons of activity around the car and Russ - getting him prepped - physically and mentally. You can really feel the tension. A big truck gets the car started down the track by pushing a back row bar and then Russ pops the engine into gear and you can hear the car but pretty soon, you can't see him - he's gone. You can hear his communication with the team crackling on the radios all around the pit and then the long wait for Mike Cook to call the official time. And it is official - by early afternoon, it's confirmed that Russ Wicks has broken the world Stock Car speed record and now holds the world's fastest stock car speed record at 222 miles per hour. The crew is screaming and congratulating each other. Months and months of works have been just been rewarded. The talented engineers and the motor sport professionals who help make up the American Challenge team got to see their own fireworks on the July 4th weekend at the Salt Flats and Autodesk is proud to be part of the team.
UPDATE! - Read more at MachineDesign
1 Comment | Add CommentIn Ellipsis > Just for fun, Travel, Industry News
-
Tokyo
June 29, 2006 07:37 AMby Kevin SchneiderLast week I had the priveldge of visiting the Japan team. I was invited to present at the Japan Inventor User Group meeting and to attend the DMS trade show, both happening in Tokyo.
The User group meeting was Thursday, June 22nd. Beginning in the early evening the user group meeting began with a through review by the board of the group's status since its inception this time last year. Progress on local user group resources was given. This included an update on a dedicated Japanese discussion form for user group members to connect.
Key members of Autodesk Japan kicked off the event and thanked everyone for joining. Here Tetsuya Shiga, Vice President, Autodesk Japan, starts the event.
The board, made up of 8 users from local Tokyo companies, outlined the group's next initiatives. These included:
Get more users from each company to attend. Today most companies only send one user and they are expected to return from meetings and share what they learn with their peers. The user group board would like to get multiple, if not all users, from the company to attend and connect thereby increasing the speed and quality of information shared within the community.
Increase awareness about the user group and Increase awareness about Inventor
Collect thoughts on how Inventor could be a better product for the Japanese market and prioritize these. The board would then work with Autodesk to champion these improvements.
I presented an hour of tips and tricks or best practices to the audience of about 60.
* Part Modeling and sketching
* Assembly modeling
* Drawing production
After this session there was a break and group photo.
Following the break the user group meeting opened up to non-members, prospective members, and prospective Inventor customer who were just curious.
Several presentations were given talking about the Autodesk Community in Japan and I was able to show a 45 minute presentation and demonstration of Autodesk Inventor 11.
This was a fun event and had 100+ attendees!
We then made for the ballroom next door where food and drinks were available. If you have never been to an after business "Cocktail hour" in Japan, let me tell you that this is where most of the action happens! I had the opportunity to answer many enthusiastic questions.
These are not glasses of iced-tea! That is a whole lot of Whisky.
A raffle was then held to give out gifts to user group members. The evening ended with a private meeting with the board to discuss future events and support. I was very impressed with the organized and professional nature of the group. The users were engaged, excited an interested in sharing information. All of this makes for what I hope will continue as a strong vibrant user group.
The next day I attended the DMS show. This, large manufacturing trade show highlights technology from around the world. Jump to the Japan Team's site to read more about DMS (in Japanese)
I saw rapidprotyping machine creating full body panes in multiple colors, Machining centers and virtually displays!
Autodesk was on had with a large booth covering our complete manufacturing solution.
Autodesk AliasStudio, Autodesk, Intent, AutoCAD Electrical, AutoCAD Mechanical, Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Productstream, and DWF were all featured on kiosks and the main stage. Check out the crowd!
It was a great show and I enjoyed seeing the Autodesk Japan team and meeting with many, many many trade show attendees!
I wrapped up my trip with a fun walk around the city and the Emperial Palace. I look forward to my next trip back. I just hop it will be a little less humid!
0 Comment | Add CommentIn Ellipsis > Travel
-
Trip - EMEA Tech-camp 06
April 11, 2006 02:36 PMby Kevin SchneiderLast week, I was fortunate to attend a week long event where EMEA held their annual tech-camp to train Autodesk Manufacturing Solutions distributors and reseller technical sales teams. EMEA stands for the Autodesk sales teams in Europe Middle East, and Affrica. The event was in the Salzburg Congress center in Salzburg Austria. Attendees spent Tuesday listening to a full day of main-stage presentations that included:
Opening - Mozart Music
Jordi Portella - Welcome and event objectives
Larry Peck - Manufacturing division overview and Functional design vision
Eric Strassheim -AutoCAD based solutions
Break
Simon Bosley, Pete Lord and Kevin Schneider - 11 reasons why Inventor is the best choice
Brian Mathews - DWF Solutions
Brian Roepke - Data management Solutions
Lynn Alen - Demo skills
Jordi Portella -Wrap up
An unprecedented 679 attendees arrived representing all corners of the EMEA region. During the evening party this group set a new record and consumed 500 liters of beer in 45 minutes!
After the main-stage events the teams were separated into 5 language tracks:
- English
- German
- French
- Italian
- Spanish
Each track was run by the appropriate regional AE's and covered the full suite of products and sales tools that make up the MSD solution in this year's launch.
I took a little time to see the city as well. It a great city and I suggest spending some time there should you get the chance.
All in All a great event!
Images:
The crowd
Jordi starts the event
Larry on the division and functional design
Eric on MSD AutoCAD Solutions
Simon and the 11 reasons Inventor is the best choice
Pete and the lebovac
Inventor 11 Demo Time
Brian and DWF Solutions
Brian and Data Management
Lynn's Demo Skilz
Partner booths
Dinner With the some of the EMEA team
Looking forward to next year!
0 Comment | Add CommentIn Ellipsis > Travel
-
Shanghai
March 8, 2006 09:55 PMby Kevin SchneiderFor all of last week, I was off in China for an internal training event. I always enjoy working with Autodeskers from all over the world and this event was no exception.
After 4 days of full day training I spent some time wandering around the city. Having been to Chine few times, i was pleased to spend some time sight seeing.
here are some images I took...
Image 1
Image 2
0 Comment | Add CommentIn Ellipsis > Travel