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In The Machine is the official blog of the Inventor Product Management Team. It is a way for us to share Inventor news, interesting information about successful Inventor customers and partners as well as tips and tricks. From time to time we’ll also use the blog to solicit feedback from users via surveys. This blog is hosted by Garin Gardiner our Technical Marketing Manager.
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Greetings from the First Robotics Competition
April 22, 2005 03:42 PMbyI'm on my way back from Atlanta where I just got to spend the day at FIRST - the robotics competition we sponsor for highschoolers. All the teams get a copy of Inventor and a set of models that match the kit of robot parts. They compete regionally and then at a national competition held in the Georgia Dome.
This morning we recognized two teams for the work they did in Inventor:
The winning entry was from Cybersonics from Palisades HS in Bucks County, PA
A special honorable mention went to the Noblemen from Mathews HS in Virgina.
You can watch the finals tomorrow on the NASA satellite broadcast. When I get home I'll download my photos and post again.
-amy
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File Interoperability
April 21, 2005 07:37 AMbyThe Inventor PM team would like to understand which file formats and the importance of each format our customers desire to have interoperability with Inventor. Example: Pro/E, Catia, etc. We have created a brief survey at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=195781017311 we appreciate your time and response.
Regards,
-jeff
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Buzz speaks out in the Detriot Free Press
April 20, 2005 03:59 PMbyDemand surges for students who can design cool products and keep the U.S. ahead
BY ROBERT (BUZZ) KROSS April 19, 2005 As high school seniors begin selecting their college courses, they must consider what fields hold the most promise of a solid, successful career. Biotechnology? Political science? Economics?
The surprising answer is that electrical engineering and mechanical engineering are two of the three most sought-after bachelor's degrees, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers' 2005 Job Outlook survey.
Demand for engineering graduates will grow as much as 9 percent per year through the end of the decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. College hiring is also expected to be on the rise this year, 13.1 percent over 2004, according to the study.
Mechanical and electrical engineering graduates will find employers with open arms -- and generous offers -- especially in the Midwest, home of some 40 percent of the employers in the survey.
But these rosy job prospects mask an enormous problem for American competitiveness. The plain fact is that the demand for mechanical and electrical engineers to design the next hybrid automobile engine, high-efficiency electrical turbine or complex machine tool far outstrips the expected supply. To make matters worse, the nation's current engineering workforce is rapidly getting older, with the average age of engineers in many companies now in the late 40s.
Educational and engineering organizations, such as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, have warned that the number of students selecting engineering as a college major has fallen far behind the need. Especially troubling is the lack of female and minority engineering students at a time when those groups make up the fastest-growing segments of the U.S. population.
The loss of engineering talent in the United States is immense, and far greater than simple jobs. Innovation is the last competitive advantage U.S. manufacturers enjoy against hungry global competitors. U.S. manufacturers simply can't compete with producers in China or Eastern Europe on price; to succeed, they must compete on innovation -- new products, superior designs, new manufacturing techniques. If we don't fuel that innovation with a steady crop of young U.S. engineers, it will spell the ultimate demise of manufacturing in this nation.
The decline in the quality of our math and science education is well-documented and a very real issue. As early as middle school, American students are behind their top international peers in these subjects, and by the time they are ready for college they need remedial classes just to be able to begin studying engineering. But that's just part of the problem.
The simple fact is that engineering has lost something important for young people.
In the era of the Space Race in the 1950s and 1960s, engineering was the height of cool. That's no longer true today, even though everything from today's hottest consumer electronics to the technology behind tsunami relief depends on engineering. As a society, we have simply failed to show just how much engineering makes a difference in lives of kids.
When a high-school kid dials up the volume on her iPod, does she realize the role of mechanical engineering in its stylish design? Or in the tiny disk drive that makes it work?
When a college freshman begs his dad for a Mini-Cooper, does he fathom the engineering that gives that car its cool personality?
If they don't understand that, chances are they don't understand what engineering does for humanity, how mechanical and electrical engineering are vital to providing clean water, food, health care and communications to victims of the Asian tsunami.
We owe it to our kids -- and to our future -- to show them how cool engineering can be. Only then will we be able to create the innovation that has always made America great.
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New eLearning Lessons for Inventor 10 on the Subscription Center
April 10, 2005 10:22 PMbyOur subscription team just let us know that some new eLearning lessons are posted for Inventor Series 10. Check them out:
3D Grip Editing : Learn how to identify proper use of the 3D Grips tool, access, change geometry and execute the 3D Grips Tool
3D Sketching : Learn how to create 3D Sketch geometry, execute the line and spline tool, access the bend tool for usage options and execute the bend tool to create bends at the vertex of 3D sketch lines
Creating Weldments : Learn how to define assembly weldments, activate the weldment environment and describe tools available, use Inventor to create weldments and weld features
Documenting Weldments : Learn how to annotate weldment drawings and describe the tools use to create drawing views of weldments
Parts Lists : Learn how to identify a parts list, where it is created, how to execute the parts list tool, add and edit parts lists
They are great self paced lessons that last about 30 minutes.
-amy
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Preparing for Autodesk Inventor 10
April 4, 2005 04:46 PMbyAll,
As Autodesk Subscription customers on AIS & AIP get closer to receiving the latest update of Autodesk Inventor 10 software, it is a good time to review hardware setup for installation. Specifically, we would like to keep you updated on graphics card driver settings and DVD media.
We have been working with graphics card vendors like NVIDIA and ATI to correct issues in drivers for our new .NET functionality like Autodesk Inventor Studio and the Content Center. Our QA team has developed a new website featuring a comprehensive list of the latest Certified Graphics Drivers. We consider this website a "Must Read" for anyone intending to install Inventor 10 (AIS or AIP). In addition, issues related to BlackIce, Google, and specifics on disk space are covered on the new Hardware Requirements page. On top of the improved look and feel, this new website will be dynamically updated by the QA staff as new cards and drivers are released.
In addition, Autodesk Inventor 10 software will be shipped on DVD media in North America and Europe. If you prefer CD media (5-6 CDs) for this product, you can order one set at no cost. Please return the CD media request card which will accompany your product or simply complete the online form. As a side tip, I've already noted some good threads on the Inventor Newsgroup about sharing DVD drives over the network.
The feedback we have been getting from our Beta testers is fantastic and we can't wait to share Inventor 10 with everyone else.
Cheers,
-Andy
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AutoCAD Mechanical 2006 eLearning now available
April 3, 2005 11:01 PMbySubscription customers who want to get up to speed quickly on AutoCAD Mechanical 2006 will find these recently released courses of interest:
- Layer Control = Learn how to easily create and manage layers in addition to layer customization to match your design standards
- 2D Hide and Associative Hide = Learn hide commands including 2D Hide, Edit 2D Hide and Associative Hide
- Basic Editing Tools = Learn about copying objects by selecting layer groups, learn how to make copies using the offset command, separate objects into a single object, create corners and create breaks in lines
- Power Commands = Learn how to use objects such as borders, part lists, standard parts, dimensions, symbols and basic objects including arcs, lines and circles
- Automatic Dimensions = Learn about various command options and dialog boxes
These courses are available exclusively to Autodesk Subscription customers. To access them, sign in to the Subscription Center: http://www.autodesk.com/subscriptionlogin
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Inventor, Asia Pacific Tour
April 1, 2005 08:26 AMby
Jeff Wymer (top right) and I recently completed a fast paced trip to visit with customers, partners and Autodesk teammates in Tokyo, Taipei, and Singapore. The focus of our visits where to listen to customers and analyze their manufacturing needs, as well as, share our vision and validate forthcoming solutions.
Tokyo, Japan
A beautiful modern city which rivals the excitement of New York's Time Square.
A view of Mt. Fuji from the Autodesk Offices in Tokyo. All of the views from the training room were outstanding. It was hard to pick one.
The Team: Autodesk teammates, partners and customers at the Tokyo Inventor 10 Gunslinger where we tried to shoot holes in the product.
We've done it, Jeff Wymer (Novi, MI) has eaten his first Sushi. Coming from Ohio, he likes his food cooked. With a little coaxing from the team, he dove in. Fortunately, he saved enough for the rest of us.
Taiwan
A great whirlwind visit from beautiful Taipei to the harbor of Kao-hsiung. The pace was fast and we unfortunately left the camera in the hotel room.
Singapore
Beauty like the Hawaiian Islands without the Volcanoes. An impressive mix of high-tech industries, wondrous gardens and a thriving culture.
We visited a host of customers from many different industries and spent a day with the teams from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand.
We were in time to see the decorations for the Chinese New Year celebrations. On the next visit we hope to visit China, as well.
Nothing can replace the value of meeting customers, partners and our local Autodesk teams at their facilities to listen to their manufacturing needs.
We really appreciate the hospitality of everyone we met and the memories will be long lasting.
Cheers,
-Andy (top left)
