Product category:
CAD draughting software
News Release from: Autodesk | Subject: Autodesk Inventor
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 17 October 2005
Improved Product Design Collaboration
Autodesk DWF Writer Extends DWF Output Capability to Solidworks and Pro/Engineer 3D Mechanical Applications
Autodesk has announced that it has improved product design collaboration for the manufacturing industry Now, Engineers using a variety of 3D design applications can share compact DWF versions of product models with the extended manufacturing team
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 14 Jul 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
CAD improves shop floor/design communications
Autodesk reported that a manufacturer of movable wall systems is using Inventor software to improve the communication of designs to the shop floor and aid marketing.
Enhanced usability and productivity from Autodesk
Updates offer a complete approach to digital prototyping that allows manufacturers to cost-effectively validate their ideas and foster product innovation.
DWF is an open, standards-based file format designed for sharing complex mechanical drawings and 3D models via email or the Internet.
Autodesk Inventor, the world's # 1 best selling mechanical design software, has long supported direct output of DWF files.
With the release of the latest version of DWF Writer, Autodesk now makes it easy to publish 3D design data from other 3D design software including Solidworks and Pro/Engineer.
Further reading
Autodesk and Triple Eight form a winning team
Triple Eight has extended its use of the software to ten licences of Autodesk Inventor Professional and one of AutoCAD Electrical to its existing Inventor base.
Autodesk and Triple Eight - A Winning Team
Top motorsport company extends its use of Autodesk Inventor
Shining performance from Autodesk Inventor
Autodesk Inventor Gets its Name in Lights Shining Performance Marks Chocolate Factory Debut
The free*, downloadable software permits Engineers using other 3D design applications to manage and share accurate digital designs, for greater productivity across the supply chain - without loss of data to paper-based communication.
Manufacturers are continually seeking ways to improve productivity and bring products to market faster, while reducing design errors and rework.
Globalisation and off-shoring create new pressures on designers to better integrate information across extended teams, including communication with production team members who do not use 3D design tools.
According to Gisela Wilson of analyst firm IDC, "Successful product development in the manufacturing industry is dependent on the ability to collaborate on design content with all stakeholders involved in the lifecycle management process including designers, manufacturing, purchasing, suppliers and customers".
"Ubiquitous technology that enables easy collaboration, such as DWF, dramatically changes the process and can improve time to market." New Autodesk DWF Writer functionality lets designers using leading 3D mechanical design software save their models and design data as DWF files and share them securely with product teams.
By creating 3D DWF files, Engineers are able to provide accurate, data-rich digital designs to non-technical team members at any point in the manufacturing process.
As a result, product developers can save designs in an industry-standard format and send these files electronically for bids or for production at manufacturing sites around the world.
Off-shore team members can view and understand designs easily, using the free* Autodesk DWF Viewer software, or using Autodesk DWF Composer or Autodesk data management solutions.
"The ability to capture a 3D window into a form that can be easily saved and shared is simple and elegant".
"This is one of the more clever uses of technology I have seen in years," said Charlie Bliss, Team 44, Hiller Aviation Education Foundation.
The latest version of Autodesk DWF Writer supports publication of 2D files from a Microsoft Windows system printer driver, and retains intelligent design information in 3D models to help ensure communication of design intention.
Autodesk DWF Writer software is available as a free download from the Autodesk website at www.autodesk.com/dwfwriter. Request a free brochure from Autodesk ...
• Autodesk: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Manufacturingtalk email newsletter
• Manufacturingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
